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Hamilton Spectator
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Sullivan's Crossing' is a ‘life-preserver in tumultuous times': Canadian showrunner
TORONTO - For Roma Roth, setting her show 'Sullivan's Crossing' in Nova Scotia is a way to showcase more of Canada on the small screen. The London, Ont.-born executive producer and showrunner — who also works on the soapy Netflix series 'Virgin River' shot in British Columbia — says it was time to introduce more of Canada as a crown jewel to American audiences. 'I wanted to show that you could ... create a series that was successful being set in Canada as Canada,' Roth said in a recent interview promoting the third season of the show, which airs Sundays on CTV. 'I've seen 'Squid Game,' for example, on Netflix, which is in Korean, and I figured if people are watching Korean shows they can watch a show that's set in Canada and we could show a beautiful setting like Halifax to the world.' Based on the Colorado-set book series of the same name by Robyn Carr, Roth's reimagination of 'Sullivan's Crossing' takes place in the fictionalized Nova Scotia town of Timberlake to follow the former Boston-based neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan) as she navigates her blossoming relationship with Cal, played by Chad Michael Murray, and her dad Sully, played by Scott Patterson. East Coast scenery adds idyllic charm to the drama, with Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia's coastline and the quintessentially colourful Maritime architecture of Halifax's North End neighbourhood featured prominently. Bell Media says the show's second season was its most-watched Canadian drama of the 2023-24 broadcast year, and data from Numeris shows the early episodes of Season 3 have made it the #1 Canadian drama on CTV. The show's first two seasons were added to Netflix last month. In the U.S, 'Sullivan's Crossing' airs on the CW. Roth also runs Reel World Management, a production company that finances and develops feature and television productions, including 'Virgin River.' She's been in the business for more than two decades working on a variety of genres including thrillers and rom-coms. She said she sees 'Sullivan's Crossing' as an 'evergreen' comfort watch and is happy to leave the characters untouched by current politics. 'It's supposed to be a show that's a life-preserver in tumultuous times for people. We're trying to … give the audience journeys with the characters that they can identify with and connect with, so you have to walk a fine line between aspirational television and meaningful and deep storylines. I think the goal is for the show to walk that line carefully.' Roth is a longtime member of the Writers Guild of Canada and produces 'Sullivan's Crossing' under its jurisdiction, but was recently expelled from the Writers Guild of America for allegedly working in the 'Sullivan's Crossing' writers room during the nearly five-month WGA strike in 2023. The decision to expel Roth was upheld by members of the guild in a vote on May 9 after Roth appealed the union's initial decision to expel her in February, according to a report from the WGA's trial committee obtained by The Canadian Press. The WGA did not reply to a request for comment. Roth denies the allegation that she wrote during the strike. 'Sullivan's Crossing is a Canadian series and didn't involve any struck companies so it is disheartening to see a union that is supposed to protect its members turning on its own,' she said Saturday in an emailed statement. In a letter to WGA members, Roth said she hired a number of writers — including her twin sister Rosana Roth — under the Canadian guild to keep working on the show when the strike began. She says photo evidence used in the hearing that led to her expulsion shows her sister working in the writers' room. A statement from a Bell Media spokesperson says Roth's expulsion will have 'no impact' on the current third season of 'Sullivan's Crossing.' The network values 'our partnership with Roma Roth and look forward to continuing to work with her,' the statement reads. While Season 2 ends with an anguished Maggie and Cal looking onto a diner fire with Sully still inside the building, Season 3 opens seemingly a few days or weeks later with all the characters back at the crossing alive and well, with the fallout from the fire being revealed throughout the first episode. It's also a 'spicy season,' Roth said, adding viewers can expect to see Maggie and Cal's relationship heating up and some new characters being introduced. Michael Murray, who found fame in the early 2000s playing heartthrob characters on 'Gilmore Girls' and 'One Tree Hill,' says he's increasingly being recognized by fans for his part in 'Sullivan's Crossing' — especially among fans in the U.S. 'It's all over the States. I think more people are going to flock to (the show) at a time where people especially need content that chills you out, brings peace,' he said. Michael Murray and Kohan say they're most excited for fans to see how their characters' relationship plays out on the screen. 'This year we get to do a bit more playing,' Michael Murray said. 'These characters really continue to evolve and get out of their comfort zone and discover each other and learn about each other.' Kohan, who was born in Summerland, B.C., said viewers will be excited to finally get to see them dating, and the season will see them go through challenges. 'We get to see them come up against a couple hurdles together, like whether love is enough, as they get into the nitty gritty of it all,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Sullivan's Crossing' is a ‘life-preserver in tumultuous times': Canadian showrunner
TORONTO – For Roma Roth, setting her show 'Sullivan's Crossing' in Nova Scotia is a way to showcase more of Canada on the small screen. The London, Ont.-born executive producer and showrunner — who also works on the soapy Netflix series 'Virgin River' shot in British Columbia — says it was time to introduce more of Canada as a crown jewel to American audiences. 'I wanted to show that you could … create a series that was successful being set in Canada as Canada,' Roth said in a recent interview promoting the third season of the show, which airs Sundays on CTV. 'I've seen 'Squid Game,' for example, on Netflix, which is in Korean, and I figured if people are watching Korean shows they can watch a show that's set in Canada and we could show a beautiful setting like Halifax to the world.' Based on the Colorado-set book series of the same name by Robyn Carr, Roth's reimagination of 'Sullivan's Crossing' takes place in the fictionalized Nova Scotia town of Timberlake to follow the former Boston-based neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan) as she navigates her blossoming relationship with Cal, played by Chad Michael Murray, and her dad Sully, played by Scott Patterson. East Coast scenery adds idyllic charm to the drama, with Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia's coastline and the quintessentially colourful Maritime architecture of Halifax's North End neighbourhood featured prominently. Bell Media says the show's second season was its most-watched Canadian drama of the 2023-24 broadcast year, and data from Numeris shows the early episodes of Season 3 have made it the #1 Canadian drama on CTV. The show's first two seasons were added to Netflix last month. In the U.S, 'Sullivan's Crossing' airs on the CW. Roth also runs Reel World Management, a production company that finances and develops feature and television productions, including 'Virgin River.' She's been in the business for more than two decades working on a variety of genres including thrillers and rom-coms. She said she sees 'Sullivan's Crossing' as an 'evergreen' comfort watch and is happy to leave the characters untouched by current politics. 'It's supposed to be a show that's a life-preserver in tumultuous times for people. We're trying to … give the audience journeys with the characters that they can identify with and connect with, so you have to walk a fine line between aspirational television and meaningful and deep storylines. I think the goal is for the show to walk that line carefully.' Roth is a longtime member of the Writers Guild of Canada and produces 'Sullivan's Crossing' under its jurisdiction, but was recently expelled from the Writers Guild of America for allegedly working in the 'Sullivan's Crossing' writers room during the nearly five-month WGA strike in 2023. The decision to expel Roth was upheld by members of the guild in a vote on May 9 after Roth appealed the union's initial decision to expel her in February, according to a report from the WGA's trial committee obtained by The Canadian Press. The WGA did not reply to a request for comment. Roth denies the allegation that she wrote during the strike. 'Sullivan's Crossing is a Canadian series and didn't involve any struck companies so it is disheartening to see a union that is supposed to protect its members turning on its own,' she said Saturday in an emailed statement. In a letter to WGA members, Roth said she hired a number of writers — including her twin sister Rosana Roth — under the Canadian guild to keep working on the show when the strike began. She says photo evidence used in the hearing that led to her expulsion shows her sister working in the writers' room. A statement from a Bell Media spokesperson says Roth's expulsion will have 'no impact' on the current third season of 'Sullivan's Crossing.' The network values 'our partnership with Roma Roth and look forward to continuing to work with her,' the statement reads. While Season 2 ends with an anguished Maggie and Cal looking onto a diner fire with Sully still inside the building, Season 3 opens seemingly a few days or weeks later with all the characters back at the crossing alive and well, with the fallout from the fire being revealed throughout the first episode. It's also a 'spicy season,' Roth said, adding viewers can expect to see Maggie and Cal's relationship heating up and some new characters being introduced. Michael Murray, who found fame in the early 2000s playing heartthrob characters on 'Gilmore Girls' and 'One Tree Hill,' says he's increasingly being recognized by fans for his part in 'Sullivan's Crossing' — especially among fans in the U.S. 'It's all over the States. I think more people are going to flock to (the show) at a time where people especially need content that chills you out, brings peace,' he said. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Michael Murray and Kohan say they're most excited for fans to see how their characters' relationship plays out on the screen. 'This year we get to do a bit more playing,' Michael Murray said. 'These characters really continue to evolve and get out of their comfort zone and discover each other and learn about each other.' Kohan, who was born in Summerland, B.C., said viewers will be excited to finally get to see them dating, and the season will see them go through challenges. 'We get to see them come up against a couple hurdles together, like whether love is enough, as they get into the nitty gritty of it all,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2025.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Writers Guild West Strike Discipline Largely Upheld In Close Member Vote
Did the Writers Guild of America West board of directors go too far in disciplining members that allegedly broke the rules of its 2023 strike? Or did it appropriately respond to actions that threatened the union and its members? Union members answered that question with a mixed response on Thursday in a vote that upheld three out of four punishments. Discipline was upheld after very tight results in the case of Julie Bush (745 to 686), Edward Drake (769 to 652) and Roma Roth (778 to 639). Doyle's punishment was overturned and an alternative action taken after members voted 915 to 557. More from The Hollywood Reporter Trump Finds His Class War Wedge Issue in Hollywood: Movie Tariffs What Donald Trump Is Really After With Movie Tariffs Teamsters Cheer Trump's Movie Tariffs, Rip Studios For "Fleeing" America Out of seven writers disciplined for allegedly breaking the WGA's strike rules, Bush, Drake, Doyle and Roth had all chosen to appeal their punishments. The punishments handed down to the three other disciplined writers remains unknown. The board of the labor organization had previously expelled two of the writers — Drake and Roth — while suspending Bush until 2026 and banning her from occupying non-elected office in the guild. Doyle was publicly censured for posting an image on social media considered racist. The vote concludes a highly charged period for the famously hard-charging guild. In their appeals materials, the accused writers called into question the methods practiced by the union to police its own and raised charges that the guild had violated its own constitution, even federal labor law. But the union's member leaders have maintained that they meted out appropriate punishments. In the last few days, board members Nicole Yorkin and Rob Forman have encouraged union members to uphold the body's rulings, with Forman saying the board 'acted fairly.' In his message, Forman called for writers to 'reject the disciplined members' excuses for hurting the Guild by turning their backs on their fellow writers during the strike.' WGA team captain Tyler Ruggeri in a separate email to the WGA members for whom he is a resource also encouraged them to uphold the board's initial disciplinary action. 'These measures might seem difficult or uncomfortable to vote on, but the bottom line is that the members were found in violation and are exercising their right to an appeal,' he said, in between reporting on other WGA business. Unions can determine the specifics of how they want conduct internal disciplinary procedures, within limit. The Landrum Griffin Act, also known as the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, requires unions in disciplinary proceedings to provide members with written, specific charges, an appropriate amount of time to assemble their defense and a 'full and fair hearing.' Meanwhile, a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions has demonstrated that, under the National Labor Relations Act, an individual union 'has the power to protect against the erosion of its status through reasonable discipline of members who violate rules and regulations governing membership,' says Fordham School of Law professor James Brudney, who specializes in labor and employment law. That remains true for discipline of a member who violated a rule against working during a strike. In these sorts of situations, unions often walk a fine line between attempting not to alienate their own members with punishments that could be perceived as overly harsh while also protecting their interests. If enough members break strike rules or cross picket lines, the union's leverage with employers to negotiate and enforce contracts would be severely eroded. Generally, unions 'shouldn't, and they typically don't, go wild, but they do have a lot of latitude,' says University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Labor and Employment Relations professor Robert Bruno. 'Keep in mind, the union's a private organization. It's not a government entity.' Over the course of the appeals process, arguments that the union had taken liberties with this process came to the fore. A letter written by the chair of an internal trial committee in Roth's case emerged, alleging that a guild attorney had inappropriately tipped the scales of that group's decision on a suitable punishment. That chair, former public defender Jill Goldsmith, removed herself from the committee. A minority opinion in Doyle's case, written by an unnamed member of his trial committee, also became public. Its writer claimed that the WGA West board and a union lawyer had 'chosen to intentionally misrepresent and weaponize provisions of our Constitution in an attempt to send a message and punish a member of the guild.' And Bush raised the issue of the WGA West board recently changing its process for disciplinary appeals. In a letter to the WGA West board posted April 30, Bush called for a general membership meeting, which the union's constitution designated as a forum for appeals. In February, the union's board adopted new rules for appeals allowing for an online vote. 'I reserve the right to escalate these issues to the Department of Labor if not resolved in a timely manner,' Bush wrote. In a response, Writers Guild West general counsel Sean Graham denied her request and said the board had adopted the new procedures as a practical matter. 'The Board concluded that it would be ineffective to hold an annual membership meeting to resolve the appeals due to the inability to achieve a quorum, which is defined as 10% of the Current Active membership of the Guild (approximately 1,100 members).' At the last membership meeting, in 2019, he said, fewer than 30 members attended, so the online vote allowed for more members to be able to participate. Documents were released to members about the proceedings before the appeals vote commenced on May 6, shining a light on an often private process previously undergone by major figures like Jay Leno and Joan Rivers. The timing of the vote is significant, considering that the Writers Guild of America is about a year away from returning to the bargaining table with major studios and streamers. The union will be looking to keep members activated, engaged and united in order to present a strong front to employers in 2026. 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Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WGA Members Face a ‘Deeply Uncomfortable' Vote to Expel Two of Their Own
Members of the Writers Guild of America West are engaged in unusual vote this week on whether to banish two of their own — Roma Roth and Edward Drake — for allegedly performing 'writing services' during the 2023 strike. The membership is also being asked to uphold disciplinary moves against two others, Julie Bush and Tim Doyle, that fall short of expulsion. The vote will conclude at 2 p.m. on Friday. More from Variety WGA Bars Members From Working on Martin Scorsese-Produced 'Wall of White' Movie From Randall Emmett's Convergence Entertainment WGA Seeks to Discipline Four Writers for Breaking Guild Rules During 2023 Strike Writers Guild Awards Nominations: 'Challengers,' 'Dune 2' and 'Wicked' Among the Nominees In an email to members on Wednesday, WGA Board Member Rob Forman acknowledged that it's an awkward situation. 'I know it's deeply uncomfortable to vote on disciplining other writers, especially during this horrible contraction,' he wrote. But, he urged the membership to 'join me in holding these writers accountable' for breaking guild rules, 'and reject the disciplined members' excuses for hurting the Guild by turning their backs on their fellow writers during the strike.' A vote of this kind is extremely rare. The WGA West expelled a writer, Larry Amoros, in 2013, but he did not appeal, saying he had already resigned. After the 2007-08 WGA strike, Jay Leno was cleared of strike-breaking allegations, while three others were disciplined. Forman said there had not been an appeal of a disciplinary matter in the last couple of decades. There has also been some internal consternation over whether the process has been fair. Doyle is facing a public censure for posting a tasteless joke on Facebook. His attorney has argued that the WGA went beyond its powers by policing his speech on social media. His trial committee — the five volunteer writers tasked with adjudicating rule violations — recommended a lesser, confidential censure along with some equity and inclusion training. The board overruled that recommendation in favor of public discipline. One of the members of the trial committee strongly objected to the process, calling it a 'gross overreach.' Doyle was disciplined under Article X.A. Section 1 of the WGA Constitution, which allows penalties for 'any conduct which is prejudicial to the welfare of the Guild or of unfair dealing with another member of the Guild.' In a 'minority report,' the dissenting trial committee member argued that using that language to censure members' speech would subject everyone to 'the whim of five randomly selected trial committee members.' The member wrote, 'I feel that the Board and guild counsel have chosen to intentionally misrepresent and weaponize provisions of our Constitution in an attempt to send a message and punish a member of the guild.' In three of the four cases before the membership, the WGA board imposed a higher penalty than was recommended by the trial committee. In the fourth case, the trial committee recommended that Roth be expelled for working on 'Sullivan's Crossing' during the strike. But a member of that committee, Jill Goldsmith, refused to sign off on the penalty, saying the process was not 'fair and proper.' Goldsmith agreed that Roma had violated the rules, and said she concurred with the committee's initial recommendation of a five-year suspension. After that recommendation was approved, Goldsmith alleged that a guild lawyer, Laura Raden, informed the committee that no penalty would have an 'impact' on Roth's career. That caused the committee to reconsider and support the stiffer penalty of expulsion, Goldsmith alleged. Goldsmith, a former public defender, argued that the discipline could indeed impact Roth's career, and that the process had been improperly tainted by the representation that it wouldn't. 'I believe that before expelling a member and making a decision that can affect their life and livelihood, a proper process needs to be put in place,' she wrote. 'Systems could be put in place to make sure this doesn't happen again.' Under the WGA Constitution, members may appeal any discipline imposed by the board at the next annual membership meeting. The constitution also provides that the disciplined member, or their attorney, may speak in person at the meeting, and that the outcome will be determined by an in-person vote of the members. The WGA West has not had an annual meeting since April 2019, and does not have one scheduled. So when the appeals were filed, the board adopted a resolution to hold an online vote, rather than an in-person one. Bush, who was given a one-year suspension for submitting a script to a non-signatory company during the strike, has argued that the board cannot unilaterally change its appeal process in midstream. She argues that would entail a change in the constitution, which requires notice and a 2/3 vote of the membership. She has also argued that the online vote exposed her alleged violation to the entire guild and to the general public, rather than limiting it to the members who choose to attend a closed-door meeting. 'Replacing this guaranteed in-person forum with an asynchronous online ballot eliminates the opportunity for live discussion, debate, and transparency, which are fundamental to a fair appealprocess,' she wrote to the board in a demand letter on April 30. The disciplined members were allowed to submit written arguments and replies to the WGA's arguments, which were shared with the entire membership. The WGA counsel has argued that the constitution is subject to interpretation by the board, and that the constitution allows for mail-in or online ballots if a quorum cannot be reached at a membership meeting. The board decided to substitute the online process after deciding that it would be unable to obtain a quorum, which equals 10% of the active membership. Bush has maintained that the failure to adhere to the governance procedures is a potential violation of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. 'I reserve the right to escalate these issues to the Department of Labor if not resolved in a timely manner,' she wrote. Nicole Yorkin, another board member, sent a message Wednesday to her friends in the guild urging them to deny the appeals. 'Voting is now open (until Friday) on the Guild's strike-related disciplinary actions,' she wrote. 'Please vote to uphold the WGA's Board of Directors' decisions in these matters and encourage your WGA member friends to do the same!' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
