Marches In Like a Lion With the Swords and Stuff that you see on Coats of Arms. Or is it Coat of Arms?

So yeah, busy, busy, busy last couple of months. And I have to be quick because I'm stealing (ed. sharing in the greater good) wifi from the neighbour. I just wish he hadn't called his network "Hey Porn!". Anyway, who am I to judge. I can't afford internet and the new TV cable rates that Eastlink has imposed, but they have a perfectly good reason for hiking the rates. I'm sure. Otherwise Billionairre John Bragg wouldn't. I guess.

My editor tonight is the indafatigueable Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy).

So Men With Broom has been cancelled. (ed. I believe they use the term "not re-newed" or "failed" or "sucked"). can't comment, never saw it (ed. Neither did -) Anyway CBC announced next years line up which includes the ever popular Rick Mercer (ed. duh), Blades of Glory (ed. duh) and InSecurity (ed. D - really?).

CTV and Global (ed. Shaw!) announced their american programs so we're alright there. Don't know why I'm paying for the same programs twice but what the hell, actually I'm not. (ed. Shush)

Oh, Harold went to various Christmas parties. Since I can't leave the apartment he's my ears and eyes and I guess taste buds. Harold?

(ed. Old news now but I went to the FilmNS party at the Halifax club. Two free drink tickets were nice but there could have been better snacks. That greenish cheese left me bound up for days. Anyway, there were new boardmembers there and Jeff Rosen and Michael Donovan. Luckily FilmNS CEO, President, Commander in Chief Ann MacKenzie was wise enough to keep the important people rounded up and she ran interference anytime any "norm" approached.

I was also at the panel they usually have for "hopefuls" to meet the broadcasters. Always a sad get-together but they had free coffee. Michael Donovan must have been at one of his vacation houses since this one was hosted by Charles "the Green Arrow" Bishop. The guy never ages, I swear. Anyway the whole laughable pretence of broadcasters down here to "explore Opportunities" was nostalgic. But you think Global would have at least played along but 2nd year in a row, they couldn't be bothered. And that's all the parties I went to.)

Wow, not like in my day when there was wall to wall parties. Even Telefilm had a national meeting before their party which I guess was a Pooper. Highlight was Telefilm saying that the 5% box office goal had not been achieved. So in the spirit of government they said they would not set that as a goal. Great! Any questions? Yes, Thom? Yes, your next film will be financed. Anyone else - ? No, can't here you...

Okay, gotta be quick. FilmNS also announced that the 25% cap on the tax credit is gone. Done. Finis! This was mostly done because animation uses a higher percentage of labour than normal production. I think we all know we have Michael Donovan to thank for this, I saw his picture in the paper when the press release was issued (ed. But Paul Rigg pestered the gov't - )

The beauty about this is that the gov't doesn't have to say "we've committed X number of dollars." That's always a drag the few times anyone even notices. Increasing the tax credit means we won't worry about paying it for years. Plus, (ed. full disclosure the blogger owns 1000 shares of DHX) there's none of the pesky asking FilmNS for money in competition with, shall we say, not so capitalistic entitities. And with the extra money being tax credits, the province is no longer an equity shareholder; i.e. the province owns parts of stuff it gives money to. (ed. See, even writing it out is hard to explain)

Other changes in the tax credit mean that the pesky living in NS rules to qualify for the tax credit rules will be loosened. Come on (ed. to your temporary) home Ontario animators.

Last thoughts "Hobo With a Shotgun" is doing extremely well (ed. Telefilm did not want to invest but Paul Gross's company did.) PicnicFace's "Rollertown" has gained a lot of momentum on-line and through Breakthrough's series deal with the group (ed. Telefilm did not want to invest).

Michael Clattenburg starts shooting "The Guys Who Moved Furniture" soon. (ed. can't imagine Telefilm wanting to be part of something titled like that but he has been successful in other things that Telefilm didn't want to sponsoer. Am I sensing a theme?)

K. Gotta go. BTW where is Eternal Kiss, Whirly Gig?