So it's been pretty, pretty busy in the film and TV business in Halifax the last three months so with the help of my editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!) let's just dive in.
A new series "Seed" has been shot in Halifax, Mick Farrell, ex-showrunner of 22 Minutes, is the showrunner behind this. (ed. what is a show runner anyways? Producer, writer, a little of each or neither?) Apparently the show is about a guy who played fast and loose with his sperm and now is playing catch-up with his prodigy.
Speaking of 22 Minutes, I haven't watched in a long time so I'm wondering, where's Gavin Crawford? Gerri Hall? (Ed. that's "gorgeous and talented" Gerri Hall to you!) They're just gone. They were both so talented. (ed. not that the others aren't.) Apparently they have a new showrunner too. (ed. again, what does one do to run a show?)
And speaking of just gone, the Atlantic Film Festival just lost two of their vets, Jan Miller and Lia Renaldo, this after last years withdrawal of Gregor Ashe. Is this the usual purging of the old guard by the new, that happens?
And speaking of the Old Guard, the posting for the CEO job at FilmNS has finally been made. After eight months of leaderlessness since Anne MacKenzie was ousted (ed. allnovascotia.com now says she retired but we'll never know the truth).
But the job now is much more than the travelling ambassador role that Anne played, it now seems there's some work involved. The head honcho will now oversee all the creative industries of Nova Scotia, so not only film and TV but digital, web/internet, publishing, sound and ...? (ed. basket weaving?)
The new leader of this new organization must "provide strategic and operation leadership", provide vision, create business plans, blah, blah, blah. Doesn't sound like as much fun as travelling to Canne, Los Angeles, Toronto to party.
It''l be interesting to see who ends up jockeying for this high prestige job. Usually the powers that be already have someone hand picked and they make them fit, but this job description is pretty vague. Or maybe that's the point. Doesn't even say you need a particular skill or education. Irregardless, I'd put money on either Gregor Ashe or Gordon Whittiker. Whittiher's Telefilm job is in jeopardy since Telefilm new policy is just to hand all their money to Toronto filmmakers (ed. It's just being made official.)
Speaking of FilmNS and partying, I never received an invitation to this years Christmas party. :( (ed. You haven't received an invitation to any of their parties in the last 5 years. Just saying.) It kinda hurts my feelings. Even though I couldn't leave my apartment to attend, anyway, it's the thought (ed. or lack thereof) that counts. Did anyone go? Where was it? Was it fun?
Sigh, I live my life vicariously through you all and I'm not sure you are even there.
Thursday 27 December 2012
Friday 21 September 2012
What the AFF?
Wow, seems like by all accounts this year's Atlantic Film Festival was a rousing success. Hi I'm Lauen Tewes, Julie McCoy from TV's Love Boat. As always, this post will be monitored by my friend and well, just friend Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy. And he's not Lauen Trewes.)
So yeah, great fun was had by all it seems even without the annual FilmNS Lobster-a-rama. Blackbird seemed to be the film to see this year and won scads of awards. This was a low budget film from a couple of new up and comer director/writer/producers, much like last years Hobo With a Shotgun which was much like the Trailer Park Boys of years ago.
Speaking of which, I've been told that the greatly anticipated shooting of the next Trailer Park Movie has been cancelled! What's going on there? Creative differences? Money? Cast vs producers?
In a related note, I still have not heard anything about Mike Clattenburg's last film The Guys Who Move Furniture. It just seems to have ...vanished.
Meanwhile over at DHX there's good news and bad news. (Ed. Note: The author owns 1000 shares of DHX). The share price is skyrocketing, rising like a phoenix, blasting through the ionosphere! (ed. Easy. It's doing pretty well.) Most of the confidence comes from a lot of activity over the last few months. DHX announced it was buying Cookie Jar, one of the largest kids show producers/ content holders in the world! This will make DHX huge. The deal involves a swap of DHX shares, cash and the assumption of $66 million dollars in debt. (Ed. Wait, why do they have that much debt? Rule of thumb is, only use taxpayer's money for producing so why would they owe anybody any money?) So even though DHX is still sitting on a load of cash, it doesn't look like it will actually cost "us" much. (ed. Should somebody be looking into - ?)
I've also noticed that DHX seems to be coming out of it's shell a little bit. A week doesn't go by when they're not written up in the business news for selling a show to Guam PBS or the Seafood Channel in the Ukraine. (ed. It's called envaluing the stock. Some people think this means more money will come pouring in but the Ukraine station pays for the show in wheat and rusty tractor parts.)
DHX even sponsored the Telefilm CEO to speak at a dinner at the casino last week. I'm told even some DHX people were in attendance! (ed. No doubt blinking their eyes from the daylight of the outside world.) I don't know if Michael Donovan was there but that leads me to the next piece of news that is a bit unpleasant.
I was shocked by a story in yesterday's allnovascotia.com that there's some vulture capitalist/broker/whatever that want's to replace Michael Donovan with someone else as CEO. Words fail me as to who would do such a dasterdly, non-cool thing. This man has done so much for his company and - I, I can't talk about this anymore. Harold, turn it off. Just turn the damn thing off!
(ed. I hope you mean the blog and not the whole internet. I need to search for a new chicken recipe. Goodnight everyone!)
So yeah, great fun was had by all it seems even without the annual FilmNS Lobster-a-rama. Blackbird seemed to be the film to see this year and won scads of awards. This was a low budget film from a couple of new up and comer director/writer/producers, much like last years Hobo With a Shotgun which was much like the Trailer Park Boys of years ago.
Speaking of which, I've been told that the greatly anticipated shooting of the next Trailer Park Movie has been cancelled! What's going on there? Creative differences? Money? Cast vs producers?
In a related note, I still have not heard anything about Mike Clattenburg's last film The Guys Who Move Furniture. It just seems to have ...vanished.
Meanwhile over at DHX there's good news and bad news. (Ed. Note: The author owns 1000 shares of DHX). The share price is skyrocketing, rising like a phoenix, blasting through the ionosphere! (ed. Easy. It's doing pretty well.) Most of the confidence comes from a lot of activity over the last few months. DHX announced it was buying Cookie Jar, one of the largest kids show producers/ content holders in the world! This will make DHX huge. The deal involves a swap of DHX shares, cash and the assumption of $66 million dollars in debt. (Ed. Wait, why do they have that much debt? Rule of thumb is, only use taxpayer's money for producing so why would they owe anybody any money?) So even though DHX is still sitting on a load of cash, it doesn't look like it will actually cost "us" much. (ed. Should somebody be looking into - ?)
I've also noticed that DHX seems to be coming out of it's shell a little bit. A week doesn't go by when they're not written up in the business news for selling a show to Guam PBS or the Seafood Channel in the Ukraine. (ed. It's called envaluing the stock. Some people think this means more money will come pouring in but the Ukraine station pays for the show in wheat and rusty tractor parts.)
DHX even sponsored the Telefilm CEO to speak at a dinner at the casino last week. I'm told even some DHX people were in attendance! (ed. No doubt blinking their eyes from the daylight of the outside world.) I don't know if Michael Donovan was there but that leads me to the next piece of news that is a bit unpleasant.
I was shocked by a story in yesterday's allnovascotia.com that there's some vulture capitalist/broker/whatever that want's to replace Michael Donovan with someone else as CEO. Words fail me as to who would do such a dasterdly, non-cool thing. This man has done so much for his company and - I, I can't talk about this anymore. Harold, turn it off. Just turn the damn thing off!
(ed. I hope you mean the blog and not the whole internet. I need to search for a new chicken recipe. Goodnight everyone!)
Tuesday 11 September 2012
Film Fest !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fall chill is in the air which means the Atlantic Film Festival is back. It snuck up on me this year so I haven't gotten a chance to check out the coming attractions in their brochure, but I will. Even if I can no longer leave my apartment to attend, its always an exciting time and memories of film festivals past, flood my brain.
My mind imagines the smells of cocktail shrimps of yesterday and the bottled beer that's never been cold in its life. I also remember the smell of new up and coming Filmmakers with their optimistic freshly pierced things, haunting the halls of the venues and parties. They are so cute at this age, just before their spirits are broken and they end up volunteering on other film sets so they can at least eat at the craft services.
This will be the first year in a long time that Gregor Ashe has not been at the helm of the AFF so there'll no doubt be some comparing and contrasting going on. Don't know much about this new guy except for what I read in the papers and I do wonder whatever happened to Gregor.
Some folks though Gregor was going to slide into the FilmNS CEO role vacated by Ann MacKenzie but that does not appear to have happened. In fact no one has been hired to sit in the big chair and I haven't heard of any efforts being made to do so. I also haven't heard of any hiccups in the running of the corp., things just seem to have kept running. Makes a fella wonder...what are they going to do with the money they're saving on salary and travel. Maybe they need someone to consult on their new blog. Also no word on where Ann macKenzie has moved on up to embrace new challanges.
Wonder if that means they won't have their annual AFF lobster cook? FilmNS is hosting a Steak and Seafood giveaway at a hotel in Toronto for the TIFF. I'm sure that's a good business plan. Somehow.
My editor today is the always available Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!)
So, in other news Haven has wrapped it's third season on the south shore and Call me Fritz is starting soon, (ed. or has started?). Mr. D the CBC smash sitcom (ed. um, well CBC liked it and it got good numbers, not Corner gas numbers, mind you.) has also wrapped.
Mr. D is a series from the Trailer Park Boys organization (ed. That sounds intimidating) Speaking of which, the boys and director Mike Clattenburg are in Sault Ste Marie (ed - WTF?) shooting a movie called SwearNet which seems to be a series of parodies of TV shows with the swearing turned up to 11. Guess that a good thing for the TPB's niche audience. (ed. be good to keep them off the streets for a couple of hours, probably)
BTW, whatever happened to the Guys Who Move Furniture (ed. aka Moving) feature that Mike Clattenburg directed last year. It had Will Sasso and Eddie Murphy's brother in it and it was supposed to be a mainstream thing? Was it ever released? Did anybody see it? It got a 5.4 out of 10 on IMDB but the only review is from a guy who liked it and hated Batman Rises.
Anyway that's all for now. Maybe after I hear some scuttlebutt from the AFF I'll blog some more. And remember I'd love to hear your comments, news, questions. I am so lonely.
My mind imagines the smells of cocktail shrimps of yesterday and the bottled beer that's never been cold in its life. I also remember the smell of new up and coming Filmmakers with their optimistic freshly pierced things, haunting the halls of the venues and parties. They are so cute at this age, just before their spirits are broken and they end up volunteering on other film sets so they can at least eat at the craft services.
This will be the first year in a long time that Gregor Ashe has not been at the helm of the AFF so there'll no doubt be some comparing and contrasting going on. Don't know much about this new guy except for what I read in the papers and I do wonder whatever happened to Gregor.
Some folks though Gregor was going to slide into the FilmNS CEO role vacated by Ann MacKenzie but that does not appear to have happened. In fact no one has been hired to sit in the big chair and I haven't heard of any efforts being made to do so. I also haven't heard of any hiccups in the running of the corp., things just seem to have kept running. Makes a fella wonder...what are they going to do with the money they're saving on salary and travel. Maybe they need someone to consult on their new blog. Also no word on where Ann macKenzie has moved on up to embrace new challanges.
Wonder if that means they won't have their annual AFF lobster cook? FilmNS is hosting a Steak and Seafood giveaway at a hotel in Toronto for the TIFF. I'm sure that's a good business plan. Somehow.
My editor today is the always available Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!)
So, in other news Haven has wrapped it's third season on the south shore and Call me Fritz is starting soon, (ed. or has started?). Mr. D the CBC smash sitcom (ed. um, well CBC liked it and it got good numbers, not Corner gas numbers, mind you.) has also wrapped.
Mr. D is a series from the Trailer Park Boys organization (ed. That sounds intimidating) Speaking of which, the boys and director Mike Clattenburg are in Sault Ste Marie (ed - WTF?) shooting a movie called SwearNet which seems to be a series of parodies of TV shows with the swearing turned up to 11. Guess that a good thing for the TPB's niche audience. (ed. be good to keep them off the streets for a couple of hours, probably)
BTW, whatever happened to the Guys Who Move Furniture (ed. aka Moving) feature that Mike Clattenburg directed last year. It had Will Sasso and Eddie Murphy's brother in it and it was supposed to be a mainstream thing? Was it ever released? Did anybody see it? It got a 5.4 out of 10 on IMDB but the only review is from a guy who liked it and hated Batman Rises.
Anyway that's all for now. Maybe after I hear some scuttlebutt from the AFF I'll blog some more. And remember I'd love to hear your comments, news, questions. I am so lonely.
Wednesday 11 July 2012
Oi This Heat
Playing catch up again (ed. ketchup?) and my old hickory smoked pal, Lunchmeat Harold is back with me to help edit. (ed. Howdy!).
Returning for your production pleasure this summer is Season 3 of Haven shooting on the south shore. Don't hear much about the actual shooting, who's in it etc but hey, Season 3, they must be doing something right.
Also Call Me Fitz will be returning. Let's hope the producers don't step up to the trough too late like last year and have to send FilmNS back to the Department of Culture and Craft Services for mo' money. Of course last year CEO Anne MacKenzie was able to dig up the money but this year...well, she's not there, is she?
Having mysteriously and abruptly departed FilmNS back in April there is still no replacement for Miss MacKenzie and there doesn't seem to be any plan to replace her any time soon. But things seem to be running the same as it always did, I just hope they continue their annual AFF/FilmNS lobster party. (ed. You were never invited to that.)
Of course maybe they won't bother with the time and expense and the facade of posting an ad, holding interviews and then giving the job to they wanted to in the first place. Lots of potential winners for this plumb job, Gregor Ashe, Gorden Whittiker, or even ...?
Nah, looks like Charles is happy producing in L.A. Another Nova Scotia film success story :)
BTW, does the Executive Assistant at FilmNS have much to do now that the Executive's gone? But then, I'm curious to know what she did when Ann was there. Not many firms with a handfull of employees have one person dedicated to the care and feeding of the CEO. (ed. maybe she ordered the lobsters.)
Banff was probably a more sedate affair this year with "delegates" wondering where the party animal CEO was. Linda Wood did attend but not sure if she was already booked for the annual event or she intends to try and maintain the rigorous travel schedule that Anne MacKenzie did throughout her tenure. So much travel to Cannes, Los Angeles, Germany, and lord knows where else (ed. glad I don't own shares in Mape Leaf lounges.) but presumably it did bring new business to Nova Scotia. (ed. It did?)
A friend has told me that Anne has signed with a headhunting firm to try and get her head hunted. That along with her very sudden departure doesn't seem like a "leaving for the next level up", kind of leaving, but rather a "yes, you are leaving" kind of leaving. Anyone have any insight into what happened?
In other news, Mike Clattenburg's newest film "Moving Day" aka "The Guys Who Move Furniture" is having a preview soon and presumably will be released into theatres, maybe? I believe his last film "Afghan Luke" went straight to DVD. Didn't sound like it was very funny anyway. Next for Mike is the long-awaited Trailer Park Boys movie. This one is #3 if you are keeping track. Will this be the capstone on a trilogy or merely the next "eh, what the fuck, the money's there, let's do something", kind of production.
Also for the TPB's producers is the second season of Mr. D which has done well for the CBC. Oh and BTW, if you want to see the opposite of a funny show, the CBC is re-running "Insecurity". Just in case you missed it the first time around. (ed. consider yourself lucky.) That's about it for now. If you all have any comments or news let me know. I miss and love you all.
Returning for your production pleasure this summer is Season 3 of Haven shooting on the south shore. Don't hear much about the actual shooting, who's in it etc but hey, Season 3, they must be doing something right.
Also Call Me Fitz will be returning. Let's hope the producers don't step up to the trough too late like last year and have to send FilmNS back to the Department of Culture and Craft Services for mo' money. Of course last year CEO Anne MacKenzie was able to dig up the money but this year...well, she's not there, is she?
Having mysteriously and abruptly departed FilmNS back in April there is still no replacement for Miss MacKenzie and there doesn't seem to be any plan to replace her any time soon. But things seem to be running the same as it always did, I just hope they continue their annual AFF/FilmNS lobster party. (ed. You were never invited to that.)
Of course maybe they won't bother with the time and expense and the facade of posting an ad, holding interviews and then giving the job to they wanted to in the first place. Lots of potential winners for this plumb job, Gregor Ashe, Gorden Whittiker, or even ...?
Nah, looks like Charles is happy producing in L.A. Another Nova Scotia film success story :)
Banff was probably a more sedate affair this year with "delegates" wondering where the party animal CEO was. Linda Wood did attend but not sure if she was already booked for the annual event or she intends to try and maintain the rigorous travel schedule that Anne MacKenzie did throughout her tenure. So much travel to Cannes, Los Angeles, Germany, and lord knows where else (ed. glad I don't own shares in Mape Leaf lounges.) but presumably it did bring new business to Nova Scotia. (ed. It did?)
A friend has told me that Anne has signed with a headhunting firm to try and get her head hunted. That along with her very sudden departure doesn't seem like a "leaving for the next level up", kind of leaving, but rather a "yes, you are leaving" kind of leaving. Anyone have any insight into what happened?
In other news, Mike Clattenburg's newest film "Moving Day" aka "The Guys Who Move Furniture" is having a preview soon and presumably will be released into theatres, maybe? I believe his last film "Afghan Luke" went straight to DVD. Didn't sound like it was very funny anyway. Next for Mike is the long-awaited Trailer Park Boys movie. This one is #3 if you are keeping track. Will this be the capstone on a trilogy or merely the next "eh, what the fuck, the money's there, let's do something", kind of production.
Also for the TPB's producers is the second season of Mr. D which has done well for the CBC. Oh and BTW, if you want to see the opposite of a funny show, the CBC is re-running "Insecurity". Just in case you missed it the first time around. (ed. consider yourself lucky.) That's about it for now. If you all have any comments or news let me know. I miss and love you all.
Tuesday 3 April 2012
CBC, DHX, FilmNS, Province of NS, Telefilm
Phew, so many letters, so little time. Anyway say hi to my editor, Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!)
Well, last Friday marked the end of an era as Ann macKenzie left the building. The building being Film Nova Scotia's granite hewn edifice in the historic properties once owned by banker Enos Collins (ed. Robber Baron. Discuss.) A surprise announcement and a rapid good-bye party marked the end of 14 years of her reign, longer than anyone else at FilmNS. (ed. including a whole raft of employees. See the comments section of the last post. Did all of those employees move on voluntarily to the challange of the next phase of their career? I wonder.)
Anyway, I hear it was a pleasant enough smooze affair, not sure if there was lobster and chanpagne though.
So who will steer this mighty ship now? Who will travel to Berlin and Cannes and Los Angeles and Banff and the adequately appointed Maple Leaf Lounges therein? But it was worth it to see all the business that the networking brought in. (ed. er, Tom Selleck?)
I guess the board has launched a "Search Committee" (ed. No doubt using a Labrador helicopter.) to find the next contestant and the production community awaits with baited breath. (ed. i see what you did there, "baited" rather than "bated".)
Hopefully a decision will be made soon (ed. Is "already" soon enough?)
They better hurry because it was reported that "Gary P." at FilmNS is leaving to pursue... (ed. "the next level of his career", yes, move on.)
Has the purge begun? Or was there a sign from on-high that it might be better to leave with honour than with not having honour.
Coincidentilly, the provincial budget comes down today so maybe all this talk is for naught. (ed. don't even go there, brother.)
Speaking of budgets, the Federal one came down last wee and they announced a 10% cut to the CBC budget, the Telefilm budget and the NFB budget. Which was a surprise because I didn't even think there was an NFB anymore.
Speaking of Telefilm, they've released their Top 300 Films of the past 5 years. the producers of these films will be the only one's who will be able to make movies in this country anymore (ed. See Telefilm Surrenders post, below.)
It's an interesting list meaning not interesting at all. There's a lot of movies starting with "La" and "Le" (ed. Don't get into that) which is fair because French-Canadian films actually do well in Quebec. (ed. Okay).
A lot of these films I've never heard of (ed. Yeah, you wouldn't be the only one.) but I'm sure the producers of "Gooby" will be happy that they can get bucks to make "Gooby 2" without anybody reading the script or even asking what a Gooby is.
Locally the qualifying films are Whirlygig, Hobo With a Shotgun, Poor Boy's Game, Trailer Park Boy's 2, Afghan Luke, Faith Fraud and Minimum Wage, Growing Op.
Not sure who the producers are for all of them, and not sure if the attached writer/director auteurs would be considered "producers". Kinda confusing but I'm sure Telefilm Montreal knows what it's doing (ed. snicker)
So if you are not a producer on these projects and have dreams of making a movie in Canada, your options now are (1) move away (2) Don't make movies (3) Stop dreamimg.
the new system simplifies the process and levels the playing field (ed. for those on the list)
But what of the MIA producers of Rollertown? Eternal Kiss? Black? The Corridor? What of them? Why aren't they on the list? (ed. good questions!)
Anyway, in other news, DHX has made a cash up front deal with Netflix for some of their kids shows including projects that FilmNS invested in. I'm wondering if DHX sent over a big cheque last week to FilmNS, a final accomplishment recognized. If not I'm sure the cheque is in the courier.
Well, last Friday marked the end of an era as Ann macKenzie left the building. The building being Film Nova Scotia's granite hewn edifice in the historic properties once owned by banker Enos Collins (ed. Robber Baron. Discuss.) A surprise announcement and a rapid good-bye party marked the end of 14 years of her reign, longer than anyone else at FilmNS. (ed. including a whole raft of employees. See the comments section of the last post. Did all of those employees move on voluntarily to the challange of the next phase of their career? I wonder.)
Anyway, I hear it was a pleasant enough smooze affair, not sure if there was lobster and chanpagne though.
So who will steer this mighty ship now? Who will travel to Berlin and Cannes and Los Angeles and Banff and the adequately appointed Maple Leaf Lounges therein? But it was worth it to see all the business that the networking brought in. (ed. er, Tom Selleck?)
I guess the board has launched a "Search Committee" (ed. No doubt using a Labrador helicopter.) to find the next contestant and the production community awaits with baited breath. (ed. i see what you did there, "baited" rather than "bated".)
Hopefully a decision will be made soon (ed. Is "already" soon enough?)
They better hurry because it was reported that "Gary P." at FilmNS is leaving to pursue... (ed. "the next level of his career", yes, move on.)
Has the purge begun? Or was there a sign from on-high that it might be better to leave with honour than with not having honour.
Coincidentilly, the provincial budget comes down today so maybe all this talk is for naught. (ed. don't even go there, brother.)
Speaking of budgets, the Federal one came down last wee and they announced a 10% cut to the CBC budget, the Telefilm budget and the NFB budget. Which was a surprise because I didn't even think there was an NFB anymore.
Speaking of Telefilm, they've released their Top 300 Films of the past 5 years. the producers of these films will be the only one's who will be able to make movies in this country anymore (ed. See Telefilm Surrenders post, below.)
It's an interesting list meaning not interesting at all. There's a lot of movies starting with "La" and "Le" (ed. Don't get into that) which is fair because French-Canadian films actually do well in Quebec. (ed. Okay).
A lot of these films I've never heard of (ed. Yeah, you wouldn't be the only one.) but I'm sure the producers of "Gooby" will be happy that they can get bucks to make "Gooby 2" without anybody reading the script or even asking what a Gooby is.
Locally the qualifying films are Whirlygig, Hobo With a Shotgun, Poor Boy's Game, Trailer Park Boy's 2, Afghan Luke, Faith Fraud and Minimum Wage, Growing Op.
Not sure who the producers are for all of them, and not sure if the attached writer/director auteurs would be considered "producers". Kinda confusing but I'm sure Telefilm Montreal knows what it's doing (ed. snicker)
So if you are not a producer on these projects and have dreams of making a movie in Canada, your options now are (1) move away (2) Don't make movies (3) Stop dreamimg.
the new system simplifies the process and levels the playing field (ed. for those on the list)
But what of the MIA producers of Rollertown? Eternal Kiss? Black? The Corridor? What of them? Why aren't they on the list? (ed. good questions!)
Anyway, in other news, DHX has made a cash up front deal with Netflix for some of their kids shows including projects that FilmNS invested in. I'm wondering if DHX sent over a big cheque last week to FilmNS, a final accomplishment recognized. If not I'm sure the cheque is in the courier.
Wednesday 28 March 2012
CBC, FilmNs, Saskatchewanian
Hi Folks, seems like I'm catching up for lost time this last week so here we go. As always, my editor is my friend/confidant/snooze button, Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy!)
Friends it seems like this whole FilmNS fiasco of Ann macKenzie leaving for greener pastures/bluer skies/yellow submarines is for reals. (ed. "Reals"? um, you're far from a teen-ager.)
There's a going away party for Ann on Thursday at the FilmNS office. If I could leave my apartment i surely would go to this soirie as I have a feeling drinks will be flowing and talk will be glowing, know what I'm saying? (ed. no, I -)
Perhaps there'll be lobster like the FilmNS film festival party which is open to all filmmakers and stakeholders, except for most of them.
Still no idea what happened here but it has happened quickly. Just last week the announcement was made that Ann was leaving, then she went on vacation, and now the goodbye party. I think it took longer for the Titanic to go down. (ed. See, just mentioning Titanic implies there some "disaster" happening.)
So that question remains as to why. And then who is going to replace her? Does the board have someone in mind? Or are they starting with a blank slate? They met yesterday so maybe we'll see some developments on this soon. (ed. And what about the staff? Is this another clean slate?)
In other news, CBC went all out to wish Little Mosque on the Prarie (ed. aka "I Married a Muslim!") a bon voyage. (ed. speaking of the Titanic.) I must confess, the one episode I did watch reminded me of a slightly hipper King of Kensington.
Mr. D seems to being doing well for the CEEB. Someone up there (ed. CBC Toronto) must have really wanted it to work, what with all the publicity and shooting a second pilot and all. 2nd Season? Insecurity got one and well, not exactly a stellar first season. Even the second season after they brought in new writers, story editors, consultants, a shaman and a goat sacrifice didn't seem to help. Plus the producer now says that if Saskatchewan does away with the tax credit, she'll have to move production of a possible third season somewhere else. (ed. Aha! the saskatchewan government is more diabolical than we gave them credit for.)
Anyway that's all for today. as always comments/suggestions/muffins are always welcome.
Friends it seems like this whole FilmNS fiasco of Ann macKenzie leaving for greener pastures/bluer skies/yellow submarines is for reals. (ed. "Reals"? um, you're far from a teen-ager.)
There's a going away party for Ann on Thursday at the FilmNS office. If I could leave my apartment i surely would go to this soirie as I have a feeling drinks will be flowing and talk will be glowing, know what I'm saying? (ed. no, I -)
Perhaps there'll be lobster like the FilmNS film festival party which is open to all filmmakers and stakeholders, except for most of them.
Still no idea what happened here but it has happened quickly. Just last week the announcement was made that Ann was leaving, then she went on vacation, and now the goodbye party. I think it took longer for the Titanic to go down. (ed. See, just mentioning Titanic implies there some "disaster" happening.)
So that question remains as to why. And then who is going to replace her? Does the board have someone in mind? Or are they starting with a blank slate? They met yesterday so maybe we'll see some developments on this soon. (ed. And what about the staff? Is this another clean slate?)
In other news, CBC went all out to wish Little Mosque on the Prarie (ed. aka "I Married a Muslim!") a bon voyage. (ed. speaking of the Titanic.) I must confess, the one episode I did watch reminded me of a slightly hipper King of Kensington.
Mr. D seems to being doing well for the CEEB. Someone up there (ed. CBC Toronto) must have really wanted it to work, what with all the publicity and shooting a second pilot and all. 2nd Season? Insecurity got one and well, not exactly a stellar first season. Even the second season after they brought in new writers, story editors, consultants, a shaman and a goat sacrifice didn't seem to help. Plus the producer now says that if Saskatchewan does away with the tax credit, she'll have to move production of a possible third season somewhere else. (ed. Aha! the saskatchewan government is more diabolical than we gave them credit for.)
Anyway that's all for today. as always comments/suggestions/muffins are always welcome.
Tuesday 27 March 2012
Global Hits Town! And Other Stuff
Hi folks, back for a quick one with my pal/editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!)
I was excited when I first heard that Global Television bought Palooka's Gym on Gottinghen St. and was going to turn it into their Maritime headquaters and studio.
Wha? Produce something? Glowball, that's not how it works, to compete with CTV, you have to buy American!
So I guess I wasn't totally surprised when I heard later that the main production is going to be a breakfast show which will compete with CTV's Breakfast Television. (ed. whoa, that's still on?)
I'm sure there will be talented people working on the show (ed. Have a drink everytime a host wears a sou'wester!) but really is this any way to showcase talent. The only people watching TV at that hour are toddlers who can't change the channel, plopped down in front of the TV while Mom and Dad get ready for another day of shipbuilding. (ed. Ships start here!)
From a business point of view it makes sense; When Shaw bought Global they agreed (ed. kicking and screaming agreed.) to spend a bucket load of money on CANADIAN productions. CTV had to do this when they bought CTV (ed. the first time). They financed a sitcom 100%, no CTF, to burn off the cash and then return to your regularly schduled CSI. But they erred because they didn't pay attention and Corner Gas became a hit (ed. canadian stylin', know what I'm saying?). It was kind of embarrassing because they had wanted another Blackfly so they could point out how fruitless it was trying to do homegrown TV. They did their best to knock it out moving it around the schedule and doing little promotion but gosh darn it kept chugging along and people liked it. (ed. you like it, you really - )
Anyway, now they'll spend a bunch of money on a breakfast show, the highlight will be watching the Grade 6 class of Upper Kenctisowaken singing Jingle Bells at Christmas. (ed. There's cousin LuAnn!.) It'll be spent "in the community", (ed. In the gritty, real streets, no less) and they can brag about ratings when they beat the tired Breakfast TV. (ed. 3 Toddlers vs 2 Toddlers is a 50% bushwackin!)
Wonder if the retired-to-Chester jim Shaw will be up and watching.
I was excited when I first heard that Global Television bought Palooka's Gym on Gottinghen St. and was going to turn it into their Maritime headquaters and studio.
Wha? Produce something? Glowball, that's not how it works, to compete with CTV, you have to buy American!
So I guess I wasn't totally surprised when I heard later that the main production is going to be a breakfast show which will compete with CTV's Breakfast Television. (ed. whoa, that's still on?)
I'm sure there will be talented people working on the show (ed. Have a drink everytime a host wears a sou'wester!) but really is this any way to showcase talent. The only people watching TV at that hour are toddlers who can't change the channel, plopped down in front of the TV while Mom and Dad get ready for another day of shipbuilding. (ed. Ships start here!)
From a business point of view it makes sense; When Shaw bought Global they agreed (ed. kicking and screaming agreed.) to spend a bucket load of money on CANADIAN productions. CTV had to do this when they bought CTV (ed. the first time). They financed a sitcom 100%, no CTF, to burn off the cash and then return to your regularly schduled CSI. But they erred because they didn't pay attention and Corner Gas became a hit (ed. canadian stylin', know what I'm saying?). It was kind of embarrassing because they had wanted another Blackfly so they could point out how fruitless it was trying to do homegrown TV. They did their best to knock it out moving it around the schedule and doing little promotion but gosh darn it kept chugging along and people liked it. (ed. you like it, you really - )
Anyway, now they'll spend a bunch of money on a breakfast show, the highlight will be watching the Grade 6 class of Upper Kenctisowaken singing Jingle Bells at Christmas. (ed. There's cousin LuAnn!.) It'll be spent "in the community", (ed. In the gritty, real streets, no less) and they can brag about ratings when they beat the tired Breakfast TV. (ed. 3 Toddlers vs 2 Toddlers is a 50% bushwackin!)
Wonder if the retired-to-Chester jim Shaw will be up and watching.
Thursday 22 March 2012
Film Tax Credit - I Have a Sinking Feeling
Been thinking about this whole CEO abandoning ship thing, then I saw an article that said Saskatchewan is cutting it's film tax credit because it's too expensive. It costs the province $8 Million a year. Last year New Brunswick cut their's because it cost $4 Million a year.
Last year Nova Scotia's tax credit cost $22 Million.
$22,000,000.
And with the NDP needing money to throw at the dying paper industry, to help it limp along until workers are too old to work, this might be the place to find it.
Maybe someone saw the light and didn't want to be the one in the driver's seat when the bus crashed. And crash it will.
I don't want to fear monger (ed. Monger away!) but without the tax credit, this industry is, you know, done.
Originally designed to develop the industry, it has instead become relied on so much that local producers would not be able to finance projects. And foreign producers would just go to Vermont or whereever, that does have a tax credit. (ed. Whoa, you mean Tomm Selleck's not coming back?) Even DHX relies mightily on it to continue. Maybe Michael Donovan also saw the writing on the wall and that's why he's getting into the business of buying other businesses for overseas and merchandising revenue. (ed. Another cup of Yo Gabba Jabba Java, Joe?)
But let's not think the worst. Yet.
Last year Nova Scotia's tax credit cost $22 Million.
$22,000,000.
And with the NDP needing money to throw at the dying paper industry, to help it limp along until workers are too old to work, this might be the place to find it.
Maybe someone saw the light and didn't want to be the one in the driver's seat when the bus crashed. And crash it will.
I don't want to fear monger (ed. Monger away!) but without the tax credit, this industry is, you know, done.
Originally designed to develop the industry, it has instead become relied on so much that local producers would not be able to finance projects. And foreign producers would just go to Vermont or whereever, that does have a tax credit. (ed. Whoa, you mean Tomm Selleck's not coming back?) Even DHX relies mightily on it to continue. Maybe Michael Donovan also saw the writing on the wall and that's why he's getting into the business of buying other businesses for overseas and merchandising revenue. (ed. Another cup of Yo Gabba Jabba Java, Joe?)
But let's not think the worst. Yet.
FilmNovaScotia - What the? (Gregor To Step In?)
This week Anne MacKenzie, CEO, announced that she was moving on to the next stage of her career. Yikes, leaving behind $150K+ a year and travel to France, Los Angeles, Banff, it must be quite the job she heading to. The job offer must have come out of the blue because she's only given the Board 2 weeks notice. Usually there's like a passing of the torch period where the old CEO show the new CEO where the keys to the mansion are kept.
Meanwhile allnovascotia.com is reportig that Gregor Ash, who ran the Atlantic Film Festival was probably the likely candidate for the job. He's seen a lot of films, knows the movers and shakers in the industry and he's NDP - Ta Dah!
Was this predetermined? Fate? A lucky coincidence? Stay tuned.
Meanwhile allnovascotia.com is reportig that Gregor Ash, who ran the Atlantic Film Festival was probably the likely candidate for the job. He's seen a lot of films, knows the movers and shakers in the industry and he's NDP - Ta Dah!
Was this predetermined? Fate? A lucky coincidence? Stay tuned.
Tuesday 13 March 2012
Telefilm Surrenders
Been a while since I blogged...blah, blah, blah, but I'm back with my handy editor Lunchmeat Harold. (ed: Howdy)
Spring is nearing and with it news that Telefilm has re-vamped the way they'll be financing the developing and producing films. Turns out now that if you want to make a movie with Telefilm money all you need to have done is made a movie before. (ed: With Telefilm money.)
After years of piss-poor box office, the federal funding agency has just handed over the keys and handed the cheque book to the producers who have a "track record"; i.e. made a movie in the past five years. (Ed: If you made 2, you get to roll up the rim for a chance at a free donut!)
It doesn't matter if nobody saw your movie or if it made a dollar (Ed: That would be an exclusive club in itself.), as long as it showed in some theatre sometime, you sir/madam/other are a "sucessful Canadian producer" and they would like you to do it again please! But this time with no more of that meddlesome vetting of the script, agonizing over whether it was good or not, just go, go, make another. We'll just stand here and suck shrimp cocktail and hold town halls (ed: Maybe somewhere nice this year, like Paris!)
Really they seemed to be just going through the motions anyway so let's stop fretting and make Passcendale II: The Muddening or re-do Whirleygig and this time let the father talk and maybe he'll say something interesting.
So all the reviewing and paperwork is no more, which is good. But for young filmmakers, um, sorry, maybe you should think about heading south. Went to film school, worked 2 jobs to live while you wrote an awesome script? Sorry, Sarah Polley has a new movie she needs our millions for (Ed: Something about middle-aged or old people with feelings) and David Cronenberg, well, he's back, he couldn't get any work in the states and he is a national treasure.
Listen, keep, sweating it our and maybe in a couple of years we'll hand you $100,000 to make a "film". Get all your friends and family to help and chip in; it'll be a hoot! Then stick it on the internet or whatever yoou kids do, we have a red carpet in Toronto for Atom's newest homage to the suffering people of somewhere.
All this was not a surprise, in fact last fall, Paul Gross broke ground on a new mansion near Toronto and the Trailer Park Boys are already out beating the bushes (Ed: snicker) appealing to their fan base to contribute money to make their next film. (Ed: Do they say the F word? Funding?"
In Other News:
The CBC has tried a new strategy also; they've decided to make sitcoms the old fashioned way; "funny".
After the atrotious 2nd season of InSecurity they gave us Mr. D which actually made me laugh.
Alas, I must go now, "Lights out" time. Till next time.
BTW, anyone know whatever happened to Jay Dahl's monster film? Or Rollertown? Still waiting to see them.
Spring is nearing and with it news that Telefilm has re-vamped the way they'll be financing the developing and producing films. Turns out now that if you want to make a movie with Telefilm money all you need to have done is made a movie before. (ed: With Telefilm money.)
After years of piss-poor box office, the federal funding agency has just handed over the keys and handed the cheque book to the producers who have a "track record"; i.e. made a movie in the past five years. (Ed: If you made 2, you get to roll up the rim for a chance at a free donut!)
It doesn't matter if nobody saw your movie or if it made a dollar (Ed: That would be an exclusive club in itself.), as long as it showed in some theatre sometime, you sir/madam/other are a "sucessful Canadian producer" and they would like you to do it again please! But this time with no more of that meddlesome vetting of the script, agonizing over whether it was good or not, just go, go, make another. We'll just stand here and suck shrimp cocktail and hold town halls (ed: Maybe somewhere nice this year, like Paris!)
Really they seemed to be just going through the motions anyway so let's stop fretting and make Passcendale II: The Muddening or re-do Whirleygig and this time let the father talk and maybe he'll say something interesting.
So all the reviewing and paperwork is no more, which is good. But for young filmmakers, um, sorry, maybe you should think about heading south. Went to film school, worked 2 jobs to live while you wrote an awesome script? Sorry, Sarah Polley has a new movie she needs our millions for (Ed: Something about middle-aged or old people with feelings) and David Cronenberg, well, he's back, he couldn't get any work in the states and he is a national treasure.
Listen, keep, sweating it our and maybe in a couple of years we'll hand you $100,000 to make a "film". Get all your friends and family to help and chip in; it'll be a hoot! Then stick it on the internet or whatever yoou kids do, we have a red carpet in Toronto for Atom's newest homage to the suffering people of somewhere.
All this was not a surprise, in fact last fall, Paul Gross broke ground on a new mansion near Toronto and the Trailer Park Boys are already out beating the bushes (Ed: snicker) appealing to their fan base to contribute money to make their next film. (Ed: Do they say the F word? Funding?"
In Other News:
The CBC has tried a new strategy also; they've decided to make sitcoms the old fashioned way; "funny".
After the atrotious 2nd season of InSecurity they gave us Mr. D which actually made me laugh.
Alas, I must go now, "Lights out" time. Till next time.
BTW, anyone know whatever happened to Jay Dahl's monster film? Or Rollertown? Still waiting to see them.
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