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We certainly wouldn't have been able to enjoy North of 60 all these years. The award-winning dramatic series painted a realistic picture of what life must be like among the hardy natives of the frozen north. Like, oh, Star Trek, say, North of 60 exists now only as movies. The second made-for-TV film, Trial By Fire - A North of 60 Mystery airs tonight at 8 on CBC-TV (Cable 4). It's a whodunit that cuts to the very heart of the relationship between Michelle Kenidi and her politically ambitious brother Peter.
Our Conversation Piece subject this week is Trial By Fire director Francis Damberger. Trained at the U of A and starting off as an actor, he had role in early episodes of North of 60, and turned his talents to directing in 1985. His work includes the feature films On the Edge and Road to Saddle River, along with episodes of Due South, Jake and the Kid and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
Damberger currently lives and works at the Damberger Film and Cattle Co. in Tofield. He doesn't actually have any cattle on his ranch, he admits, although he does have two horses and a bunch of chickens.
Here's a look at the mind behind the man behind the camera:
1. What was the last movie you saw that you loved?
American Beauty. And I really enjoyed Toy Story 2. I took my kids to that and had a laugh riot.
2. What was the first album you ever owned?
Born to be Wild, by Steppenwolf. I remember being in my bedroom and playing that record until it wore out.
3. What was the last book you read?
Blindness, by Jose Saramago.
4. What's your favourite hangout?
The Damberger Film and Cattle Company office. I've got kind of a funky cabin, bunkhouse type thing I built where I do my work.
5. Do you have a pet peeve?
People lying.
6. What's your idea of the perfect Sunday?
Good cup of coffee and hanging out with my family.
7. What's your favourite junk food?
Popcorn.
8. How did you prepare for Y2K?
I got my Coleman lantern out of the camping equipment and set it on the back porch.
9. What gadget or gizmo can you not live without?
A good pepper grinder.
10. Do you have a hobby or habit that you think would surprise people?
I really enjoy building furniture.
11. What's your favourite piece of clothing?
I'm big on coats. Almost every day, I wear a different coat.
12. What would you change about yourself if you could?
I'd like to not get so worked up about the state of the world. I really care about all these things that are happening and I just get really upset about it. I guess that's a good thing and a bad thing.
13. Whom do you most admire?
My wife.
14. What is your greatest extravagance?
All my woodworking equipment.
15. Have you ever been mistaken for another celebrity?
I don't think so. My big problem is I change my own look all the time and people never recognize me.
16. Do you have a favourite quotation?
I think it's the Kennedy one: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
17. What is your greatest weakness?
My two daughters. They can get me to do anything.
18. If you are reincarnated who or what will you be?
I would like to have been one of the first white men to walk on the prairies.
19. If you had to go back in time to live in another decade, which one would you choose?
Probably something like the 1820s or something, before white people settled the west. I've always wondered what it would be like to see buffalo go by your campsite for three days.
20. What's your favourite thing about North of 60?
I like the native actors. I like their sense of humour. They're a lot of fun to be around. The only thing I don't like about the show is that it doesn't ever show enough of their humour.