On a raw October day that varies between pouring and misting rain, the cast and crew of the new ABC series "Veritas: The Quest" gather at Cherry Beach, on the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto. The sodden stretch of sand and woods is standing in for Elm Island in Nova Scotia, a supposed location of the Holy Grail, the most sought-after object in Western mythology.
Today, the most sough-after object is anything to keep you warm and dry, whether it's soup, an umbrella or a portable heater.
Premiering Monday, Jan. 27, the action-drama stars Alex Carter as Dr. Solomon Zond, an archaeologist and widower who heads the Veritas Foundation, which seeks the truth behind ancient mysteries. Solomon suddenly finds himself as a full-time father to his rebellious teen son, Nikko (Ryan Merriman), who has just been kicked out of his most recent boarding school.
Against his father's better judgement, Nikko joins the Veritas team, which includes the enigmatic Vincent Siminou (Arnold Vosloo), brilliant and high-strung archaeologist Calvin Bank (Eric Balfour), and Maggie (Cynthia Martells), a cool, sophisticated computer expert. Charged with keeping Nikko out of trouble is Juilet Droil (Cobie Smulders), a former student of Solomon's who is Nikko's tutor and friend.
Created by writers and executive producers John Zinman and Patrick Massett ("Lara Croft: Tomb Raider"), "Veritas: The Quest" is the first series from executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("Chicago," "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," the upcoming "The Music Man").
As Vosloo fervently wishes for a less fashionable but warmer jacket, he, Carter and Merriman film a scene where the tean discovers a ring of standingstons (realistic but fake) in a clearing.
After several takes, Merriman (who went down once, but popped back up like the resilient 19-year old he is) edge up to a flaming portable heater, getting his soaking jeans so close to the heat that they begin to steam.
Later on, Merriman reflectson father-son relationships. "A lot of fathers and son don't have that great relationships," he says. "It's good because, in the beginning, it shows the seperation. Every episode, we pretty much touch on the fact that Mom is gone. That's about as far as the relationship with Dad goes."
"It's sad," Carter says, "that a father and son are so uncomfortable together. That's what I thought separated the script from being a typical action thing."
