Were you a fan of wrestling before you got involved with the Wrestling Reality series?
The first time I actually sat down to watch wrestling for more than 2 minutes was the night before we hot the road to film Wrestling Reality. I had no interest in Wrestling growing up...I'm a solid fan now though, if I wasn't Brody Steele might power bomb me.

How did you get involved with Wrestling Reality?
Rick (Trash Canyon) and Pete (Brody) contacted me on the phone because they where looking for a TV producer that NB Film would support, that person was me. I was in Calgary at the time and Rick called me and full on sucked up to me, telling me he has seen all of my work, and that I am one of Canada's best producers and all this BS..haha, I believed him for a few minutes! Then I realized, wait a minute, no one knows my work...Rick is just a good researcher! I said yes to the project because I always love filming documentaries about people's passions and subcultures, this was a perfect fit.

Who approached you first?
Rick

What were your initial thoughts on getting involved with a pro wrestling company/ TV series?
Like everything I do, I don't look to deeply, I just see a cool adventure or opportunity and jump in. I love it.

Your thoughts on trying to do something that has never been done in wrestling before? (The whole wrestling reality concept)
I really do think that Wrestling Reality was a revoltuionary series. It is heart breaking to know that the rights got all tied up and The Fight Network didn't continue to push it. I know we could be having international success right now if it weren't for poor contractual events that happened at the beginning.

Were you ever contacted by other people involved in the business telling you not to do this?
No. I always associated wrestling with friends who I didn't really like hanging out with much as a kid. Rick and Pete brought me in for the first time, and I was impressed

What were your initial thoughts on Peter Smith, Mike Hughes, Gary Williams and Rick Doyle?
These guys are made for TV. They are all great friends and they all hate each other at the same time...I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to film! Rick told me that when I met Peter I would instantly love him, then hate him, then like him. As it turns our, Peter used to baby sit me when I was a kid, so I love him like a father. Rick I admired for his determination and insane drive. Gary was the nicest guy I have ever met in my life, even nicer than Darren Michael Harvey, but only by a bit...Mike was solid from the minute I met him, The other guys always tell me that Mike lies about stuff, but I think he's a great guy and awesome on camera and in the ring. I am guessing that when he says "Greg, you are a real nice guy, I like you", he is not lying, I hope he isn't lying becasue if he is I will get my babysitter to break his legs.

Tells us what it was like for you to go on your first wrestling tour in the spring of 2007
Intense man...I have travelled alot with rock bands on the road, and I've been on the road all my life, so that aspect was nothing new to me. The part I really loved was how everyone just grooved together so well. The tour was filled with real life drama, but everyone had a large respect for each other. It was eye opening for me to realize how athletic and how passionate these people where about their craft.

Your thoughts on the younger talent that worked that tour
These guys where great. They where learning the ropes, they where learning the ways of respect, and always trying to take in as much as they could from their elders. The IHW guys in our crew where right on, even though Sidewinder drinks underage and smokes illegal substances...oh and has a homosexual gimmick, he's alright! haha. The mix of young guys and older guys was perfect for the show, great dynamic!

Your thoughts on the locker room etiquette and the level of respect that is involved between people in the business
Its funny, on Wrestling Reality I noticed high level of respect up and down the heirarchy. As you will see in our next show "Kardinal Sinners", the locker room respect really wasnt there. We where in Ontario and the locker room etiquette of the Ottawa workers was pretty tight they all shook hands with everyone, they all knew their place. I won't tell you how our guys behaved down there, you'll have to get RUSH HD and watch the show!!!

Your thoughts on Peter sending Sidewinder home early and did it interfear with anything you had planned?
I thought it was unnecessary, I have no issues of people drinking and parting on the road, as long as they get the work done, but I was in charge of the camera crew, not the wrestlers. Peter saw it fit, and I'm glad he did because it made great TV. The last scene in Halifax when Sidewinder came back to help and Peter was legitimately impressed was truely redeeming...I couldn't ask for more real scenerios.

Your thoughts on Peter Smith doing steroids on camera?
It got us on TSN's Off the Record, Breakfast TV Toronto, Entertainment Tonight, Canoe TV, Sirius Satellite Radio, Newspapers all over the place...I thought it was dope. (bad pun...sorry)

Have you gotten any negative feedback because of that scene?
We got some heat, but in the end it was all for the good of the show, hey, its a real issue, and if this show is to expose the realities of this business then I feel the show would be lacking without the shot. Big props to my camera guy Andrew MacCormack for being at the right place at the right time, it was no set up.

At the end of the tour what were your thoughts on wrestling?
I am not going to sit down on a Saturday afternoon and watch wrestling, but my level of respect for the business is through the roof. I have gone to some local shows since then, Im in! Love it.

Did any of your initial thoughts about the business change after the tour was over?
Yes, going in I didnt realize how strong the community was, and how organized it was thanks to people like you (New Scott), Cathy, Searge, the other promoters, etc. It really is a business, I dig it.

How long was the editing process of putting the show together?
Hellishly long and riddled with drama. It took about 4 months to put it together

How was it dealing with the Fight Network? and how did that deal come about?
Dealing with The Fight Network was awesome up front, they treated us like kings. They treated us so well that I can't tell you what they treated us too when they flew us down twice...it was enough for me to realize that I was in the right business and we have a good show. But then their organization seemed to go for 180 after the show and everyone we knew there got fired it seemed, we tried so hard to get a second season from them, but they cornered us with international rights and never gave us a second season. The original guys at TFN where great to work with.

Were they happy with the final cut of the Wrestling Reality series?
They flew us down for the premier, the whole network came out to waitch it, everyone loved it.

How did the show do in the ratings for the Fight Network?
Ratings where hard to get from TFN, they told us that they were really good though, I have no real stats mind you.

What happened to season 2 of Wrestling Reality? There were rumors of filimg it in Europe but that never happened.
TFN wanted us to do a second season in England, we were game. We got ready to go, but they never signed the contract becasue of what I mentioned earlier. We lost 2 years of potential success becasue we waited so long. Huge learning experience for all of us.

Why has Wrestling Reality left the Fight Network and will now be on Rush HD?
I met with the owner of RUSH HD in Cannes France and MIPCOM and we discussed the show. As long as it was shot in HD, he was all over taking it, but not as "Wrestling Reality". We changed the concept a bit and the name to "Kardinal Sinners". The cool thing is, for fans of WR, Kardinal Sinners will seem like a second season. For first time viewers on RUSH HD, it will feel like a brand new show.

Why the name change of the show to the Kardinal Sinners?
RUSH HD wanted something original instead of TFN's "sloppy seconds". Don't get me wrong though, this is truly a brand new and original show. Alot of the same characters and some continuing themes, but RUSH HD is getting their very own show about indy wrestling.

The new series recently filmed some shows in Ontario, tell us how that came about?
Wayne "Crusher Kline" Cryderman (one of Al Snows students) actually has a wrestling training school in our building in Saint John. He was prooting these shows down in his home turf (Ottawa region). After we decided against England for financial reasons, this idea came up. We went for it.

How did the filimg go?
WOW. Thats all I can say...

How did you find the Ontario wrestling scene compares to the Maritime wrestling scene?
Felt the same, same vibe, same passion, same talent, but the Maritime scnee has WAY more intense and loyal fanbase. The 3 shows we went to in Ottawa where VERY thin in numbers. Our show looked pretty big for Wrestling Reality with the lights, staging, sound system etc...I feel the events actually LOOKED good on TV, not the best, but decent. The shows we filmed for this show where all pretty low tech and low attendance. It fits with the theme of this series though.

How come the shows were not filmed in the Maritimes like the first season?
We did, we filmed Eskasoni, Sydney, IHW in Riverview, plus a ton of out of the ring stuff shot in PEI, NS, and NB.

Do you know when the show will air?
April 2009

Do you have a favourite road story you could share with us?
Yes, the wrestlers and everyone else at the bar pooled $100 together to convince one of my camera guys Lauchlan to go out in -30 degrees in Ottawa (not including wind chill) completely naked and do a 20 second snow angel. He did it, we filmed it, and Lauchlan got a mild case of hypothermia. It freaked me out a bit, but the next day when he was still alive we all loved that he did it, it was hilarious.

Compare shooting a wrestling series to other projects you work on?
I can't compare it, no other group of people are as easy to film and open then wrestlers.

Are you currently working on anything else?
Yes, I have a documentary I shot in the arctic about to be released, we also have 3 band concert DVDs about to be released for The Jimmy Swift Band, Ross Neilsen & Matt Andersen, and Jessica Rhaye. We also have a few other TV series in development. Check out www.hemmingshousepictures.com to see what we are up to!

Any closing comments or something you wish to plug?
I encourage you all to get RUSH HD as part of your cable package. Its a really cool channel, and we will be bringing a whole new fresh type of show to their already super cool lineup.

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For all the fans wondering if Rush HD is in the Maritimes, according to EastLink's website it is coming soon. http://eastlink.ca/cable/digitalchannels/package_hdextra.asp .
Contact them today to find out when Rush HD is coming to your area.
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