The Hollywood writers' strike has caught up to the hit TV show Men in Trees, which means Squamish residents won't be seeing the bright lights and rolling cameras on their streets anytime soon.
But the cast and crew's fondness for Squamish has kept some in touch with local fans, the show's star James Tupper told the Canadian Press during the last day of shooting on a Vancouver set last Thursday Jan. 17."We just had a little thing where we gave the mayor of Squamish a giant picture of the cast all signed as a thank you," he said. "The residents have been great up there. Some of them have really gotten into the show and they stop by and say 'hi.' It's very hometown. I grew up on the East Coast, in Nova Scotia, so it has a little of that feeling because it's like a little seaside community."
Meanwhile, a few die-hard fans have begun a humanitarian campaign encouraging fans from all over the world to donate money to send fruit trees to Third World countries in the hopes that such support will cause broadcasting company executives to renew the show for a third season.
The strike is in its 13th week, and with no end in sight, Tupper, who plays wildlife biologist Jack Slattery, said many in the crew were planning to leave B.C. to pursue other projects."People aren't trying to be gloomy but I would definitely describe it as a scary time for most people," he told CP.
"Actors are used to being out of work but I think it's scary for us. Some of us are going to New York, some to L.A. and some are staying here, so it's a weird moment."The second season began in October and returns from its winter hiatus on Feb. 27. There are 11 new episodes left to air, and Tupper said the last couple of installments don't really serve as a season finale.The cast isn't the only group of people that has grown fond of Squamish.
The TV show has generated rabid fans from all over the world, and the organizer of an online campaign of support has reached out to The Chief and municipal mayor and councillors in the hopes of gaining locals' attention."If you would like to give our group a thrill (and it will), drop by our message thread www.abc.go.com/primetime/menintrees/index?
pn=mb&cat=30893 and leave a word of encouragement for our campaign," writes Sally O. Johnston from Hollywood, Calif. "I assure you that would make the group twirl their toes in their socks with delight for weeks! They'd talk about it for a long time. "The many members of the message boards feel familiar with, and very fondly toward Squamish; your town is discussed." The tree campaign aims to send 5,000 food trees to developing countries to be planted in honour of the show. The trees are anticipated to provide more than 1 million pounds of food a year.
"Imagine fans of MIT supporting that much food in the world!" writes Johnston.For more information or to donate go to www.treesforlife.org.
