Adrian Paul

Allow me to begin by saying that I am fully aware that I am in a most enviable position. That of flying to Toronto to watch Adrian Paul and the Lions Gate machinary film "Area 51" an intriguing and befitting story for the third episode and ever important position in the proverbial batting lineup of the syndicated television series "Tracker". By now, you all are probably aware that "Tracker" is about one alien being of light (Adrian Paul), who must "collect" 218 not so nice aliens into a bad ass futuristic pocket calculator. But, what you all probably don't know, is that unlike other sci-fi television series, "Tracker", is aiming to be a high concept drama. One which turns the sci-fi loop inside out to bring the crime fighter into a very appealing 'fish out of water' scenario.

Now, back to the business at hand. "Area 51". This episode is about a renegade Tracker (Raahm), played by Alejo Mo-Sun, who has come to earth in order to cash in on a sophisticated piece of hardware from the mysterious Roswell crash site. But there is something else, an old vendetta he has against star of the show, Cole Porter, played by Adrian Paul.

In real estate, there is only one factor in determining the value of a home - location. Conversely, in television, most would say there is no substitute for story. Having seen a few television shows in my life, I must say I was not expecting a great deal from a "syndicated show" as these shows generally don't have the time or money to deal with story. Yet, interestingly enough there it was, story, and much more. What played out in front of my eyes even transcended story, in my cynical old age, I had forgotten about the "holy grail" of TV. Chemistry.

Adrian Paul, and his young protégé, had chemistry together. Enough so, to make most everything else slip away. Hey, don't get me wrong, there was a legitimate story here, in fact a good one. But the fusion that took place when Raahm and Cole faced off was enough to silence the seasoned crew, who, one might point out, just may be as cynical as I am.

As this cynic sat beside a very competent continuity supervisor (Savarina Allevato) all my Hollywood snobbery seemed to slip away. Snobbery that had traveled a very long way, perhaps to the point where it had become my defining characteristic.

Stripped of my armor, I watched as Adrian's long standing charm was demonstrated front and center, and, as his young protégé emerged on scene. In fact, it all was so interesting that I was left to predict a long and prosperous future for this dynamic duo. Very prosperous.

Alejo Mo-Sun

Which brings me to the Director and DP. Talk about a dynamic duo. Michael Robison and Milano Podsedi. Milano happens to be one of the top three DP's in Canada. I found it interesting that Kevin Beggs (Lionsgate Television taskmaster) was able to lure this artisan to the episodic side of the 'tracks'. No telling if he'll jump ship when a big movie blows into town, but the fact that he is there now, is a bit of a coup. As to Mr. Robison, three words. Fast, smart, and Hollywood. Okay, maybe one more word. Presence. This cat has charisma and charm. He was able to assess his environment and the mood of his crew in a single glance without ever slowing his pace. What's more is that he was able to read the Star and Executive Producer of the show (Mr. Adrian Paul) and know just when to push and when to listen.

Michael demonstrated a real shooting style. He knew what shots he was looking for, made them slick, then let Milano light the hell out of every scene. It was interesting to note that there seemed to be a genuine respect between Michael and his actors. More chemistry? Definately.

One final aside. Adrian is no ordinary star. He is involved, involved in every aspect of the show. As he and Alejo 'goofed around' prior to a take, it was evident that Adrian is not only a good man, but a smart man.

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