An investigative documentary about the popular Degrassi teen series franchise set for a world premiere this weekend at the Toronto Film Festival has hit a possible legal roadblock.
Linda Schuyler, co-creator of the Degrassi property, on Monday filed a notice of action in the Ontario Superior Court alleging the documentary, Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, contains “defamatory statements and innuendo.” It’s understood the producers of the film have received the legal action, and for now plan to go ahead with this weekend’s screening at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto on Saturday night, followed by a second screening on Sunday afternoon.
Schuyler, who a decade ago sold her company, Epitome Pictures, to DHX Media, a forerunner of Wild Brain Entertainment, was not available for comment on Wednesday. The legal impasse over the documentary follows Schuyler and Kit Hood as co-creators over four decades building the Degrassi franchise into an edgy, inclusive teen high school series.
Schuyler in her legal notice of action objects to claims made in the documentary that underpaid cast members had to pitch in on set alongside crew members to serve meals or wear their own clothes as wardrobe. Drake and his former co-stars from the Canadian teen drama reunited for the documentary that looks back at the show’s legacy.
Wild Brain and Peacock Alley Entertainment are behind documentary that features interviews with stars Drake, Dayo Ade, Stefan Brogren, Amanda Deiseach, Maureen Deiseach, Shenae Grimes-Beech, Jake Epstein, Shane Kippel, Miriam McDonald, Stacie Mistysyn, Melinda Shankar, Amanda Stepto and Jordan Todosey.
The franchise began with Kids of Degrassi Street, which aired from 1979-86. Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High followed before Degrassi: The Next Generation premiered in 2001. The series, which starred Drake, Grimes-Beech, Nina Dobrev and more actors before their big breaks, ultimately ended in 2015. However, the franchise continued when Degrassi: Next Class aired on Netflix from 2016-17.
Ironically, Schuyler appears in the trailer for the documentary to reflect on the property:. “Have we always gotten it right? Probably not. Have we told our stories with the best of intentions? Yes, we have,” she says, referring to some of the show’s more controversial storylines, including teen pregnancy, drug abuse and mental health.
TIFF programmer Jason Anderson also touches on the claim of underpaid cast members in his introduction of the documentary on the festival website: “It all makes for an engrossing history, one that celebrates the realistic take on adolescence that the franchise pioneered (especially when tackling divisive subjects like abortion) while also delving into thornier matters, like some actors’ misgivings about what the show demanded of them and how little they were compensated.”
Degrassi: Whatever It Takes is executive produced by Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts and Angela Boudreault for WildBrain and by Carrie Mudd for Peacock Alley. In addition to directing the documentary, Rideout also co-wrote the project with Celine Wong.
Organizers of the Toronto Film Festival were not available for direct comment on the legal moves around the festival world premiere.