Great news:QUOTE
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.
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
its going to be hot"
