These are chat sessions with Kevin Sullivan and Mag Ruffman (Olivia King Dale and Alice Lawson) that took place at Avonlea MB. I received permission from Kevin Sullivan to use these chats. Do NOT takes this page and use it for yourself. If you take this and use it, you will receive a not-so-nice note from Sullivan.
September 15th, 2005
chat with Kevin Sullivan
Question by Caroline: Are you considering an Anne Of Green Gables 4?
Answer: I am fascinated to know what an audience would really think of Anne 4. I haven’t given it much creative thought. As time passes though, and more and more fans keep asking the question, I find myself in the same position I was prior to initiating Anne 3. I actually never thought of creating an Anne 3 until I started to imagine what would have been going on in Avonlea at the conclusion of the television series once we did Happy Christmas Miss King (aka the Avonlea Christmas Movie) I couldn’t help but imagine Anne and Gilbert’s lives caught awares, in the same way as the King family, by World War I. Maybe I need to think about what became of their lives after coming home from the war. I will give it some thought.
Question by RillaBlythe: If you were to play any part in the Anne movies, or Road to Avonlea, which character would you choose to play?
Answer: I would definitely be Jack Garrison. He was a tremendous amount of fun to write and of all the Anne characters he has the bravado. However, the role that would be the most fulfilling to play as a male actor in the cast would be Matthew. It would be very difficult for anyone to match Richard Farnsworth's unique persona.
Question by Caroline: I was just wondering how the actors of Road to Avonlea felt about each other? Was there any romance on set ?
Answer: The Avonlea actors were a true ensemble. They were all very emotional about each other after working together so closely for over 7 years. There were many romances, many falling outs and happily, a multitude of reconciliations! The most touching aspect of seeing the Avonlea cast as a family was when Meg Ruffman presented each of the lead cast members with a multi-faceted quilts made of photos, pieces of costumes and brick wraps that she had saved about each person over the course of the show. Cast members were blown away by her tenderness and thoughtfulness. She exemptified the unspoken in terms of how cast members felt about each other.
Question by Caroline: Sarah Polley has made some unique career choices...how do you feel about them and do you plan to work with her again?
Answer: I think Sarah is a really cool actress. I would never would have imagined she would have such a remarkable indie film career. She started working with me on a movie called Lantern Hill and she was ten, after doing Baron Munchausen for Terry Gilliam when she was nine. Her mother was a very good friend of mine and a remarkable Canadian casting director. Sarah has really lived up to her family legacy as her dad is also a remarkable actor. It's not surprising in some respects that she's chosen her films so carefully though. She always had the makings of a rebel but she has used her talent very wisely.
Question by godschik: If you'd have known the reaction that most fans have had to the plot for Anne3, would you have made it differently?
Answer: Actually, no. Alot of fans have really enjoyed the movie versions of the Anne/Avonlea world that I have created although the plots are very different from Montgomery's works. Books are books and movies are movies. Sometimes the two diverge drastically. From my initial decision to set the time period of Anne 1, 20 years later than Montgomery's books, a ripple effect occured. The world I depicted was always out of sync with the books. I also found in reading LMM's later works on Anne difficulties in adapting them to make an interesting film. That's why I created a completely original story for the Sequel, inspired by her later books. By the time Road to Avonlea rolled out almost 90 episodes, the world even more loosely matched Montgomery's. I think audiences have generally been moved by my unique way of telling stories. They are certainly inspired by LMM in tone however with the chronology all my Avonlea characters faced with the onset of WWI that meant diverging and creating a very original Anne and Gilbert who would be faced by a shock and disaster of war. It was a very moving and challenging experience imagining what their lives would be like during this time. Perhaps because of the freedom involved in creating that story I enjoyed the process most. Hope you will try to take a look at the movie again in a more objective and original light.
Question by Valancy: 1) Looking back at your Anne miniseries after 20 years, did you realize the impact the miniseries would have and that it would create a long-term, global community of fans? Did you believe then that it would stand the test of time as it has?
Answer: I find it completely remarkable that we are having this conversation on this subject. As a young 28 year old, I put my best foot forward in trying to intepret the Anne material with very little sense of the films' longevity. However, nothing is more captivating for a storyteller to see their work survive. Thank you for acknowledging it.
Question by Valancy: 2) It has been noted that the quality of the VHS "Tales of Avonlea" is better than the current "Road to Avonlea" DVD releases. Will the contents and quality of Disney’s upcoming release of "Tales of Avonlea" differ from the Sullivan releases of "Road to Avonlea"? What accounts for the large difference in price of these two versions?
Answer: Disney has exactly the same source materials we do in creating DVDs. I have much debate on this subject. Their digi-betas are clones of ours. I think the debate on DVD quality has to do with the fact that even though the show was shot on film it was mastered on 1-inch analog tape in the early seasons. Unless all of the film that was shot for seasons 1-4 was completely re-duplicated digitally, the quality that you see on the current DVDs is really the best that the show will ever look. Season 5-7 were mastered digitally and have a completely different look. However, please note, the Avonlea movie was also mastered digitally and has a quality of the later seasons. Please have a look at it and you will see what I mean.
Question by Valancy: 3) Have you viewed other adaptations of Anne of Green Gables, such as the Nippon animation series, theatre versions, the 1934 black and white film, and the 1970s BBC miniseries?
Answer: I have not seen the others.
Question by Avonlea Is Home: I was wondering, on the future Road To Avonlea DVDs will there be more added extras.
Answer: Actually, we have just uncovered a whole slew of Avonlea behind the scenes material in our post department which we are hoping to release on later DVDs.
Question by OrphanAnne: How do you get the best performances from your cast when they have to act difficult emotions under chaotic circumstances?
Answer: The most skilled performers are adept at focusing and blocking out the rest of the world even during moments of insanity on set. The director's job is to preserve their sanity despite difficult circumstances. In order to get a superb performance one needs to be able to understand and see the performance in one's head before the actor plays it in order to get what you need. It's abit like a conductor with an orchestra. When you hear the music in your head the way you want it, it's very easy to get the orchestra to follow your lead.
Question by RillaBlythe: Would you consider making another Wind at My Back movie? I'd love to see Grace happily married to Del.
Answer: Yes, so would I. I would love to do more Wind at My Back films, they are still my favourite genre.
Question by RillaBlythe: Who is your favorite Wind character/or couple?
Answer: Del and Grace undoubtedly. Grace in particular had that wonderful ability to be side-splittingly funny and heartbreakingly sad. The new Wind at My Back DVD release is happening September 27th. Kathryn Greenwood as Grace is unbelievable in this season. Radiowaves is my favourite episode. The character and events in this story are based on true life experiences.
Question by Beatrix: I might sound silly here, but was the slate rigged to break over Gilbert's head or did she really smash it? Also, did it take many takes to do that scene?
Answer: She smashed it ten times and it was real. It was a prop slate though that was rigged to break easily. The more times she did it, the better she got.
Question by AvFan4vr: I have a question about the scene when Anne decides to sell Dolly (when Anne and Diana are running through the field and fall into the mud). Was Jon's hitting Megan written in the script, or was it Jon's idea of a prank?
Answer: It was scripted but the way Jonathan played it was definitely a prank. He knew how to give her a good crack. And it took her unawares.
Question by Caroline: Your cast for The Road To Avonlea was so perfect, how did you find such amazing young actors?
Answer: I phoned every amazing actor I knew and asked them if they would be prepared to sign up for a series. Fortunately every single one of them said yes. I had the pleasure of watching them bring their ensemble talents to the fore. The cast was more remarkable than I could ever had hoped for.
Question by Caroline: I know that unfortunately there is no such town as Avonlea, but if I wanted to visit in the beautiful places that were filmed where could I go? Are these place simply tourist attraction or places I could actually live?
Answer: Most of Avonlea was filmed outside of Toronto on a set that we built near the town of Uxbridge, Ontario on a plot of land that I had originally used to shoot all of the reverse angles of Green Gables for Anne 1 (remember the field where Matthew dies). I really liked the landscape there and when I decided to initiate production on the series that particular piece of land came to mind because of the vistas and because it looked alot like PEI. Unfortunately, the town only existed for the time we shot there. I also used alot of second unit footage that was shot in the Maritimes to give an authentic feel. That's a long way of saying that Avonlea only really exists on film and now on DVD. However, if you are interested, I'm about to publish a book that will be available this fall. It's called "Beyond Green Gables: Kevin Sullivan's Designscapes". It's all about how to create the atmosphere and detail that exists in so many of my films in the world we live in today. It's full of anecdotes, actors, production and interior designs that would give you an insight into how the Avonlea world was created. It will be available online this fall as well as in our upcoming "Gables" catalogue of unique gifts (many of which were inspired by doing this book), that will also be available for Christmas. I hope you check it out and let me know what you think.
Question by GemaFan: Did Ezekiel Crane know that He was Gus' father? If so, how did he find out? What about Abe Pike. Did he know?
Answer: It was all subtext when we wrote the scripts, but yes we fully intended Ezekiel to know he was Gus' father. Both Michael York and Michael Mahonen played it that way.
Question by Prairie525: Hello. I was wondering if any of the Road to Avonlea actors brought home any mementos from the show (props, articles of clothing, etc.) after filming ended?
Answer: Everyone was allowed to take something that was important to them. Sometimes it was a prop book or silly things like a corset or high buttoned shoes because of the pain they inflicted for so many years! People who lived in the nearby town of Uxbridge were devastated when we had to dismantle the village because the set was up for 7 years. People had started to think it was real. I remember seeing people totally freaked out and running to grab a piece of gingerbread brick-brack from the bulldozers in tears. Avonlea had that kind of effect on people.
Question by Caroline: Did Sarah's mother die during the filming of the show? How did that affect her performance?
Answer: Tragically Sarah's mom, Diane, died of cancer when Sarah was 12. Please watch the episode "Home Movie" in Season 4 of Avonlea, it's one of my favourite episodes. But it was also was specifically written for Sarah to mourn her own mom (her fictional mother Ruth had died when Sara Stanley was very young and she couldn't remember her). Sarah gives a very touching performance considering the reality behind what you see on screen.
Question by godschik: What was it like working with the rest of the cast for the Anne movies?
Answer: The Anne cast was another dream cast. Every actor was my first choice for the roles and each one of them said yes. The reality they created was due to having each of their unique personas match the characters. It was quite an experience watching it unfold.
Question by RillaBlytheFord: The Anne cast was another dream cast. Every actor was my first choice for the roles and each one of them said yes. The reality they created was due to having each of their unique personas match the characters. It was quite an experience watching it unfold.
Answer: Colleen Dewhurst's posthumously published biography has a whole chapter devoted to working with me on Anne. It will flesh out all the details but she was the most focused and remarkable talent that I have ever worked with. She could never remember her lines, she horsed around on set constantly, she had a smile and a sense of humour that were a tonic for everyone who was around her. But when she walked on set and the cameras rolled, the woman who couldn't remember her lines in rehearsal and was always fooling blew the crew away take after take. Look at the scene in her bedroom at the end of Anne 1 between she and Megan (after Matthew's funeral). She asked me if she could play a scene like this the morning I decided to shoot it and I wrote the scene about an hour before it was shot. We did two takes and they were so emotional that even the crew was unable to function after the second take, it was so moving.
That was the power Colleen Dewhurst had on people.
Question by HistoryMiner: 1. Will the "Wind at My Back" Game be released in software form eventually? It was such a novel idea to do a game based on the series.
Answer: We're not planning on releasing it in software but since you asked we are releasing two new DVD games based on Anne 1 and RTA 1 this fall. They are interactive trivia games designed for die-hard fans who live and breath every detail with lots of great clips, stills and hopefully reasonably tough questions. Watch for it in our upcoming "Gables" holiday catalogue and online in our boutique.
Question by HistoryMiner: 2. When "Wind at My Back" ended, I e-mailed CBC, and they said you felt it was time for the series to end. Is this true? Why did "Wind at My Back" end? What plans (if any) were there for a sixth season?
Answer: CBC ran out of money for big budget dramas. They told me they thought 65 episodes was enough for them to handle their reruns, however, we mutually decided to produce Wind Christmas which I am very grateful we did as it is one of my favourite films and still holds up. The definitive five hanky Christmas story!
Question by HistoryMiner: 3. Why did Raymond Storey cease being the Supervising Producer of "Wind" after Season 4? Some fans of the show were disappointed in the abrupt change from Season 4 to 5 (for example, with the disappearance of some characters, and the sudden changes in direction like the breakup of Grace & Jim Flett).
Answer: Raymond Storey is originally a playwright and he had a number of theatre projects that he was commited to that took him away from Wind. However, audiences around the world kept asking us to light up abit so we did! It was easy to change the tone alittle with Kathryn Greenwood's diverse range and brilliance.
Question by HistoryMiner: 4. I was wondering if TV series are touched up before being released to DVD. I wanted to ask because I was a little disappointed in the picture quality of three of the "Wind at My Back" Season 1 episodes (the rest of the episodes were quite good).
Answer: Unfortunately on Season 1 we didn't have enough time to really prep the show and our shooting schedules necessitated shooting some exteriors at a pretty brutual time of year for exterior light which is why those episodes had that look.
Question by HistoryMiner: 5. I guess my only other question has been asked already - whether there is still any chance of a "Wind at My Back" reunion. I was enraptured by that series from Day 1, and had hoped with the show's early demise that there would be a series of TV-movies as for other old CBC series such as "North of 60". It would be an interesting time period - the homefront during World War II.
Answer: There are no current plans unfortunately but we do plan on releasing the entire series on DVD. I am thrilled you enjoyed it. Alot of the stories that we wrote were based on my own family experiences. If you look at the opening credits, alot of the film was original to the 1930s and shot by my great-grandfather in Northern Ontario because he was in the mining business.
Question by Ingleside: 2) Along the same lines, working with legends and pros like Dame Wendy Hiller, Colleen Dewhurst, and Richard Farnsworth, it must have been a dream when they said yes to playing the roles. How was it working with them as a young director? What did you learn from them?
Answer: I was far too naive to even contemplate that. I had actually never read the book and when I sat down to really look at doing it, I was kind of floored by the material because I was worried it would only appeal to 12 year old girls. I took a deep breath and tried to maintain my objectivity and gave it my best shot. The characters and the landscape I created in my own mind out of Montgomery's work are very close to what you see on screen. It was an intellectual challenge but I never once thought about it's longevity.
Question by Valancy: There seems to be a high demand for closed-captioning on the Road to Avonlea DVDs, for hearing-impaired and fans whose first language is not English.
Will this feature be added in future DVD releases?
Answer: Yes we are planning on releasing closed captioning if we do a re-release.
Question by Caroline: Did Megan have to dye her hair or is she naturally a carrot ?
Answer: Megan's natural colour is sandy brown. All that red came out of a bottle and was constantly being retouched.
Question by GemaFan: Do you know if Gema Zamprogna will be present at one of the AvCons in the future?
Answer: AvCon has been such an overwhelming success. Our company has been blown away by the energy, thoughtfulness and ingenuity that the AvCon organizers have shown, against all odds, in creating their remarkable event. I think Gema and all the lead cast members need to show up to the next AvCon convention. I am really sorry that family plans out of the country prevented me from attending this year. AvCon got some great national ink in newspapers and I know alot of the actors are giving it serious consideration for attending the next big event.
Question by Caroline: Was Gema the eldest in her real life family? The way she would boss everyone around was so natural!
Answer: She was the eldest. She had a younger brother. But truthfully, Gema was as down to earth a young lady as they come. She was not bossy at all, she was hard-working, serious and a consummate pro. She was just such a good actress that she made the audience believe it was real.
Question by Caroline: I know I speak for everyone here when I scream that we all have a hunger for so much more! We can only live on watching The Road To Avonlea a million times in a row into the DVD breaks for so long!! I would love to catch up with old characters and see your magic again in film or TV form!!!!
Answer: Thank you. That's one of the nicest compliments a filmmaker can receive and I am thrilled that you still get so much enjoyment out of my films. I've got lots of things in store for 2006 (not necessarily Avonlea related) but you never know. It's been great speaking so easily with fans this evening. I am looking forward to doing it again. Keep you posted! Best wishes, Kevin.
November 17th, 2006
chat with Kevin Sullivan
Question by Caroline: Was Olivia (Mag) as sweet in real life and was Hetty as refined in real life?
Answer: Surprisingly both Mag Ruffman's persona and Jackie Burrough's temperment are very simliar to the characters they play. Not surprisingly, playing is kind of strident characters for 7 years, both women eventually started to become like their characters even moreso. Not withstanding this, they are both delightful and a pleasure to write for as performancers.
Question by Rose_petal: Do you think it'd be possible to do a Q&A session with the main characters of like AOGG, WAMB and RTA?
Answer: We're looking forward to trying to do interactive material with cast members from all three series as part of our web development. So maybe Q&A sessions will develop out of that.
Question by *Bets Wilcox*: I'd like to hear what you consider unique about your films and television shows. How do you think your work on Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea has influenced/helped developed your style?
Answer: I have always enjoyed developing stories that are set in the past. It's an antidote living in our contemporary world. In order to create a real environment in movies all the details that the audiences sees on screen have to be 100% accurate, believable and seemless in order to suspend the audiences' disbelief. Because of the time period that set alot of the stories, I have been required to perfect the art of details that has probably contributed the most to the "style" that you see on screen.
Question by GemaFan: How come Ezekiel didn’t tell Gus that he was his father?
Answer: Captain Crane was the most engmatic characters that we created for this series. To actual have him reveal his true identity to Gus would have taken away the substantial atmosphere in those episodes and would have probably felt like melodrama. We felt that the suspense generated around not knowing that he was his father contributed to a more solid story.
Question by Lady19thC: I was just wondering, looking back at filming RTA for years, did you or the cast ever realize what kind of wonderful influence your show would have on the viewers? My husband and I discovered it on the Disney channel, after we became married and watched it faithfully, until the very last episode. The east coast had a bad black out and we never got to see the wedding-you have no idea how anxious I am to get the last few seasons on DVD! Anyhow, we have voted RTA as our favourite show of all time, and are so pleased with its quality, morals, costumes, fabulous cast and storylines. After growing up on Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons, it was so refreshing to start our married life with another superb quality tv show! I only wish another reunion would take place with the cast and fill us in on the Avonlea gang, which to us, still exists! Thank you for creating such a wonderful series, and thank you, LMM!
Answer: To tell stories through movies and television is a real privilege. Partly because they have such enormous power in affecting people's emotions and telling them something about their own lives. It's a wonderful compliment and people write in to express how much a show like Avonlea has affected them. Thank you, it's part of the privilege of telling stories to people around the world.
Question by RillaBlythe: Do you think there might be a possibility of a Wind at My Back convention eventually, since the Avonlea conventions seem to be pretty popular? I haven't been able to attend an RTA one, but would love to.
Answer: The AvCon conventions have been completely organized outside of Sullivan Entertainment by a group of fans who are so enthusiatic about the show that they congregate and visit the locations and hobnob with many of the actors. If you are interested in organizing a Wind convention, we think it would be a great idea and we would be support it but it would have to be organized by fans.
Question by RillaBlythe: Will your book Beyond Green Gables: Kevin Sullivan's Designscapes be available in bookstores, or exclusively from the Sullivan Boutique?
Answer: It is available initially through Sullivan Boutique as signed copies from the first printing. The second printing will be available retail in 2006.
Question by RillaBlythe: Which movie that you have produced, have you enjoyed working on the most?
Answer: I really enjoyed producing, writing and directing "the Pianoman's Daughter". The project was brought to me by Whoopi Goldberg but it was produced as an independent movie and that meant that it was abit like doing summer stock theatre, in that it was a real team ensemble amongst a very large cast. Every actor was important. We shot at more locations than I've ever used for any other project, but all the locations were shot in studio so it made it a huge technical challenge. It was a very difficult story to tell but one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Question by Avonlea Is Home: I always wanted to meet the actress Lally Cadeau. What was it like working with her?
Answer: Lally is currently on stage as Big Mama in Tennessee Williams' "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario. She is one of the most solid performers I've ever worked with. She also performed the voice of Madame Poubelle in "Anne: Journey to Green Gables", where she does a great Bette Davis' imitiation.
Question by GemaFan: Are you planning to make another Avonlea reunion episode like “Happy Christmas Miss King”?
Answer: Actually the cast are all begging to come back and play their roles. Nothing is in development right now though.
Question by Rose_petal: I was just wondering what Megan is up to these days? Do you ever get to talk with her?
Answer: I just saw Megan on a TV movie called "Shania: Her Life in 7 Albums" where she played Shania Twain's mother. It's hard to believe she's old enough to play someone's mother. She was excellent as always. She also appeared recently in a play, "Sam Sheperd's Fool for Love" here in Toronto at Soulpepper Theatre. Check out their site.
Question by sweetness: During the filming of Anne of Green Gables, all 3 movies, was The house "green gables" used through out all 3 shows? When it is run down in Anne 3, it just doesn't seem right! Can green gables be visited yet? or was it part of the town?
Answer: Green Gables house through all 3 productions was actually 2 different houses shot at different angles to create a big visual effect. The house that was shot from the rear was also the house used for King Farm in Road to Avonlea where it was painted blue. It can't actually be visited because both homes are private. However, the last AvCon group did get special permission to see it. I'm sorry you didn't like it being burned down but that was part of the effect that was required for the story.
Question by Avonlea22: Mr Sullivan, can you share with us where the train scene that is used in a few episodes of RTA was filmed? It very much looks like a steam train going through the PEI countryside, but it certainly can't be, since PEI has no railroad.
Answer: The railroad sequences from Road to Avonlea were shot at the Salem and Hillsborough Railway outside of Moncton, New Brunswick. The water in the background that looks like the ocean is actually a river. The same railway was used in Anne 2 for the sequence where Anne journeys with the Harrises to Boston.
Question by beckysharp: In America, we have to wait a long time to see your work. Are any US Production companies negotiating with you to develop a series. How can the fans help?
Answer: I'm not planning on producing another television series. I've produced over 200 hours of episodic television over a 10 year period and it was a great experience but an exhausting one. Imagine what it's like to have to have a new 1 hour script ready to shoot for a big cast every 2 weeks and to try to keep the material fresh, moving and stimulating for the performers and the audience. I decided to quit while I was ahead. Maybe sometime in the distant future I'll go back to the genre but right now I am concentrating on films for myself to write and direct.
Question by MariaCristina: hello, im a major fan of RTA i was able to watch it completely in spanish in a mexican Channel named ZAZ, both my sister are bilingual, but my parents hardly speak english, my whole family saw the show together, a year ago i got the HCMK movie fully in english, and my parents were so mad cause they didnt understood a word of what they say in there, the anne movies i got on dvd has the lenguage option, so thats ok, but now that i want to buy the dvd's my dad said he wont aloud me to buy something that they wont be able to understand
Answer: The Hallmark channel is showing shows that were released to them by Disney. We don't have anything to do with that release. We do have dubbed Spanish versions available and we may look to release it in Mexico in the future on DVD. However, dubbed Spanish is available on the Anne Trilogy series and is currently for sale in the Sullivan Boutique.
We will release closed captioning versions of the Anne DVDs when we repackage them.
Question by Rose_petal: Since this is on language and captioning...is there Anne of Green Gables in German? I'm in my 4th year of German and while in germany i tried to keep an eye out for it and my German teacher coulnd't find it as well and she's been looking over there as well.
Answer: Anne of Green Gables is currently being released in Germany in full German dub with German subtitles on the behind the scenes. It is available through our boutique in German, however, the format is a European one called PAL and will only play on European DVD players, it will not play in North America. If you're interested, go to to our Boutique under the Product section, click Anne DVDs and you will the option for German or you can click on the German Flag located on the bottom on all the boutique pages. Anne 2 will be released in German very shortly.
Other language asvailable that are available on our boutique Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian and Polish. They can be accessed in the same way.
Question by Caroline: Who was your fave character? Who was your fave actor to work with?
Answer: Colleen Dewhurst and Richard Farnsworth were my favourite performers to work with. Colleen was a thespian stage performer and Richard was a stunt man turned actor. Both performers worked from completely different focus and insight in their craft. Both were incredibly enlightening as human beings. The experience of working with them in the Anne productions was unforgetable.
Question by Zsolt: I mean how many employees do you have for example, do you have any concrete plans for the future?
Answer: Right now we are a company of approximately 25 employees, both here in Canada and in the UK.
Question by Zsolt: May I ask you what is about with Sullivan Entertainment now?
Answer: Right now I have four films in development and you will probably see something new from me in 2006/07. I am interested in pursuing stories that are very, very different from the world that we have seen on screen from my imagination thus far, however, I am always thrilled at the response of Avonlea fans. They are so enthusiatic. Thank you very much for your heartfelt fondness for our productions. That is always a big inspiration.
Question by One of Joseph's race: Have you a favorite or have you made it yet?
Answer: The stories that I am working on currently are always the ones I'm most passionate about. Believe it or not, once I have finished a production I completely put it out of my mind. It's as though I never want to watch it again. I even forget (on purpose) what it was all about. The process of storytelling is all in the immediacy of making a production. Once it's over, it's really over. It's for an audience to enjoy (hopefully).
Question by *Bets Wilcox*: I'm familiar with the Hamilton area and Uxbridge/North/East Toronto area, so I've had the opportunity to visit various Anne1 and Anne2 locations. What inspires you to choose and compile various locations? Did digital technology (as exemplified in the "photoshopping" of the train station on the anne3 dvd) change your choices and how you go through this process?
Answer: There was no digital technology used on Anne 1 and 2. The thing that inspires me to choose locations to film at was based on the atmosphere that they exude and the vista that they create. Both are important elements in creating a visual effect. With new digital technology, filmmakers can go anywhere that their imagination takes them. In some ways, it takes the fun out of finding a real location but often the results are even more spectacular. Thanks for asking.
Question by Avonlea is Home: What was the cast like? Were they all good friends off camera?
Answer: The RTA cast actually became like a real family as they grew into their roles over 7 years. It was really interesting to watch how much the performers became like the characters they played over time. It was terrific to write for them and especially interesting watching them as an outside observer.
Question by Avonlea22: Was the Whte Sands portrayed in RTA really the Dalvay-by-the-Sea, or a replica built in Uxbridge?
Answer: Yes, the White Sands Hotel portrayed in RTA really was the Dalvay-by-the-Sea. However, part of the exterior of the hotel was actually built on the Uxbridge set. So in reality, it was both locations, married quite frequently with digital technology, kind of like what I just talked about in "Film Locations and Productions" thread. Shooting in both locations allowed big vista as well as the practicality of having a set on which all the performers could play. The interior of the hotel was completely built in studio in Toronto.
Question by HistoryMiner: 1. I was wondering whether you considered having Grace and May in the "Wind at My Back" Christmas movie. They were missed, and I was hoping to see a resolution in the Grace storyline.
Answer: I'm sorry neither Grace nor May (the performers) were available for the Wind Xmas movie so we had to write around them.
Question by History Miner: 2. When Cynthia Belliveau left the show, did you decide immediately that you would recast the role? Did you consider other alternatives?
Answer: When Cynthia left the show, we wanted to recast the role but we felt we needed time to bring in a new performer so it wouldn't be too disruptive for the audience. We had also decided by that point to focus the show a little more around Grace as the lead. So we didn't really consider other alternatives.
Question by HistoryMiner: 3. I have the "Wind at My Back" Season 1 DVD and I am looking forward to buying the second one. I am a little worried, though, because in two of the episodes of Season 1 ("Moonshine Struck" and "Train to Nowhere"), the picture suddenly becomes all pixels at two short moments. Is this a problem with the transfer to DVD format? Will this be fixed in later copies of the DVD?
Answer: Sorry the the 2 episodes in Season 1 looked pixelated at one point. The production was shooting on location in extremely bad weather in November. The scenes had to be completed under some difficult lighting restrictions. That is the reason for the difference in the look. There is no problem with the DVD unfortunately it's a look that was as a result of shooting on location.
chat with Kevin Sullivan
Question by Jess of Ingleside: On the latest DVD release of the movie Anne of Green Gables, there was an extra feature showing Megan Follows' audition tape (which was interesting and a lot of fun to watch!). Do you have the auditions for some of the other actors stored anywhere, and is there any chance that we might see them in the future?
Answer: On the latest DVD release of the movie Anne of Green Gables, there was an extra feature showing Megan Follows' audition tape (which was interesting and a lot of fun to watch!). Do you have the auditions for some of the other actors stored anywhere, and is there any chance that we might see them in the future?
Question by beckysharp: As I stated in November, I really enjoyed the relationship between Anne and Gilbert in Anne3. Will we ever see these two lovely actors together again in a Kevin Sullivan production?
Answer: There are no immediate plans to see Megan Follows or Jonathan Crombie in productions outside of their Green Gables roles.
Question by becksharp: Are you familiar with LMM's Blue Castle? Would you film it?
Answer: I am familiar with Blue Castle, however, I have adapted so many of LM Montgomery's works that I feel like I have done my bit in bringing the author's work to the screen.
Question by Estel_Mi_Olor: 4. Why don't Gus and Jasper appear in "Happy Christmas Miss King"?
Answer: Gus, Sarah and Jasper (the performers) were not professionally available for "HCMK".
Question by Estel_Mi_Olor: 5. Why did Elvira Lawson and Abner Jeffries leave the show?
Answer: As for #5, the actors didn't actually leave the show as much as script developments inspired our imaginations as writers and other characters and events took priority.
Question by Estel_Mi_Olor: 7. What is your favorite episode?
Answer: My favourite episode is Memento Mori (please see the Souvenir Script package that is available in our boutique with Season 5 DVDs - it will provide background on my favourite episode).
Question by kozakzs: The book [Beyond Green Gables] contains some pictures about 'King Farm' and the area surrounded it. Most of them are from RTA but there are some photos which are illustrations for your thoughts regarding some subject. Did you take these photos during shooting RTA or did you take them later? I mean when I watched the photo illustrating 'Picnic at the pond', I had the feeling that this one was taken in 2005 because it was soooo familiar. I visited King Farm and its pond with Dan during AvCon2005 and noticed there were corns on the fields of Avonlea instead of grass. On the picture I am talking about one can notice corn-fields in the background. I'm just curious if you took some photos on King Farm during writing this book.
Answer: You are extremely observance. More than 50% of the photography in the book was taken last summer. The corn fields were abit of a shock for me as well! However, the atmosphere for this beautiful location still persists which is one of the reason why I returned there to shoot the designscape book. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was a good opportunity for me to explain to fans how I create atmosphere for my films.
Question by Claire: 5. When do you think the Road To Avonlea DVDs with English subtitles will be released?
Answer: Unfortunately, we don't have any plans for closed captioning on RTA as we do not have CC available in PAL.
Questions by Timothy: There must have been a lot of creative challenges adapting Montgomery's works into the series Road to Avonlea. One challenge that comes to mind was the challenge of deciding which direction to take Sara Stanley's character at the beginning of the second season, once her residency was determined.
Were there any long term plans/storylines for Sara Stanley in Road to Avonlea that were changed or discarded due to Sarah Polley's eventual departure from the series?
Were there any exciting or interesting storylines/plots that may have been considered but were not used in Road to Avonlea?
Answer: Actually, many fans and press always wanted to know what direction we would be taking the series when we began production on it from year to year. My answer was always "I have absolutely no idea." That is because we made all the stories up as we went. The characters came to life for us on the page and we often didn't worry about having a significant direction to the series. Each episode was produced more like a feature film so each story was really quite autonomous. The challenges for me were stretching the visual direction of the series and the magnificent talents of a fantastic cast and guest stars. Sara's eventual departure from the series was accommodated in due course as she had other professional opportunities she wanted to pursue after six years. Because it was such a great ensemble cast, her departure offered many opportunities. I have eighteen boxes full of stories that were never used! The writers were very prolific.
Question by felicity18: 1. Do you regret making "An Avonlea Christmas" after the disapointment from fans, and if so would you have done it differently?
Answer: I'm sorry to disappoint you, I love An Avonlea Christmas. I really enjoyed director, Stefan Scaini's fresh approach. I also found the script by Raymond Storey to be very moving.