“I like the era of 100 years ago as that is the time period my father grew up in,” he explains.  “My brother and I were born when my father was in his sixties.  He was born in 1895, so when I was a boy all of my aunts and uncles were very old.  Consequently I knew a great deal about this time period.  Almost as if I had grown up in it myself.  I enjoy making period films, mostly because I’ve become skilled at it.  It has allowed me to put an original imprimatur on my body of films as well.”

Kevin also explains that although the town of Avonlea is idyllic, he did not avoid less than idyllic storylines for its inhabitants.  “Avonlea was certainly an idyllic series, but there were many difficult subjects tackled in the course of the production too – such as when Olivia gave birth (which was quite realistic), or Cecily contracted TB, or when Jasper and Olivia lost their cannery in a fire.”

“I think if you look closely at the production part of its success is that it is not always television idealism.  It is a fantasy (with lots of big acting) but it also has good doses of reality in it too, alongside the adventure.  My goal during the course of developing material for it was to enlighten an audience as well as entertain people.  The shows speak for themselves I feel.”

To read the entire transcript of this exclusive interview, visit avonlea.hu.