The show will go on for the highly anticipated “Degrassi: Whatever It Takes” documentary. A last minute legal battle that threatened to halt its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival has been resolved, allowing the screening to proceed as scheduled this Saturday. The resolution came after Degrassi co creator Linda Schuyler settled her lawsuit with the film’s producers, WildBrain and Peacock Alley Entertainment.
Schuyler had filed a lawsuit on Monday in an Ontario court, seeking to stop the premiere. The suit alleged that the documentary contained “defamatory statements and innuendo” that painted a false picture of her profiting at the expense of the young actors who starred in the iconic Canadian television franchise. None of the allegations were tested in court.
At the Heart of the Dispute
The core of the conflict revolved around claims made in the documentary by former cast members about their compensation during the show’s early years. In a version of the film shown to the media, some actors suggested they were paid very little despite the show’s success. Amanda Stepto, who played Spike, recalled earning something like “$50 a day,” a figure that became a focal point of the controversy.
Another actor, Dayo Ade, who played B.L.T. on “Degrassi High,” stated in the film that the pay was “nowhere near what people thought we were making” and that the assumption that the cast members became millionaires was completely wrong. These statements, Schuyler argued in her lawsuit, would lead viewers to believe she built an “empire” by underpaying her young talent.
Schuyler strongly disputed these claims, stating in her lawsuit that the actors received a “generous compensation package” that was significantly higher than $50 a day and exceeded the union rates at the time. In a joint statement released after the settlement, Schuyler elaborated on the support provided to the cast.
“From the beginning, it was important to me, and to the whole Degrassi team, to do what we could to set our young performers up for success,” she said. Her statement detailed that the compensation included more than just a daily wage.
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- A retirement fund was created and contributed to on behalf of the actors.
- A scholarship foundation was established to provide counseling opportunities and support their future endeavors.
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A Resolution and a Path Forward
The settlement, announced on Wednesday, ensures that the documentary’s premiere and subsequent screenings at TIFF will proceed without issue. As part of the agreement, the producers have agreed to add more context to the film about how the “Degrassi” actors were compensated. This additional information will be included in the documentary for all future distribution after its festival run.
A representative for WildBrain, the production company that now owns the “Degrassi” franchise, did not comment on whether the settlement included any other terms. Schuyler had sold her production company, Epitome Pictures, which included the rights to “Degrassi,” to a forerunner of WildBrain 11 years ago.
The documentary, directed by Lisa Rideout, features interviews with a wide array of individuals connected to the franchise, including creators, writers, fans, and many former cast members such as Drake, Stefan Brogren, and Miriam McDonald. It delves into the groundbreaking and often controversial storylines that made “Degrassi” a cultural touchstone for generations of teenagers, tackling subjects like teen pregnancy, eating disorders, and mental health.
The legal drama that unfolded just days before its premiere has inadvertently added another layer to the “Degrassi” legacy, a franchise that has never shied away from tackling difficult and complex issues head on. Now, with the dispute resolved, the documentary is poised to offer a comprehensive, and slightly more contextualized, look at the history of one of Canada’s most beloved television shows.
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