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.
Wednesday 28 March 2012
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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