Yannick Bisson, the star of Murdoch Mysteries and executive producer of Christina Jennings, participated in a master class with local student filmmakers at The Loft Cinema on August 29. The community welcomed Murdoch Mysteries star Yannick Bisson and executive producer Christina Jennings to Cobourg during the debut. Eye2Eye International Film Festival. Held on Sunday, August 29, the festival included a masterclass with local student filmmakers at the Loft Cinema with actor/producer Bisson and Jennings CEO and Shaftesbury Chairman on stage.
When asked about Murdoch Mysteries, the hour-long drama series set in Toronto in the early 20th century, Jennings looked back to 2006, when major changes occurred when the series was born. Back then, she said that she thought that what the show should become is actually what it is now. It's something the family can sit and watch, it's not too dark and gritty, she said during the festival in Cobourg. I am a huge history buff and wanted to, in a very small way, teach Canadians and many people around the world something of our history. So Jennings said she made a bold move less than six weeks before filming began.
I got rid of the first writing department and we brought in a whole group of people and that became the show, she said. At some point you realize this is not the show we need to do and want to do and luckily that gamble paid off or else we wouldn't be here. Her second big decision came when it came time to cast. I wanted to make a show that was much more able to connect with all ages and I really thought that Yannick could give us what Jennings said. It could be that very outspoken Murdoch who is a wonderful, crazy man of science, a religious man in a community that is less religious.
When asked what it was like for him to land the lead role, Bisson said some things about the role that he knew of, while others were a mystery. It was interesting because my agent sent over the DVDs of the movies and said that's fine, so listen, you're going to read this, you should look at these for reference and I'll call you back, Bisson said. So I saw them and I recognized Peter that he is a friend and I thought well boy how am I going to do this because he and I are nothing alike. After watching five minutes of the first film, Bisson said his agent called him and told him to stop. No, don't look at any of that, they're going in a different direction and that's why they want to see you.
I was immediately relieved because I thought okay, I'll be doing something where I can bring my strengths to the table and not have to question whether I'm taking credit for someone else's work or not, or those kinds of things that he said. Bisson said he was under the impression that he was considering multiple actors for the role and asked his agent about it. I heard from Perry that yes, they are considering two of you, one older and one younger, and that is something that is being discussed at the moment, so please be patient, he added. And then I thought, well, let's be patient. Bisson said he couldn't take it anymore, so he called his agent and said, Listen, are you guys going with the older guy or the younger guy?
He says Good news, good news, you're not going with the younger guy, he added, drawing more laughter from audience members. The festival was organized by Film Access Northumberland (FAN), a non-profit organization that seeks to promote tolerance and community understanding through art. director Micol Marotti, one of the organisers, said some very realistic props from the series are on display at the Northumberland Art Gallery. Visit filmaccessnorthumberland.com for more information about the film festival.
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