The plateau of 400 episodes presented in less than eight seasons of the show Pleins feu sur Québec will be reached on Saturday; Proof that the Old Capital is not only lively in summer.
“We often have the impression that Quebec moves a lot, especially in the summer,” notes Marie-Christine Leblanc, who directs the show’s eighth season. “400 is a big number, especially with about fifty episodes per season; It is living proof that Quebec is on the move twelve months of the year,” says the journalist with whom Le Journal spoke.
Pascale Robitaille, a journalist and culture columnist for TVA, has kept Marie-Christine’s apartment warm during her absences over the past few years. His time at the helm of Spotlight on Quebec allowed him to rediscover his city.
“It made me realize and rediscover how much of a dynamic city Quebec is. The excitement is palpable throughout the four seasons,” says the woman who spent several years in Bas-Saint-Laurent before joining the Spotlight on Quebec team.
A slower time
Pascale Robitaille was at the helm of the show as the pandemic hit the province’s cultural sector hard. Even though production was paused from March to September 2020, the resilience of the arts and entertainment world gave the troops confidence, he said.
“We may have thought we would run out of topics to cover, but we were so resilient; People were innovative and creative in finding solutions,” she remembers. “What allowed us to maintain hope was the fact that everyone in the community maintained hope. »
Reinvent yourself
“The show has evolved, but so has the production team,” emphasizes Marie-Christine Leblanc. “At the beginning we wanted to highlight everything that was happening in Quebec, now we focus more on people, beautiful stories, inspiring stories,” explains the woman who grew up in the old capital.
A “business intelligence” component was also implemented in the production of the show, which the presenter really likes.
“We have a vibrant business community [à Québec], and that also has its challenges; It’s important to give them space to tell their story because you don’t become successful overnight,” she notes.
The sabbatical year following maternity leave was an advantage for Marie-Christine in order to realign her professional energies. The man who worked full-time at TVA Nouvelles in addition to overseeing Spotlight on Quebec is now completely dedicated to the weekly classic.
“I have more time to prepare, research and find interesting angles; I have a lot of space to work and it shows,” she notes.
Consistency and loyalty
” From the beginning [en 2015]“We have the same team,” says Marie-Christine Leblanc happily. “The consistency and loyalty to the show is great to see; that means a lot. »
The “Spotlight on Quebec” host has high praise for her work team and hopes the group stays united and motivated to reach the 500-episode plateau.
“I have never seen a team give so much of itself. They are creative, inventive, they always want the product to be perfect and they work hard to achieve this,” she praises. “We are really like a family and believe in this project; I’m sure they would get on board [si on leur demandait de se rendre à 500 épisodes]. »