Millie Davis – Although television is a mass medium that has been around for about 75 years in North America, there has always been room to experiment with TV formats, genres and issues and the ways they can be presented to potential viewers.
But what about a family-oriented sitcom that tackles relevant issues and concerns of today, but as two separate shows? In a way, it’s like having the original program and its spin-off airing at the same time.
That’s the case with “The Parker Andersons” and “Amelia Parker”, created by veteran Canadian writer and comic Frank van Keeken, supervised by showrunner Anthony Q. Farrell (“The Office”) and produced by the Toronto-based production company marblemedia. The 20-episode series (made up of 10 episodes of each show), has recently debuted on Super Channel Heart & Home in Canada and BYU TV in the U.S.
The premise of “The Parker Andersons” centres on a blended, interracial family based in Chicago. Tony Parker, is a black former British soccer star and widower who moves to the Windy City with his two children Nathan and Amelia, so that he can manage the career of his nephew, who is a popular player on an American soccer team. He then meets, dates and marries Cleo Anderson, a white dentist who has two children of her own named Victoria and Charlie. Together, the Parkers and the Andersons become a united family who together confront and deal with many relevant – yet at times uncomfortable – issues that can affect a blended family such as prejudice, race, acceptance and tolerance. And yet they handle these issues with a combination of concern, seriousness and lighthearted humour.
It is immediately followed by “Amelia Parker”, which serves to give another perspective of the situation that was presented on the previously broadcast episode of “The Parker Andersons”. This time, it’s seen from the point of view of Tony’s teenage daughter Amelia, who remains mute as a result of the trauma she experienced with her mother’s premature death; however, on “Amelia Parker”, she breaks her silence to the viewers so she can give her take on how the situation in question has affected her and her new family.
Where is actor Millie Davis from?
Millie Davis, a 14-year-old actress from Toronto, portrays Amelia in both series and serves as is its focal point and conscience. Acting since the age of four, she has appreciated how both shows present such interesting, relatable issues to so many teenage viewers; however, shooting two shows in one can present its share of challenges.
“At times, it was quite a difficult experience filming the show. There were times I would do one set of scenes after the other, that it came to the point I couldn’t figure out which scene was for which show, so staying engaged was important. And having to speak in a British accent added another level of difficulty for me,” she said in a recent phone interview.
“I hope both shows will help spark conversations with families after they watch the shows, and help people see how important the family dynamic is when it comes to dealing with a number of important topics, where they can learn a lot in a manner of happiness and warmth,” she added.
Millie, who also performed on the series “Orphan Black”, “Odd Squad” and “Dino Dana”, also enjoyed the experience of breaking down the fourth wall and directly addressing the audience in “Amelia Parker”, as well as getting the chance to add some skills through her character.
“I learned a lot portraying the title role of Amelia Parker, and got to do plenty of cool different things through Amelia, such as playing the piano, doing Hip Hop and Bollywood dancing, as well as playing soccer, which is a sport that I have never played before doing this show. It certainly gave me more things to add to my resume!”
Where can I watch The Parker Andersons and Amelia Parker
The Parker Andersons and Amelia Parker, starring Millie Davis, Devin Cecchetto, Kate Hewlett, Agape Mngomezulu, Arnold Pinnock and Charlie Zeltzer, can be seen every Monday night at 8 and 11:05 p.m. on Super Channel Heart & Home. For more information, go to www.superchannel.ca.
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