It was a few short months ago when it looked like the film and TV business in Nova Scotia was going to roll up and die but hold on naysayers, business is booming! Hi, just catching up after the Atlantic Film Festival which I did not attend (ed. But some sweetheart memories roll through your head, I bet.)
For sure! That's my editor Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy)
So in April the two wonderkins of fiscal responsibility Stephen MacNeil (ed. Premier) and Diana Whalen (ed. Finance Minister) thought they could do a quick and easy fix of the budget by cutting the Nova Scotia Film and Television Tax Credit. Zing, press the delete button and save the taxpayers $24 Million dollars.
All the Liberal MLA's applauded at their wisdom. However, they weren't expecting the backlash and organizational skills of the "elite" filmmakers. Which they could have weathered, because it was for the greater good of the province.
But what they neglected to take into account was the wrath of the biggest company. From his 3rd home in the "elite" section of London, England Michael Donovan (ed. DHX) made it know he wasn't happy. His various companies over the years had grown over the years because of the helping hand of the tax credit. And his company was about to get listed on the New York stock exchange. Tinky-Winky even rang the stock exchange bell! DHX was going to go from being a company worth a few hundred million dollars to one that was worth over ONE BILLION DOLLARS! But how could he go out and raise that kind of cash if the tax payers of Nova Scotia weren't going to chip in with their no-conditions, not-entitled-to-any-sort-of-return-on-investment, investment. (ed. After all that is the Nova Scotia way!)
But they couldn't give to one company and not allow other companies the tax credit. That wouldn't be fair. Until someone in the group of Department of Finance/Government brainstormers (ed. - could be an employee, could be someone on a contract, will we ever know?) came up with a solution.
DHX produces mostly animated TV shows. These are different from "live action" TV and movies that everyone else made. They decided DHX could qualify for a special *wink* *wink* "digital" tax credit which was already in place. It was supposed to be for "interactive" new media projects but with a little trimming the square peg was made to fit in the round hole. And it was exactly the same as the old tax credit. And making a TV show with animated people is a much better industry than making a TV show with real people. Somehow. (ed. Don't ask. Oh look, no one did.)
Meanwhile live action TV and movie people were making such a fuss the government looked to shut them up with some lipstick on a pig. They came up with a new "tax incentive" which was different, yet , the same but not quite as good as the old tax credit. Plus it would be limited, somehow (ed. "the cap") but, not really, to $10M a year. And you had to apply for it in advance and wait to see if you qualified for it and...well that was enough for "guest" productions to give the province a pass. (ed. maybe next year get your ducks in a row!) And most other home-grown productions weren't going to happen as planned as the provincial funding agency had also been swept away so no equity. (ed. Wouldn't it be great to have a chunk of equity in DHX projects and not just, nothing).
So while most of the film and TV business will die like a deformed pumpkin on a vine by the winter, Tinky-Winky is clanging away at his bell in a frenzy of $$$$$$$. And that's good for business. Allnovascotia reported today that profit if up 150% at DHX. So, BAM!
(ed. Note: The author owns 1000 shares of DHX stock.)
It was left to me by my father and in no way influences what I write here.
A few other notes:
(1) One of the only (ed. I think only) live action shows that DHX produces was out doing their "principal photography", (ed. You are going to run out of exclamation marks soon.) before July 1st so they would still qualify for the old, more beloved tax credit. But apparently some in the Department of Finance are not amused by this little walk around the rules, principal photography is supposed to be the first day of regular production. Sorry DoF guys and gals, it's just another phone call so let it go.
(2) Some info is trickling in about Egg Films and apparently if they do shut down, people will be more forthcoming about their experiences working for the company. Apparently it wasn't all unicorn kisses.
Monday, 28 September 2015
Friday, 11 September 2015
Sometimes You Gotta Break a Few Eggs
Anyone have any scoop on what's really happening at Egg Films. Did they just give up, give in give out or what? Seems odd to spend all that money on legal fees, fire 20 people and close down a successful business rather than pay into CPP, WC etc.
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Don't Panic: TV Business As Usual
Just dropping in with my editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!) to address a little panic I had last week. DHX had planned a listing on an AMERICAN stock exchange. Do you know how amazing that is? Not the Toronto Stock Exchange or the Sunshine Valley Stock Exchange but a real stock exchange with American money and everything. It was such an event that a DHX executive was given the honour of ringing the opening bell! That honour is only given out once a business day. And just for fun he did it with one of the Smurfs!
(ed. FYI, the author of this blog owns 1000 shares of DHX.)
Now I said "was excited" because at the last minute, the company got cold feet. What with world markets being a little depressed (ed. I hear you), the company decided to postpone the listing. It will happen when things are just right. After all Michael "Three Houses" Donovan, knows business. He's like the Donald Trump of Canadian TV. After all, remember that little fuss with the Liberals kneecapping the industry a few months back? Guess who came out of it smelling like a rose. Calling from his London home, Mr. D (ed. The original Mr. D), only had to threaten to take his (ed. our) business elsewhere and Premier MacNeil buckled. But just for DHX. They have their own separate fund of taxpayer dollars to draw on, called the Digital Media Tax Credit. (ed. Everyone else, yeah, sorry.)
As Premier MacNeil and Diana Whalen so wisely pointed out, any company that relies on government subsidies is no long affordable for this province. Except for DHX.
You see animated TV is different than live action TV because well, one is real people acting, lighting, catering etc and the other is teenagers imported from Ontario drawing things on there computers.
Simple common sense.
And I know, people who were expecting to work in live-action TV and film this year received a roundhouse kick to the balls out of the blue but really things will be okay. Many of you are in the process of uprooting your family and moving to anyplace else in Canada to find work, but don't worry about those who are left behind.
Once DHX does there thing on the AMERICAN stock market (ed. exciting!), the companies value will be close to $1 Billion dollars! And that's good for Nova Scotia and probably the other parts of Canada where they pay taxes.
And for me, as a shareholder, to you who worked and paid taxes here, I thank you.
(ed. FYI, the author of this blog owns 1000 shares of DHX.)
Now I said "was excited" because at the last minute, the company got cold feet. What with world markets being a little depressed (ed. I hear you), the company decided to postpone the listing. It will happen when things are just right. After all Michael "Three Houses" Donovan, knows business. He's like the Donald Trump of Canadian TV. After all, remember that little fuss with the Liberals kneecapping the industry a few months back? Guess who came out of it smelling like a rose. Calling from his London home, Mr. D (ed. The original Mr. D), only had to threaten to take his (ed. our) business elsewhere and Premier MacNeil buckled. But just for DHX. They have their own separate fund of taxpayer dollars to draw on, called the Digital Media Tax Credit. (ed. Everyone else, yeah, sorry.)
As Premier MacNeil and Diana Whalen so wisely pointed out, any company that relies on government subsidies is no long affordable for this province. Except for DHX.
You see animated TV is different than live action TV because well, one is real people acting, lighting, catering etc and the other is teenagers imported from Ontario drawing things on there computers.
Simple common sense.
And I know, people who were expecting to work in live-action TV and film this year received a roundhouse kick to the balls out of the blue but really things will be okay. Many of you are in the process of uprooting your family and moving to anyplace else in Canada to find work, but don't worry about those who are left behind.
Once DHX does there thing on the AMERICAN stock market (ed. exciting!), the companies value will be close to $1 Billion dollars! And that's good for Nova Scotia and probably the other parts of Canada where they pay taxes.
And for me, as a shareholder, to you who worked and paid taxes here, I thank you.
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Happy Days for NS Film Industry!
Well, that was a tense few weeks but everything turned out all the better. Here with my editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!)
I was really worried when Diana Whalen announced she was ditching the Film and TV tax credit. I though my 1000 shares of DHX would end up being worthless (ed. or just slightly less.) But when Michael Donovan told the industry people not to get too excited or upset, he was right. Turns out the tax credit is now richer than ever and it's unlimited, no cap!
Of course I'm talking about animation only. But I wish all the live action people good luck with your things.
It's truly a sign that it's politics as usual in the province and that's good for everyone. (ed. Well, not everyone.)
I was really worried when Diana Whalen announced she was ditching the Film and TV tax credit. I though my 1000 shares of DHX would end up being worthless (ed. or just slightly less.) But when Michael Donovan told the industry people not to get too excited or upset, he was right. Turns out the tax credit is now richer than ever and it's unlimited, no cap!
Of course I'm talking about animation only. But I wish all the live action people good luck with your things.
It's truly a sign that it's politics as usual in the province and that's good for everyone. (ed. Well, not everyone.)
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
WTF Halifax?
WTF Nova Scotia?
Hi people, it's been awhile, almost a year since I last blogged. But really, what blog doesn't start out this way. As always, I am edited by my old friend Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy)
Okay, so the last time I made a posting, it was spring in Nova Scotia and there was trouble on the tax credit front, film and TV wise. (ed. that seems like such a long time ago.)
That was 2014. The government wanted to do away with the tax credit but after some producers made some noise that spot of bother went away. (ed. As it was, as it always shall be.)
But then after some R & R (ed. voluntarily signed in, I can vouch for that) I find out that not only did the government threaten to take the tax credit away, it WROTE DOWN in the big book of laws that they were going to do it.
But thankfully, once again, saner minds have prevailed and not only is the tax credit back but it's better than ever! (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX stock.)
If you're in the business you know how this spring has played out. For those of you not in the business, I'll outline what happened.
(1) Liberals said they will cut the NS film and TV tax credit to save money because they need their pensions after 2 years work and not six. (ed. We don't live on a gulag!)
(2) The industry gathers it's forces and organizes.
(3) The government begins a KGB style campaign of misinformation to say those people don't pay taxes and they're the reason why little Billy can't have his insulin.
(4) Michael Donovan talks on CBC radio from his 3rd (ed. In acquisition time, not in his heart) home in London, England to say the government will ruin the industry (ed. i.e. him) if they do this. He will fire hundreds of tiny animators presently attached to computers in his office in Halifax. They will roam the countryside, drawing on everything!
(5) Public feels little sympathy for multi-millionaire being subsidized by their tax dollars.
(6) Everyone else in the film and TV business (ed. i.e. not Michael Donovan) organizes petitions, rallies, a letter writing campaign. And they seek the hearts and minds of the general public by explaining to them that they're regular people who work hard in the business and pay taxes.
(7) The government throws them a bone and says the tax credit is now 25% of budget and not 50% of labour. (ed. It's the same thing but it sounds better.) Also, animation will now be covered by the digital tax credit. (ed. Wait. Animation is "interactive"? Inspector Gadget doesn't respond to your questions.)
(8) Everybody calms down.
(9) The government says they have a deal with those obnoxious producers/workers and it's all settled. With a $10M cap on the total tax credit because that's all they can afford. And NSBI, a liberal slush fund will be in charge of it.
(9) Everybody wakes up and goes WTF? That won't keep the industry going and how do we know who gets it? There's more letters to the editors, radio interviews, speeches to the bored politicians. Michael Donovan releases some minions.
(10) Public grows bored. DHX (ed. and other animators.) meet with the government.
(12) Liberals grow bored.
(13) Budget outlining the changes to the tax credit is tabled, read, debated etc.
(14) Andrew Younger mumbles. Caged salmon cry.
(15) The Liberals announce that they have changed the Digital Media Tax Credit to include animation. (ed. But that tax credit is to encourage gaming companies to come here. Animation isn't "interactive". Why just last year there was a big issue because a company wasn't interactive enough. Shouldn't this be discussed - ?)
(16) Shhhhh.
(17) The new and improved Digital Media Tax Credit is now, not only like the old film tax credit, it's BOOOM better by another 25%! And no cap! (ed. Draw yourselves a great big cheque!)
(18) So now if you make TV or films (animated not the real kind), you get the bestest ever tax credit/subsidy for an industry that is mostly labour. And guess who does most of the animation production in town? It's not Little Insulin Billy. Lol. (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX.)
(19) School's out. And all you old fashioned filmmakers out there, let there be a lesson here. Backroom dealings are the way to go in this province.
Hi people, it's been awhile, almost a year since I last blogged. But really, what blog doesn't start out this way. As always, I am edited by my old friend Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy)
Okay, so the last time I made a posting, it was spring in Nova Scotia and there was trouble on the tax credit front, film and TV wise. (ed. that seems like such a long time ago.)
That was 2014. The government wanted to do away with the tax credit but after some producers made some noise that spot of bother went away. (ed. As it was, as it always shall be.)
But then after some R & R (ed. voluntarily signed in, I can vouch for that) I find out that not only did the government threaten to take the tax credit away, it WROTE DOWN in the big book of laws that they were going to do it.
But thankfully, once again, saner minds have prevailed and not only is the tax credit back but it's better than ever! (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX stock.)
If you're in the business you know how this spring has played out. For those of you not in the business, I'll outline what happened.
(1) Liberals said they will cut the NS film and TV tax credit to save money because they need their pensions after 2 years work and not six. (ed. We don't live on a gulag!)
(2) The industry gathers it's forces and organizes.
(3) The government begins a KGB style campaign of misinformation to say those people don't pay taxes and they're the reason why little Billy can't have his insulin.
(4) Michael Donovan talks on CBC radio from his 3rd (ed. In acquisition time, not in his heart) home in London, England to say the government will ruin the industry (ed. i.e. him) if they do this. He will fire hundreds of tiny animators presently attached to computers in his office in Halifax. They will roam the countryside, drawing on everything!
(5) Public feels little sympathy for multi-millionaire being subsidized by their tax dollars.
(6) Everyone else in the film and TV business (ed. i.e. not Michael Donovan) organizes petitions, rallies, a letter writing campaign. And they seek the hearts and minds of the general public by explaining to them that they're regular people who work hard in the business and pay taxes.
(7) The government throws them a bone and says the tax credit is now 25% of budget and not 50% of labour. (ed. It's the same thing but it sounds better.) Also, animation will now be covered by the digital tax credit. (ed. Wait. Animation is "interactive"? Inspector Gadget doesn't respond to your questions.)
(8) Everybody calms down.
(9) The government says they have a deal with those obnoxious producers/workers and it's all settled. With a $10M cap on the total tax credit because that's all they can afford. And NSBI, a liberal slush fund will be in charge of it.
(9) Everybody wakes up and goes WTF? That won't keep the industry going and how do we know who gets it? There's more letters to the editors, radio interviews, speeches to the bored politicians. Michael Donovan releases some minions.
(10) Public grows bored. DHX (ed. and other animators.) meet with the government.
(12) Liberals grow bored.
(13) Budget outlining the changes to the tax credit is tabled, read, debated etc.
(14) Andrew Younger mumbles. Caged salmon cry.
(15) The Liberals announce that they have changed the Digital Media Tax Credit to include animation. (ed. But that tax credit is to encourage gaming companies to come here. Animation isn't "interactive". Why just last year there was a big issue because a company wasn't interactive enough. Shouldn't this be discussed - ?)
(16) Shhhhh.
(17) The new and improved Digital Media Tax Credit is now, not only like the old film tax credit, it's BOOOM better by another 25%! And no cap! (ed. Draw yourselves a great big cheque!)
(18) So now if you make TV or films (animated not the real kind), you get the bestest ever tax credit/subsidy for an industry that is mostly labour. And guess who does most of the animation production in town? It's not Little Insulin Billy. Lol. (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX.)
(19) School's out. And all you old fashioned filmmakers out there, let there be a lesson here. Backroom dealings are the way to go in this province.
Friday, 16 May 2014
Spring Has Sprung and Film is Flung!
Hi everyone, I'm back! For a little bit, until the next round of therapy. But enough about me, say Hi to my editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!).
Yes, it's spring in Nova Scotia and with it film and TV production gets all abuzzing, film students and interns skip merely into the sunshine to dream about their future careers and (ed. Uh, oh) well, yeah. there's a danger sign on the horizon. (ed. tax credits a blight, industry takes flight.)
Yes, the good old Department of Finance has the Nova Scotia Film and Tax Credit in its sights once again. They've always hated it as they believe its just a waste of money out the door. (ed. unlike funding a sound studio in Shelburne, snap!). They can't understand how government money can be used to create and subsidize jobs. (ed. This is the Department of Finance of what province?).
Well, yes that's true we do have a history of throwing money at industries but only if they create sustainable, well-paying careers (ed. like working at call centres or waiters at a convention centre.) so the kids don't run off to Alberta where they can made a billion dollars working at Tim Horton's.
Friends, I admit, I may not be objective here because it was the tax credit that lured me here to this beautiful province and the promise that it made to create Hallmark Hall of Fame that would win Oscars. Local producers have worked themselves up into a tizzy and have inundated the TV news, web and newspapers with calls of "wha?" But they need fear not (ed. not fear) because there's a heavy hitter who has yet to be heard from. DHX films is ramping up a bunch of productions for TV, internet and your Mother's iphone that she has no idea how to work except that game where you feed the bunnies.
DHX spends millions of dollars here and if the tax credit goes, Michael Donovan will pick up his productions and walk. The one true success story, where a small company used the tax credits to create an industry, go public, raise millions of dollars and continue to use the tax credit, will not have a happy ending. He almost walked before after all. When the tax credit was initially envisioned there was a restriction on who could apply. Any company that had more than $25 million in assets could not access the tax credit. the Department of Finance (ed. D of F) falsely assumed that if a company had that kind of money, the government should not be subsidizing them. (ed. Seriously, do these guys live in Nova Scotia?) In two shakes of the Finance Department's pen, that provision was gone. So don't worry producers, directors, actors and the guy who rents cars, the province is going to continue with the tax credit. Don't make DHX make a call.
Say Hi to my editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!).
Yes, it's spring in Nova Scotia and with it film and TV production gets all abuzzing, film students and interns skip merely into the sunshine to dream about their future careers and (ed. Uh, oh) well, yeah. there's a danger sign on the horizon. (ed. tax credits a blight, industry takes flight.)
Yes, the good old Department of Finance has the Nova Scotia Film and Tax Credit in its sights once again. They've always hated it as they believe its just a waste of money out the door. (ed. unlike funding a sound studio in Shelburne, snap!). They can't understand how government money can be used to create and subsidize jobs. (ed. This is the Department of Finance of what province?).
Well, yes that's true we do have a history of throwing money at industries but only if they create sustainable, well-paying careers (ed. like working at call centres or waiters at a convention centre.) so the kids don't run off to Alberta where they can made a billion dollars working at Tim Horton's.
Friends, I admit, I may not be objective here because it was the tax credit that lured me here to this beautiful province and the promise that it made to create Hallmark Hall of Fame that would win Oscars. Local producers have worked themselves up into a tizzy and have inundated the TV news, web and newspapers with calls of "wha?" But they need fear not (ed. not fear) because there's a heavy hitter who has yet to be heard from. DHX films is ramping up a bunch of productions for TV, internet and your Mother's iphone that she has no idea how to work except that game where you feed the bunnies.
DHX spends millions of dollars here and if the tax credit goes, Michael Donovan will pick up his productions and walk. The one true success story, where a small company used the tax credits to create an industry, go public, raise millions of dollars and continue to use the tax credit, will not have a happy ending. He almost walked before after all. When the tax credit was initially envisioned there was a restriction on who could apply. Any company that had more than $25 million in assets could not access the tax credit. the Department of Finance (ed. D of F) falsely assumed that if a company had that kind of money, the government should not be subsidizing them. (ed. Seriously, do these guys live in Nova Scotia?) In two shakes of the Finance Department's pen, that provision was gone. So don't worry producers, directors, actors and the guy who rents cars, the province is going to continue with the tax credit. Don't make DHX make a call.
Speaking of DHX, they recently were shortlisted as a finalist for funding under the Independent Production Funds Webseries. (ed. It's 2:12 which is longer than the 2:00 maximum allowed but filmmaking is an art dammit, don't stifle us!)
View the trailer here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAsGWHnwCBM
It's amazing how they got just the right number of "shit on my dick"'s in there to make it funny and relevant. Good to see that DHX is exploring every corner for funding. After all, if they didn't make this, some stupid teenager or film student would have made a film about hip hop or kittens or something.
In other news, I'm sad to see that the Roy Building is coming down. When I first came here to work in the biz 20 years ago, it was the one place where filmmakers could rent cheap offices. It became a real community of artists. And slightly broken lawyers. And an older lady prostitute.
In other, other news, Charles Bishop is back in town. The Oscar winning producer was in L.A. for the past few years. A quick peek at his IMDB pages reveals that he's been pretty busy down there. A TV MOW called "Killer Mountain" (ed. 3.7 out of 10), "Ice Road Terror" (ed. A pattern? 3.3/10) and "Befriend and Betray" (ed. whoa 7.2/10). Not sure what he's been up to since he's been back in town. Maybe someone out there knows.
Also, where is former FilmNS head honcho Anne MacKenzie since she left abruptly two years ago? And what was the story with that? Surely enough time has passed that it can be spoken out loud. Its this time of year with Cannes on the go and lobster parties in the wind that I think back to those heady days when Anne ran things at the agency. Often from the road of course. (ed. busy, busy).
Anyway, that's all I've got. How about you? Do you have any news, questions, threats to pass along? This site will not work unless we all make it part of the TV and Film community in this province. Or not.
nwCBM
It's amazing how they got just the right number of "shit on my dick"'s in there to make it funny and relevant. Good to see that DHX is exploring every corner for funding. After all, if they didn't make this, some stupid teenager or film student would have made a film about hip hop or kittens or something.
In other news, I'm sad to see that the Roy Building is coming down. When I first came here to work in the biz 20 years ago, it was the one place where filmmakers could rent cheap offices. It became a real community of artists. And slightly broken lawyers. And an older lady prostitute.
In other, other news, Charles Bishop is back in town. The Oscar winning producer was in L.A. for the past few years. A quick peek at his IMDB pages reveals that he's been pretty busy down there. A TV MOW called "Killer Mountain" (ed. 3.7 out of 10), "Ice Road Terror" (ed. A pattern? 3.3/10) and "Befriend and Betray" (ed. whoa 7.2/10). Not sure what he's been up to since he's been back in town. Maybe someone out there knows.
Also, where is former FilmNS head honcho Anne MacKenzie since she left abruptly two years ago? And what was the story with that? Surely enough time has passed that it can be spoken out loud. Its this time of year with Cannes on the go and lobster parties in the wind that I think back to those heady days when Anne ran things at the agency. Often from the road of course. (ed. busy, busy).
Anyway, that's all I've got. How about you? Do you have any news, questions, threats to pass along? This site will not work unless we all make it part of the TV and Film community in this province. Or not.
Yes, it's spring in Nova Scotia and with it film and TV production gets all abuzzing, film students and interns skip merely into the sunshine to dream about their future careers and (ed. Uh, oh) well, yeah. there's a danger sign on the horizon. (ed. tax credits a blight, industry takes flight.)
Yes, the good old Department of Finance has the Nova Scotia Film and Tax Credit in its sights once again. They've always hated it as they believe its just a waste of money out the door. (ed. unlike funding a sound studio in Shelburne, snap!). They can't understand how government money can be used to create and subsidize jobs. (ed. This is the Department of Finance of what province?).
Well, yes that's true we do have a history of throwing money at industries but only if they create sustainable, well-paying careers (ed. like working at call centres or waiters at a convention centre.) so the kids don't run off to Alberta where they can made a billion dollars working at Tim Horton's.
Friends, I admit, I may not be objective here because it was the tax credit that lured me here to this beautiful province and the promise that it made to create Hallmark Hall of Fame that would win Oscars. Local producers have worked themselves up into a tizzy and have inundated the TV news, web and newspapers with calls of "wha?" But they need fear not (ed. not fear) because there's a heavy hitter who has yet to be heard from. DHX films is ramping up a bunch of productions for TV, internet and your Mother's iphone that she has no idea how to work except that game where you feed the bunnies.
DHX spends millions of dollars here and if the tax credit goes, Michael Donovan will pick up his productions and walk. The one true success story, where a small company used the tax credits to create an industry, go public, raise millions of dollars and continue to use the tax credit, will not have a happy ending. He almost walked before after all. When the tax credit was initially envisioned there was a restriction on who could apply. Any company that had more than $25 million in assets could not access the tax credit. the Department of Finance (ed. D of F) falsely assumed that if a company had that kind of money, the government should not be subsidizing them. (ed. Seriously, do these guys live in Nova Scotia?) In two shakes of the Finance Department's pen, that provision was gone. So don't worry producers, directors, actors and the guy who rents cars, the province is going to continue with the tax credit. Don't make DHX make a call.
Say Hi to my editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!).
Yes, it's spring in Nova Scotia and with it film and TV production gets all abuzzing, film students and interns skip merely into the sunshine to dream about their future careers and (ed. Uh, oh) well, yeah. there's a danger sign on the horizon. (ed. tax credits a blight, industry takes flight.)
Yes, the good old Department of Finance has the Nova Scotia Film and Tax Credit in its sights once again. They've always hated it as they believe its just a waste of money out the door. (ed. unlike funding a sound studio in Shelburne, snap!). They can't understand how government money can be used to create and subsidize jobs. (ed. This is the Department of Finance of what province?).
Well, yes that's true we do have a history of throwing money at industries but only if they create sustainable, well-paying careers (ed. like working at call centres or waiters at a convention centre.) so the kids don't run off to Alberta where they can made a billion dollars working at Tim Horton's.
Friends, I admit, I may not be objective here because it was the tax credit that lured me here to this beautiful province and the promise that it made to create Hallmark Hall of Fame that would win Oscars. Local producers have worked themselves up into a tizzy and have inundated the TV news, web and newspapers with calls of "wha?" But they need fear not (ed. not fear) because there's a heavy hitter who has yet to be heard from. DHX films is ramping up a bunch of productions for TV, internet and your Mother's iphone that she has no idea how to work except that game where you feed the bunnies.
DHX spends millions of dollars here and if the tax credit goes, Michael Donovan will pick up his productions and walk. The one true success story, where a small company used the tax credits to create an industry, go public, raise millions of dollars and continue to use the tax credit, will not have a happy ending. He almost walked before after all. When the tax credit was initially envisioned there was a restriction on who could apply. Any company that had more than $25 million in assets could not access the tax credit. the Department of Finance (ed. D of F) falsely assumed that if a company had that kind of money, the government should not be subsidizing them. (ed. Seriously, do these guys live in Nova Scotia?) In two shakes of the Finance Department's pen, that provision was gone. So don't worry producers, directors, actors and the guy who rents cars, the province is going to continue with the tax credit. Don't make DHX make a call.
Speaking of DHX, they recently were shortlisted as a finalist for funding under the Independent Production Funds Webseries. (ed. It's 2:12 which is longer than the 2:00 maximum allowed but filmmaking is an art dammit, don't stifle us!)
View the trailer here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAsGWHnwCBM
It's amazing how they got just the right number of "shit on my dick"'s in there to make it funny and relevant. Good to see that DHX is exploring every corner for funding. After all, if they didn't make this, some stupid teenager or film student would have made a film about hip hop or kittens or something.
In other news, I'm sad to see that the Roy Building is coming down. When I first came here to work in the biz 20 years ago, it was the one place where filmmakers could rent cheap offices. It became a real community of artists. And slightly broken lawyers. And an older lady prostitute.
In other, other news, Charles Bishop is back in town. The Oscar winning producer was in L.A. for the past few years. A quick peek at his IMDB pages reveals that he's been pretty busy down there. A TV MOW called "Killer Mountain" (ed. 3.7 out of 10), "Ice Road Terror" (ed. A pattern? 3.3/10) and "Befriend and Betray" (ed. whoa 7.2/10). Not sure what he's been up to since he's been back in town. Maybe someone out there knows.
Also, where is former FilmNS head honcho Anne MacKenzie since she left abruptly two years ago? And what was the story with that? Surely enough time has passed that it can be spoken out loud. Its this time of year with Cannes on the go and lobster parties in the wind that I think back to those heady days when Anne ran things at the agency. Often from the road of course. (ed. busy, busy).
Anyway, that's all I've got. How about you? Do you have any news, questions, threats to pass along? This site will not work unless we all make it part of the TV and Film community in this province. Or not.
nwCBM
It's amazing how they got just the right number of "shit on my dick"'s in there to make it funny and relevant. Good to see that DHX is exploring every corner for funding. After all, if they didn't make this, some stupid teenager or film student would have made a film about hip hop or kittens or something.
In other news, I'm sad to see that the Roy Building is coming down. When I first came here to work in the biz 20 years ago, it was the one place where filmmakers could rent cheap offices. It became a real community of artists. And slightly broken lawyers. And an older lady prostitute.
In other, other news, Charles Bishop is back in town. The Oscar winning producer was in L.A. for the past few years. A quick peek at his IMDB pages reveals that he's been pretty busy down there. A TV MOW called "Killer Mountain" (ed. 3.7 out of 10), "Ice Road Terror" (ed. A pattern? 3.3/10) and "Befriend and Betray" (ed. whoa 7.2/10). Not sure what he's been up to since he's been back in town. Maybe someone out there knows.
Also, where is former FilmNS head honcho Anne MacKenzie since she left abruptly two years ago? And what was the story with that? Surely enough time has passed that it can be spoken out loud. Its this time of year with Cannes on the go and lobster parties in the wind that I think back to those heady days when Anne ran things at the agency. Often from the road of course. (ed. busy, busy).
Anyway, that's all I've got. How about you? Do you have any news, questions, threats to pass along? This site will not work unless we all make it part of the TV and Film community in this province. Or not.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Farewell to Nova Scotia
Hi Folks, finally updating on the local scene here with my editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!)
I'm leaving home, bye, bye. Yes, it's time for me to leave this fair province and return to my roots in Toronto. As faithful readers know (ed. Hey Carl and Jennie!) I moved to Nova Scotia 20 years ago when the business here was booming. Then I stopped working. Now it's time for me to get back to work. In Toronto. The land of milk and money.
I'll be changing the name of this blog but I will continue to write though probably more from a Toronto P.O.V. than a Nova Scotian one. (ed. sexy!)
That being said, let's see what's happening in our fair province.
Trailer Park Boys the series has been rapped and will debut on…a website? (ed. it's the latest thing!)
Actually this makes sense. The boys have a loyal aka rabid following and a subscription based website will probably do well. Considering the regular model of signing with a Canadian broadcaster (ed. Ha! Good luck with that!), then CMF, tax credits, blah blah blah. I'm wondering though how they came up with the money to produce the show. Anybody know?
The TPB III movie has been given a release date. (ed. wouldn't it be good to tell us what it is? I mean why bring it up if you don't know?)
A movie called Beethoven just finished shooting in town, I think it's about a German Shepard who can play piano.
Bill Niven and Jay Dahl are producing a film by Andrea Dorfman, (ed. presently in production.) and Deanne Foley is in town to shoot a feature film. (ed. why would a Newfoundland director come here?)
The Atlantic Film Festival went off smoothly, I'm told, despite a new crew running things there. Gregor Ashe the ex-executive Director of the AFF wasn't successful in the recent provincial election. Not sure what he's doing now. Anybody know? (ed. seems to be more questions than answers in this blog lately). I wonder if FilmNS or whatever they call themselves these days, had their annual exclusive friends only lobster boil this year. Or was that an Anne MacKenzie thing?
Speaking of Anne MacKenzie, what is she up to? Since her leaving/dismissed/quitting/shown the door as Executive Director of FilmNS last year she was suppose to have moved to Ottawa and started working at some mysterious "think tank". Did she do that? (ed. again with the questions.) She sure seems to be doing a lot of travelling. (ed. 1st Class? Or on her own dime?)
And that's all for now. I'll probably be renaming this blog CanadaTVandFilmStuff once I move to Toronto next week because Toronto is Canada.
If anyone has any questions, answers, comments etc please let me know.
I'm leaving home, bye, bye. Yes, it's time for me to leave this fair province and return to my roots in Toronto. As faithful readers know (ed. Hey Carl and Jennie!) I moved to Nova Scotia 20 years ago when the business here was booming. Then I stopped working. Now it's time for me to get back to work. In Toronto. The land of milk and money.
I'll be changing the name of this blog but I will continue to write though probably more from a Toronto P.O.V. than a Nova Scotian one. (ed. sexy!)
That being said, let's see what's happening in our fair province.
Trailer Park Boys the series has been rapped and will debut on…a website? (ed. it's the latest thing!)
Actually this makes sense. The boys have a loyal aka rabid following and a subscription based website will probably do well. Considering the regular model of signing with a Canadian broadcaster (ed. Ha! Good luck with that!), then CMF, tax credits, blah blah blah. I'm wondering though how they came up with the money to produce the show. Anybody know?
The TPB III movie has been given a release date. (ed. wouldn't it be good to tell us what it is? I mean why bring it up if you don't know?)
A movie called Beethoven just finished shooting in town, I think it's about a German Shepard who can play piano.
Bill Niven and Jay Dahl are producing a film by Andrea Dorfman, (ed. presently in production.) and Deanne Foley is in town to shoot a feature film. (ed. why would a Newfoundland director come here?)
The Atlantic Film Festival went off smoothly, I'm told, despite a new crew running things there. Gregor Ashe the ex-executive Director of the AFF wasn't successful in the recent provincial election. Not sure what he's doing now. Anybody know? (ed. seems to be more questions than answers in this blog lately). I wonder if FilmNS or whatever they call themselves these days, had their annual exclusive friends only lobster boil this year. Or was that an Anne MacKenzie thing?
Speaking of Anne MacKenzie, what is she up to? Since her leaving/dismissed/quitting/shown the door as Executive Director of FilmNS last year she was suppose to have moved to Ottawa and started working at some mysterious "think tank". Did she do that? (ed. again with the questions.) She sure seems to be doing a lot of travelling. (ed. 1st Class? Or on her own dime?)
And that's all for now. I'll probably be renaming this blog CanadaTVandFilmStuff once I move to Toronto next week because Toronto is Canada.
If anyone has any questions, answers, comments etc please let me know.
CTV's "Satisfaction"? More Like "Not Gratifying" Am I Right?
CTV has cancelled their 1/2 comedy "Satisfaction" in it's latest volley across the deck of CRTC's draconian dictate that Canada put Canadian shows on Canadian TV.
Despite a who's who of Canadian actors, Jessica Paré, Tommy Chong, Gordon Pinsent and comic Andy Kindler, Mark Critch, Ryan Belleville, Shaun Majumder, Peter Kelaghan, Gabrielle Miller, Colin Mochrie, Leah Renee, Luke Macfarlane, (ed. plus like hundreds of others.);
Despite most of the comedy writers in Canada today, Mark Critch, Bob Kerr, Albert Howell, Ryan Belleville, Tim Mcauliffe (ed. plus others!);
Despite hot directors like Mike Clattenburg, Jason Priestly (ed. and others!);
Despite 5 Consulting Producers, 2 Executive Producers, and 3 Regular Producers and 3 "Executives in Charge of Production"
Despite 8 Story Consultants/Editors;
Despite a crew numbering into the dozens and dozens (ed. zoinks, look at that Art Department http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2546024/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast . Didn't they have like 2 sets? )
Despite "Other Crew" in the dozens including everyone from P.A.'s to the "production & development coordinator: DHX Media" , "senior vice president: independent production"president: "ctv programming and sports" and everyone had an assistant.
They could not create a good show.
Now you all know me as a Rah! Rah! champion of Canadian television (ed. present discussion excepted) but it's time I let you all in on a not so secret secret.
The working title of this show might as well have been "Doomed for Failure".
When BCE bought CTV the CRTC (ed. m-o-u-s-e) they made them promise they would do their darndest to make Canadian television. BCE said "of course, that would make us very happy." CRTC obviously didn't believe them and told them they had to spend several million of their own dollars on making Canadian TV. BCE's smiles wavered a little bit but didn't crack and they said through clenched teeth "love to".
The deal was signed, and the CTV Exec's went to L.A. for photo ops with the cast of The Big Bang Theory" (ed. especially that girl!).
When they returned to Toronto they were reminded they had to make some Canadian TV. Rolling their eyes they said "whatever", called DHX and told them they needed a half hour comedy. DHX told them they could work up some proposals depending on the genre and demographics the network was after and they could meet and discuss. CTV said, "whatever."
Long story short, CTV spent a ton of money (ed. because they had too) paid off or invested in a bunch of favours from pretty well every creative, executive and administrative person in the business and came up with 13 episodes of Satisfaction.
Describing it as "a half hour single camera sitcom about being on the verge of adulthood, and struggling with the next step. Whether it's committing to a career, a relationship, or living arrangements, it's not easy being a twenty-something when you're torn between your immature past and your potential future."
Basically an excuse for sex, fart and drunk jokes. And surprisingly, given the talent, not very good ones.
CTV ran the series over the summer. On a Monday night. Critics didn't like it. People never found it. CTV shrugged and said "Bad ratings, sorry, we tried."
In actuality the ratings, about half-million viewers per, weren't bad, (ed. for a Canadian show.) but compared to reruns of Big Bang Theory, at 3 times that, look, it's a business.
So CTV spent a ton of money on Canadian programming as they obliged to do, a lot of people benefited and all is right in the world once again. It also works out for The Comedy Channel too, as the show will probably show up there and count toward they Canadian Content quota. But just in case Comedy has ordered 60 episodes of Match Game. This is a "reboot" of a game show from the U.S. A 60 year-old game show. But everyone on it is Canadian. So it counts. Shut up.
Sigh.
Other Canadian shows coming are Package Deal (City) and Spun Out (CTV).
Fingers crossed everyone.
Despite a who's who of Canadian actors, Jessica Paré, Tommy Chong, Gordon Pinsent and comic Andy Kindler, Mark Critch, Ryan Belleville, Shaun Majumder, Peter Kelaghan, Gabrielle Miller, Colin Mochrie, Leah Renee, Luke Macfarlane, (ed. plus like hundreds of others.);
Despite most of the comedy writers in Canada today, Mark Critch, Bob Kerr, Albert Howell, Ryan Belleville, Tim Mcauliffe (ed. plus others!);
Despite hot directors like Mike Clattenburg, Jason Priestly (ed. and others!);
Despite 5 Consulting Producers, 2 Executive Producers, and 3 Regular Producers and 3 "Executives in Charge of Production"
Despite 8 Story Consultants/Editors;
Despite a crew numbering into the dozens and dozens (ed. zoinks, look at that Art Department http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2546024/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast . Didn't they have like 2 sets? )
Despite "Other Crew" in the dozens including everyone from P.A.'s to the "production & development coordinator: DHX Media" , "senior vice president: independent production"president: "ctv programming and sports" and everyone had an assistant.
They could not create a good show.
Now you all know me as a Rah! Rah! champion of Canadian television (ed. present discussion excepted) but it's time I let you all in on a not so secret secret.
The working title of this show might as well have been "Doomed for Failure".
When BCE bought CTV the CRTC (ed. m-o-u-s-e) they made them promise they would do their darndest to make Canadian television. BCE said "of course, that would make us very happy." CRTC obviously didn't believe them and told them they had to spend several million of their own dollars on making Canadian TV. BCE's smiles wavered a little bit but didn't crack and they said through clenched teeth "love to".
The deal was signed, and the CTV Exec's went to L.A. for photo ops with the cast of The Big Bang Theory" (ed. especially that girl!).
When they returned to Toronto they were reminded they had to make some Canadian TV. Rolling their eyes they said "whatever", called DHX and told them they needed a half hour comedy. DHX told them they could work up some proposals depending on the genre and demographics the network was after and they could meet and discuss. CTV said, "whatever."
Long story short, CTV spent a ton of money (ed. because they had too) paid off or invested in a bunch of favours from pretty well every creative, executive and administrative person in the business and came up with 13 episodes of Satisfaction.
Describing it as "a half hour single camera sitcom about being on the verge of adulthood, and struggling with the next step. Whether it's committing to a career, a relationship, or living arrangements, it's not easy being a twenty-something when you're torn between your immature past and your potential future."
Basically an excuse for sex, fart and drunk jokes. And surprisingly, given the talent, not very good ones.
CTV ran the series over the summer. On a Monday night. Critics didn't like it. People never found it. CTV shrugged and said "Bad ratings, sorry, we tried."
In actuality the ratings, about half-million viewers per, weren't bad, (ed. for a Canadian show.) but compared to reruns of Big Bang Theory, at 3 times that, look, it's a business.
So CTV spent a ton of money on Canadian programming as they obliged to do, a lot of people benefited and all is right in the world once again. It also works out for The Comedy Channel too, as the show will probably show up there and count toward they Canadian Content quota. But just in case Comedy has ordered 60 episodes of Match Game. This is a "reboot" of a game show from the U.S. A 60 year-old game show. But everyone on it is Canadian. So it counts. Shut up.
Sigh.
Other Canadian shows coming are Package Deal (City) and Spun Out (CTV).
Fingers crossed everyone.
Monday, 22 July 2013
What The...Still Standing? Helz Yes!
So yeah, like all bloggers it's been a while since I updated because...blah,blah,blah.
Anyway, with me is my editor Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy!)
Where do I start - Oh, yeah, Trailer Park Boys is continuing their TV series, long after creator Mike Clattenburg decided it should die (ed. well, after the TPB 3 movie which he needs to sort of stay above water after Afghan Luke and Those Guys That Move Furniture.)
But the TPB's themselves have bought themselves out of servitude so Ricky, Bubbles and Julien are calling the shots on show this time. Freedom is scary. They have no network (ed. traditional that is.) but its kind of like you're the only sign painter in a small town. All you can do is paint signs to advertise your business.
Anyhoo, they're presently off shooting somewhere (ed. that's Truro) and we'll see what develops.
In other news, Bell has bought CTV,again! So that means they have to spend money to prove to the CRTC that they really, really, really...care about Canadian content.
The last time they did this they financed 100% of Corner Gas which kind of backfired on them.
People liked it.
But I think they learned from their mistake.
Tonight I watched a show called "Satisfaction". CTV obviously spent a lot of money on this. In one half hour we saw:
Shaun Majumder
Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas)
Mark Critch (Who's role in this episode was the neighbour next door in a Halloween costume. Ka-ching! $ )
Pat Thornton (always a delight and apparently a CRTC requirement)
Ryan Belleville (who wrote the episode but I don't blame him.) See Below
Jessica Pare - (Mad Men) Obviously not wanting to be there but she must owe somebody here a favour.)
(ed. - They all participated in a sexy farce straight out of '70's England.)
These people aren't cheap. (ed. they're Canadian "not cheap").
Still, this show is a free for all.
I don't know much about the business side but if I was spending my own money on a show, I'd be worried about the cost of all those on-camera people.
And I'd wonder why we had a script writer (ed. the lovely Ryan Belleville; Almost Heroes) a "consultant" Kevin White (ed. "Insecurity, Blackfly") and six script consultants. SIX SCRIPT CONSULTANTS. On a half-hour "comedy". Million dollar + American shows do not have this amount of talent!
But all that talent must have produced a quality show, eh?
No, this show is bad. It's CTV saying to the CRTC, "we tried, but look..." bad.
And really no one cares. It's a Canadian content attempt and at least this time a close circle of highly paid (ed. relatively.) Canadians jumped in, had a party and got a big paycheque.)
Bell's faith? The 13 episode season is being shown on Monday nights at 8:00. (ed. You'll remember 8:00 Monday nights in the summer being "prime Time", doncha?
This is a DHX production and they get to provide a feeding frenzy to their loyal subjects and it does't cost them a cent. They won the "just get someone to make something Canadian" lottery this year.
Plus not only is there cash to be spread around (ed. Your tax dollars at work!") the credits are interesting at IMDB. (ed. Do not look directly at the reviews!)
If you look at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2546024/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast you'll see all the Nova Scotia content (ed. sarcasm alert!) but I'm sure the astute folks at the NS Department of Finance will question the contribution to the province of these "fo'ners!"
After all Paul Pope the Newfoundland producer of "On Drugs and Drunk Show" was a Nova Scotia Resident for the tax credit purpose. Somehow. But I digress. And my meds are wearing out.
Talk soon, my pets.
Oh, but wait. Where the heck did Anne MacKenzie go? April of 2012 she quit/was dismissed/left to pursue other opportunities. A year went by and FilmNS managed to chug along without her (ed. travel and expense fees skyrocketed! Down, I mean). A new CEO was elected last month and today a new report came out to say that the film production numbers were higher than ever!
(ed. - Maybe Anne was on to something, ignore it and hang out in the Maple Leaf lounge and they will come!)
Anyway, with me is my editor Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy!)
Where do I start - Oh, yeah, Trailer Park Boys is continuing their TV series, long after creator Mike Clattenburg decided it should die (ed. well, after the TPB 3 movie which he needs to sort of stay above water after Afghan Luke and Those Guys That Move Furniture.)
But the TPB's themselves have bought themselves out of servitude so Ricky, Bubbles and Julien are calling the shots on show this time. Freedom is scary. They have no network (ed. traditional that is.) but its kind of like you're the only sign painter in a small town. All you can do is paint signs to advertise your business.
Anyhoo, they're presently off shooting somewhere (ed. that's Truro) and we'll see what develops.
In other news, Bell has bought CTV,again! So that means they have to spend money to prove to the CRTC that they really, really, really...care about Canadian content.
The last time they did this they financed 100% of Corner Gas which kind of backfired on them.
People liked it.
But I think they learned from their mistake.
Tonight I watched a show called "Satisfaction". CTV obviously spent a lot of money on this. In one half hour we saw:
Shaun Majumder
Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas)
Mark Critch (Who's role in this episode was the neighbour next door in a Halloween costume. Ka-ching! $ )
Pat Thornton (always a delight and apparently a CRTC requirement)
Ryan Belleville (who wrote the episode but I don't blame him.) See Below
Jessica Pare - (Mad Men) Obviously not wanting to be there but she must owe somebody here a favour.)
(ed. - They all participated in a sexy farce straight out of '70's England.)
These people aren't cheap. (ed. they're Canadian "not cheap").
Still, this show is a free for all.
I don't know much about the business side but if I was spending my own money on a show, I'd be worried about the cost of all those on-camera people.
And I'd wonder why we had a script writer (ed. the lovely Ryan Belleville; Almost Heroes) a "consultant" Kevin White (ed. "Insecurity, Blackfly") and six script consultants. SIX SCRIPT CONSULTANTS. On a half-hour "comedy". Million dollar + American shows do not have this amount of talent!
But all that talent must have produced a quality show, eh?
No, this show is bad. It's CTV saying to the CRTC, "we tried, but look..." bad.
And really no one cares. It's a Canadian content attempt and at least this time a close circle of highly paid (ed. relatively.) Canadians jumped in, had a party and got a big paycheque.)
Bell's faith? The 13 episode season is being shown on Monday nights at 8:00. (ed. You'll remember 8:00 Monday nights in the summer being "prime Time", doncha?
This is a DHX production and they get to provide a feeding frenzy to their loyal subjects and it does't cost them a cent. They won the "just get someone to make something Canadian" lottery this year.
Plus not only is there cash to be spread around (ed. Your tax dollars at work!") the credits are interesting at IMDB. (ed. Do not look directly at the reviews!)
If you look at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2546024/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast you'll see all the Nova Scotia content (ed. sarcasm alert!) but I'm sure the astute folks at the NS Department of Finance will question the contribution to the province of these "fo'ners!"
After all Paul Pope the Newfoundland producer of "On Drugs and Drunk Show" was a Nova Scotia Resident for the tax credit purpose. Somehow. But I digress. And my meds are wearing out.
Talk soon, my pets.
Oh, but wait. Where the heck did Anne MacKenzie go? April of 2012 she quit/was dismissed/left to pursue other opportunities. A year went by and FilmNS managed to chug along without her (ed. travel and expense fees skyrocketed! Down, I mean). A new CEO was elected last month and today a new report came out to say that the film production numbers were higher than ever!
(ed. - Maybe Anne was on to something, ignore it and hang out in the Maple Leaf lounge and they will come!)
Thursday, 27 December 2012
it's the End of the Year and I Know It
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.
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.
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.
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