Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 20th 2007, 10:06am By Laura Sargent

If ever you've been wandering the streets of Buffalo wondering why, with such flourishing culture and young talent, we have never been home to a television series, your question has been answered. Elmwood Avenue makes its debut in Norman Toy's DISCS. Buffalonian Norman Toy, director, takes full advantage of the area's creative hub by filming his series in some of Buffalo's most notorious hot spots.

The sight chosen for the series needed to reflect an urban American landscape. Executive Producer Milly Toy (Bidwell Productions) and Co-Producers Evan Pease and Peter Williams (3C Multimedia) have pooled resources and decided that DISCS Record Store would be brought to life through Spot Coffee and New World Records. The setting will feel authentic and familiar and for most of us here in the Elmwood Village, DISCS Record Store will feel like home.

The appeal of Buffalo is more than its venues though. “This is a gritty city with incredible color and cultural nuance and an amazing music scene. Setting the show in a record store/cafe seemed like the best way to capture the broad mix of styles and cultural groups that make up this place,” Toy said. “And the characters are set in a neighborhood that experiences white flight. The neighborhood is adjusting to that change and the one thing that everyone has in common, is music.”

DISCS is musically dense with local rappers, rockers and new-agers who set the mood for the stories of people struggling to keep pace with an ever changing world. Judd Gold is the main character, but he is also Buffalo's very own Scott Celani, local songwriter and musician. Judd is a live promoter who is inspired by the abundance of local talent to host a “Friday Night Live” music series. Judd's son is played by Addison Henderson, local actor and filmmaker. The pilot episode features a performance by Buffalo-based Last Conservative (Good Charamel Records founded by Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls).

The characters face everyday issues that all viewers can relate to. “Some of the difficulties that the characters face are typical of small to medium American cities, different than the big metro that we are used to seeing. Some local issues do become part of the story, but the issues are more urban issues than Buffalo specific issues,” Toy explained.

Also, once the formalities are in place, permits and scheduling set, Norman says that they will be seeking extras. “This town has a wealth of untapped talent,” said Evan Pease. So do some sit-ups, invest in a new wardrobe and rehearse that special strut.

The premier screening is scheduled for June 21st at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center. However, since this is a private screening, the rest of us will have to wait until the new series is picked up by a station and airs on television.