103-511: Degrassi is a Canadian teen drama television franchise created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler , that follows the lives of youths attending the eponymous secondary school in Toronto . Each entry since 1987 has taken place in the same continuity. Outside of television, the franchise comprises a variety of other media, such as companion novels, graphic novels, documentaries, soundtracks, and non-fiction works. In 1979, Schuyler and Hood adapted
206-420: A Movie was adapted into a short film by the same name , which would become the genesis for the highly successful Degrassi teen drama franchise. In 1988, Chorao published Cathedral Mouse , which was well received by critics and featured among the ten best children's picture books of the year, by New York Times . In 1990, Chorao's book Baby's Lap Book was selected by American Library Association among
309-425: A band led by Peter Stone ( Jamie Johnston ), seem poised for their big break. A group of Degrassi students go to New York. Jane Vaughn ( Paula Brancati ) is invited there to front a rock band for a TV performance, Spinner Mason ( Shane Kippel ) and Emma Nelson ( Miriam McDonald ) decide to marry in a spur of the moment situation. During The Kids of Degrassi Street's run, a series of eight books based on episodes from
412-538: A bench with a memorial plaque was installed in various locations important to the original Degrassi series, including Vincent Massey Junior School (the location of Degrassi Junior High ) and the Centennial College Story Arts Centre (the location of Degrassi High ). In 2021, Hood's daughter Georgia started an online petition to have the laneway behind the former Playing With Time production office named after him. In December 2023,
515-462: A better understanding of the film. According to the taxonomy, combining the type with the genre does not create a separate genre. For instance, the "Horror Drama" is simply a dramatic horror film (as opposed to a comedic horror film). "Horror Drama" is not a genre separate from the horror genre or the drama type. Crime dramas explore themes of truth, justice, and freedom, and contain the fundamental dichotomy of "criminal vs. lawman". Crime films make
618-423: A broader range of moods . To these ends, a primary element in a drama is the occurrence of conflict —emotional, social, or otherwise—and its resolution in the course of the storyline. All forms of cinema or television that involve fictional stories are forms of drama in the broader sense if their storytelling is achieved by means of actors who represent ( mimesis ) characters . In this broader sense, drama
721-511: A career in editing television commercials, when she needed help from an experienced editor to save the "muddled footage" of one of her projects. As a media teacher, Schuyler encouraged her students to use video as a narrative tool. Bruce Mackey, Earl Grey's librarian and a friend of Schuyler, procured her several books about filmmaking upon her request, one being Ida Makes a Movie, by the American author Kay Chorao . Mackey did not realize that it
824-526: A change in production style to a telenovela/soap opera format, and for the first time, episodes airing in Canada and the United States on the same day. "The Next Generation" was also dropped from the title, which became simply Degrassi . Degrassi was cancelled after fourteen seasons, and a spin off series called Degrassi: Next Class aired on Netflix for four seasons from 2016 to 2017. Season one
927-646: A lack of updates, though WildBrain later indicated that they still intend to produce the series. Degrassi is regarded as one of Canada's greatest television achievements and is one of the most successful media franchises in Canadian history. It has been widely acclaimed over its four-decade history for its approach to adolescence and serious issues faced by adolescents. It has courted controversy on several occasions for episodes depicting teenage pregnancy , abortion , and LGBT issues, with various episodes facing some form of editing or censorship outside of Canada since
1030-413: A later timeslot on BBC2 , and the network did not air its second and third seasons. The series established the franchise's popularity and longevity. By the time its follow-up began, it amassed over a million viewers weekly in Canada. In November 1988, after the premiere of the third and final season of Degrassi Junior High , Linda Schuyler alluded to the potential of a high-school followup when discussing
1133-580: A live performance, it has also been used to describe the more high-brow and serious end of the dramatic output of radio . The Screenwriters Taxonomy contends that film genres are fundamentally based upon a film's atmosphere, character and story, and therefore the labels "drama" and "comedy" are too broad to be considered a genre. Instead, the taxonomy contends that film dramas are a "Type" of film; listing at least ten different sub-types of film and television drama. Docudramas are dramatized adaptations of real-life events. While not always completely accurate,
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#17327799647401236-685: A more central component of the story, along with serious content. Examples include Three Colours: White (1994), The Truman Show (1998), The Man Without a Past (2002), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), and Silver Linings Playbook (2012). Coined by film professor Ken Dancyger , these stories exaggerate characters and situations to the point of becoming fable, legend or fairy tale. Examples: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and Maleficent (2014). Light dramas are light-hearted stories that are, nevertheless, serious in nature. Examples: The Help (2011) and The Terminal (2004). Psychological dramas are dramas that focus on
1339-520: A new series in the franchise consisting of 10 hour-long episodes set to premiere in 2023. It was announced that the new series would be helmed by Lara Azzopardi and Julia Cohen, who previously wrote the Degrassi: The Next Generation episode "Heat of The Moment." Linda Schuyler, franchise co-creator, and Stephen Stohn, creative partner on The Next Generation , issued a joint statement confirming that they would not be involved in
1442-633: A person's life and raises their level of importance. The "small things in life" feel as important to the protagonist (and the audience) as the climactic battle in an action film, or the final shootout in a western. Often, the protagonists deal with multiple, overlapping issues in the course of the film – just as we do in life. Films of this type/genre combination include: The Wrestler (2008), Fruitvale Station (2013), and Locke (2013). Romantic dramas are films with central themes that reinforce our beliefs about love (e.g.: themes such as "love at first sight", "love conquers all", or "there
1545-407: A positive, yet mixed reception. It garnered controversy for its unusual characterization of certain popular characters as well as the catastrophic events experienced by other characters. It was also notable for its use of the word "fuck", first said by Stefan Brogren and then Stacie Mistysyn, that are claimed to be the first uses of the word in Canadian television history. Despite the mixed reception,
1648-598: A role, but that actor is bringing 10 more years of life experience to that role. By having our cast be age-appropriate, they bring the freshness and the authenticity of that age." The franchise has been the subject of numerous controversies and censorships since the 1980s. In the United Kingdom, several episodes of Degrassi Junior High' s first season, including the International Emmy award-winning episode "It's Late", were not aired in its regular place on
1751-464: A specific approach to drama but, rather, consider drama as a lack of comedic techniques. Examples: Ghost World (2001) and Wuthering Heights (2011). According to the Screenwriters' Taxonomy, all film descriptions should contain their type (comedy or drama) combined with one (or more) of the eleven super-genres. This combination does not create a separate genre, but rather, provides
1854-412: Is a mode distinct from novels, short stories , and narrative poetry or songs . In the modern era, before the birth of cinema or television, "drama" within theatre was a type of play that was neither a comedy nor a tragedy . It is this narrower sense that the film and television industries, along with film studies , adopted. " Radio drama " has been used in both senses—originally transmitted in
1957-526: Is a final fight to the death; the idea of the protagonists facing death is a central expectation in a war drama film. In a war film even though the enemy may out-number, or out-power, the hero, we assume that the enemy can be defeated if only the hero can figure out how. Examples include: Apocalypse Now (1979), Come and See (1985), Braveheart (1995), Life Is Beautiful (1997), Black Book (2006), The Hurt Locker (2008), 1944 (2015), Wildeye (2015), and 1917 (2019). Films in
2060-861: Is an American artist, illustrator and writer of children's books. Chorao was born in Elkhart, Indiana , into a middle-class, suburban family. She loved and was encouraged to draw at a young age. She attended Laurel School in Shaker Heights, OH . Chorao went to Wheaton College , where in 1958 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in art history . After that, Chorao pursued her graduate study at Chelsea School of Art from 1958 to 1959. Chorao got married and had three sons before moving to New York with her family. From 1966 to 1968, she studied book illustration at School of Visual Arts in New York. Besides writing self-illustrated children's books, Chorao has been
2163-487: Is by growing with them. Therefore, the issues get more complex." In the series finale of Degrassi Junior High , the titular school is destroyed in a fire. To keep the entire cast together, a creative decision was made to move the younger students displaced by the fire to the new school to join those that had already graduated. Conversely, the grade 7 students introduced in the third season of Degrassi Junior High were accelerated to grade 9 for an unspecified reason. To give
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#17327799647402266-421: Is someone out there for everyone"); the story typically revolves around characters falling into (and out of, and back into) love. Annie Hall (1977), The Notebook (2004), Carol (2015), Her (2013) , and La La Land (2016) are examples of romance dramas. The science fiction drama film is often the story of a protagonist (and their allies) facing something "unknown" that has the potential to change
2369-422: Is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-genre, macro-genre, or micro-genre, such as soap opera , police crime drama , political drama , legal drama , historical drama , domestic drama , teen drama , and comedy-drama (dramedy). These terms tend to indicate a particular setting or subject matter, or they combine a drama's otherwise serious tone with elements that encourage
2472-459: The Kay Chorao book Ida Makes A Movie into a live-action short film , and expanded upon its universe with a series of subsequent installments until 1982, when it evolved into the critically acclaimed children's series The Kids of Degrassi Street , which aired for 26 episodes until 1986. That year, the duo developed Degrassi Junior High , which focused on the teenage demographic they felt
2575-466: The Toronto Star that WildBrain considered the failed HBO deal a "false start." Schuyler maintained her optimism in an August 2023 podcast interview, but revealed that the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike had been impacting plans to go forward. On 6 December 2023, WildBrain announced a three-part documentary series about the franchise, produced in co-operation with Peacock Alley. The series is set to examine
2678-763: The western super-genre often take place in the American Southwest or Mexico, with a large number of scenes occurring outdoors so we can soak in scenic landscapes. Visceral expectations for the audience include fistfights, gunplay, and chase scenes. There is also the expectation of spectacular panoramic images of the countryside including sunsets, wide open landscapes, and endless deserts and sky. Examples of western dramas include: True Grit (1969) and its 2010 remake , Mad Max (1979), Unforgiven (1992), No Country for Old Men (2007), Django Unchained (2012), Hell or High Water (2016), and Logan (2017). Some film categories that use
2781-455: The American market before producing Beverly Hills, 90210 , a story Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood have both denied. The franchise has won numerous Gemini Awards , several Teen Choice Awards and Young Artist Awards , two International Emmys , and a Peabody Award , among other awards and nominations. Degrassi: The Next Generation became notable for featuring several actors who went on to achieve wider recognition and stardom since their time on
2884-413: The American sitcoms of the era that were perceived as unrealistic and heavy-handed in their portrayal of societal issues. Although not as well known in the United States, it drew similar praise from the American media. Initially aired on Sundays at 5:00pm, Canadian critics believed the show deserved a better timeslot; Ivan Fecan , then the programming chief for CBC, was also a champion of the series, and had
2987-493: The Apes (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Blade Runner (1982) and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Children of Men (2006), Interstellar (2014), and Arrival (2016). In the sports super-genre, characters will be playing sports. Thematically, the story is often one of "Our Team" versus "Their Team"; their team will always try to win, and our team will show the world that they deserve recognition or redemption;
3090-544: The New York Times, who asserted it was "remolding the pat-a-cake image of what the industry, with at least some sense of paradox, likes to call ''children's television.'' Its sequel, Degrassi High , garnered similar praise. In 1990, Lynne Heffley of the Los Angeles Times called Degrassi one of the "gutsiest shows on television." Kelli Pryor of Entertainment Weekly called it the " thirtysomething of
3193-571: The actor who hosted the episode. The books also feature expanded versions of several interviews seen in the series, as well as other interviews that were not shown in the series due to time constraints. From 2006 to 2007, four graphic novels based on Degrassi: The Next Generation were released as part of the Extra Credit series, with the books centering on the characters Ellie Nash, Emma Nelson, Spinner Mason, and Marco Del Rossi respectively. There were also several other non-fiction books based on
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3296-407: The audience jump through a series of mental "hoops"; it is not uncommon for the crime drama to use verbal gymnastics to keep the audience and the protagonist on their toes. Examples of crime dramas include: The Godfather (1972), Chinatown (1974), Goodfellas (1990), The Usual Suspects (1995), The Big Short (2015), and Udta Punjab (2016). According to Eric R. Williams ,
3399-603: The background if not the main focus of the episode, which according to Kathryn Ellis, was "nearly unheard-of on other television shows." Conversely, a background character could later be given more lines or a full role. The cast would have significant input into the writing of their characters, with Schuyler seeking opinions during every read-through , and cast members often talking about their experiences to writer Yan Moore , who would eventually adapt said experiences to their characters. The resulting series, Degrassi Junior High , premiered on CBC on January 18, 1987. The series marked
3502-449: The beginning of the franchise's canon, as characters from this series would appear as adults in later installments. The show also aired on PBS in the United States starting from September 1987. The show would feature one of the franchise's most well-known and influential storylines, in which 14 year old Christine "Spike" Nelson , portrayed by Amanda Stepto , becomes pregnant. The episode in which she discovers her pregnancy, " It's Late " ,
3605-820: The book Programming Reality: Perspectives On English-Canadian Television , Michele Byers wrote that the series is "often heralded as speaking to rather than for young people." Throughout the years, it has commonly been contrasted with similar teen shows produced in the United States that are perceived to value style over substance. Filmmaker and Degrassi fan Kevin Smith wrote in TV Guide of watching Degrassi Junior High : "These were ordinary-looking … kids like I had been in high school … dealing with real problems—not that 90210 kinda TV problem-crap … I could identify with these kids … These non-glamorous, unpolished, awkward, age-appropriate-for-the-roles actors made me believe that I
3708-514: The book-bag set." While met with some skepticism, including from The Ottawa Citizen 's Tony Atherton and The Seattle Times ' Melanie McFarland, Degrassi: The Next Generation also went on to receive critical acclaim. Entertainment Weekly called it "a cult hit", and The New York Times named it "Tha Best Teen TV N da WRLD." AOL TV ranked it as the sixth TV's Biggest Guilty Pleasure. Linda Schuyler explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2012 that "the show set out to be an authentic — and I use
3811-482: The cancellation and recalled: "They never told us anything. We had our contracts and the way it worked was they had to tell you by a certain date if we were picked up or not. We just never heard from them again." On January 20, 2020, Degrassi co-creator Kit Hood died of a brain aneurysm at his home in Nova Scotia, aged 76. On January 13, 2022, it was announced that HBO Max gave a series order to Degrassi ,
3914-413: The characters of Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High to accompany the two series . Each book focused on a different character, such as Spike , Joey, Caitlin, Wheels, and Snake, often expanding on their storylines or following new ones entirely. Another novel, Exit Stage Left , was an original story focused on multiple characters. One book, focused on the characters of Arthur Kobalewscuy and Yick Yu,
4017-533: The characters' inner life and psychological problems. Examples: Requiem for a Dream (2000), Oldboy (2003), Babel (2006), Whiplash (2014), and Anomalisa (2015) Satire can involve humor, but the result is typically sharp social commentary that is anything but funny. Satire often uses irony or exaggeration to expose faults in society or individuals that influence social ideology. Examples: Thank You for Smoking (2005) and Idiocracy (2006). Straight drama applies to those that do not attempt
4120-581: The children's department of PBS, and were forced to back out. Combined with creative exhaustion, it was decided to end Degrassi High after its second season, and filming wrapped in October 1990. In November 1990, Schuyler explained to the Canadian Press that they wanted to end the series "while we were still feeling good about what we were doing." In addition, she noted that most of the cast were occupied with post-secondary education, and that she felt
4223-553: The children's timeslot at 5pm on BBC1 due to complaints from parents that their content "too strong for [young children]", and were instead shown at 6pm on the BBC2 teen block DEF II . The network did not air its second and third seasons. The two-part premiere of Degrassi High , " A New Start ", which centered around a character becoming pregnant and ultimately choosing to get an abortion, aired uncensored in Canada in November 1989, but
Degrassi - Misplaced Pages Continue
4326-438: The common practice of casting much older actors : something often cited when discussing the franchise's authenticity. During development of Degrassi Junior High , Schuyler observed that "so much of the American stuff set in high schools is played by late teens and early 20s – and then some." She further elaborated to IndieWire in 2016: "I like to talk about the fact that you can take a 25-year-old who looks 15 and have them play
4429-436: The company's former offices as a battered women's shelter , before retiring to Nova Scotia for the remainder of his life. In 1992, Schuyler and Stephen Stohn founded Epitome Pictures , the company which would produce all future Degrassi series. In 1994, Epitome Pictures produced the television movie X-Rated , which centred on a group of young adults living in an apartment complex; the movie starred Stacie Mistysyn. X-Rated
4532-405: The controversial television film School's Out (1992), which received mixed reviews but drew double the average viewership of the series, followed by the docuseries Degrassi Talks (1992), in which actors spoke to teens nationwide about various issues. In the 1990s, the series increasingly developed a cult following through re-runs, and a successful televised cast reunion in 1999 helped spark
4635-473: The course of the film. Thematically, horror films often serve as morality tales, with the killer serving up violent penance for the victims' past sins. Metaphorically, these become battles of Good vs. Evil or Purity vs. Sin. Psycho (1960), Halloween (1978), The Shining (1980), The Conjuring (2013), It (2017), mother! (2017), and Hereditary (2018) are examples of horror drama films. Day-in-the-life films takes small events in
4738-415: The credits. In 2004, Noggin 's The N block decided to postpone an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation revolving around abortion, titled " Accidents Will Happen ." The two-part episode focused on a character who becomes pregnant and decides to have an abortion. The N's decision prompted backlash from fans. A subsequent petition from fans condemned the decision as "unjust and asinine", and argued that
4841-474: The direction of the franchise with the Montreal Gazette , although she was unsure if it would go forward. It was decided to continue into high school as the actors were becoming older, which would also make way for more controversial topics, including abortion , which was addressed in the series premiere . According to Schuyler: "As the kids get older, the only way we can remain true to this age group
4944-428: The eleventh episode of the show's first season, would win an International Emmy, for which Emma Nelson , Spike's daughter and central character of the later series, was named. The popularity of the show led to international publicity tours by members of the cast throughout North America and parts of Europe. Upon its debut, it immediately garnered critical acclaim in Canada, where it was considered to be an alternative to
5047-428: The episode Griff Gets A Hand (which starred future "Wheels" actor Neil Hope as Griff) received an International Emmy for Best Program for Children and Young People. A new Degrassi series began development in 1986, this time with new characters and centered around the fictional eponymous school near the same street. The first actor to audition for the new Degrassi series was Pat Mastroianni , who would later win
5150-414: The episode did not espouse any forceful opinions about the subject, and that the fans had the right to watch the series in an uncensored, unaltered form. Conversely, CTV in Canada showed the episode twice. Degrassi ' s portrayal of LGBT youth was viewed by critics as groundbreaking. Linda Schuyler said that the impetus for the show's inclusion of LGBT themes stemmed from her colleague Bruce Mackey, who
5253-481: The family as a whole reacts to a central challenge. There are four micro-genres for the family drama: Family Bond , Family Feud , Family Loss , and Family Rift . A sub-type of drama films that uses plots that appeal to the heightened emotions of the audience. Melodramatic plots often deal with "crises of human emotion, failed romance or friendship, strained familial situations, tragedy, illness, neuroses, or emotional and physical hardship". Film critics sometimes use
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#17327799647405356-431: The film drew an estimated 2.3 million viewers: double that of the average audience that Degrassi High received. The movie did not air in the United States until over two years later, when it premiered on PBS on June 20, 1994. Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood dissolved their partnership in the early 1990s but continued to own Playing With Time. In July 1998, Hood revealed the company was "virtually dormant." He continued to rent
5459-523: The first time in 1979 as the illustrator of Chester Chipmunk's Thanksgiving , by Barbara Williams; and the second time in 1989 as the illustrator of The Good-Bye Book , by Judith Viorst. In 1975, Chorao illustrated Albert's Toothache , by Barbara Williams. The book was critically successful, being given the American Library Association 's notable book citation and Children's Book Showcase title. In 1979, her 1974 book Ida Makes
5562-580: The franchise was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame . Each Degrassi series has seen home media release over the years. Initially available by mail-order for educational institutions, Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High were given a commercial home video release by WGBH in 2000. Junior High was released on DVD in North America and Australia in 2005, while Degrassi High was released on DVD in North America and Australia in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Each season of Degrassi: The Next Generation
5665-411: The franchise's 40-year history in depth and features new cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. A release date has not yet been announced. The cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation goes to Hollywood. Paige Michalchuk ( Lauren Collins ) lands a role in a film directed by Jason Mewes . The relationship between Ellie Nash ( Stacey Farber ) and Craig Manning ( Jake Epstein ) intensifies, and Stüdz,
5768-459: The franchise's revival with Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–2015), which originally aired on CTV in Canada and The N in the United States. It focused on a new generation of students, augmented by select original characters in supporting roles. It was similarly critically and commercially successful, especially in the United States, and launched the careers of musician Drake and actress Nina Dobrev . After nine seasons, The Next Generation
5871-489: The franchise, including The Official 411: Degrassi Generations , a behind-the-scenes history book written by Degrassi writer and publicist Kathryn Ellis released to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary in September 2005, and Growing Up Degrassi: Television, Identity and Youth Cultures , an anthology of scholarly essays on the franchise, edited by Michelle Byers. A memoir by Schuyler, titled The Mother Of All Degrassi ,
5974-416: The future of humanity; this unknown may be represented by a villain with incomprehensible powers, a creature we do not understand, or a scientific scenario that threatens to change the world; the science fiction story forces the audience to consider the nature of human beings, the confines of time or space or the concepts of human existence in general. Examples include: Metropolis (1927), Planet of
6077-717: The general facts are more-or-less true. The difference between a docudrama and a documentary is that in a documentary it uses real people to describe history or current events; in a docudrama it uses professionally trained actors to play the roles in the current event, that is "dramatized" a bit. Examples: Black Mass (2015) and Zodiac (2007). Unlike docudramas, docu-fictional films combine documentary and fiction, where actual footage or real events are intermingled with recreated scenes. Examples: Interior. Leather Bar (2013) and Your Name Here (2015). Many otherwise serious productions have humorous scenes and characters intended to provide comic relief . A comedy drama has humor as
6180-416: The hallmark of fantasy drama films is "a sense of wonderment, typically played out in a visually intense world inhabited by mythic creatures, magic or superhuman characters. Props and costumes within these films often belie a sense of mythology and folklore – whether ancient, futuristic, or other-worldly. The costumes, as well as the exotic world, reflect the personal, inner struggles that the hero faces in
6283-481: The illustrator for many books by Jane Yolen , Judith Viorst , Jan Wahl , and Marjorie Sharmat . Chorao published her first book, The Repair of Uncle Toe , in 1972. Since then, she has written and illustrated more than fifty books. Her illustrations have been exhibited several times by American Institute of Graphic Arts and Society of Illustrators . Chorao has received the Christopher Award twice;
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#17327799647406386-581: The late 1980s. Among the awards and accolades it has received include numerous Gemini Awards , two International Emmys in 1985 and 1987, and a Peabody Award in 2010. The franchise was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in December 2023. [REDACTED] In 1976, Linda Schuyler , a Grade 7 and Grade 8 media teacher at Earl Grey Senior Public School in Toronto, founded Playing With Time Inc. with her partner Kit Hood. Schuyler had met Hood, who had
6489-597: The lead character of the popular supernatural teen drama television series The Vampire Diaries . The music video to Drake's song " I'm Upset " (2018) features a reunion of the Degrassi: The Next Generation cast. In 2012, the Degrassi franchise surpassed The Beachcombers as the longest-running Canadian drama by episode count. After the death of co-creator Kit Hood in January 2020,
6592-415: The legal system. Films that focus on dramatic events in history. Focuses on doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and ambulance saving victims and the interactions of their daily lives. Focuses on teenage characters, especially where a secondary school setting plays a role. Kay Chorao Kay Chorao , born as Ann McKay Sproat on January 7, 1936, (some sources say 1937 ) in Elkhart, Indiana ,
6695-532: The list of "Books to Grow On" for children from 6 to 12 months. The following year, she published Here Comes Kate , which was named among the Pick of the decade 1995–2005 "Best books for children" list compiled by New Jersey State Library , Clifton Public Library and Woodbridge Public Library. In 1994, Chorao self-illustrated book Annie and Cousin Precious was picked by International Reading Association as one of
6798-428: The live taping drawing in audience members from as far as San Francisco . The success of the reunion inspired Yan Moore and Linda Schuyler, now running Epitome Pictures , to develop an interest in creating a new Degrassi series by December 1999. They had originally planned to create an unrelated teen drama titled Ready, Willing And Wired . Moore noted that Emma, Spike's daughter, would be entering junior high school by
6901-445: The movie, but decided against it. The project eventually came to be unrealized. In 2022, Smith revealed to Screen Rant that the movie would have heavily centred on Drake's character Jimmy Brooks "getting up and walking." Smith claims that they incorporated elements from the script into a future episode of the television series. The Degrassi franchise has been critically lauded for virtually its entire existence. The Canadian press
7004-483: The new Degrassi series would not be moving forward amid the Warner Bros. merger. However, multiple statements from Schuyler and WildBrain have indicated that there are still plans to produce the series; on the day of the cancellation's announcement, WildBrain stated they were "committed to the future of Degrassi" and that "discussions concerning the contract with WarnerMedia are ongoing." In April 2023, Schuyler told
7107-465: The new millennium, and the show was retooled to centre around Emma and her friends attending Degrassi. Epitome would propose the idea of Degrassi: The Next Generation to CTV in October 2000, and Ivan Fecan, now CEO of CTV's parent company, ordered thirteen episodes of the new show. Filming began on July 3, 2001, and the show premiered on CTV on October 14, 2001. Although the original Degrassi series were widely popular in Canada, The Next Generation
7210-579: The new series, stating that the "time is perfect to pass the baton" to Azzopardi and Cohen. On February 23, 2022, casting commenced for the series with a search for 13- to 20-year-old youth of all backgrounds. Filming was scheduled to begin July 1, 2022 and end November 30, 2022, However, in August 2022, reports surfaced of the restructuring of HBO Max, which led to fears of the reboot's potential cancellation. In November 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that
7313-461: The newer series would include a team of "extra extras", who would simply appear for no other purpose than to fill the background. Degrassi High notably tackled HIV/AIDS , with the character Dwayne Myers ( Darrin Brown ), and suicide with the character Claude Tanner (David Armin-Parcells). Despite continued success and demand from CBC, WGBH was finding it increasingly difficult to fund the show from
7416-499: The rights to the book on her own would be "relatively straightforward", and that involving lawyers would make the process "unnecessarily complicated." Stohn instead gave Schuyler a boilerplate form for permission to take with her to New York. Schuyler purchased the rights for $ 200. The feline characters were changed into human children, and the story was also largely repurposed. The film featured production techniques that Schuyler and Kit Hood felt were missing from children's programming: it
7519-572: The role of Joey Jeremiah . Several of the actors from The Kids Of Degrassi Street would return with new roles, including Neil Hope, Stacie Mistysyn , Anais Granofsky , and Sarah Charlesworth . It was at this time that Playing With Time Inc. started a repertory company, with fifty children selected from auditions. The workshops would be repeated at the beginning of production for each season, as new cast members joined, and existing cast members underwent more advanced workshops. The repertory company also meant that even major characters could be relegated to
7622-400: The series a "harder-edged feel", several older characters were introduced. Reflecting the growing independence of the aging characters, Degrassi High began to give more focus to the characters' lives outside of school, with scenes taking place at nighttime, on the street, or at the characters' jobs. In contrast to Degrassi Junior High , in which the extras were still made known to the viewers,
7725-442: The series moved to primetime on Mondays at 8:30pm, in between Kate & Allie and Newhart . When Fecan called Schuyler to inform her of the move, she reportedly disagreed, feeling that the series wasn't ready for prime time. She eventually agreed to the decision, under the condition that if the move was unsuccessful, the series wouldn't be cancelled and instead be moved back to its original timeslot. After its move to prime time,
7828-536: The series on the new network, TeenNick commissioned a promotional music video, set to " Shark in the Water " by V V Brown and themed around a carnival and circus, which contained clues foreshadowing later events of the season. The promo was extremely successful. According to Stephen Stohn, MuchMusic , the network that the series moved to from CTV in Canada, cited the promo as having improved the network's ratings significantly. Season 10 premiered on July 19, 2010, and marked
7931-497: The series were published by James Lorimer & Co. The books were written by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood, with help from Eve Jennings. Two of the books, Casey Draws The Line and Griff Gets A Hand , were later reprinted with an updated cover with a similar style to the Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High books. Between 1988 and 1992, James Lorimer & Co. published a series of eleven paperback books based on
8034-485: The series, vox pop interviews and on-screen statistics. While it was well received by critics, it proved less popular with teenage viewers, who felt it to be redundant and at times perpetuating certain stereotypes. Principal photography began on School's Out , the television movie, on July 21, 1991, and it premiered on CBC on January 5, 1992. The movie, which mostly focused on a love triangle between Joey, Caitlin (Mistysyn), and Tessa Campanelli (Kirsten Bourne), garnered
8137-413: The series, most notably actor-turned-rapper Drake , who played Jimmy Brooks , a basketball star who became physically disabled after he was shot by a classmate. When asked about his early acting career, Drake replied, "My mother was very sick. We were very poor, like broke. The only money I had coming in was [from] Canadian TV." Nina Dobrev , who portrayed Mia Jones in later seasons, went on to star as
8240-586: The show had already tackled what they had aimed to. Schuyler informed Ivan Fecan , then the programming chief of CBC and long-time supporter of Degrassi , of their decision to end the series and suggested a feature-length finale as a compromise, which Fecan enthusiastically accepted and offered funding for. During development of the television movie in early 1991, six Degrassi actors – Amanda Stepto, Pat Mastroianni, Stacie Mistysyn, Rebecca Haines , Siluck Saysanasy , and Neil Hope – travelled around Canada to interview teenagers about various health and social issues for
8343-508: The six-part documentary series Degrassi Talks , which aired on CBC in six installments from February 29 to March 30, 1992, each tackling a specific issue that the series had portrayed. Each actor was chosen specifically for their character's relation to each topic. The series was personally funded by then- Minister of Health Benoît Bouchard , who contributed $ 350,000. The six actors conducted interviews in 26 cities, including bigger and smaller towns. The series also featured archive footage from
8446-534: The story does not always have to involve a team. The story could also be about an individual athlete or the story could focus on an individual playing on a team. Examples of this genre/type include: The Hustler (1961), Hoosiers (1986), Remember the Titans (2000), and Moneyball (2011). War films typically tells the story of a small group of isolated individuals who – one by one – get killed (literally or metaphorically) by an outside force until there
8549-525: The story." Examples of fantasy dramas include The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003), Pan's Labyrinth (2006), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), and Life of Pi (2012). Horror dramas often involve the central characters isolated from the rest of society. These characters are often teenagers or people in their early twenties (the genre's central audience) and are eventually killed off during
8652-578: The term "pejoratively to connote an unrealistic, pathos-filled, camp tale of romance or domestic situations with stereotypical characters (often including a central female character) that would directly appeal to feminine audiences". Also called "women's movies", "weepies", tearjerkers, or "chick flicks". If they are targeted to a male audience, then they are called "guy cry" films. Often considered "soap-opera" drama. Focuses on religious characters, mystery play, beliefs, and respect. Character development based on themes involving criminals, law enforcement and
8755-520: The viewership increased by 40%, and by August 1988, it had become the highest-rated Canadian-made drama in Canada. The series also premiered in the United Kingdom on BBC1 in 1988, where it drew in a reported six million viewers, making it the highest-rated children's television series in the country and the show's largest audience. However, in spite of a publicity tour by actress Amanda Stepto, controversial episodes from its first season, including those centred on Stepto's character's pregnancy, were aired in
8858-498: The word "comedy" or "drama" are not recognized by the Screenwriters Taxonomy as either a film genre or a film type. For instance, "Melodrama" and "Screwball Comedy" are considered Pathways, while "romantic comedy" and "family drama" are macro-genres. A macro-genre in the Screenwriters Taxonomy. These films tell a story in which many of the central characters are related. The story revolves around how
8961-426: The word authentic very carefully; I don't use the word realistic –- an authentic portrayal of teenage years." Authenticity is regarded as a major tenet of Degrassi's identity, and is a frequent talking point in critical and fan discourse about the franchise . In their book Canadian Television Today , Bart Beaty and Rebecca Sullivan wrote how Degrassi touted itself as an "a honest, unflinching look at growing up"; in
9064-533: The years, including on Canada Media Fund's Encore+ and the official Degrassi YouTube channel. It was announced in June 2023 that each series, including Kids of Degrassi Street and Degrassi Talks and bar Next Class would be made available on Amazon Prime Canada in July. Teen drama In film and television , drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction ) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind
9167-428: Was a children's book and discarded it, but Schuyler developed an interest in adapting the book into a film. Before leaving, Schuyler sought legal advice from Stephen Stohn , a young entertainment lawyer who had recently graduated from law school, and who would eventually become her producing partner and husband. Stohn recalled in his 2018 memoir Whatever It Takes that he advised Schuyler that being out of print, buying
9270-422: Was a kindred spirit to the characters they played." Degrassi: The Next Generation , while being the most successful of the series and generally considered by many to share the same qualities, is frequently criticized for its higher production value and gradual shift towards soap opera-style sensationalism like that of other teen drama series. Degrassi is also noted for its casting of real teenagers, as opposed to
9373-495: Was celebratory of Degrassi Junior High 's local and international success, and believed it to be one of the most groundbreaking children's television series of all time; in the lead-up to its American debut, Fred M. Hechinger of the New York Times pondered; "Can teen-agers be won over to entertainment that is not mindless, violent or sexually irresponsible?". In 1989 the series was profiled by John Fisher Burns , also of
9476-472: Was central to the early development in the franchise, and who hid his sexuality from his professional life. Schuyler said: "It made me so sad to see somebody who had to live duplicitously like that, that it kind of has been right from the very beginning of this show, it's been a very important mandate for me." The tenth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation introduced the female-to-male transgender character Adam Torres, played by Jordan Todosey , who by 2011
9579-419: Was edited by PBS for its January 1990 American premiere to remove the episode's final scene depicting said character fighting through anti-abortion picketers outside of a clinic. This decision was met with backlash from the show's producers, with co-creator and director Kit Hood lambasting the network for giving the episode "an American ending, happy, safe but incomplete..." and requested his name be removed from
9682-400: Was particularly successful in the United States. During the show's ninth season, the producers were informed in a meeting with CTV executives that the network did not plan to renew the show. At the same time, Stephen Stohn was in talks with TeenNick to produce 48 episodes of a telenovela -style teen show, which he later pitched as the tenth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation . To promote
9785-430: Was rebranded to Degrassi and changed to a telenovela -style format. After five more seasons, it was cancelled in 2015. It was superseded by Degrassi: Next Class (2016–2017), a short-lived Netflix co-production geared toward Generation Z , whose cancellation was revealed in 2019. In January 2022, a new series was announced for HBO Max in which Schuyler would not be involved; it was cancelled in November following
9888-399: Was released on DVD by Alliance Atlantis each year throughout the 2000s in big box sets that contained a variety of bonus content, including audition tapes, deleted scenes, and bloopers. These annual DVD releases stopped after season twelve of The Next Generation. Degrassi Junior High , Degrassi High, and Degrassi: The Next Generation have variously been available to stream online over
9991-465: Was released on Netflix January 15, 2016, and started airing January 4, 2016, on Family 's new teen programming block, F2N . Fourteen cast members from season 14 of Degrassi also reprised their roles. On March 7, 2019, Stefan Brogren alluded to the show's cancellation in a tweet. Sara Waisglass , who played Frankie Hollingsworth, recalled to the Toronto Star in 2022 that she was disappointed at
10094-552: Was released on November 15, 2022. During 2005 and 2006, a feature film adaptation of Degrassi: The Next Generation was in development. American filmmaker Kevin Smith , a longtime fan of the franchise, was slated to direct the movie. By September 2005, the film was awaiting a green light from Paramount Pictures , with a script written by Aaron Martin and Tassie Cameron , and was set to begin filming in May 2006. Smith told Playback that he had considered getting Ben Affleck to cameo in
10197-464: Was shot in a cinéma vérité style, with handheld camera work and entirely on-location shooting. Mackey offered his home, 98 De Grassi Street , as a filming location. Ida Makes A Movie premiered on CBC Television on December 8, 1979. Over the next couple of years, the network ordered two more short films. By 1982, they ordered five more episodes, developing the series of short films into a television series named The Kids Of Degrassi Street. In 1985,
10300-520: Was the "only transgender regular or recurring character on scripted television" according to GLAAD . A central episode involving Adam's struggles with dysphoria, " My Body Is a Cage ", won a Peabody Award that year. Degrassi has been cited as the potential starting point for the modern television teen drama , and it is said to have influenced shows including Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dawson's Creek . Allegedly, American television producer Aaron Spelling unsuccessfully sought to adapt Degrassi for
10403-539: Was the pilot for the series Liberty Street , which starred Pat Mastroianni and aired on the CBC for two seasons in 1995. In 1997, Epitome Pictures produced the soap opera Riverdale ; its set, located on 220 Bartley Drive in Toronto, was re-used as the set for Degrassi: The Next Generation . In 1999, a televised reunion of the Degrassi Junior High cast took place on the CBC youth show Jonovision , hosted by Jonathan Torrens . The reunion became particularly popular, with
10506-419: Was underserved by contemporary media. Running for three seasons (1987–1989), it became one of Canada's most popular television series and was highly regarded for its realistic portrayal of adolescence and serious social issues; this was followed by Degrassi High (1989–1991), which chronicled the cast's high school years and met similar critical and commercial success. The initial run of the franchise ended with
10609-462: Was written, but not released. To coincide with the debut of Degrassi Talks in February 1992, Boardwalk Books published companion books based on the six episodes. The books, which contain more content than the television series, feature an image the host of the episode, usually while holding camera equipment on the front cover, and a preface written by Degrassi writer Catherine Dunphy, profiling
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