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Straight Up (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Straight Up is a popular but short lived Canadian television series produced by Back Alley Films. Although critically acclaimed , the show only ran for 13 episodes on CBC Television
from 1996 to 1998. Set in Toronto
, the show dealt with the gritty problems of teenagers living in an urban environment.
Rather than focusing on a core group of principal characters, each episode would typically feature a different set of the ensemble teenage cast. Initially, although the character relationships were intertwined, each episode would feature a self-contained plot usually involving only a few of the characters. However during the second season, there was a continuing story arc involving a murder over multiple episodes.
Although Straight Up only lasted for two seasons, it spawned the spin off series Drop the Beat
which followed the characters of Jeff and Dennis as DJs at a campus radio
station.
1.2 - Dead Babies
1.3 - Big Time
1.4 - Small Bang Theory
1.5 - Sacrifice Trick
1.6 - Seize
2.2 - Raw
2.3 - Mortifying
2.4 - Façade
2.5 - Gravity (Kim Poirier
guest starred as AJ's Gang Member in this episode)
2.6 - Pudding
2.7 - Bomb
won for "Best Direction in a Dramatic or Comedy Series" for the episode "Small Bang Theory" and James Bredin was nominated for "Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series" for same episode.
At the 1998 Gemini Awards, Sarah Polley
won for "Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series" for the episode "Mortifying" and Jerry Ciccoritti won for "Best Direction in a Dramatic or Comedy Series" again this time for the episode "Raw" . Also at these awards, Merwin Mondesir
was nominated for "Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series" for the episode "Façade", Karen Walton was nominated for "Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program and Series " for the episode "Gravity". The episode "Raw" was also nominated for "Best Sound in a Dramatic Program or Series" and "Best Costume Design". Finally, Straight Up was nominated for "Best Children's or Youth Program or Series".
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
from 1996 to 1998. Set in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, the show dealt with the gritty problems of teenagers living in an urban environment.
Rather than focusing on a core group of principal characters, each episode would typically feature a different set of the ensemble teenage cast. Initially, although the character relationships were intertwined, each episode would feature a self-contained plot usually involving only a few of the characters. However during the second season, there was a continuing story arc involving a murder over multiple episodes.
Although Straight Up only lasted for two seasons, it spawned the spin off series Drop the Beat
Drop the Beat
Drop the Beat was a Canadian television series produced by Back Alley Films, which aired on CBC Television in 2000. A short run dramatic series, the show was one of the first television series ever built around hip hop music and culture....
which followed the characters of Jeff and Dennis as DJs at a campus radio
Campus radio
Campus radio is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider community in which the radio station is based...
station.
Cast
- Evelyn Anders as Claire
- Mona Atwell as Simone
- Morpheus Blak as Vanya
- Marc Cohen as Murray
- Nicole Crozier as Louise
- Sasha Dindayal as Charlene
- Chad DonellaChad DonellaChad E. Donella is a Canadian actor who has appeared in several movies and television shows.-Life and career:He attended the Arts York Drama Program, in which he participated in such plays as Oedipus Rex, Waiting for Godot, and The Collected Works of Billy the Kid. He has performed at Toronto's...
as Rick - Dyson Forbes as Dyson
- Omari Forrester as Pipe
- Tamara Gorski as Corey
- Suzanne Hatim as Sondra
- Erin Hicock as Jaz
- Kirk Lewis as Clay
- Noam T.C.S. LiorNoam LiorNoam T.C.S. Lior is a Canadian actor, and stage manager.-Selected filmography:*Straight Up -Selected theatrical work:*The Dispute by Marivaux - The Sweat Company - as Stage Manager...
as Ed - Shawn Mathieson as Steve
- Merwin MondesirMerwin MondesirMerwin Mondesir is a Canadian actor. His ancestry is Saint Lucian. Now he is living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.- Movies :*2000: Seventeen Again as Todd*2001: Bones as Bill Peetas*2004: Godsend as Maurice...
as Dennis - Justin PeroffJustin PeroffJustin Peter Papadimitriou , family name changed to Peroff, is best known as the drummer for the Toronto based indie rock collective Broken Social Scene. He was also a member of Junior Blue, a collaboration with Dylan Hudecki of By Divine Right...
as Rory - Sarah PolleySarah PolleySarah Polley is a Canadian actress, singer, film director, and screenwriter. Polley first attained notice in her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series, Road to Avonlea...
as Lily - Mark TaylorMark Taylor (actor)Mark Taylor is a Canadian actor. Taylor is predominately known for his roles as Romeo in Student Bodies, and Kwest in Instant Star...
as Jeff - Jacob TierneyJacob TierneyJacob Daniel Tierney is a Canadian actor, film director and screenwriter.Tierney was born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of veteran producer Kevin Tierney...
as Alex
Season 1
1.1 - Jam1.2 - Dead Babies
1.3 - Big Time
1.4 - Small Bang Theory
1.5 - Sacrifice Trick
1.6 - Seize
Season 2
2.1 - Straped2.2 - Raw
2.3 - Mortifying
2.4 - Façade
2.5 - Gravity (Kim Poirier
Kim Poirier
Kim Poirier is a Canadian actress, singer, film producer, and television host.-Personal life:Kim Jacinthe Poirier was born in Drummondville, Quebec, the daughter of actress/model Carol Laquerre who was Miss Toronto in 1976, she has one sister. She enjoys watching movies, writing, meditating,...
guest starred as AJ's Gang Member in this episode)
2.6 - Pudding
2.7 - Bomb
Awards and nominations
At the 1997 Gemini Awards, Jerry CiccorittiJerry Ciccoritti
Jerry Ciccoritti is a Canadian film, television and theatre director. His ability to work in a number of genres and for many mediums has made him one of the most successful directors in the country.- Biography :...
won for "Best Direction in a Dramatic or Comedy Series" for the episode "Small Bang Theory" and James Bredin was nominated for "Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series" for same episode.
At the 1998 Gemini Awards, Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley is a Canadian actress, singer, film director, and screenwriter. Polley first attained notice in her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series, Road to Avonlea...
won for "Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series" for the episode "Mortifying" and Jerry Ciccoritti won for "Best Direction in a Dramatic or Comedy Series" again this time for the episode "Raw" . Also at these awards, Merwin Mondesir
Merwin Mondesir
Merwin Mondesir is a Canadian actor. His ancestry is Saint Lucian. Now he is living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.- Movies :*2000: Seventeen Again as Todd*2001: Bones as Bill Peetas*2004: Godsend as Maurice...
was nominated for "Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series" for the episode "Façade", Karen Walton was nominated for "Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program and Series " for the episode "Gravity". The episode "Raw" was also nominated for "Best Sound in a Dramatic Program or Series" and "Best Costume Design". Finally, Straight Up was nominated for "Best Children's or Youth Program or Series".