The Toronto Star from Toronto, Ontario, Canada • 82

G2 SUNDAY STAR, JANUARY 29, 1984 Local kids to star in Britain True Wests Canadian director happy to swim in the big pond IMItS By Rich Friedman Special to The Star Forty five children from Toronto's east end, who have never acted before and dont in tend to go into show business, are about to become regulars on British TV. They are the stars of the independent, childrens drama mini-series, Kids Of Degrassi Street, which has been sold to the British Broad NEW YORK Little more than two years after arriving here from Toronto, expatriate Canadian television director Allan' Goldstein is about to make his mark in a big way. Goldstein directed the TV adap- money, Schuyler says, (si Now we (she and casting Corp. (BBC). Already seen twice In a CBC-TV late tation of Sam Shepards play, True West, which airs Tuesday (Channel -afternoon spot, it will start on BBC April 1.

The 10 episodes making the rounds of downtown 'nightspots. But did you know that, although he appears much taller on, screen, he's Just 5 feet four Inches? That's about the same height as comedian and McKenzie Brother Dave Thomas, who spoofed Gibson (accent, included) as a self-promoting TV actorpitchman oh a recent episode of pay TVs SCTV Channel Gibson was out on the town and didn't see the program but told about It later, he said, As long as its not too cruel I think its great Diane Keaton arrived last week and, while Gibson is lodged in a rented house, she's in a hotel. Going strong Nick Mancuso, a Genie Award-winner as best actor in Ticket To Heaven, is to co-star with Michael Ontkean in a Hollywood movie, Heartbreak HJfm" rV 17, 9 p.m.) in the third season of Mr PBS American Playhouse. deal with neighborhood prob- lems and how public school kids 1 can get alone with each other. We think its terrific, says director partner Kit Hood) are planning another series, Degrassi Junior High, and we're starting with the idea of doing 26 episodes.

Theres no such school but who cares? Were negotiating seriously with CBC That deal would spark an investment from the Canadian Film Development Corps Broadcast Fund and, Schuyler said, it, too, is interested. Ottawa created the fund to boost Canadian-content dramas, variety and childrens shows. 4 -ft 4 I er, about two pals who share problems Negotiations are Linda Schuyler, co-owner of Playing With Time, a small local production company which de-1 vised and made the shows. How many independently made Canadian kids snows do you know are sold to the BBC? Pricewise, its i not high. But we and (Toronto i TV distributor) Isme Bennie (who made made the sale) con- aider it a prestige thing.

Its, a I beginning for us. Bennie, who also 'sold the i series to TV networks in Sweden and Singapore, is in Europe this i week to negotiate deals for other 1 countries. It's to air on U5. 5,. TV and, last year, won the production award presented by the (Canadian) Childrens Institute and officially represented Canada at the Mos-' cow Film Festival I wont teH Ladies, please! Stop calling and offering me presents.

Mel Gibson's whereabouts in Toronto are private. His presence has created the biggest stir of any visiting star I can recall In com The play is the story of two brothers one a strait-laced screenwriter, the other a scurvy desert-bum and petty criminal who gradually reverse roles in a confrontation that flirts with violence in their mother's house. Goldstein, 32, spent six years at CBC, graduating from the Multiple Camera Direction course there and directing documentaries and dramas, the oest-known of which were The Judge and Warehouse For Bodies. But he is not exactly an overnight success here. His first 2 months in town, he did nothing but beat the pavement, like a bulldog, totally tenacious.

These boots were my agent All I asked is that people see my resume and my cassettes. His first Job here was directing Daytime Magazine tor ABC Hearst Cable. I still remember getting on the subway that first day, he says, and thinking to myself, 'I'm underway for productions of Filthy Rich by Toronto playwright George F. Walker off-off i rv -r s. 4' Broadway and at fringe theatres in London and Sydney, Australia.

It premiered in Toronto several years ago Michael parison, the reaction over Elizabeth Taylors stay here last year for a pay TV movie was Indtffer TV drama: Sam Shepard's True West, which airs on Buffalo's PBS outlet Tuesday and stars John Makovich (left) and Gary Sirdse, was directed by expatriate Canadian Allan Goldstein. Given, producer of the training-ground and that's a hell of a way to look at themselves, but generally right on his hunches. True West stars are Gary Si-nese, who directed the off-Broad- In no way is there any resentment on my part towards them, ent But the American production company, which brought Australian heartthrob Gibson here to star in a movie with Diane Keaton, Insists that fans be kept away. And trying to bribe me, even with your bodies, as scores of women have, won't get anywhere. Until filming starts Feb.

6, though, Gibson should be way production, which won two hie Obie Awards, and John fund Aim Israel program on Oakville radio and now a professional actor, Is playing Big Julie in Guys And Dolls at a dinner theatre in Chicago until April 5. He saw the casting notice and advised producers he had the same role at Edmontons Citadel Theatre, flew in for an audition and quickly landed the job. stein said. If anything, I feel IBC, and- if it Ji loyalty towards Cl I Another four shows were film-ed recently and will air on CBC the series is repeated again this fall The first 10 were made over four years because iwe kept looking for more Malko-vich, who this month prepares with Dustin Hoffman for the Broadway run of Death Of A Salesman. goinjto followed, in short order, were not for them I wouldn't be able to do much of what Im doing now.

However, he can walking the perimeter of the CBCic building on Bay St and realizing that some 90 per cent of the top were a 90-minute comedy show for Home Box Office, The Seventh Music special comes alive with sound of stereo r. dramatic producers in the country -side and that he was In the were insii the Toronto area and you'll get a rich, mellow sound that will be hard to forget once you get back hard to forget once you get back Annual Young Comedians Show and Some Men Need Help, a 90-minute, two-character drama. Hes honest and he's delivering everything he said hed deliver, said Howard K. Grossman, coproducer at Program Development Company, which produced True West for American Playhouse. And even more.

He just goes for it and no matter what the risks, hes not scared. And hes Speaking of True Wests transition from stage to videotape, Maikovich explained that we could sit and do takes all day, but hes given us enough confidence that we dont fool with it Goldstein is determined to avoid some of the pitfalls of being an expatriate. He does not want to be in a position where hes burned his bridges. CBC prides themselves as a sition of. waiting for guys at 50 years old to retire.

Here, there is enough work for to regular viewing. The concert is good enough it includes soprano Includes soprano one shot of Governor General Ed Schreyer seemingly dozing, it all seems quite lively. Youll ask why the CBC doesn't try simulcasts more often and why we have to settle for the pitiful sounds from TV sets most or the time. Once you hear FM television youll be hooked for life. The trouble with this afternoons CBC telecast of Music And Dance At Rideau Hall (on Channels 3 and 5 at 1 JO) is the sound.

Its too good, too clear, in contrast with the usually tinny bleats that emanate from TV sets. CBC is simulcasting the Grand Concert on FM stations turn to 94.1 in anyone who is good and who is willing to go out and And it It was urie -Landry, Annette av Paul dancing a few weeks before her retirement at 40, the Orford String Quartet And, aside from a decision made on purely economic terms. iRbVIJt ADULTS S3.7S THE BIG CHILL MS 0M) MM A Jan.2S-11 (It) Andrnj Wadn'i OlaM TrinWoa NMamfc Janavy SS-lt RtartaSalaidaiialtM yja MS MEET LARRY LONELY GUY (ANAOUFI DANTON (SM.41S) UNCOMMON valor6-; MID 5ILKWOOO ATDOUYfMd Swift 4i LOW prim auhot FINNEY AND COURTENAY ACT WASTOMl TTwOneoeer' I 9mpeeol wcinatlno moment in WcWNatory. Jwocotwuininate solan. Finney flfceeadeeply laetunninfl." Tam Cwka In RISKY BVSniSSot) at SiOO am 21 oabr Hl rnl Pifmiw WILTON UTTLE FILMS WITH BIG EMOTIONS LONELY HEARTS JOINS OTHER CURRENT FARE SUCH AS EXPERIENCE PREFERRED BUT NOT ESSENTIAL, CAN SHE BAKE A CHERRY FIEF TENDER MERCIES, AND EDUCATING RITA AS MOVIES ABOUT ORDINARY PEOPLE -BRUCE KIRKLAND, TORONTO StN 7401 oYENTL fin AM RATES (AA) at MSS and 94Ski il ar RWgntN calm at 41-3401 gjS0araoraaaawxxl9i) Mat tsairai ItBiavn-Al Lt albert FINNEY TDM COURTENAY He was young, tree, end eligible, Real eligible.

When hie girl friend left him, he tried hie best to meet all kinds of women i lawyers, teachers, women. But he Just wasn't succeeding. exclusive STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN" JANUARY 25-29 Parental Guidance Some scenes may be frightening NEXT WEEK: Apecetypie Now" (R) He was still lonely. So lonely he wrote a book about it, I and then things began to change. He became successful and Larry was an overnight sensation.

But he was still a lonely guy. DAILY 2.0Q, 4:20, 7:00, 9:20 TRAVOLTA NEWTON-JOHN And ust when he thought he'd never! find the girl of his dreams. found him. I And that's M'ben bis troubles realty started AN ASTRAL HLM8 RELEASE STEVE MARTIN EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT jPHSliWIH mm ki iua jM-nti TODAY 2:00, 3:55, 5J0, 7:45 9:40 lllRtssrveii tickets naHabli at allBASSbtiHet LONEUGUY 7U1WEEKI jraram-sim ijra-Kiiiiioi'CLASs miramsM qlnes rMsws BRld JAY FBEDHUi JIUI GdDQK UTIiUM LScElDi -vaiimsoii AimipniiE ALBION I VTMORNHR.L SQ.3 AEHNWtt AiKHat, MYidIHit JOUlfl 9BB-JW CfwmAi. wiwva CENTENNIAL 1 1 HTIAND-o-a UMPTUN VJ W4 NOM 7U-M4J I 530.7.

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