A Word From The Editor: From 007 to DOC!

Welcome to the First Official DOC/Sue Thomas FBEye Newsletter!!! I'm so excited to be able to be part of this newsletter. About 2 1/2 years ago, I interviewed Pierce Brosnan for a newspaper. About a year later, Pierce's former publicist asked me, if I wanted to do a story on another one of her clients, Andrea Robinson. She mentioned how she played in a show called "DOC." At the time, I had never heard about DOC before and with a bit of reservation, I said that I was definitely open to the idea. My main concern at the time was that I wanted to make sure that DOC was a family friendly show and definitely something that I could promote. Was I in for a surprise!!! After I saw a couple of episodes, I was absolutely convinced that this had to be the best television show that I've ever seen on TV.

Then when I interviewed Andrea, she was so gracious and just made the interview feel so comfortable that after the interview, I didn't feel like I had done any work, but had just spend an hour on the phone with a good friend of mine. Andrea got me in touch with the other cast members of the show and I've been so excited to meet all of them. They are absolutely so gracious. Anyone that knows me knows that I'm a huge Bond fan. If you don't believe me, check out my personal webpage. Yet, I must say that if I was an actor and I had to choose between playing Bond or even being an extra on the show of DOC or Sue Thomas FBEye, I would without any hesitation choose the extra role.

I hope you all enjoy the newsletter.

From the Desk of Gary Johnson: The 23rd Annual Media Access Awards

Sue Thomas: F.B.I. has added yet another award to its collection. The show has been named best drama by the Media Access Awards. "The award honors those in the entertainment and media industry that have done an exemplary job of promoting employment for, and accurately portraying people with disabilities. The event also honors the achievements of entertainment and media professional with disabilities."

For 22 years, the Media Access Awards have honored the entertainment and media industries with a gala Academy Awards-style evening celebrating Hollywood and the contributions made toward enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. The Media Access Awards recognize those who use the unique power of their medium to increase public awareness and understanding. By accurately portraying the experience of disability and employing people with disabilities, the entertainment and media industries enhance employment opportunities for all people with disabilities. A recent study from the Screen Actors Guild shows that 20 percent of all Americans are living with a mental or physical disability, yet less than two percent of TV show characters display a disability. Increasing the inclusion of disability in what we see and hear can increase employment opportunities and the appreciation of disability as an important part of cultural diversity.

Toward that end, the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and the California Employment Development Department, along with Hollywood professionals and members of the disability community, have developed a unique resource for the entertainment and media industries. The Media Access Office actively promotes the employment and accurate portrayals of persons with disabilities by offering a variety of services including a casting liaison, script consultation, educational and technical assistance, and career development aid for industry professionals with disabilities.

Each year, staff of the Media Access Office working with its coalition of support organizations including industry guilds, produce the Media Access Awards focusing on two categories of award winners. Individuals who have shown a lifelong dedication or made significant contributions to raising the awareness of the experience of disability are selected for honoree awards. In addition, productions, performances, and printed materials are recognized for employing people with disabilities, casting actors with disabilities in non-traditional roles, accurately depicting people with disabilities as part of the diverse American landscape, and increasing understanding through innovative and creative productions.

This year's Media Access Awards event is scheduled for the night of Sunday, October 23, 2005. The Globe Theater at Universal Studios will play host to the event complete with a red carpet arrival of several hundred invited guests. The evening begins with a welcoming reception, followed by the awards program presented with the assistance of numerous Hollywood performers and professionals. Made possible by donations, the awards celebrate the important, powerful role of the media and entertainment industries to broaden the education of the general public and promote a society that understands and values the experience of disability.

A Personal Message from Andrea Robinson

Hi Everyone!

I'm so excited that our lovely and talented reporter friend Kees Boer has taken the initiative to start this DOC and FBEye newsletter! I had the pleasure of meeting Kees through my publicist when he interviewed me in early 2004. Since then, Kees has interviewed just about every actor, producer and writer of DOC and FBEye, and stayed in touch with us and many of the fans. We have gotten such an amazing response from viewers over the years, and now thanks to Kees, we now have an outlet to keep up with fans of the shows.

It was a great challenge playing the character Nurse Nancy for four years on DOC. It was a little bittersweet to let her go, and even more difficult to leave the TV family we had grown into on the set. On the other hand, I was incredibly excited to move back to California, and on to playing other characters and facing new challenges in my life. As some of you know, I received my degree in Environmental Studies before I decided to become an actor. Last fall, I volunteered for the Sierra Club, the largest and oldest grassroots environmental organization in America. For the Club's Environmental Voter Education Campaign in Ohio, we went door-to-door and made thousands of phone calls to voters regarding the environmental and health concerns in their state and the voting records of the presidential candidates. Did you know that 1 in 4 children in Ohio suffer from asthma due to air pollution from outdated coal-plants? Subsequently, mercury levels are so high in Ohio's rivers, lakes and streams that the EPA has declared fish unsafe for consumption (especially for pregnant women). Many states and provinces face similar problems and I wanted to help educate voters on the relationship between their power to vote, their health and the health of the planet. This past summer, I also worked with the group Environment Colorado on environmental media in Denver. At Environment Colorado, I organized press conferences and speakers, wrote press advisories and releases, pitched stories to newspaper, television and radio editors regarding environmental campaigns, energy issues and pending legislation. Colorado is the first state in the nation where the voters themselves have passed a renewable energy usage standard whereby 10% of Colorado's energy will come from clean renewable sources such as wind and solar power by 2015. Seventeen states have followed with their own renewable energy standards and with the price of oil these days, I hope this becomes the way of our clean energy future.

Living up in the Rockies was amazing. The clearest air and brightest stars I have ever experienced. I've included a photo of my front yard - not your typical doorstep, huh? I got into mountain biking, snowshoeing and hiking up at 9000ft. The first day I ever rode my mountain bike, I went out for about an hour right before sunset. No kidding- in that hour, I saw a snake, 3 deer, red-shouldered blackbirds and magpies, 2 beaver, hundreds of fish literally jumping in a lake, a marmot, and a red fox who just caught its dinner. All of this, plus the full moon rising! We live in a beautiful world.

Now it's fall and I'm back in California pounding the pavement for acting and print auditions. Recently I did a play with my theater company and worked on the sitcom "Joey". I adore acting and continue trying to balance my love for it with my passion for environmental conservation.

Thank you so much for your loyalty to DOC over the years. I truly hope all of you are well, healthy and smiling. Wishing you all the best and hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy nature soon!

Andrea Robinson

A Visit to the Set of STFBEYE'
By Jennifer Shashaty
jshashaty@romancenews.com

10/13/05

We've seen the show Sue Thomas FBEYE aired on television, but what's behind the scenes? Each TV show has its own flavor, its own personality that lives behind the cameras. In the midst of one of darkest winters the Northeast had to offer, I set off for Toronto, Canada and Pebblehut Productions to find the uniqueness behind what makes Sue Thomas FBEYE so magical.

The red 'Filming' light blinked off, and I entered the set. A break had just been called and the cast, crew and some family members began filing by, grabbing a snack, catching up, and trading stories. Friendly, at ease… and me an unknown, I was taken in at once and made to feel welcome. Gracious with her winning smile, Enuka Okuma (Lucy Dotson) posed for a picture with me, conversing as easily as if we had known each other for years. Moments later, Yannick Bisson (Jack Hudson), joined us, and placing his arm around me, grinned for a personal shot of us together, before heading back to review his lines before the next segment.

I admit, I was already pleasantly surprised. Having been on television sets before, this was not the norm. Break over, everyone made their way back, to continue filming. The scene was being filmed in 'The Bullpen' and was from the episode 'The Bounty Hunter'. Quiet was called, and filming began. Over and over the cast spoke their lines, repeated their actions with as little variation as possible…95% work, 5% glamour…as is typical. From behind the Director and his staff, I got to watch first hand the proactive and positive manner in which screening and script were blended onto film. Changing angles, the script called for Marc Gomes' (Dimitrius Gans) to enter with the first line. A swing in his step, he pulled it off beautifully, nearly knocking over a pillar in the process. The laughter was contagious. I don't remember how many times they redid the shot, I doubt anyone did that day, but it was all in good fun, Marc laughing as much as the rest of us.

When it came time for a set change, everyone was given a bit longer break, and I had the honor of meeting Jesse (who played Levi the dog) and Levi (his grandson, a future star in training)…along with their trainer, Bryan Renfro and his assistant CJ Lusby. A long time TV professional, Bryan has accomplishments dating further than either of us discussed, the parrot from Baretta of particular merit. Neither dog paid us any mind; both were sleeping, enjoying the break. There was time later for a picture, before the radio crackled, calling Jesse to the set, and without prompting, Jesse was on his feet and ready with a wag in his tail and a smile on his face.

That night their shooting was scheduled until one in the morning, and everyone settled back to work. Up until now, the cast I had met was pretty much as they appeared on screen, even in character. Now I was seated next to Ted Atherton, who plays Myles Leland, the epitome of a snob, albeit a well educated one, and often the butt of jokes in front of the camera. Behind the camera is the real Ted. Funny, good natured, and truly a pleasure to chat with, Ted was the definition of a 'class act'. Ready with a joke, smile or story, Ted is the true conversationalist and a definite asset of true quality and talent. Then there was Tara Samuel, and yes, that spunk the camera captures is no accident, vibrant and bright…here was someone I could just as easily go shopping with as discuss the latest from Hollywood or broadway. But the best example of the warm family atmosphere would be Rick Peters (Bobby Manning) and his wife; working together, she helping him, a quick kiss between shots, and yet they were very much part of the 'gang'.

Taking a break from rehearsing her lines, I got a chance to visit with Deanne Bray (Sue Thomas). Dubbed 'my Little Sister' by the the show's inspiration, Sue Thomas, I could immediately see why. A gentle spirit, with eyes wiser than her years, she had an unmistakable presence, a knowing gaze, and a true passion for her work. Her role is considered ground-breaking…a deaf actor portraying real life experiences and career of a deaf person… and doing it in such a way as to appeal to a broad audience. And yet she wore the role as effortlessly as her wardrobe, comfortable in the environment produced by the Gary and Dave Johnson, the creators of Sue Thomas FBEYE.

So much of what comes through on the screen is the result of so many people, I couldn’t possibly list them. One thing was clear. The magic that is Sue Thomas FBEye is no accident. Nurtured through camaraderie and friendship, ease and a common goal, the cast and crew of Sue Thomas FBEye were an amazing gathering of talent and, their enthusiasm, infectious.

There is a saying 'God works in mysterious ways'. I found no mystery here; God's presence was indubitable, and our good fortune at His effort… unforgettable.