Source: Zap2it.com
Article By: Kate O’Hare
Date: June 18, 2005
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Many shows aimed at families and young people are about making mistakes, or trying not to, but not all of them deal with the aftermath of mistakes, the inevitable rebuilding that goes on after you’ve wrecked your life.
That’s the central theme of ABC Family’s new drama “Wildfire,” premiering Monday, June 20, with a two-hour movie. Hourlong episodes start airing June 27. It’s executive produced by “Dead Zone” cohorts Michael Piller and Lloyd Segan, along with Marjorie David, and based on a story by Piller and Christopher Teague.
“Wildfire” stars newcomer Genevieve Cortese as 18-year-old Kris Furillo, who’s in a youth detention camp for stealing a car. Her work-release program brings her to the attention of volunteer and local horse trainer Pablo Betart (Greg Serano), who notices she has a way with horses. In particular, Kris is fond of Wildfire, a failed racing Thoroughbred training to become a police horse.
When Kris gets out of jail, Pablo offers her a job at the financially troubled horse-breeding ranch where he works, run by Jean Ritter (Nana Visitor) and her father, Henry (Dennis Weaver). Kris struggles to stay on the straight and narrow, but she may risk everything to save the equally troubled Wildfire from winding up as dog food.
Meanwhile, Jean tries to keep the ranch afloat while considering personal and professional merger offers from a wealthy horse breeder (James Read) who has the hottest colt at the local Thoroughbred track.
Also starring are Micah Alberti, Nicole Tubiola, Andrew Hoeft and Ryan Sypek. Set in California, the show has taken advantage of New Mexico’s aggressive campaign to lure TV production and is filming in and around Rio Rancho, not far from Albuquerque.
“Kris is a metaphor for all of us having the opportunity to have second chances,” Segan says. “Ultimately, that became the metaphor for the entire show. What if any of us got the opportunity to revisit our lives, improve ourselves and see life from a different perspective?
“Each and every character reflects that. Certainly, Kris has the opportunity to see her life potentially improve on this farm and in this environment. We also see that with this family, where they’re struggling for their very survival. What’s the second chance going to be?
“It goes all the way up to our patriarch, played by Dennis Weaver. Here’s a chance for him to see himself not only as a grandfather, but as someone who can advise the next generation.”
It turns out that this concept of mentoring extends into real life. Although Cortese has a bachelor of fine arts degree in drama and a bachelor of arts degree in English from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University — and can ride a horse — “Wildfire” marks her television debut. The nuts and bolts of TV production were a mystery to her, not to mention the challenge of being a lead character. Cortese is happy to be able to turn to Visitor, who starred in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” where she also worked with Piller.
“I cannot tell you how much my acting has improved because of Nana,” Cortese says. “Honestly, all of this is new to me. I’m learning what it means now to be part of a big show and play an important role in a big show. I go to her every day with questions. ‘How do I handle this? How do I carry myself? How do I make the right decisions, the right choices?’ She’s amazing.
“My biggest thing is, I’m learning what it’s like to carry myself in a personal way and also a professional way, how I can be a leader and do multitasking.”
As a girl with a largely absent mother, Kris is also coping with the idea of having Jean around to lean on.
“Kris has never really had a mother,” Cortese says. “She’s always been the mother. That whole definition of mother is a new thing for her, so it’s a power struggle. Does she submit, or does she fight? A big part of her wants to be loved so badly. It’s hard, because she has to challenge that. She’s never been loved. She’s been hurt very badly.
“It’s a great relationship with Jean. Is she my boss? Is she my mother? And Jean has really accepted Kris as part of the family. But when you’ve been let down before, it’s hard to trust again.”
For Visitor, the idea of on- and off-screen mentoring is just fine.
“When I was doing ‘Deep Space Nine,’” she says, “I always got the question, ‘If you had a story line, what would you wish for?’ I always said, ‘Mentoring a young woman.’ That’s exactly what this role is about.
“I hope that is happening in the world, a support system, an appreciation for wisdom and age and giving the young people a hand up. Of course, you need the young people. You need the people making mistakes and learning and going through sexual awakenings, but there has to be a balance.
“What’s interesting is that the actors that have experience can not only mentor in the script, but on the set. There are a lot of young people who just need to be shown some ropes. They need information on how to be a pro. It’s not an easy position [for Genevieve]. There are times that I say, ‘Welcome to being the star of a show. There’s good stuff, too, but you may have to wait a second for that.’”
Speaking of age, Segan hopes to spark some memories in his “Wildfire” for those old enough to remember Michael Martin Murphey’s 1970s hit song “Wildfire,” which was about a girl and her pony.
“We had a kickoff party in New Mexico,” he says, “and Murphey popped and sang that song at the party. It was pretty fabulous. We are pursuing that idea. If we can’t include the song in our opening-title sequence, we would love to have it in our end-title sequence.”
