A celebration of the life of "Ted" Hunt

A Celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. at the First Parish Federated Church in South Berwick, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Berwick Public Library, P.O. Box 838, Berwick, Maine 03901 (207-698-5939)

Blog hiatus to honour the memory of Fred (Ted) Hunt

I will not be posting anything for the next 10 days or so to honour the memory of Fred (Ted) Hunt who died helping save my wife from the riptide in Cocoa Beach Florida. God Bless his soul and courage, we will always remember him and are grateful for his life.
Maureen and Iden

A Celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. at the First Parish Federated Church in South Berwick, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Berwick Public Library, P.O. Box 838, Berwick, Maine 03901 (207-698-5939)

Sunrise from our balcony and a link to go to . . . see the very bottom note

Wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up and see some variation of this everyday? On the other side of our condo we get the sunset but I was way too tired after traveling all day and recovering from the wrap party and my high school reunion where I got to see lots of old friends. It is pretty shocking to see people you knew 37 years ago and how they look now. Some look similar, others, the hand of time has not been as favourable. But and I say but, I look different too and the sad reality is that although I see through my eyes, others remember me with a full head of hair down to my shoulders. So it goes both ways, but I am happy to have been an athlete most of my life and continue to be. That has at least kept my body youthful looking and of course allows me to take long cycling trips.
I suspect things will be quite on the series front until December when there will be hopefully some promotion, which will get the full treatment nearer to broadcast.
Maureen is off at the pool right now and she intends to come home with a full outline and chapter one of her new book down on paper for her new agent. We are both really excited about this new book and its prospects. Perhaps by this time next year we will know where it will be published and when. Mroe later. I'm off to have a nap.
PS, this is the final Colgate shot and I think it kicks the h out of the others
Final note:
Link to
http://www.idenfordphotography.com/bloodontheholly/
To view the shots from the booklaunch of Blood on the Holly last Wednesday night

Love and Happiness in Yorkville and how I hate my nose hair

The party started at 9:30 and we left at 12:30, with most staying on til 1:00. This is a wonderful happy group who were so pleased with the job they did and great bond exists amongst these people. Our star is very happy with his perforamance and work, the show is carried along on his shoulders. It is The Murdoch Mysteries and Yannick is Detective Murdoch. I was delighted he seemed so fresh and energetic at the party but he is that way naturally. Although everyone busted their butts for 5 months, there was a sense at the party that everyone is ready to do more, lots more. Maureen had a great time and was a trooper enjoying all the kudos she got for creating the character. Scott Garvie was there from Shaftesbury and told me things went well for Granada over in Cannes. In due time there will be announcements about broadcasters, be patient on that one, it is all good.
We will see lots of people at the screening of the pilot, which should be at the beginning of the year.
Lots more stories to tell you, I will do that ongoing so keep coming back to the blog.
It's been a slice, I do hate nose hair though!!

It all finishes today for season one - today is the last day

Today is the last day of filming for The Murdoch Mysteries season one. There are add on scenes being shot for about 6 episodes and there will be three directors there doing them. It's been a great ride but I am sure everybody is looking forward to the break. That first week was so exciting when the show started up at Springhill Manor in Dundas Ont. If you look back in the archives of this blog you can see how far we have come with 13 episodes of Murdoch Mysteries in the can. I am hoping to get a report on how the Mipcon went in Cannes for Granada, when I see the producers tomorrow at the wrap party. Thanks everybody, and thanks to all the actors, crew and entire team who are all involved in our series. Onwards to great success.

A friend of mine crafted this custom piece

Jewelry is hell to photgraph. I thought this turned out okay. Anthony Macginnis is an artist and custom jeweler. My model was supposed to wear this on Saturday. Alas, we will do it again.
We got script revisions for two episodes they have wrapped already. Wednesday the series will be shooting scenes from different episodes to put the finishing touches on two or three. Then it's off to the party and running man's time to kick back and do lots of riding while the weather is still good. I too kthe day of from exercise today, I feel like I could use a week by the sea. Hey guess what, I will have it!!

Wrap Party and . . .

We are going to the wrap party this Thursday night at 9:00 in the Yorkville area of Toronto. This is good because I am in web page design class til 9 and have to write an exam. On Saturday we are off to Florida for a week and I am SOOOOO looking forward to that vacation.
My shoot did not go well yesterday because of illness. However we are going to go again and all my prep will be worth it as I bought two new silver umbrellas and Thunder Gray seemless background. Will re shoot that in November.
In the meantime I have to work on my toothpaste shots this week for class and then Friday night I go to a H.S. reunion dinner and they asked me to do some photography as well.
Phew, gonna be running to catch the plane eh?
I promise all tidbits of info that I can get for you when I get it.

Noit much to tell you but . . .

Heard today that Granada is doing very well at the MIP con in Cannes with sales of the series. I will know more next week. The wrap party is coming on Thursday and I will get lots of gossip. I was over at the office today chatting with the writers and some of the team. Everybody is happy with the show and expects it go into a second season. Lots of positive energy about. They bust their butts over there and work very long hours. I know they are looking forward to a nice break. The writing team will reconvene for season two sometime in January where they will have to conjure 13 more episodes.
Reminder this coming week is the launch of Blood on the Holly and it will be the last Murdoch story, other than tv, for a long time. Contact Sleuth of Baker Street bookstore http://www.sleuthofbakerstreet.com to order a signed copy.
Maureen is conjuring her new story and what a story it will be set during WW2 around a pow camp near Wales. Gonna be a big blockbuster thriller. Can't wait for her to start on it.
I am shooting in the studio tomorrow and going for a Jill Greenberg look with a model. Shooting with a ring lite and two silver umbrellas as well as thunder gray seemless backdrop. We have a make up artist coming as well.I will post some shots once I have processed them. Should be lots of work and fun.
Off to see Van Halen tonight, Maureen hates rock so I go with some friends.
I have earplugs.

see how I spend my Wednesday evenings?

Which one do you like the best and should I call Colgate?
This was my school assignment tonight

The show is on the road for its final days

Tomorrow the show is in Dundas, Ontario, shooting on a conservation area for The Annoying Red Planet. This is an episode that Jonny Harris auditioned with back in February, so it has come full circle for our Crabtree.
On Thursday they will be shooting in Rockwood, Ontario, which is near Guelph.
So my friends, our tale will be winding down soon as we wait for the publicity machine to kick in as we approach year end and they get ready to broadcast at the beginning of 2008. I will announce things when I know them so no point asking me anything because I tell you everything that I know when I know it and when I can.
I am less tired today and had a good work day, suddenly I am getting requests for photography jobs. This is a good thing and I expect I will be very busy with this over the next year which is also a good thing.
Maureen has decided to have her hip replaced after postponing the decision for two years. She will have this done on January 9th. This is good because she will have more mobility and energy once it is done.
Anybody out there have this surgery or know someone who has?
Just curious about the recovery. Good thing is she will be at home having to work on the new book eh?? Keep the writer in the writer's chair, more productivity then.
Cheers

Oh my, I hit the wall

I worked and did a photo shoot on Saturday, then we had Alex Zarowney, one of the writers on our show, and we chowed down on a wonderful thanksgiving dinner. And then yesterday we went off to our frend Lorna's for another dinner.
I got up today and did post production on some of the shots I took. I went for a run and when I got back I said to Maureen, I'm toast and I cannot go out anywhere. She is at our sister n laws place right now and i am here doing more work. I will relax tonight and watch the ball game as I have another full week with another photo shoot and Van Halen on Friday night.
I feel like I am just going to make it to our break
By the way there are some updates on Maureen's web page in news and events. She has a few more local appreances lined up before year end.
The wrap party is going to be one week from Thursday I think which means I am in school writing an exam that night and will go over later on.
This is a shot of the family I worked with on Saturday. They are very good looking bunch eh? and what about my neighbour, spidey got upset with me so I let him alone after a few shots.

7 work days to go

Hard to believe we started way back at the beginning of June. Here are some shots from the first two weeks which I found on The Brantford Expositor's website. This was when they were shooting Elementary My Dear Murdoch back in June.
Today Maureen visited the set and was interviewed by Jim Bawden for the Toronto Star. They took lots of shots as well.
I had an email correspondence with an angel from tv land today, she's our angel. We have had a wonderul ride so far with three movies of the week and now a full blown series.
Our angel loves the show and has great expectations for it and its future. We are happy about this as are all the fine people who are working so hard on meeting deadlines, keeping the show under budget, and delivering top notch television that is both unusual in it's setting and entertaining for an audience. There is nothing on television quite like the Murdoch Mysteries. Long may it live and you my friends will get to see it soon.
There is already talk amongst the creative team about ideas for season two. Dreams are what make people believe in themselves and their ambitions. Now we dream, then we see. All in good time.
One of our writer friends is coming over for Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow. It is Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend as the harvest has happened here already, and we still have temperatures in the 80's farenheit.
Let's all savor the wonderful bounty we enjoy in North America and pray for the less fortunate.
Talk Soon
Iden

HOT BOX by Jim Bawden Television to talk about

Well tomorrow is the day Jim Bawden, the Toronto Star television columnist, will be on the set of the Murdoch Mysteries to interview my wife of course and all of the major stars of the show, Yannick, Helene, Jonny, Tom. I would think also the production team as well.
This has been in the works for a few months and will likely result in a cover article in the Star TV Guide which comes out on Saturdays. I'm sure the feature article will not run until just before they air the series. Count on this not appearing until early 2007.
Okay so tonight they are wrapping on two episodes out in Hamilton. One of the episodes involves a huge bomb and explosion. They are working late into the night and tomorrow they start on the final episode, The Annoying Red Planet. This is going to be interesting this one as it has spies and all sorts of interesting stuff. Final Finals, then post production all the way to February.
They may go to air before that but the episodes that are getting the final treatment will be the later ones.
It will be all in the hands of you my friends the viewers.
So another interesting note.
Keeley Hawes, our first Doctor Ogden, is going to star in the new series featuring DI Gene Hunt played by Phillip Glenister. If you recall he starred in Life on Mars with John Simm.
So now Keeley will co star as a Profiler who goes back in time as a result of an accident, very similar to the Simm character in Life on Mars, and she has to bring Forensic Profiling techniques to a band of cops from the early 80's. I find it ironic that Keeley was in our first two movies of the week and goes on to play a profiler, and my wife is now writing a series about a profiler, Christine Morris.
We love Keely's work and she is such a wonderful actress.I do have an autographed copy Under The Dragons Tail where Dr Ogden is writing a letter to Detective Murdoch. She signed the book at the end of Ogden's letter.
Good to see her back as an ongoing character in a new series. The photo was taken by Steve Wilkie, the set photographer for the movies of the week, and a number of the episodes on the new series. Is he not an amazing photographer?? I hope I get to his level soon, he went to my school was well, Ryerson U.
And here is one of Steve's shots of the new Dr Ogden, is she not lovely as well?? Helene Joy is from Australia and brings such a rich talent to her role. She is my favourite actress working in television in Canada. She sets a standard in skill, you'll see for yourselves!!

Never look back, always move forward in creation

I will tell you all the truth. There will be no more Murdoch novels for the forseeable future for simply one reason. Maureen wants to pursue her goal of writing a novel set in the rural part of England during World War ll. She is researching a new book and has never been more excited about writing a novel than this one. She was a child during WWll when Birmingham was being bombed by the Nazi's. Her whole upbringing was shaped by the war and it's after effects on the British. She is fascinated with this subject.
Christine lives as well in her new series, of which there will be more novels, at least 3-5. Read the first two, you will see what I mean.
So these two projects will take up the next four years of her writing time.
Seven books in a series is a good lot. They are all top rate well written historical mysteries which are about to be taken onto the screen and into your homes in the form of The Murdoch Mysteries tv series.
Her creative ideas for Murdoch will be given to the writing team which perhaps she will be given an opportunity to write a script in future seasons. The producers know she would like to do this.
Murdoch will live on tv.
After Maureen writes the next four books which will be about what I mentioned, she will consider bringing Murdoch back 5 years older, 1902
Let's wait and see. She writes wonderful fiction and whatever she creates will be just as amazing as her Murdoch series, and for this I know first hand because I get to read it all before anybody else eh??
Lucky me and lucky you

A word or two about The K Handshape

Well, I finished reading the final draft last which Maureen sent off to the publisher last week. For those of you who have read Does Your Mother Know, you will be happy to know that many of your favourite characters are in this book, but Christine corresponds with them by telephone in this book as it is a couple of years since we last saw Christine over on the Island of Lewis.
She is at home in Orillia, Ontario for this novel working at the OPP profiling centre which is actually located in Orillia.
She becomes involved in solving a case of a drowned dead woman who has been found with a scarf tied around her neck.
Turns out the dead woman is the mother of a deaf child whom she deliberately found a deaf man to ensure she had a deaf child. This caused a lot of controversy at the time as the local papers did a big write up about it.
In the novel we meet the profiing team from the "Centre" and the local police who work on this case together.
Christine's friend Paula is in the novel who we met in the first book, we hear from Gil who was the officer on the case in the Hebrides, we hear a lot from Joan, Christine's mom who Christine still has her challenges with, we meet Christine's tenants who are an interesting pair.
We meet a whole cast of characters who work at Casino Rama, Russian strippers from the local strip joint, sleezy guys, members of the deaf community, trailer park residents, and more.
There is another horrific murder in a retirement residence which involves a resident who has been sexually assaulted and murdered.
The case eventually comes together for Sgt Christine Morris using her expertise in Forensic Profiling.
The finish of this book gallops to a grim ending once the cuprit is outed. We are left with powerful images of a story that is both heart rending and horrific.
This is a tour de force of mystery writing that takes you right into the heart of an unusual crime in unusual circumstances. You also get to visit a setting on the shores of Lake Couchaching that you might never get a chance to see.
As usual Maureen did hours of research both with the location that the story is set in (Orillia Ont.), as well as multiple visits to the Toronto Forensic Crimes Unit, and The OPP centre in Orillia. She interviewed the officers involved in solving these kinds of crimes in Southern Ontario, who were all very willing to help and are all devoted and wonderful people who deal with very sad circumtances.
The book will be out in Janaury, you can order it online from any Amazon right now.

Can't wait for you to read this one.

IMDB -Murdoch Mysteries 2008

Copy and paste this link
http://imdb.com/title/tt1091909/
Go through all the links and you can see that IMDB is now starting to post the new series, although it is not a complete listing yet. Funnily enough there is no mention of my wife yet, but I am sure they will fix that eventually. She is listed in Mudoch Mysteries 2004.
Nice to see this up because it at least shows that we have a show.
MIP Television in Cannes from Oct 8-12 is where the distributor, Granada Television, will be doing the first big international sales push. Hopefully I will have more to report outside of the show airing in Canada and the UK. But that is a few weeks off yet.
One more episode to shoot. The production will start on the final episode of production for season one next week.
It's been quite a journey and we all expect it will carry on once the first season airs. But that of course is up to the network and the fans. It is a good show and I expect it to find an audience, a big audience.