More Tim in second season of Heartland, London Free Press Options

[Valerie]

Great news:

Londoners go western
Wed, June 18, 2008


By KATHY RUMLESKI, FREE PRESS REPORTER

Two London natives acting in CBC's hit family drama Heartland say the show has staying power.

Heartland can be seen in reruns Sunday evenings this summer. At the same time, Amber Marshall, who plays Amy Fleming, and Chris Potter, her father Tim Fleming on the show, are filming its second season near Calgary.

"We've got a pretty much critic-proof show. It's like a contemporary Little House on the Prairie," said Potter.

Potter caught the attention of one of Canada's best actors, Martha Henry, while he acted locally and left a job at London Life for an acting career that has included work alongside David Carradine in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.

Last Sunday's Heartland episode had 340,000 viewers, which a spokesperson said was a phenomenal considering it wasn't advertised and was shown for the second time.


Marshall, who turned 20 this month, said the second season is coming together more easily. "We all know our characters inside out this season. Everybody is sure of themselves . . . and how far their character would go before a breaking point."

She spends about 12 to 14 hours each day on the set.

Filming was difficult in the first two weeks in June as downpours pounded the area.

"We were wrangling 100 head of cattle and 40 horses and the whole cast through these high flood waters, alongside of a river. This is daunting for TV," Potter said.

The two actors, whose parents still live in London, have nothing by admiration for each other.

Marshall called Potter "a natural."

"He brings out a realism in all of us. He loves to just play with the scene a little and it's fantastic for all of us to be able to feed off that."

Speaking about Marshall, Potter said he's impressed by her leadership qualities and professionalism.

"If you're No. 1 on the call sheet it gives you the power to be very demanding," he said, adding that though she gets top billing, Marshall isn't difficult to work with. "I hope that never changes. I'm proud to be working with her."

Potter is a little chagrined that Heartland hasn't received more funding. "If this was a U.S. show . . . Amber would be everywhere and the money would be flowing."

Marshall agrees the U.S. networks have more money to market shows. She doesn't know if she'd like to be a star like Miley Cyrus, for example.

"It wouldn't be a bad or good thing to me; it would be very different," she said. "(In the U.S.), the money is there and they really make use of their media."

While there will still be a lot of scenes with Marshall in Season 2, fans will see more of Potter.

Tim was written into the script for Potter.

"After last season they asked me about my commitment to it. I said, 'I'd loved to be a part of it. I know the show's going to be around for a long time," Potter said.

IF YOU WATCH

What: Re-runs of Heartland's first season.

When: Sundays, 7 p.m. until Sept. 21

Channel: CBC-TV and anytime on the website, www.cbc.ca/heartland.

Londoners Go Western

[Carmen]

Great news, Valerie. Thanks for posting the link. Lol, I can't even decide what's my favorite part of the article? I'm looking forward to watch season 2 and just pray that our TV-stations finally wake up.

[Jannine]

Really sounds like Chris has a handle on this role and is enjoying it. He has a real passion for the show and the actors by the sounds of it. I hope Season 2 brings all good things for him as an actor and for his character.

Thanks Val.

[k_ballan@yahoo.c...]

thats Great new Valerie.
i can't went for season 2 of heartland. I just can't went for the new season. to start up again.
from kim from canada its going to be hot"

[Valerie]

This is a short synopsis of the second season of "Heartland":

Heartland

The Sunday night family-audience hit series about life on a horse ranch returns for another 18-episode season. With a balance of comedy and drama, adventure and romance, set against the stunning vistas of the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains, the series tells real stories about real people, people who the audience has grown to love and welcome into their homes.

Amy (Amber Marshall) continues to keep her mother’s dream alive by healing abused and neglected horses, but life gets complicated when Ty returns after four months to find a new stable hand has taken his place, both at Heartland and maybe even in Amy's heart. Amy's sister Lou (Michelle Morgan) and local vet Scott (Nathaniel Arcand) continue to flirt with emotions from the past, but Lou's true love is her new business venture, an Equine Corporate Retreat, or as the others less than affectionately call it, the Dude Ranch. Shaun Johnston returns as Jack Bartlett, the rock of Heartland who quietly holds everything together. And he has his job cut out for him as the family struggles to find a place in their life for Amy and Lou's estranged father Tim (Chris Potter). The series will also expand to give a glimpse into the exciting arena of professional rodeo and the exclusive, moneyed world of Polo.

Heartland was recently honoured as Best Dramatic Series at the 2008 Rosies (The Alberta Film & Television Awards). It is adapted from Lauren Brooke’s best-selling Heartland novels, a series of 21 books created in the UK by Working Partners and published by Scholastic Inc. Over 6.5 million copies have been sold worldwide.

Heartland is helmed by show-runner Heather Conkie. Executive Producers are Michael Weinberg of Olympia Films and Tom Cox and Jordy Randall of Seven24 Films. Produced by Tina Grewal.

CBC

[supermunchkin]

Great news:

it sounds like a great show wish we could get it in the usa

juanita

Londoners Go Western