In terms of the film industry in Saskatchewan one series stands out; Corner Gas.
When the series, which began in 2004, came to an end in 2009, an era in Canadian comedy and Saskatchewan production came to an end.
But in the world of film there are such things as second lives, and in December a new story unfolded in the fictional Saskatchewan town of Dog River, when Corner Gas: The Movie debuted.
And there among the familiar cast of Brent Butt, Gabrielle Miller and the rest was a face even more familiar to the veterans of Yorkton This Week.
Former reporter, and then Yorkton resident Mark Claxton — he was with YTW from Jan 97 to Feb 99 — was among the cast, complete with a speaking role which crossed multiple scenes.
“Most of the supportive roles were reserved as cameos for bigger names, but there were a few smaller parts left for Saskatchewan actors,” said Claxton. “The casting director used to be based in Saskatchewan and she’s pretty well acquainted with the talent here. She drew up a list of actors she wanted to see and happily I was on that list. My agent, who probably represents most of the film and TV actors in Regina, contacted us to set up our auditions.”
So what was it like as an actor based now in Regina to be part of what was to be an iconic film regardless of the reviews?
“It’s funny -- everything is so business-like on the set, almost run like a machine, you just kind of drop into this state of alert focus, waiting for direction and doing whatever you need to do to stay in the moment,” said Claxton.
“I did have a few moments where I had a chance to stop, look around, and let it sink in a bit. But you can’t afford to get all ga-ga over it, or you’ll get nervous and bring an energy to the work that doesn’t translate very well on camera.
“I think it didn’t really sink in for me until the finished product hit theatres and sold out all across the country, with these packed houses singing along with the theme and just completely ‘geeking’ out on it. That’s when I realized what a rare Canadian phenomenon this thing is and how incredibly lucky I was to be a small part of it.”
As for the script, Claxton said he was just happy he had a role to play.
“I’m a lousy judge of scripts, but this was one of the rare times where my initial reaction turned out to be pretty close to accurate,” he offered. “I was laughing out loud within the first few pages and I remember thinking, “This is going to be very funny.” I loved how they stayed absolutely true to the spirit of the show while still injecting just a hint of big-screen stakes.”
Of course Corner Gas is very much Brent Butt, the comedian from Tisdale, SK., who was the television series’ creator. Claxton said his actual interaction with the face of the series was limited.
“Most of my interaction was with Nancy Robertson -- Wanda -- because we had a couple of scenes together,” he said. “And those are my best memories of the whole experience. I was pretty nervous my first day on set, but she was so relaxed and gracious and communicative -- it really felt like we were working together, and that helped me get past the insecurity and butterflies and just play.”
But there was one off-camera memory which also sticks out.
“I’ll also never forget the lunch break where I found myself at a table with Brent Butt, Eric Peterson, Jay Onrait, Dan O’Toole and Darren Dutchyshen,” said Claxton. “The kibitzing was just ridiculous. I gave up trying to keep up and just focused on tasting my food.”
Claxton noted that while a movie, the show stayed very true to its television roots, adding he feels the movie emerging from a series helped the feature length piece. But was there a different ‘feel’ to shooting a movie as opposed to a half-hour TV show?
“Not that I could see,” he said. “I think that’s part of the reason the movie managed to stay so true to the spirit of the TV show. It was put together with the same essential ingredients and in the same spirit.”
And it helped too that Claxton had appeared on the series, as it prepared him for what his role in the overall group of actors would be in the movie.
“Honestly, I think it made all the difference. With these smaller comedic roles, the two or three line bits, you have to walk a bit of a delicate line,” he said. “They need you to be funny, but not so funny or so big as to steal a scene from the core characters. That show is all about the great chemistry between those eight actors. Everyone else’s comedy has to support that, not compete with it.
“I think, because I’d been on a few episodes before, I’d come to understand what they needed from me, and they’d come to have some confidence that I could do the job.
“Truthfully, I didn’t have a great audition! By accident, I had studied only part of the scene I was supposed to read and wasn’t well prepared at all. I walked out of there thinking, “Well, you sure screwed that up.” It was a real treat to get the call telling me that I’d gotten the role.”
When the shooting wound up, Claxton said there was a feeling of completeness on his part.
“Well, first there was the personal relief of “okay, I didn’t get cut, most of my stuff actually made it in!” Then there was a more general relief -- the relief that they really got it right,” he said. “It was obvious that fans were going to love it. And people who aren’t fans weren’t going to watch it anyhow. I just thought it was a beautiful send-off.”
And then came the big screen launch.
“It was surprisingly emotional, actually,” said Claxton. “You’re in a big room full of film people, people you’ve been on various sets with over the years, some people who are no longer living here because there’s no longer any work -- and you’re watching this great film and thinking about what could have been or what could still be.
“There were a few speeches before the screening from government people promising there will be movies made in Saskatchewan again, but this much is certain: if Brent Butt had been trying to get his ideas off the ground in the current environment, Corner Gas would never have happened. It may turn around. I hope it does. But there was lot of poignancy to that very last image, with the car honking its horn and driving off into the sunset. At that premiere, on that night, for those of us in that room, that image was about saying goodbye to a lot of things.”
While some melancholia occurred at the launch, Claxton said the reaction he has received since has been positive.
“It’s been really fun, getting excited messages from friends and relatives who saw the movie,” he said.
“Or people I haven’t heard from in years. Of course, I’m never on the screen for more than two seconds at a time, so at times I also feel a bit silly about the star treatment. But I guess that’s what family and friends are for and I love them for it.”
While a smaller role, being part of Corner Gas: The Movie is special for Claxton.
“It certainly doesn’t hurt to have it on my resume,” he said. “I’ve had bigger roles and done more substantive work in smaller-budget and lower profile films, and in some ways those projects have helped me more in terms of developing as a film actor. Those are also the kinds of projects that will continue to happen here. But with the future of higher-profile films very much in doubt in Saskatchewan, I’m seeing the Corner Gas thing more as a really great personal experience than as any sort of stepping stone to bigger roles.”
Claxton then reflected back on his start in Yorkton all those years ago, recalling that he “pulled up late on a ridiculously freezing night in January 1997,” spending his first night with his then new boss. The next morning he drove his car into a ditch getting to work.
“It’s impossible to reflect on the whole Corner Gas experience without thinking about my years in Yorkton,” he said. “When I moved to Yorkton to write for the paper, I hadn’t done any acting in a long time. It was my experiences with Yorkton Community Theatre and the Paper Bag Players that re-ignited my love for acting, that spurred me to go after that dream again. I’ll always be thankful for all of the people who were a part of that.”
That all said Claxton said he doubts he will have an opportunity to repeat the Corner Gas movie experience, as a second movie appears unlikely.
“I think it’s unlikely,” he said, then offered a ray of hope. “But after the reception this movie got, it might be somewhat less unlikely. I’d be shocked if the possibility hasn’t occurred to Brent or Virginia Thompson, the producer, after seeing the groundswell of love that erupted at the screenings across the country.”
