Production
Kevin Sullivan adapted the novel story into his own screenplay, collaborating with industry veteran Joe Wiesenfeld, and developed a co-production between the CBC and PBS in order to film Anne of Green Gables. Sullivan amalgamated many of Montgomery’s episodes into the film's plot that diverged from Montgomery’s original, but relied on strong characterizations and visuals in order to render the story for a contemporary filmic audience.
Primary locations for filming the movie included Prince Edward Island, Stouffville, Ontario and Westfield Heritage Village in the Hamilton, Ontario neighbourhood of Rockton, over a consecutive ten week shoot. Sullivan used several locations as Green Gables farm and combined them to appear as one property.
The original film and sequels (with Road to Avonlea and the animated Anne films and series being 130 hours of production) have been seen, thanks to satellite, in every country in the world that broadcasts. The films have now been translated and seen in more places around the world than even the original novels.
An open casting call was held throughout Canada in order to find a young actress to play Anne Shirley. Katharine Hepburn recommended that her niece, Schuyler Grant, play the role of Anne Shirley. Director Kevin Sullivan liked Grant’s performance and wanted to give her the role, however broadcast executives were resistant to casting an American as a Canadian icon. Schuyler Grant ended up playing Anne’s best friend, Diana, and Anne Shirley was ultimately played by Megan Follows . In her first audition, Megan Follows came highly recommended, but she was quickly dismissed by Kevin Sullivan. For her second audition, after a turbulent morning leading up to her audition, a frantic Megan made a much better impression.
Read more about this topic: Anne Of Green Gables (1985 film)
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