Toronto writer creates CBC fantasy drama Being Erica

Ever look back at your life and regret a decision you’ve made? What if you could change the past?

That’s the premise behind writer/producer Jana Sinyor’s new series, Being Erica, a one-hour drama about Erica Strange, a character who goes back in time and relives her past.

“Erica Strange is a Jewish girl in Toronto who’s middle class, smart, pretty, popular in school. But when she hits her early 30s, her life isn’t turning out the way she thought – her friends have great jobs, a lot of them are married and have children, and she’s adrift. She’s got the whole package, but for some reason she can’t meet a great guy,” Sinyor explained in an interview from her production office at Toronto Film Studios.

One day, Erica meets Dr. Tom, a mysterious therapist who offers to help her if she’ll commit to therapy. Under his control, she goes back in time to recreate her past.

“She doesn’t realize it, but his office exists everywhere,” Sinyor said. “Erica can open any door, and Dr. Tom can decide to bring her in. Or she’ll go through a door at work and be in his office. Doorways are a symbol in the show – she can cross a threshold and be in another time.”

The show covers different periods of Erica’s life, including the day she lost her virginity, the day of her bat mitzvah, and family events connected to holidays like Yom Kippur. Some episodes delve into what happens when someone you love marries someone you think is wrong for them.

“There’s a lot of pressure for women, once you’re a certain age, to achieve certain things in your life – career-wise, marriage-wise and child-wise. If you don’t hit those milestones, there can be the feeling of failure,” said Sinyor, who, like Erica, is 30-something.

Sinyor is one of Canada’s youngest and most accomplished television writer/producers. She is best known for co-creating YTV’s Dark Oracle, which garnered her and fellow creator Heather Conkie the 2005 International Emmy in the best children’s and youth category; and for writing several episodes of the popular Degrassi: The Next Generation.

“At the end of Dark Oracle, I went to different producers to see if they wanted to collaborate. When I met David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, co-presidents of Temple Street Productions, I immediately liked them. They are incredibly creative,” she said.

Fortier and Schneeberg, who became executive producers of Being Erica, also produced Citytv’s Canada’s Next Top Model and CBC’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

“Getting my own show early in the game and being able to produce, write and learn all the aspects of production were invaluable,” she said.

Sinyor and former Degrassi executive producer Aaron Martin oversee everything on Being Erica – wardrobe, art department, directors, casting, writing team and post-production for the show.

The cast includes Erin Karpluk (The L Word) as Erica, Michael Riley (This is Wonderland) as Dr. Tom, Kathleen Laskey (The Eleventh Hour) as Erica’s mother and Reagan Pasternak (Just Buried) as Julianne.

“We all have things that we wish we could do differently and have ideas of what our life is supposed to be like. When things don’t happen, we can think we’re failing. Being Erica explores that experience.”

The series premieres Jan. 5 at 9 p.m. on CBC Television. You can check out Erica Strange’s blog at www.beingerica.ca.