Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 30/99) - By the time the Canadian television series North of 60 was wrapping up its sixth and final season, it was being broadcast across 60 countries around the world and dubbed in more than 10 different languages.

People in such far-flung and improbable locations as Sri Lanka, Turkey and Algeria were watching the trials and tribulations, the joys and successes, of the people of Lynx River -- including the Kenidi siblings Peter (Tom Jackson) and Michelle (Tina Keeper). They still are, by way of reruns.

As a result of the extraordinary popularity of the series, a first television movie was conceived, developed, shot and ultimately aired this past March.

In shooting In the Blue Ground, the production team of Tom Dent-Cox and Doug MacLeod broke the established routine of filming solely on the set in Bragg Creek, near Calgary. They came North -- all the way to the Deh Cho region.

Well they're coming North again, all the way to Yellowknife this time.

This week, Dent-Cox and six other members of his production team were in Yellowknife to do some final onsite planning for their three-day shoot here come Aug. 31.

In The Blue Ground was a "contemporary police thriller," while Trial by Fire will be a film loaded with political intrigue. The underlying premise? Peter Kenidi runs for premier.

"For Peter Kenidi it's a reawakening of his sense of commitment to his community," explains Dent-Cox.

While sitting in a little boat on Yellowknife Bay with Dent-Cox and NWT Film Commissioner Garry Singer, heading out to Matthew Grogono's houseboat -- one of several local sites to be used in the film -- I wonder what exactly goes into choosing a location.

Dent-Cox explains that writer Andrew Wreggitt, along with a producer, came to town in February to get the lay of the land.

"We knew a bit before (the writing of the script). We look for locations that match what we've written. Hopefully, we've written reality," he says.

And why the houseboat?

"It's a unique part of Yellowknife," says Dent-Cox, adding that the lake makes for great visuals.

The houseboat will, in fact, be the site where a chase scene begins.

As it is explained to me, "somebody" is hiding out at the houseboat and "somebody else" is interviewed by Michelle Kenidi and Const. James Harper (Peter Kelly Gaudreault). The first somebody escapes...and the chase begins.

On the houseboat proper, the crew -- comprised of Dent-Cox, his director, assistant producer, production manager, director of photography, production designer and first assistant director -- huddle around a window discussing in minuscule detail the various shooting possibilities.

"All kinds of jeopardy could be created..." says one of the group.

In actuality, exterior shots only will be filmed in fair Yk -- except for the scenes filmed at the legislative assembly.

The interior of the houseboat, for example, will be nowhere near Yellowknife. Rather, it will be recreated in the south, where all interior shooting will take place.

The great news in all this for Yellowknifers with filmic aspirations -- besides obvious star-gazing possibilities -- is that close to 100 extras will be needed, not to mention the two speaking roles that will be cast locally.

Stay tuned for the details.