Everything about Book of Negroes, eh?

Book of Negroes, Murdoch Mysteries, Vikings

Link: Canada shops and sells series at MIPCOM

From Bill Brioux of the Canadian Press:

Canada shops existing TV series, seeks co-productions at giant MIPCOM
“‘The Book of Negroes’ was calling out for co-production,” says Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada’s executive director. The story of British efforts to circumvent African slavery at the time of the American revolution was shot in Nova Scotia and South Africa. Gooding joked about surviving the cold while shooting last spring near Halifax. “I didn’t know what ice rain was,” he told an international press gathering. “Canada practically invented co-production,” says Brabant, noting the country has film and TV production treaties with 54 nations. Continue reading.

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Book of Negroes

Link: Book of Negroes director had to get past the title

From Anthony D’Alessandro of Deadline:

Is ‘The Book of Negroes’ An Appropriate Title For A Miniseries?
When Clement Virgo first heard about Lawrence Hill’s novel The Book Of Negroes, it was really hard for the Canadian director to swallow the title. Ditto for his producing partner Damon D’Oliveira. “I had an aversion to a novel called Book Of Negroes,” said the director of the six-part BET-eOne miniseries which is making its premiere tonight at Mipcom in the Cannes grand auditorium and will debut on BET in February; the network’s first-ever long format series. Virgo was pushed by his local bookseller to read Hill’s novel about Aminata Diallo, the indomitable African women who is kidnapped by slave traders in West Africa, sold into slavery in South Carolina, then navigates her way through the American Revolution when she ultimately secures her freedom to England at the dawn of the 19th century. But even after buying the book, Virgo was put off by the title. He soon came around and says, “I couldn’t imagine the novel being called anything else.” Continue reading.

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