Categories awards linda schuyler

Linda Schuyler Wins Academy Achievement Award

No surprise here. Degrassi executive producer & co-creator Linda Schuyer is being recognized with a special award at the 25th Annual Gemini Awards this year! Schuyler’s award is the “Academy Achievement Award,” and according to the press release she is being honoured for an “exceptional, outstanding, or ongoing contribution or service to the Canadian television industry.” Here’s more of what the press release had to say about her:

Linda Schuyler is best known for co-creating and executive producing the multi-award winning Degrassi franchise, comprised of The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, School’s Out, Degrassi Talks and Degrassi: The Next Generation, now known simply as Degrassi. This franchise, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2010, has won 20 Gemini Awards, two International Emmys, two Prix Jeunesses, two Teen Choice Awards, the Critics’ Choice Award and countless other international honours. In addition to Degrassi, Epitome Pictures, founded by Schuyler and her husband and producing partner Stephen Stohn, has produced Instant Star, the MOW X-Rated, and Canada’s first prime time soap opera, Riverdale. Schuyler is a founding member of the Association for Media Literacy, and past Chair and long-standing member of the CMPA. Through Degrassi, Schuyler supports the children’s advocacy organization Free The Children and their worldwide initiatives. In 2008, she joined the cast and travelled to Kenya to participate in a school-building project. In 1994, in recognition of her contribution to Canadian television programming, Schuyler was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.

The Gemini Awards are taking place in November with the Industry Galas (ie most of Degrassi’s awards) being handed out on Nov. 2nd & 3rd and the Broadcast Gala taking place on Nov. 13th. Degrassi is nominated for a total of 5 awards this year, as well as the special Fave TV Show award which fans can vote for!

Categories interviews linda schuyler

New Linda Schuyler Interview

A new interview with Linda Schuyler has surfaced! The article mostly focuses on her upcoming high school reunion this weekend. But she also talks a little bit about Degrassi and what keeps her motivated. Here is an excerpt:

“I keep a book in my office called ‘Why I Do What I Do.’ It’s filled with letters and e-mails from kids and parents, which I find quite extraordinary,” she said.

One of the letters is from a parent who threw her son out of the house after learning he was gay. She watched a Degrassi program about a teenager struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality and picked up the phone to reconnect with her son.

“She said thank you so much for such a moving story. It made me pick up the phone and call my son after 10 years,” Schuyler said. “Whenever I doubt if I want to be my own boss anymore, I pick up this book and think ‘now I know why I do what I do, and I love it.'”

Click here to read the full article.

Categories linda schuyler

Linda Schuyler On TV Guide’s Soap Power List

Epitome sent me this, and I had to post it because it’s brilliant. TV Guide has named Linda Schuyler one of the 20 most influential people in daytime. Degrassi isn’t even a daytime soap, but no matter. She still has “talent, vision, and groundbreaking achievements.” Click the picture above to read the little excerpt on Linda!