Plague City: SARS in Toronto

Last updated
Plague City: SARS in Toronto
Directed by David Wu
Written byCollin Friesen
Pete McCormack
Produced byWendy Grean
Starring Kari Matchett
Ron White
Rick Roberts
Cinematography David Herrington
Edited byDavid Wu
Music byLawrence Shragge
Production
companies
Lionsgate Television
Slanted Wheel Entertainment
Distributed by CTV
Release date
  • May 29, 2005 (2005-05-29)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Plague City: SARS in Toronto is a 2005 medical thriller television movie directed by David Wu, set during the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Toronto. [1] The locations and characters were composite characters or fictionalized versions of actual Toronto medical personnel and facilities. [2]

Contents

Produced by CTV as part of its "Signature Series" of television films dramatizing significant Canadian news stories, [3] it was filmed in Toronto and Hamilton. [4] It was written by Collin Friesen and Pete McCormack. [5]

The film aired on May 29, 2005, on CTV. [6]

Cast

Critical response

John Doyle of The Globe and Mail wrote that the film "is in some ways, absurdly ambitious. It tries to capture an entire city's plight while sticking to the facts. It has many mundane TV-movie moments, but it's a grimly compelling production." [2]

Awards

AwardDate of CeremonyCategoryNomineesResultReference
Directors Guild of Canada 2006Outstanding Direction - Television Movie/Mini-SeriesDavid WuNominated
Outstanding Sound Editing - Television Movie/Mini-SeriesRichard Calistan, Rob Hegedus, Kevin HowardNominated
Gemini Awards November 4, 2006 Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or SeriesDavid HerringtonNominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHUM Limited</span> Defunct Canadian media company

CHUM Limited was a Canadian media company based in Toronto, Ontario in operation from 1945 to 2007. The company was founded in 1945 as York Broadcasters Limited when it launched CHUM-AM 1050 but was acquired by salesman Allan Waters in 1954. CHUM had expanded to and owned 33 radio stations across Canada under its CHUM Radio Network division and also owned other radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendy Crewson</span> Canadian actress

Wendy Jane Crewson is a Canadian actress and producer. She began her career appearing on Canadian television, before her breakthrough role in 1991 dramatic film The Doctor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Lee Smith</span> Canadian actress (born 1980)

Lauren Lee Smith is a Canadian actress. She is known for her television roles, including Emma DeLauro in the syndicated science fiction drama Mutant X, Riley Adams in the CBS forensics drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, police Sergeant Michelle McCluskey in the CTV fantasy drama The Listener and Frankie Drake in the CBC detective series Frankie Drake Mysteries.

<i>Strange Brew</i> 1983 Canadian comedy film

Strange Brew is a 1983 Canadian comedy film starring the popular SCTV characters Bob and Doug McKenzie, portrayed by Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis, who also served as co-directors. Co-stars include Max von Sydow, Paul Dooley, Lynne Griffin and Angus MacInnes.

The City is a Canadian television drama series, created by Pierre Sarrazin and Suzette Couture, which aired on CTV from 1999 to 2000.

Fred Ewanuick is a Canadian actor best known for his roles in the television series Corner Gas as Hank Yarbo and as the title character in the CTV sitcom Dan for Mayor. He was also a regular in a CTV anthology series, Robson Arms. He starred in Nickelodeon's summer 2013 TV movie Swindle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Pevere</span> Canadian film critic and radio broadcaster (born 1957)

Geoff Pevere is a Canadian lecturer, author, broadcaster, teacher, arts and media critic, currently the program director of the Rendezvous With Madness Film Festival in Toronto. He is a former film critic, book columnist and cultural journalist for the Toronto Star, where he worked from 1998 to 2011. His writing has appeared in several newspapers, magazines and arts journals, and he has worked as a broadcaster for both radio and television. He has lectured widely on cultural and media topics, and taught courses at several Canadian universities and colleges. In 2012, he contributed weekly pop culture columns to CBC Radio Syndication, which were heard in nearly twenty markets across Canada. He has also been a movie columnist and regular freelance contributor with The Globe and Mail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Farentino</span> American actor (1938–2012)

James Farentino was an American actor. He appeared in television, film, and on stage, including The Final Countdown, Jesus of Nazareth, and Dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Levy (Canadian actor)</span> Canadian actor and filmmaker (born 1983)

Daniel Joseph Levy is a Canadian actor and filmmaker. He began his career as a television host on MTV Canada. He received international prominence and critical acclaim for starring as David Rose in the CBC sitcom Schitt's Creek (2015–2020), which he co-created and co-starred in with his father, Eugene Levy.

This is a list of Canadian television related events from 2005.

Ron White was a Canadian film and television actor. During his career, he was nominated for two Genie Awards and six Gemini Awards.

Denis McGrath was a Canadian screenwriter and producer. Born in New York City, he resided and worked in Toronto.

<i>Cardinal</i> (TV series) Canadian television series

Cardinal is a Canadian crime drama television series, which was first broadcast on January 25, 2017, on CTV and Super Écran. The series adapts the novels of crime writer Giles Blunt, focusing on police detective John Cardinal and his partner Lise Delorme, who investigate crimes in the fictional city of Algonquin Bay.

The 1st Canadian Comedy Awards honoured the best Canadian comedy of 1999 in live performances, television and film. The awards ceremony was presented by the Canadian Comedy Foundation for Excellence (CCFE), and was held on 6 April 2000 at the Masonic Temple in Toronto, Ontario. The ceremony was hosted by Dave Thomas. A one-hour version of the ceremony was broadcast late the following night on CTV, and the full program aired on The Comedy Network on 9 April at 9 pm.

The Hangman's Bride is a Canadian historical drama short film, directed by Naomi McCormack and released in 1996. Based on the true story of Jean Corolère and Françoise Laurent, prisoners in New France who escaped the death penalty when Corolère accepted the job of executioner and married Laurent, the film stars Shawn Doyle as Corolère and Allegra Fulton as Laurent.

The following is a list of events affecting Canadian television in 2020. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings.

<i>Transplant</i> (TV series) 2020 Canadian medical drama television series

Transplant is a Canadian medical drama television series created by Joseph Kay, which premiered on February 26, 2020, on CTV. The series centres on Bashir "Bash" Hamed, a doctor from Syria who comes to Canada as a refugee during the Syrian Civil War, and is rebuilding his career as a medical resident in the emergency department at the fictional York Memorial Hospital in Toronto.

The following is a list of events affecting Canadian television in 2021. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings.

<i>Hey Lady!</i> Canadian comedy web series

Hey Lady! is a Canadian comedy web series that is directed by Adriana Maggs, Will Bowes and Sarah Polley, and airs on CBC Gem. The series was created by playwright Morris Panych for Jayne Eastwood and is Eastwood's first leading role in her 50-year-long career. Eastwood portrays Lady, a wild and foul-mouthed woman in her 70s who is constantly getting into trouble with her friend Rosie.

The following is a list of events affecting Canadian television in 2022. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings.

References

  1. Joel Rubinoff, "SARS flick is . . . cough cough . . . a bit sick". Waterloo Region Record , May 28, 2005.
  2. 1 2 John Doyle, "No SARS jokes, please". The Globe and Mail , May 27, 2005.
  3. "Plague City filmed in Toronto". Peterborough Examiner , January 8, 2005.
  4. "CTV filming movie about Toronto SARS outbreak". The Globe and Mail , December 10, 2004.
  5. "Ex-Winnipegger's voice tells SARS story". Winnipeg Free Press , May 28, 2005.
  6. "SARS crisis becomes made-for-TV movie: Plague City tells story of 2003 outbreak in Toronto". Sudbury Star , May 28, 2005.