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If you would like to join other Nick Lea fans in showing your support, you need to do so quickly. I set up this page to post information on who to write to and for news... hopefully good news.
Disclaimer: This webpage is not affiliated with or authorized by Nicholas Lea, Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions or FOX in any way. This is solely an individual, unofficial and non-profit endeavor.
As you probably know, Krycek is my favorite character on The X-Files... and the idea of getting to see Nick Lea every week? I am so there. As someone who can't even stand to watch "NYPD Blue" ever since Nick lost the part to Rick Schroeder, I'm fairly keen on seeing Nick get this role.
"But I don't know what to say, Emile." - Well, I've got sample letters below. They don't have to be long - just state your point and sign 'em; whoever reads them just wants to tally up yeas and nays anyway. Length is not important, clarity and getting those letters in are!
February 24, 1999: From Paula: "Harsh Realm" is set to begin shooting in Vancouver on March 17, but there is still no official word on any members of the cast, much less Nicholas Lea's role. :-(
Also, a reliable source emailed this to me: "No decision has been made yet on HARSH REALM. So I guess the letter-writing should continue." Ever onward, troops.
February 26, 1999: Another news tibdit from an email - take this with a grain of salt but it's from someone with more insider info than many of us: "Yeah, I've heard repeatedly that he is getting the lead, but I'm not really sure of the source. They swear it's all a done deal and Nick's got the part. I'm just hoping it's true. Nick Lea for an hour over 22 weeks! I'm just sorry I don't have anything really concrete to tell you. If and or when I do, I'll let you know."
March 3, 1999: I'm hearing from several sources, including NickLea.com, that still no official decision has been made... with only 14 days to go to the shooting of the pilot! So, don't get too comfortable. If you're still holding on to that letter, quit bogarding it and mail it! And get your friends to send in theirs. Meanwhile, check the BC Film Commission's website for cast updates.
March 7, 1999, 6:03pm: Tomorrow, he said. Just got back from standing outside the SAG Awards in the freezing cold and was awarded with another visitation by Nick himself (so, if you're not taping them, catch the re-run, because he's definitely there!) Here's the nutshell version of the story: with regards to Harsh Realm, he said he'll find out tomorrow.
The longer version is posted at Contact at the SAG Awards.
March 9, 1999: It's looking like bad news. According to NickLea.com, Nick did not get the lead role in "Harsh Realm." But I'm sure we're all keeping our fingers crossed that this information is wrong. I'll keep this page up until there's official confirmation either way. If it turns out to be true, I'm offering my newsboard as a wailing wall!
March 11, 1999: Final group call to action complete. We didn't take the news of Nick not getting the role lying down. Yesterday, on the basis of a rumor that it was FOX that vetoed Nick and not Ten Thirteen, Alicia and I put out a final call to action for fans to write to Chris Carter and ask him to go to bat for Nick. As far as we're concerned, until they actually sign someone else for the lead and start shooting, we still have a glimmer of hope.
This morning, nearly 150 letters, compiled in less than 24 hours, were delivered to Ten Thirteen. Thank you so much for rising to the challenge! Now keep those fingers crossed. If nothing else, even if Nick does not end up with the lead role, we hope we sent a very clear message that Nick needs more screen time!
March 12, 1999: He knows! No news about "Harsh Realm" per se, but definitely news about Nick. Because we didn't know whether our letters to Chris Carter would be noticed at all by anyone at Ten Thirteen, we wanted to make sure at least that Nick knew, so we sent a set of copies of all the letters to him. Today I called just to make sure the package arrived safely and was told not only did it arrive but that Nick Lea himself was in the office when it did! And this is a quote: "He was surprised and stunned." *Chuckle.* "Yes, he was very, very appreciative." So those of us who were hoping at the very least that Nick would find out how much we support him, this is a tremendous lift! :-D
March 13, 1999: More bad news, I'm afraid. According to Cinescape Online (whose information is hit or miss, so as always take this with a grain of salt), Nick may not land the role of Dexter Green. Cinescape also spoke with a FOX representative, who, according to the website, said that "Harsh Realm" is seen as "an ensemble drama and also pointed out that it is not at all unusual for a pilot to go uncast up until just before filming. The rep also confirmed that Lea is being looked at for a role in the new series, but casting is simply not complete at this time."
According to NickLea.com, an official announcement will be made Wednesday.
On a much, much lighter note, that TV Guide poll on whether or not Krycek should be killed off is over. Last we checked, the results were 61% against the death of the Ratboy. Good job! :-> As I mentioned before, at least perhaps our letters have sent a clear message to Mr. Carter that we hope the next few mytharcs will be Krycek-heavy!
March 14, 1999: More casting news. Again, I don't know the reliability of this news since supposedly an official announcement wasn't going to be made until Wednesday, but this was in today's Vancouver Province (and by the way, there are still rumors floating that not only is Nick still being considered for a recurring role, but one in which we'd still see him every week. So, don't give up hope yet!):
Chatted briefly with television wunderkind Chris Carter who's here readying to shoot the pilot for his next sci-fi series, "Harsh Realm," beginning next Wednesday.
Finally the main cast is in place and those actors must be over-the-moon with the news.
Winnipeg born Scott Bairstow (Samuel Hartley on the "X-Files") and DB Sweeney who shot his series "Strange Luck," here in 1995, will play military officers; Vancouver's Max Martini ("Saving Private Ryan") has a pivotal role as the good friend of Bairstow's character.
Carter met Bairstow on the first season of the X-Files and was impressed by his "intelligent bearing". Carter and Sweeney were basketball buddies when they worked here earlier.
Samantha Mathis ("Broken Arrow") will have an important, recurring role, as will Terry O'Quinn who was Darius Michaud in the X-Files 1998 movie. Carter calls O'Quinn's part in "Harsh Realm" "a Kurtzean role"-based on Marlon Brando's Colonel Kurtz character in "Apocalypse Now."
The HR pilot story is still hush-hush, although the comic book of the same name, acquired by Carter, is "a leaping-off point," he says.
And in spite of the wind and the rain, Carter still adores Vancouver. "It's my home away from home," he admits. "I was sorry to have to leave and anxious to get back."
March 15, 1999: Cinescape Online Update: Scott Bairstow (The Postman), D.B. Sweeney (Spawn), Max Martini (Saving Private Ryan) and Samantha Mathis (Broken Arrow) have been cast in Chris Carter's virtual reality television series Harsh Realm, according to both regular Cinescape Online tipster 'TomBli' and the Vancouver Province newspaper (by way of Harsh Realm comic co-creator James Hudnall).
Bairstow, who can currently be seen as the abusive boyfriend to Neve Campbell's character on Party of Five, will play Dexter Green according to 'TomBli'. The Province reports that both the Bairstow and Sweeney characters will be military officers, while Martini plays Bairstow's friend. 'TomBli' tips that Chris Carter has revised a "large part" of Hundall and Andrew Paquette's Harsh Realm premise, including changing main character Green from a private eye to a military agent.
Millennium alum Terry O'Quinn will play a recurring character reminiscent of Marlon Brando's Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, according to the paper. Mathis' role is also described as recurring. Filming on the pilot episode of Harsh Realm is expected to begin soon for a Fall premiere. The series may run on either Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday nights, according to Hudnall's Web site.
March 17, 1999: D-Day. Today was the first day of shooting on the "Harsh Realm" Pilot amd the British Columbia Film Commission site has been updated with the casting news excluding Nick which we've already heard - this is the official news we've been dreading. Most likely a press release was sent by FOX today and the news will appear in the trades and other publications starting tomorrow.
But don't give up! Even though the initial push is over, casting changes do get made after the shooting of the pilot. Watch this space for updates - over the next fews days, the focus of this webpage will change from "Harsh Realm" to projects in which Nick is already involved and others for whch he is being considered.
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President Fox Entertainment Building 100, Room 4480 10201 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90035 |
Here's a short one (written by a male, by the way, so you guys really have no excuse):
Hi,
I recently heard that Nick Lea might be starring in a new Chris Carter series (Harsh Realm) and I wanted to write and say that I would watch just about anything with him in it. When he first showed up on the X Files I was completely taken in by his innocent act. When he showed up on Highlander I watched it for the first time in a couple of years. He is a very interesting actor with a great take on any character he portrays. If you plan on putting him on this show you'll have one dedicated viewer here. (And I don't watch very much television these days.)
Thanks for letting me spout my opinion,
XXXX
cc: Doug Herzog
President, Fox Entertainment
And a slightly longer one:
Re: Harsh Realm
Dear Mr. Carter:
I have been following the news of your new project with interest ever since I heard you were considering Nick Lea for the lead. I cannot think of any actor working in television today who has more skill and screen presence, and I believe you would be very well advised to choose him for as large a role as the series offers.
Nick appeals to male and female fans alike, from children and teens to mature adults, and he has demonstrated an impressive range in his various past projects, including X-Files. Whatever your vision for Harsh Realm, he would be an asset to the show. Having a crossover actor from X-Files--and such a popular one--in the lead would surely make for high initial viewer interest. And Nick's magnetism and craft would keep those viewers coming back.
Of course, we hope to see other X-Files alumni on Harsh Realm as well. Last spring, in Vancouver, you mentioned using Brendan Beiser in your next project. I hope you still plan to do so. Chris Owens, also, has shown an ability to do a lot with a little. Though we do trust you won't have to kill off Spender (surely he's not really dead)--or Krycek!--to give both these actors a chance in Harsh Realm.
Thank you for your attention.
Very truly yours,
XXXXXXX
cc: Doug Herzog
President, Fox Entertainment