49th and Main
In partnership with Raging Ruby Pictures
Bill Gray, Barbara Ellison, and William B. Davis
49th and Main - Update
Despite embarking on a competition that inspired 359 proposals, vast amounts of time by broadcaster and producer alike, and the expenditure of several million dollars, the CBC has decided it cannot afford to go forward with a daytime series.Clearly our show was caught between the ambitions of the previous regime and the fiscal caution of the new. So, despite being one of the two winners of this major competition, CBC viewers will not see more than the six episodes already broadcast.The good news is the CBC will cooperate in returning the project to us, the producers. We will be looking at opportunities with other broadcasters.
49th and Main - Broadcast History
The CBC broadcast our six episodes of 49th and Main during the last two weeks of July, 2006. Given the strange timeslot, 2:30 in a midweek afternoon, we were very pleased with the response.
We were delighted to have the opportunity to make these shows and viewing copies can be made availabe to interested professionals.
49th and Main - Background
Here is the background to this story. In June of 2004, CBC issued a call for proposals for a daytime television series that would feature ethnic diversity. In partnership with Raging Ruby Pictures, we submitted our proposal, 49th and Main. CBC received 359 proposals from all across the country. Our proposal made the first cut to 12, at which time we were charged with writing a bible and a sample script. We made the next cut to 6, and were charged with writing another script. We made the final cut to 2, and were then required to produce a sample episode which we did and submitted it in March of 2005 as required by the terms of the contest. Subsequently we were charged with producing six episodes for broadcast in the summer of 2006.
A Canadian Coronation Street, 49th and Main starts with the adventures of Dr. Cedric Ferriera, an Indian from Kenya, educated in England, as he and his young son attempt to start a new life in Canada. He sets up his new practice at the corner of 49th Ave and Main St, Vancouver, and is immediately thrust into a colourful and bewildering new world.
The Six Episodes
The six new episodes of 49th and Main were produced in the spring of 2006 and were aired in July of that year.
Three of the episodes were directed by William B. Davis and the other three by Tom Braidwood. Cast included Cedric de Souza, Beverly Elliott, Dhirendra, Elizabeth Thai, Rekha Sharma, and Mina E. Mina. Production design was by Mathew Budgeon, the DOP was Kamal Derkoui, and the producer was Dan Schlanger. Barbara Ellison was the head writer.
Barbara Ellison and William B. Davis wrote all six episodes, with participation from Ita Margalit on episode 4.
49th and Main - Middle March
In partnership with Raging Ruby Pictures, we completed production of this sample episode of our proposed series for the CBC in the winter of 2005. As one of two finalists from 359 applications in the CBC competition for a daytime television series, we were commissioned to produce a sample episode of our half hour drama series, entitled, 49th and Main. Our episode, Middle March, was written by Barbara Ellison and William B. Davis and directed by William B. Davis. It was submitted to the CBC in late February, 2005.
Our series features a rich variety of characters, inspired by the ethnically diverse region of 49th and Main, Vancouver, delineated by the creative imagination of our head writer, Barbara Ellison, and brought to life by some of Vancouver's wonderful actors.
