Halifax Film Industry - This Just In (ed. Like, a Month ago)

Well, where do I begin? There's just so much happening lately in the film and television business in Nova Scotia so I guess I'll just start by introducing my editor, Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy!)

Gerry Dee just shot a pilot in Nova scotia for the CBC; a sitcom where he's a teacher. "Amelia" staring Hilary Swank, partially shot in NS, opened to low numbers and kept them. TMN is shooting a sitcom on the south shore with that guy who used to be on the show, you know the one. (ed. Peyton Place? Hogan's Hero's? 90210?) Yes.

FilmNS (ed. or is it NSFilm) released their annual report and the winner in the $$$$ give away is - DHX Media Inc! Yeah! (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of said company.) Ocean entertainment's self help shows took in $450,000 last year (ed. Help yourself!), but the clear winner was DHX Media aka Halifax Film with $700,000! (ed. that came in handy. what with the recession and only $69,000,000 in revenue last year. We are not touching the $70M in investor money. That's just for emergencies)

That's like almost a third of the money the FilmNS (ed. or NSFilm) put into equity last year for the whole province. Now I can hear the grumbling but this have-note province should be investing in these projects. Just look at these potential money makers:

- $300,000 in Soul a mini-series on Vision. Now that money went to pay the cost of producing it, but the real payback is when this gets sold...(ed. I hear crickets) maybe somewhere else.

- $150,000 Mighty Jungle III - who doesn't love kid's shows? Who doesn't like monkeys? So a kid's show about monkeys? Solid gold! Hopefully the distribution expenses and the selling costs and the applicable overhead don't take out too much of a chunk. (ed. Coming to America, anybody?)

- And $250,000 on SuperSpeller. Now I have to admit when I heard DHX was doing a spelling bee show, I was concerned (ed. hadn't we been there, done that, spelled it all?) but it was a very entertaining show. I was glued to the CBC for the entire time it ran. Which disappointedly was 4 nights. (ed. you don't get much for a quarter of a million of taxpayer's dollars anymore. That's like, what, couple thousand swine flu shots. Plus the show took like two years to get made. What the hell was that?) But I'm sure a limited mini-series featuring Canadian kids in a spelling competition will have world-wide appeal and potential sales. (ed. I hear more crickets)

Still I'm sure the taxpayers of this province will be proud as a peacock to claim ownership (ed. if not much of a financial return) in these DHX productions. (ed. This doesn't count the tax rebates on those Millions of dollars of production, either, does it?)

But don't think that the millions of dollars in provincial direct investment and tax credits will go right into the pockets of anybody at Halifax Film.

Allnovascotia.com has revealed that the executives of DHX, Michael Donovan, Charles Bishop, Steven Denure and Dana Landry will not be getting any bonuses's this year! Take that taxpayers! Bet not having a flu shot seems unimportant now, doesn't it?

But because $100 invested in 2006 in DHX is now only worth $37.62 by the end of June this year, these fine executives want you to know they will not be enjoying any extra bread on their butter this year (ed. shame the GG just finished giving out some baubles). No bonus's. I'll type it again in capital letters - NO BONUS'S. This is the dedication you are paying for (ed. or at least not seeing a return on your investment for.)

Luckily these self-sacrificing souls were able to wrench a raise last year from the tight fists of the company's shareholders. Thus they will get by with salaries only. Again, No Bonus's.

So they will get by on their salaries only; our courageous comrades (ed. let's call them the "No Bonus Amigos!) Michael Donovan $325,000, Charles "the Green Arrow" Bishop $325,000, Dana Laundry $327,000, Stephen Denure $679,345.

I believe the province has not even invested enough in equity and tax credits to pay even their base salary.

But enough about the past (ed. yes please.), what of the future. Kid's shows (ed. and Nova Scotia tax payers. Eck, I'm feeling kinda fluish) have been our bread and butter but have we saturated that market? CBC is full. Really can't squeeze any more kids shows into the lineup. Where do we go?

Something called Befriend and Betray? A movie or mini-series about bikers? Hmmm, not criticizing but it sounds like another vanity project of somebody's. (ed. As long as you don't use our money you can make whatever you want.)

There's another movie called Zebra something about an African football (ed. soccer) team, maybe a black and white, younger Rocky?

All I want to know is, when is the government going to step in with some cash stimulous, other than federal and provincial tax credits, and provincial equity and development dollars? It's only that and CTF money (ed. that's cable consumer's money, isn't it?) and licence fees from the broadcaster that are just barely keeping the true hero's of Canadian television in non-bonus liquidity.

(ed. I'm sorry, what is all that investor's money for?)

I'm Still Standing After All These Months, Blah, Blah, Blah.

Despite lawyers, doctors, and some non-fans (ed. really, are there people cruising teh internet all day calling everything and anything "gay") I'll be back to comment soon.

And look at all the stuff that's been going on in tv and film in nova scotia since I've been on hiatus.

Seriously, go ahead and look, I'll wait.



la,la, I'm still standing, la,la,la.....................