Not much going on in good old Nova Scotia Film and TV business, though regular life is starting to take a downturn. My friend Maurice will be editing tonight. (ed. Howdy.)
Watched Oprah last night, and let me tell you some people just shouldn't be in large screen HD. She's an attractive woman but for some reason she just looks judgemental and she makes me feel guilty. I don't know why. I'm not a regular viewer, I just tuned in to see the lovely and talented Ellen Page. But the show wasted a lot of time on Marion Davies (ed. Boo, hoo, I used steroids, lied about it, got caught and I'm really sorry, I did it to be an example of what children should not do. So can I stay out of prison?) So there wasn't much time for Ellen, especially after Jennifer Garner came out and gushed about everything from her baby to her life and husband, who I believe is Bart Affleck. So a waste of time for me.
But I read in the paper that a real feature film (ed. as opposed to a Lifetime quicky) is coming to N.S. Katie Holmes (ed. some people can't help being crazy, but you should know better than to marry a crazy person.), Woody Harrelson, and the Fabulous! Eddie Izzard! That cross-dressing fool! He is a riot, check out this little bit:
The CBC started it's new flashier programming last week with the premiere of jPod, The Border, and Sophie. It appears they are doing well, numbers wise; I really should watch them at some point.
The CBC also ordered more Animal Mechanicals, another animated show from the mind of Jeff Rosen (Poko, Bo on the Go). Hopefully he's being well paid for filling the coffers of DHX aka Halifax Film, his creations fill CBC morning and sell around the world. But, on the other hand as a shareholder, (1000 shares @ $1.62!), I hope he's on salary and not in for a percentage of the profits. In fact I never see his name when DHX is handing out stocks and options to the Board.
Anyway, speaking of my stocks, I'm a bit concerned. As loyal readers know, I inheirited the stocks when my Father died in Kamloops last year. I didn't go to the service as I can't leave the apartment, but my sister Stella went as the East Coast family rep. She's the one who told me Dad's lawyers told her I was going to get the stock. But since then, I've heard nothing. Shouldn't I get some of those big old certificates in the mail or something?
And it's kind of important now as I may have to cash them in to pay the rent. Since I lost my job and Stella been too busy gestating to earn money, things have gotten a bit tight. I hoped taking in a roommate would have helped and it did at first when Carly was selling non-perscription medication, through a slot in our front door, but she's become another drain since she found Jesus. And believe me finding him in this apartment was quite the success; there's just not thatmany places to hide.
But Mr. Mzykenick (ed. wasn't he that little imp that gave Superman so much trouble?), our super, informed me in a series of grunts and clicks (ed. he's from one of those eastern europeon countries that have more consonents in their names than he does.), that we were three months behind in our rent.
I had sent some show pitches into DHX, hoping that they would champion my kids show ideas but I haven't heard anything back. That would at least solve my immediate money problems. Other than that selling the stock, that I don't have proof that I actually own, seems to be the only alternative. I'm working on some more, that's I'll send in tomorrow after some "polishing."
"Lincoln Blogs - Although Abraham Lincoln is dead he's still able to channel his spirit through a Blog, to help 10 year old Tommy LeChastelain solve moral delemas and issues in his life, his school and his vollyball team. Together, they also solve crimes."
"Gibbons From Space - Earth is invaded by flatulent monkeys from space who create havoc with their hi-jinks. One of them opens a detective agency and solves crimes in San Francisco."
I sent my other ones to the general e-mail address for DHX but maybe I should try higher (ed. no offense). If only I knew Charles "the Green Arrows" contact information. I know he recognizes genius, when he sees it.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Canada at Sundance: A Halifax Perspective. And Other Cra*
We received an e-mail from Telefilm trumpeting the Canadian entries playing at Sundance this year.
Me thinks I see a theme:
Thoughtful introspection. And because they're mostly National Film Board presentations there's naturallly no Canadian perspective. (ed. 'member all those National Film Board films we all saw in school when we were kids!? Yeah me neither.)
But being Canadian, we're not all about just sittin' and thinkin'...
There's always death and zombies! Jesus weeps. But at least he has a positive bent. Can we not present a Porky's or a Meatballs to the world to show that we're not all zombies and/or weeping all the time?
My friend "Lunchmeat Herold" has dropped over to help me with tonights blog, he'll be the editor (ed. Hiya). He brought a tape of Ellen Page on David Letterman's show last week and I must say I am absolutely charmed by this young lady. In a career as diverse as Pit Pony, Juno, Trailer Park Boys and X-Men she drove the interview and Dave for once, had to hang on for the ride. She talked about Halifax and living here on a positive note. The pretty, talented, and real (ed. and hot, not a package you see together too often), Ms. Page was smart, (ed.and a little nervous, understandebly, but it was real and endearing.) And gladly, Dave played along. He really is good with people who are real!
Anyhoo, although Lunchmeat may be on some sort of love connection (actually, I think she's T-riffic too), other things have been fairly quiet. I sent my story/series ideas into DHX aka Halifax film for evaluation and I'm just waiting to hear back from their creative department. (ed. I imagine they have a lot of playrights/screenrighters that look over all proposals.)
Me thinks I see a theme:
Thoughtful introspection. And because they're mostly National Film Board presentations there's naturallly no Canadian perspective. (ed. 'member all those National Film Board films we all saw in school when we were kids!? Yeah me neither.)
But being Canadian, we're not all about just sittin' and thinkin'...
There's always death and zombies! Jesus weeps. But at least he has a positive bent. Can we not present a Porky's or a Meatballs to the world to show that we're not all zombies and/or weeping all the time?
My friend "Lunchmeat Herold" has dropped over to help me with tonights blog, he'll be the editor (ed. Hiya). He brought a tape of Ellen Page on David Letterman's show last week and I must say I am absolutely charmed by this young lady. In a career as diverse as Pit Pony, Juno, Trailer Park Boys and X-Men she drove the interview and Dave for once, had to hang on for the ride. She talked about Halifax and living here on a positive note. The pretty, talented, and real (ed. and hot, not a package you see together too often), Ms. Page was smart, (ed.and a little nervous, understandebly, but it was real and endearing.) And gladly, Dave played along. He really is good with people who are real!
Anyhoo, although Lunchmeat may be on some sort of love connection (actually, I think she's T-riffic too), other things have been fairly quiet. I sent my story/series ideas into DHX aka Halifax film for evaluation and I'm just waiting to hear back from their creative department. (ed. I imagine they have a lot of playrights/screenrighters that look over all proposals.)
Thursday, 3 January 2008
2007 - That All Ya Got!!
So, I haven't blogged for a while due to rolling blackouts throughtout my apartment, possibly due to the fact that the power (ed. "hydro" to you Ontario readers) bill hasn't been paid. Anyway gave me plenty of time to think of my present state most of which is due to events in the last year, 2007. let's see:
- My Father died (not that he was ever a great provider, in fact he owed me money. One day he just showed up at my apartment in L.A. and said he needed money to pay off a mean house and her meaner pump. Something like that, I may have mis-interpreted as I was pretty "coked" in those days. But anyway, your Father's always your Dad, right?)
- My live in sister, Stella let a Brazillian exchange student live here and he lasted just long enough to get her pregnant.
- I lost my job as a rep for a medical supply/pharmasutical. (ed. "sic", I think I know why you lost the job.) As I can't leave the apartment, it was perfect for me as it was all done on-line.
- With bills piling up, I found a roommate, Carly who, though I didn't approve of her career (ed. What? You sold drugs, she sold drugs...albeit, she sold them through a slot through a steel door...)she had money to pay the rent. That was until she went cold turkey, quit using and selling and found the Love of Jesus over Christmas. Now the Love of Jesus is great but it doesn't pay that well.
- My dog Biscuitface, needs an operation. Something non-specific (ed. not cancer!) that costs a lot of money.
All of this going on in a one-bedroom apartment (ed. ...in the sky-hiii!)
With things not looking so great, I decided to return to one of my old skills that I don't have to leave the apartment for - writing. Although my meat and potatos in my day was on the technical side of production, I did write a few kids shows before becoming a producer and getting others to write for me for free. (Hey, don't criticize, everyone did it and those kids really appreciated the break. In fact some of them have moved quite far onward and upward, but for some reason they don't return my calls.)
And since I own shares in DHX (ed. aka Halifax Film) it seemed to be a perfect opportunity to pitch a kid's show. Especially after they bought Decode and Studio B. (ed. did anyone else get Monopoly for Christmas? The tv production company edition? If you choose the writer's token you have to roll the dice with no dots on them.)
So I've written up the following pitches for some animated children's shows that I'm going to send in:
Kabuki Kats - A band of Cats bring their travelling theatre and perform for peasant villages throughout feudal Japan. They also solve crimes and somehow always manage to get themselves in crazy adventures.
Rhino-Plasti - In the modern jungle of Hollywood, Dr. Plasti, an African rhino plastic surgeon, caters to the whims of an elite range of Hollywood celebrities; Lindsey Lohan's freckle fetish, Tara Reid's "un"-lobotomy (ed. technically brain surgery, not plastic surgery) and a penis lengthening for Britteny.
He also solves crime and has adventures in space.
Oscar the Crime Fighting Dog (still working on this but he solves crimes.)
So I'm going to edit these a bit and send them in to my friends and see what happens. TV money is the best money.
- My Father died (not that he was ever a great provider, in fact he owed me money. One day he just showed up at my apartment in L.A. and said he needed money to pay off a mean house and her meaner pump. Something like that, I may have mis-interpreted as I was pretty "coked" in those days. But anyway, your Father's always your Dad, right?)
- My live in sister, Stella let a Brazillian exchange student live here and he lasted just long enough to get her pregnant.
- I lost my job as a rep for a medical supply/pharmasutical. (ed. "sic", I think I know why you lost the job.) As I can't leave the apartment, it was perfect for me as it was all done on-line.
- With bills piling up, I found a roommate, Carly who, though I didn't approve of her career (ed. What? You sold drugs, she sold drugs...albeit, she sold them through a slot through a steel door...)she had money to pay the rent. That was until she went cold turkey, quit using and selling and found the Love of Jesus over Christmas. Now the Love of Jesus is great but it doesn't pay that well.
- My dog Biscuitface, needs an operation. Something non-specific (ed. not cancer!) that costs a lot of money.
All of this going on in a one-bedroom apartment (ed. ...in the sky-hiii!)
With things not looking so great, I decided to return to one of my old skills that I don't have to leave the apartment for - writing. Although my meat and potatos in my day was on the technical side of production, I did write a few kids shows before becoming a producer and getting others to write for me for free. (Hey, don't criticize, everyone did it and those kids really appreciated the break. In fact some of them have moved quite far onward and upward, but for some reason they don't return my calls.)
And since I own shares in DHX (ed. aka Halifax Film) it seemed to be a perfect opportunity to pitch a kid's show. Especially after they bought Decode and Studio B. (ed. did anyone else get Monopoly for Christmas? The tv production company edition? If you choose the writer's token you have to roll the dice with no dots on them.)
So I've written up the following pitches for some animated children's shows that I'm going to send in:
Kabuki Kats - A band of Cats bring their travelling theatre and perform for peasant villages throughout feudal Japan. They also solve crimes and somehow always manage to get themselves in crazy adventures.
Rhino-Plasti - In the modern jungle of Hollywood, Dr. Plasti, an African rhino plastic surgeon, caters to the whims of an elite range of Hollywood celebrities; Lindsey Lohan's freckle fetish, Tara Reid's "un"-lobotomy (ed. technically brain surgery, not plastic surgery) and a penis lengthening for Britteny.
He also solves crime and has adventures in space.
Oscar the Crime Fighting Dog (still working on this but he solves crimes.)
So I'm going to edit these a bit and send them in to my friends and see what happens. TV money is the best money.
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
I'm Awake! Halifax Film / TV Blog
Okay, so my roommate Carly seems to have sweated out enough toxins that she's able to function on a semi-normal mindset. She's been taking my dog Biscuitface, out for walks, much to his relief, mine and probably the whole floor of our apartment building. And as a special treat she's been able to make the trip to Burger King for daily nourishment; Whoppers with Cheese. Really, all major food groups are faux represented here.
My sister Stella continues to gestate (ed. though you can't really tell where the baby starts and the Quarter Pounder with Cheese ends.) and there's still no sign of her former Brazillian boyfriend. Surprise, surprise. Another unproven hit and run. I love my sister Stella, but she lies around all day, watching Brazillian television and eating. True not much different than when she wasn't pregnant but she's become so complacent in her life...I think she's in for a hugely rude awakening soon.
As Carly has been out of commission, earnings wise, and Stella really hasn't ever earned any sort of living, it's up to me to bring home the bacon. (ed. even though you can'y leave the apartment to bring anything home and bacon on a Whopper with Cheese is extra.)
So I've decided to get out my old IBM Selectric (ed. Its like a PC only you only see words after they're printed out.) and write for tv like I used to. Being a shareholder in DHX aka Halifax Film, I think I may have an "in". Unfortunately, the ideas are not forthcoming. All I've come up with is a show called "Dora On The Go", where an animated girl talks to the audience to try and solve a puzzle i.e. quest. She has an animal sidekick who may or my not be wearing boots. Ah, they'll never go for that.
Speaking of Halifax Film, I woke up in a sweat last night because something reminded me that "we" may be in violation of the tax credit rules. Though we've raised $25M and then another $17M through investors, and another $2M through the Nova Scotia Business Inc. (ed. i.e. taxpayer dollars) I remembered that back in the initial days of the Nova Scotia Film and Video Tax Credit, there was a limit as to how much a company could be worth before getting more taxpayer dollars through the credit. This arcahic rule said that any company that was worth more than $25M shouldn't be accessing taxpayer dollars like they were some kind of welfare mother or something (ed. hello, people on welfare just got a $4/month raise! What more do they want?)
So I was quite relieved when I found that section had been deleted from the applicable legislation; phew. (ed. Is that the gov't's fiscal or ours? And when did we go public? Oh, never mind, film and tv is sexy and the best photo-op in the world!)
Now that section of the act says:
(a) the corporation is incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province of Canada and is a taxable Canadian corporation primarily carrying on business that is a film or video production business; (snore, Michael Donovan's a lawyer and he can hire someone to do this in their sleep)
(b) the corporation has a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia; (can you get more permanent than a bank? Well, how about one of Michael's two houses? Or Charles "the Green Arrow" Bishop's) (ed. I'd hate that, never knowing which house had my lucky socks in them.))
(c) at least 25% of salaries and wages of the corporation are eligible salaries. (again, Michael has taken care of this.)
I guess the gov't woke up and smelled the cappochino and figured, the bigger the better and if gov't money wasn't going to the squeegie kids (ed. why do their dogs have cellphones?) it should be spent on Rob Lowe's trailer.
My Whopper with Cheese is here so thats it for tonight. The list of Telefilm approved/financed scripts came out today so I shurely will be commenting on that tomorrow. Oh, bonus! Fries!
My sister Stella continues to gestate (ed. though you can't really tell where the baby starts and the Quarter Pounder with Cheese ends.) and there's still no sign of her former Brazillian boyfriend. Surprise, surprise. Another unproven hit and run. I love my sister Stella, but she lies around all day, watching Brazillian television and eating. True not much different than when she wasn't pregnant but she's become so complacent in her life...I think she's in for a hugely rude awakening soon.
As Carly has been out of commission, earnings wise, and Stella really hasn't ever earned any sort of living, it's up to me to bring home the bacon. (ed. even though you can'y leave the apartment to bring anything home and bacon on a Whopper with Cheese is extra.)
So I've decided to get out my old IBM Selectric (ed. Its like a PC only you only see words after they're printed out.) and write for tv like I used to. Being a shareholder in DHX aka Halifax Film, I think I may have an "in". Unfortunately, the ideas are not forthcoming. All I've come up with is a show called "Dora On The Go", where an animated girl talks to the audience to try and solve a puzzle i.e. quest. She has an animal sidekick who may or my not be wearing boots. Ah, they'll never go for that.
Speaking of Halifax Film, I woke up in a sweat last night because something reminded me that "we" may be in violation of the tax credit rules. Though we've raised $25M and then another $17M through investors, and another $2M through the Nova Scotia Business Inc. (ed. i.e. taxpayer dollars) I remembered that back in the initial days of the Nova Scotia Film and Video Tax Credit, there was a limit as to how much a company could be worth before getting more taxpayer dollars through the credit. This arcahic rule said that any company that was worth more than $25M shouldn't be accessing taxpayer dollars like they were some kind of welfare mother or something (ed. hello, people on welfare just got a $4/month raise! What more do they want?)
So I was quite relieved when I found that section had been deleted from the applicable legislation; phew. (ed. Is that the gov't's fiscal or ours? And when did we go public? Oh, never mind, film and tv is sexy and the best photo-op in the world!)
Now that section of the act says:
(a) the corporation is incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province of Canada and is a taxable Canadian corporation primarily carrying on business that is a film or video production business; (snore, Michael Donovan's a lawyer and he can hire someone to do this in their sleep)
(b) the corporation has a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia; (can you get more permanent than a bank? Well, how about one of Michael's two houses? Or Charles "the Green Arrow" Bishop's) (ed. I'd hate that, never knowing which house had my lucky socks in them.))
(c) at least 25% of salaries and wages of the corporation are eligible salaries. (again, Michael has taken care of this.)
I guess the gov't woke up and smelled the cappochino and figured, the bigger the better and if gov't money wasn't going to the squeegie kids (ed. why do their dogs have cellphones?) it should be spent on Rob Lowe's trailer.
My Whopper with Cheese is here so thats it for tonight. The list of Telefilm approved/financed scripts came out today so I shurely will be commenting on that tomorrow. Oh, bonus! Fries!
Friday, 14 December 2007
Random Friday Night Stuff!
It's Friday night in Halifax and I guess all the film and tv people are out partying, "'tis the season" as they say. I haven't seen my friend/editor, Maurice since he headed off to the NSFDC aka Film Nova Scotia party last night. I'm sure he's okay. I try not to worry but the last time he was gone for 24 hours like this, he was missing for two days. Then he showed up at my door saying he had been working on a reality show for the CBC called, "Eat, Drink, Puke: McLean's Magazine Finally Decides Canada's Best University. As we live between Dalhousie and St. Mary's I don't take sides. Actually, on a Friday night, I usually see both sides outside my window.
This season is a mixed blessing for me; I love the animated Christmas specials on TV, the coloured lights of the neighbouring houses and apartments, but I hate the bitter memories of Christmas' gone by. I don't want to "down you" but finding coal in our stockings was actually a blessing in Cape Breton, in the day. Once in a while we found an orange on the tracks between the colliries, and we didn't question where they came from. Um, memories of juicy railway oranges, now that's Christmas to me.
Anyhoo, back to Tv, in the now. The big news is that Apple has decided there is enough interest to offer Canadian TV shows for downloading. I haven't checked it out yet, but I have my fingers crossed that both seasons of "Blackfly" are available. Just try and keep me away from the computer for that. Apparently, the downloads are $1.99 each and if they don't charge 10% more for Blackfly, they don't realize the historical cash cow they have. I can't imagine what the Americans will think when they are offered the series.
In other news, Toronto's Ellen Page is featured in Entertainment Weekly and she's been nominated for the CANADIAN film "Juno" for a Golden Globe. (Or is she nominated for a Juno for Golden Globe?) Talented and so gosh darn cute.
Now someone told me (via anonymous e-mail) that Halifax Film's Christmas party includes a toy drive for underprivledged kids. Apparently you pay the wholesale price of one of the Lunar Jim toys and it's donated to some indigent child. Um, excuse me, but as a shareholder, I don't see a lot of "Oliver's" roaming the streets looking for a "Ted" or "Rover" toy. All I see are hooligan's who spraypaint the sides of buildings with grammatically incorrect anatomical descriptions. Dare I say I would like to provide them with a "Ripple" in a secure place. So let's not let the wholesale price of Chinese produced "action figures" be compared to what they sell for in Zellers. Let's keep that little secret to ourselves.
This arguement may be all for not, anyway as I don't put a lot of credibility in this report anyway. For one thing it assumes that Halifax Film will be giving away/donating/contributing to a cause. Sorry kids, business is business. Plus the other part of this supposed report that Charles (the Green Arrow Bishop) dressed up as Santa. Now, that, I'd leave the apartment to see..
This season is a mixed blessing for me; I love the animated Christmas specials on TV, the coloured lights of the neighbouring houses and apartments, but I hate the bitter memories of Christmas' gone by. I don't want to "down you" but finding coal in our stockings was actually a blessing in Cape Breton, in the day. Once in a while we found an orange on the tracks between the colliries, and we didn't question where they came from. Um, memories of juicy railway oranges, now that's Christmas to me.
Anyhoo, back to Tv, in the now. The big news is that Apple has decided there is enough interest to offer Canadian TV shows for downloading. I haven't checked it out yet, but I have my fingers crossed that both seasons of "Blackfly" are available. Just try and keep me away from the computer for that. Apparently, the downloads are $1.99 each and if they don't charge 10% more for Blackfly, they don't realize the historical cash cow they have. I can't imagine what the Americans will think when they are offered the series.
In other news, Toronto's Ellen Page is featured in Entertainment Weekly and she's been nominated for the CANADIAN film "Juno" for a Golden Globe. (Or is she nominated for a Juno for Golden Globe?) Talented and so gosh darn cute.
Now someone told me (via anonymous e-mail) that Halifax Film's Christmas party includes a toy drive for underprivledged kids. Apparently you pay the wholesale price of one of the Lunar Jim toys and it's donated to some indigent child. Um, excuse me, but as a shareholder, I don't see a lot of "Oliver's" roaming the streets looking for a "Ted" or "Rover" toy. All I see are hooligan's who spraypaint the sides of buildings with grammatically incorrect anatomical descriptions. Dare I say I would like to provide them with a "Ripple" in a secure place. So let's not let the wholesale price of Chinese produced "action figures" be compared to what they sell for in Zellers. Let's keep that little secret to ourselves.
This arguement may be all for not, anyway as I don't put a lot of credibility in this report anyway. For one thing it assumes that Halifax Film will be giving away/donating/contributing to a cause. Sorry kids, business is business. Plus the other part of this supposed report that Charles (the Green Arrow Bishop) dressed up as Santa. Now, that, I'd leave the apartment to see..
Friday, 7 December 2007
Halifax Film/TV Celebrates 100! But not too loud, Okay...
Sorry about signing off early last night but I was feeling a little "under the weather". (ed. If by "weather" you mean "cosmopolitans" and by "under" you mean "had a dozen" than I agree.)
My editor tonight is Maurice (ed. Howdy), who has been here for more than 24 hours, which I'm sure is past the best before date, hint, hint. He came over last night after the Telefilm party, and the Shoe Shop after that. I'll pass the keyboard over to him to talk about the party.
(ed. Thanks. Not much to tell, I arrived about an hour after it started, fashionably late of course. I made my way to the bar and after watching the bartender painstakingly pour a tonic water out of a can into a glass for 13 minutes, I scored a lukewarm Keiths. The usual "in" crowd was there and I was able to draw upon my powers of invisibility, and not have any of them approach me and initiate conversation. I just hate the chit-chat that is common at these events.
I positioned myself in the boardroom which gave me access to snacks, a view of the main room and most importantly a back-up escape route should I be cornered by any "producer, writer, director, actor in training" that assumed I might be somebody important.
The highlight of the evening was when Gord Whittiker made a speech about the accomplishments of Telefilm Halifax i.e. Atlantic Provinces over the last year. And actually it sounded impresive; Chaz Thorne wrote two movies and directed one of them with that guy from Lethal weapon, no, not him, the other guy: Michael Melski was wrapping up a film he wrote and directed and Jay Dahl was "going to camera" in the new year. Maybe not "Men With Brooms" but still impressive. Especially since Telefilm "Papa" in Toronto, couldn't see the East Coast with a set of binoculars.
It was a bit unsettling when Gordon mentioned "Shake Hands With the Devil" as a high point for the industry in the province. Usually any mention of DHX/Halifax film project draw an enthusiastic response but last night it was half-hearted. It picked up a bit when it was revealed that someone from the company was in the room, but it died when that person was revealed to be Dana (the Link) Laundry, a number cruncher. Applause died completely when it was found that even he had either not bothered to show up or had left.
After that, I mingled a bit, without making eye contact, stole a phone and then left. The remainder of the evening is a blur.)
And, although I wasn't there, I must say the snacks (I can't spell h'ordeaves) were't that great. Maurice brought back some pita bread and humus and some sort of substance in a tartlet. Even with allowing for the fact they were in Maurice's pocket for ten hours, they were not that good. Shrimp anyone? Or scallops, or salmon on a cracker? This is Eastern Canada after all.
Anyhoo, in other N.S. film news, "A Bug and a Bag of Weed" is debuting in theatres this week. (ed. this title is not going to work in Goerge Bush's America). This is a locally written, shot, acted, etc., etc. movie. Apparently, with telefilm money, a bunch of guys made a movie for $500,000. Sounds like a lot of money but, no offence, my company (ed. note: the writer owns 1000 shares of DHX/Halifax Film) spends that on Christmas bonus's. (ed. Note: Just Above the Line. Not employees or shareholders.)
I don't know of anyone who's gone to see the movie or if it's any good but DHX bought animation giant Studio B this week.
That brings me to my personal life, sorry to bore you all again but...there's three of us living in this one bedroom apartment (five if you count my dog Biscuitface and the thing growing in my sister's womb), and there's very little income coming in.
So, I have decided to return to the career i left behind, oh so many years ago; writing. I figure that instead of trying to write for shows that are already on the air, I would CREATE (yes, in capitals, WGA, my BROTHERS in arms!) a show and pitch it to a producer who has better access than me to the broadcasters. Maybe Halifax Film, my brethren.
My editor tonight is Maurice (ed. Howdy), who has been here for more than 24 hours, which I'm sure is past the best before date, hint, hint. He came over last night after the Telefilm party, and the Shoe Shop after that. I'll pass the keyboard over to him to talk about the party.
(ed. Thanks. Not much to tell, I arrived about an hour after it started, fashionably late of course. I made my way to the bar and after watching the bartender painstakingly pour a tonic water out of a can into a glass for 13 minutes, I scored a lukewarm Keiths. The usual "in" crowd was there and I was able to draw upon my powers of invisibility, and not have any of them approach me and initiate conversation. I just hate the chit-chat that is common at these events.
I positioned myself in the boardroom which gave me access to snacks, a view of the main room and most importantly a back-up escape route should I be cornered by any "producer, writer, director, actor in training" that assumed I might be somebody important.
The highlight of the evening was when Gord Whittiker made a speech about the accomplishments of Telefilm Halifax i.e. Atlantic Provinces over the last year. And actually it sounded impresive; Chaz Thorne wrote two movies and directed one of them with that guy from Lethal weapon, no, not him, the other guy: Michael Melski was wrapping up a film he wrote and directed and Jay Dahl was "going to camera" in the new year. Maybe not "Men With Brooms" but still impressive. Especially since Telefilm "Papa" in Toronto, couldn't see the East Coast with a set of binoculars.
It was a bit unsettling when Gordon mentioned "Shake Hands With the Devil" as a high point for the industry in the province. Usually any mention of DHX/Halifax film project draw an enthusiastic response but last night it was half-hearted. It picked up a bit when it was revealed that someone from the company was in the room, but it died when that person was revealed to be Dana (the Link) Laundry, a number cruncher. Applause died completely when it was found that even he had either not bothered to show up or had left.
After that, I mingled a bit, without making eye contact, stole a phone and then left. The remainder of the evening is a blur.)
And, although I wasn't there, I must say the snacks (I can't spell h'ordeaves) were't that great. Maurice brought back some pita bread and humus and some sort of substance in a tartlet. Even with allowing for the fact they were in Maurice's pocket for ten hours, they were not that good. Shrimp anyone? Or scallops, or salmon on a cracker? This is Eastern Canada after all.
Anyhoo, in other N.S. film news, "A Bug and a Bag of Weed" is debuting in theatres this week. (ed. this title is not going to work in Goerge Bush's America). This is a locally written, shot, acted, etc., etc. movie. Apparently, with telefilm money, a bunch of guys made a movie for $500,000. Sounds like a lot of money but, no offence, my company (ed. note: the writer owns 1000 shares of DHX/Halifax Film) spends that on Christmas bonus's. (ed. Note: Just Above the Line. Not employees or shareholders.)
I don't know of anyone who's gone to see the movie or if it's any good but DHX bought animation giant Studio B this week.
That brings me to my personal life, sorry to bore you all again but...there's three of us living in this one bedroom apartment (five if you count my dog Biscuitface and the thing growing in my sister's womb), and there's very little income coming in.
So, I have decided to return to the career i left behind, oh so many years ago; writing. I figure that instead of trying to write for shows that are already on the air, I would CREATE (yes, in capitals, WGA, my BROTHERS in arms!) a show and pitch it to a producer who has better access than me to the broadcasters. Maybe Halifax Film, my brethren.
Thursday, 6 December 2007
Halifax Film Stuff - Thursday, December 6th, 2007. A Day that Will Live In...well, untill 12:00
Okay, so maybe I shouldn't be blogging tonight because of one too many cosmopolitans (ed. one = six) but its been over a week and people are calammering for news of whats happening in tv and film in Nova Scotia this last week. (ed. perhaps "clammering" is what you meant but not what is real). Anyhoo, my friend Maurice will be editing for you tonight (ed. Hi.)
Maurice is lucky in that, unlike me, he can leave the apartment and interact with the "real" world. Well, not really, he was at the Telefilm Christmas party tonight.
This blog is supposed to be about the "bix", I mean "bix", shit, why do they pot the x so close to the x on the keyboard. I mean Z. But people (I assume they're not seni-cognigent robots from the future) want to know what's happening here. A brief, then back to the news. My sister is even more pregnant than last week, my roommate, Carly is still a drug addicted Ho, and my coc-a poo Bisuitface, has not been walked in three days and ironically is constipated.
I live in a one bedroom apartment.
On the good side DHX aka Halifax Film has bought Studio B. Just like that, they've scooped up the production company that made George of the Jungle, Ricky Spocket, ...and othe stuff. We are #1! (ed. Note: the authour owns 1,000 shares of DHX.) Right, so what are those shares trading at tonight? Let me check.....$1.70.
Wow. That's what it was when I inherited them.
Since I lost my job selling ointments to standup comedians, life has been a bit of a struggle.
I'm feeling a bit flemmy right now, but I'll finish this blog tomorrow night.
Maurice is lucky in that, unlike me, he can leave the apartment and interact with the "real" world. Well, not really, he was at the Telefilm Christmas party tonight.
This blog is supposed to be about the "bix", I mean "bix", shit, why do they pot the x so close to the x on the keyboard. I mean Z. But people (I assume they're not seni-cognigent robots from the future) want to know what's happening here. A brief, then back to the news. My sister is even more pregnant than last week, my roommate, Carly is still a drug addicted Ho, and my coc-a poo Bisuitface, has not been walked in three days and ironically is constipated.
I live in a one bedroom apartment.
On the good side DHX aka Halifax Film has bought Studio B. Just like that, they've scooped up the production company that made George of the Jungle, Ricky Spocket, ...and othe stuff. We are #1! (ed. Note: the authour owns 1,000 shares of DHX.) Right, so what are those shares trading at tonight? Let me check.....$1.70.
Wow. That's what it was when I inherited them.
Since I lost my job selling ointments to standup comedians, life has been a bit of a struggle.
I'm feeling a bit flemmy right now, but I'll finish this blog tomorrow night.
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
As Stephen Bishop would sing "On and On" in Halifax
Not much going on, well from my apartment anyway. Just to keep in the blogging habit and with the absence of intelligence (ed. Not that we don't have intelligence, well, that's not what the author meant anyway, he ment outside info) I've just been googling to find info on what's happening.
I found a link from a Martha Stewart fan who hates all things negative about Martha Stewart (ed. taking it a bit personal for a mythological figure, isn't she?) including a tv movie of the week that was shot in Halifax a few years ago. Here's the link if you want to read the whole bloody thing to make sure I didn't take the time (ed. as if!) to make this crap up.
http://www.savemartha.com/themovie.html
I'll cherry pick her too-expansive blog for some quotes "Finally, underlying the bad script and the poor performances is a cheap production quality, which firmly relegates this film to lower-rung status among made-for-TV bio-dramas. The diminutive Halifax (ed. wtf? We are 1:1 full scale even if we do use metric (ed. pay lip service to it anyway))setting has nothing on the glamour and style of Westport or the orderly grit of New Jersey. (ed. Are we supposed to know Westport? I guess if we're Martha fans. And I've been to Jersey. Grit, yes. Orderly? Well, the waste dumps are catagorized according to toxicity, so yeah, have to give them that much.)
In a strange twist of irony, (Candace) Bergen was in Halifax at the same time the shoot for Martha Inc. was going on, starring in a much more prestigious project.
She was cast in a TV film called Footsteps, a suspense drama directed by John Badham, who directed such screen favorites as Saturday Night Fever, Stakeout, Incognito and Point of No Return. (ed. anybody ever hear of this? anybody...anybody...Bueller?)
Reports that Candice and Cybill got together for a succulent lobster dinner only to end up in a fist fight knee deep in clam shells are unconfirmed!" (ed. Now that I would pay to see!)
More googling discovered that Ellen Page (X-Men, Hard Candy, Juno) was in an episode of Trailer Park Boys playing "Treena Lahey".
And to be current - Ron Foley MacDonald "The film version of the best-selling book The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, will be shot in Halifax as a television movie starting November 18th. (ed. snore)
To be directed by Mick Jackson - who helmed the widely seen MOW of the hit inspirational memoir Tuesdays With Morrie - The Memory Keeper’s Daughter will star Dermot Mulroney (Gracie) and Emily Watson, who rose to fame in the art film "Breaking The Waves".
But closer to home, my sister Stella has moved back in. She broke up with her Brazillian boyfriend Carl.
Now, I'm not asking for pity here but....I'm sharing a one bedroom apartment with a crack hore roommate, my sister and her pre-natal b*tard child (ed. though no fault of his/her own, and my cock-a-poo, Biscuitface.
And since I can't leave the apartment, something's got to give!
But for no particular reason are Jimmy Stewart, Dean Martin and Orsen Welles just goofin' around on Dean's TV show. Looks like they're having fun cause they are!
I found a link from a Martha Stewart fan who hates all things negative about Martha Stewart (ed. taking it a bit personal for a mythological figure, isn't she?) including a tv movie of the week that was shot in Halifax a few years ago. Here's the link if you want to read the whole bloody thing to make sure I didn't take the time (ed. as if!) to make this crap up.
http://www.savemartha.com/themovie.html
I'll cherry pick her too-expansive blog for some quotes "Finally, underlying the bad script and the poor performances is a cheap production quality, which firmly relegates this film to lower-rung status among made-for-TV bio-dramas. The diminutive Halifax (ed. wtf? We are 1:1 full scale even if we do use metric (ed. pay lip service to it anyway))setting has nothing on the glamour and style of Westport or the orderly grit of New Jersey. (ed. Are we supposed to know Westport? I guess if we're Martha fans. And I've been to Jersey. Grit, yes. Orderly? Well, the waste dumps are catagorized according to toxicity, so yeah, have to give them that much.)
In a strange twist of irony, (Candace) Bergen was in Halifax at the same time the shoot for Martha Inc. was going on, starring in a much more prestigious project.
She was cast in a TV film called Footsteps, a suspense drama directed by John Badham, who directed such screen favorites as Saturday Night Fever, Stakeout, Incognito and Point of No Return. (ed. anybody ever hear of this? anybody...anybody...Bueller?)
Reports that Candice and Cybill got together for a succulent lobster dinner only to end up in a fist fight knee deep in clam shells are unconfirmed!" (ed. Now that I would pay to see!)
More googling discovered that Ellen Page (X-Men, Hard Candy, Juno) was in an episode of Trailer Park Boys playing "Treena Lahey".
And to be current - Ron Foley MacDonald "The film version of the best-selling book The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, will be shot in Halifax as a television movie starting November 18th. (ed. snore)
To be directed by Mick Jackson - who helmed the widely seen MOW of the hit inspirational memoir Tuesdays With Morrie - The Memory Keeper’s Daughter will star Dermot Mulroney (Gracie) and Emily Watson, who rose to fame in the art film "Breaking The Waves".
But closer to home, my sister Stella has moved back in. She broke up with her Brazillian boyfriend Carl.
Now, I'm not asking for pity here but....I'm sharing a one bedroom apartment with a crack hore roommate, my sister and her pre-natal b*tard child (ed. though no fault of his/her own, and my cock-a-poo, Biscuitface.
And since I can't leave the apartment, something's got to give!
But for no particular reason are Jimmy Stewart, Dean Martin and Orsen Welles just goofin' around on Dean's TV show. Looks like they're having fun cause they are!
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Halifax (and her Areas) Film/Tv Stuff
Not too much happening, apparently, in the tv/film biz in Halifax. Slowing down for Christmas, I suppose. If I could leave the apartment I'd take in some of the parties that'll surely be going on. Even when I lived in California and Vancouver, I was always able to come home to Halifax at this time of year and there'd be parties, pretty well every night leading up to Christmas; NSFDC, Telefilm, Collideascope (ed. hopefully they've cleaned the washroom since that last time. Or maybe they just boarded it up.), plus many private ones.
But the best was always the Salter Street parties. It was invitation only but I had a friend in the government who I would always tag along with. (ed. presumably in the money supply side.) It was always interesting to watch the room(s) seperated into cliques; the managers, the office worker bees, the honoured guests (ed. funding people?), the young, bright-eyed filmmakers who were excited to have just gotten themselves a job on a production (ed. visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads) and the other prodction workers who had been there a while. (ed. with that "soul sucked out of them" look.)
The high point was when the producers and the executive producers, were wheeled down from the executives offices just drunk enough on imported scotch and the blood of a hundred virgins, to be able to mingle amongst the riff-raff without shuddering.
Sometimes they even made eye contact.
This was before Charles "the Green Arrow" Bishop was part of the "team". At one party, I remember he and I in the kitchen joking about what a farce the film industry was with its stupid tier system and status battles. Now that I think about it, the year after that he was having me kicked to the curb by a bouncer when I tried to crash the Salter party. That was the last time I saw him.
Legend has it that after the sale of Salter Street to Alliance Atlantis, he could be heard in the Barrington Street office, scurrying through the heating ducts, playing Hot Cross Buns on his recorder, and bemoaning the fact that he gave up a lucrative film production company (ed. Who can forget The Food Show, and that Loto 649 commercial with the squirrel)
The next time I heard about him, he had been hired , then fired from Alliance Atlantis, The final indignation; he had to sit in the cheap seats at the Academy Awards while Michael Donovan shared the stage (ed. 1/4, 3/4's who is who, you decide.) with Michael Moore. (ed. Rumours persist to this day that it was Charles who was boo'ing the loudest.)
I wonder whatever happened to him? Hmmm.... I wonder...wonder....won...
Oh right.
I have to log off soon as my issue of Playback came today and I'll be snuggling up in my beanbag chair to see what THE publication of CANADIAN TV has to say about the industry this week. The cover has House from Global and some American chick from a "CTV" show.
Who says we can't produce popular programming in this country, eh?!
There's a special supplement on The Comedy Channel's 10'th Anniversary. I really should watch more of this channel representing Canadian comedy classics; from 6 year old 22 Minutes (ed. doesn't "news" start with "new"? to the latest Jon Stewart, this channell has it all!
Otherwise in good old NS, the only production related news is the "attempted" sale of a soundstage in Shelburne has been stalled again. A few years ago, the government of the province was so keen on film and tv production being the saviour of our economy (ed. anybody remember Clairtone? Heavy Water? Call Centres? sigh, oh well its only money and Pfft , only government money at that!) they decided that turning a big empty building in the middle of nowhere would draw hollywood stars like...spiders to butter? I dunno, make up your own allegory here. (ed. I think you mean metaphor.)
Whatever. Surprisingly the movers and shakers of lala land may be enticed to come to Halifax (ed. given the money) but a three hour trip to the boonies (ed. 2 and 1/2 by Hummer with a Mountie escort) was not on the plate.
So other than Virginia's Run a movie about a horse, starring ahorse ans ome other people, the government had spent another $2,75M on a big empty nothing.
So the property was turned over to a local development agency to sell. And an item in the Daily News suggests that this is not as easy as it sounds.
Steve Gilmour wanted to buy the place but says the development agency rep Frank Anderson gave him only "constant delaying tactic and mistruths". Frank Anderson said that the opposite was true. (ed. nice comeback, Potsie.)
Frankly, I never heard of either of these guys but if anybody needs a sound stage for a movie, I thing the rent is real cheap. Just don't expect the Cappocinno to be "not Tim's".
But the best was always the Salter Street parties. It was invitation only but I had a friend in the government who I would always tag along with. (ed. presumably in the money supply side.) It was always interesting to watch the room(s) seperated into cliques; the managers, the office worker bees, the honoured guests (ed. funding people?), the young, bright-eyed filmmakers who were excited to have just gotten themselves a job on a production (ed. visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads) and the other prodction workers who had been there a while. (ed. with that "soul sucked out of them" look.)
The high point was when the producers and the executive producers, were wheeled down from the executives offices just drunk enough on imported scotch and the blood of a hundred virgins, to be able to mingle amongst the riff-raff without shuddering.
Sometimes they even made eye contact.
This was before Charles "the Green Arrow" Bishop was part of the "team". At one party, I remember he and I in the kitchen joking about what a farce the film industry was with its stupid tier system and status battles. Now that I think about it, the year after that he was having me kicked to the curb by a bouncer when I tried to crash the Salter party. That was the last time I saw him.
Legend has it that after the sale of Salter Street to Alliance Atlantis, he could be heard in the Barrington Street office, scurrying through the heating ducts, playing Hot Cross Buns on his recorder, and bemoaning the fact that he gave up a lucrative film production company (ed. Who can forget The Food Show, and that Loto 649 commercial with the squirrel)
The next time I heard about him, he had been hired , then fired from Alliance Atlantis, The final indignation; he had to sit in the cheap seats at the Academy Awards while Michael Donovan shared the stage (ed. 1/4, 3/4's who is who, you decide.) with Michael Moore. (ed. Rumours persist to this day that it was Charles who was boo'ing the loudest.)
I wonder whatever happened to him? Hmmm.... I wonder...wonder....won...
Oh right.
I have to log off soon as my issue of Playback came today and I'll be snuggling up in my beanbag chair to see what THE publication of CANADIAN TV has to say about the industry this week. The cover has House from Global and some American chick from a "CTV" show.
Who says we can't produce popular programming in this country, eh?!
There's a special supplement on The Comedy Channel's 10'th Anniversary. I really should watch more of this channel representing Canadian comedy classics; from 6 year old 22 Minutes (ed. doesn't "news" start with "new"? to the latest Jon Stewart, this channell has it all!
Otherwise in good old NS, the only production related news is the "attempted" sale of a soundstage in Shelburne has been stalled again. A few years ago, the government of the province was so keen on film and tv production being the saviour of our economy (ed. anybody remember Clairtone? Heavy Water? Call Centres? sigh, oh well its only money and Pfft , only government money at that!) they decided that turning a big empty building in the middle of nowhere would draw hollywood stars like...spiders to butter? I dunno, make up your own allegory here. (ed. I think you mean metaphor.)
Whatever. Surprisingly the movers and shakers of lala land may be enticed to come to Halifax (ed. given the money) but a three hour trip to the boonies (ed. 2 and 1/2 by Hummer with a Mountie escort) was not on the plate.
So other than Virginia's Run a movie about a horse, starring ahorse ans ome other people, the government had spent another $2,75M on a big empty nothing.
So the property was turned over to a local development agency to sell. And an item in the Daily News suggests that this is not as easy as it sounds.
Steve Gilmour wanted to buy the place but says the development agency rep Frank Anderson gave him only "constant delaying tactic and mistruths". Frank Anderson said that the opposite was true. (ed. nice comeback, Potsie.)
Frankly, I never heard of either of these guys but if anybody needs a sound stage for a movie, I thing the rent is real cheap. Just don't expect the Cappocinno to be "not Tim's".
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Picnicface. Funny.
Stumbled over a bunch of videos made by the local comedy troupe "Picnicface". Check out their website here for their videos http://www.picnicface.com/ Gonna try and embed one here -
These guys are good. They're funny and fresh and they're not imitating other people's comedy. Apparently they perform at Ginger's Tavern in Halifax, andI wish I could leave the apartment to see them live.
If you can, check them out live and let me know what they're like. Also check their videos, they mad me laugh out loud.
And its just so refreshing to know there's other stuff going on in tv and write about it.
These guys are good. They're funny and fresh and they're not imitating other people's comedy. Apparently they perform at Ginger's Tavern in Halifax, andI wish I could leave the apartment to see them live.
If you can, check them out live and let me know what they're like. Also check their videos, they mad me laugh out loud.
And its just so refreshing to know there's other stuff going on in tv and write about it.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Stupid CTF! If it ain't Broke, Let's Break It!!.
Got a meassage from the CTF letting me know about all the other people that got money, besides us. (ed. "us" is DHX Halifax Film in which the writer owns 1000 shares).
We're noticeably absent from the lottery winners. In fact the only recipients from Nova Scotia are $60,000 for a documentary on sable island ponies (ed. yawn. Not unless there's a bunch of them on an island and only one survives would that be interesting.), another documentary called "Norm", (ed. cool title, I'm already intreagued!) from a company called Moodat Productions for the CBC by Teresa MacInnis, and Kent Nason (ed. $76,000, not even the Starbucks tab of Halifax Film, the exec.'s not the proles.), and a one hour Trailer Park Boys Special, $507,000, (ed. wtf, are they on a Carribbean cruise?)
Not that the east coast isn't represented; there's a show called East Coast Bound and the Rankin Family Reunion (ed. which at over 1/4 million dollars means the Rankin must be playing on that TPB cruise. A lot of fun-filled hi-jinks and splashing around the pool, the one with the float up bar.)
But they are out of Toronto.
But my point is...nothing for DHX Halifax Film?! What is going on? CTF money is from the government and the cable companies, (ed. via the final consumer, don't panic Mr. Rogers. It's not your money. Yet.) There's an entitlement issue here people! How many pony/rankin documentaries must we endure before we have something commercial to watch!
So the years half over and we will have to limp along with our $25M IPO, our $2M in Nova Scotia Business Inc. payroll rebate, our $17M of more stock issued, $2M Film Nova Scotia (ed. which sounds like an order, (formerly the NSFDC)), $50,000 in ACOA money and the tax credits which can make up 1/2 of the cost of labour. For the love of God! Why do we pay taxes?! Let's get off the stick and step up to the trough people!
Meanwhile, I haven't seen my roommate Carly, in days. I know she's not hiding in the apartment like last time, because my dog Biscuitface, has been whining like a Starbucks latte machine. And she was supposed to pay the rent for November.(ed. Carly, not Biscuitface.) Hopefully I won't get a visit from the super, Gregor, before she comes back. He frightens me and last time we were late with the rent he punched me in the throat.
We're noticeably absent from the lottery winners. In fact the only recipients from Nova Scotia are $60,000 for a documentary on sable island ponies (ed. yawn. Not unless there's a bunch of them on an island and only one survives would that be interesting.), another documentary called "Norm", (ed. cool title, I'm already intreagued!) from a company called Moodat Productions for the CBC by Teresa MacInnis, and Kent Nason (ed. $76,000, not even the Starbucks tab of Halifax Film, the exec.'s not the proles.), and a one hour Trailer Park Boys Special, $507,000, (ed. wtf, are they on a Carribbean cruise?)
Not that the east coast isn't represented; there's a show called East Coast Bound and the Rankin Family Reunion (ed. which at over 1/4 million dollars means the Rankin must be playing on that TPB cruise. A lot of fun-filled hi-jinks and splashing around the pool, the one with the float up bar.)
But they are out of Toronto.
But my point is...nothing for DHX Halifax Film?! What is going on? CTF money is from the government and the cable companies, (ed. via the final consumer, don't panic Mr. Rogers. It's not your money. Yet.) There's an entitlement issue here people! How many pony/rankin documentaries must we endure before we have something commercial to watch!
So the years half over and we will have to limp along with our $25M IPO, our $2M in Nova Scotia Business Inc. payroll rebate, our $17M of more stock issued, $2M Film Nova Scotia (ed. which sounds like an order, (formerly the NSFDC)), $50,000 in ACOA money and the tax credits which can make up 1/2 of the cost of labour. For the love of God! Why do we pay taxes?! Let's get off the stick and step up to the trough people!
Meanwhile, I haven't seen my roommate Carly, in days. I know she's not hiding in the apartment like last time, because my dog Biscuitface, has been whining like a Starbucks latte machine. And she was supposed to pay the rent for November.(ed. Carly, not Biscuitface.) Hopefully I won't get a visit from the super, Gregor, before she comes back. He frightens me and last time we were late with the rent he punched me in the throat.
Monday, 12 November 2007
Halifax Tv and Films Stuff.
Not much in the way of industry news. Michael Melski's still shooting a film in New Brunswick, something about a Ma..ju..ana, ah crap, I can't spell, "grass" crop. That, plus a trailer park boys film released on DVD should set the cultural tone for east coast.
Other than that, film and tv in nova scotia continues to shine on the shy Halifax Film DHX takeover of Canada. (ed. But I thought Alliance Atlantis was our county's international showboat...oh, right.)
Regular bloggees know that I'm a Halifax Film/DHX shareholder so lets just get that out of the way now. I own 1000 shares! Not a lot compared to the millions that Michael Donovan, Charlie (The Green Arrow) Bishop, and Dana.. whatever, grant themselves wheneven the mood strikes them, but I have a say. Albeit on an anonymous website, but I can read it and know that somebody has an opinion!
My roommate Carly is finally asleep after literally climbing the walls in the apartment. For some reason she was upset that a ship from Lebanon was delayed several days from docking in Halifax because of storms.
Really, nobody should be that upset about the weather! It just doesn't pay.
Anyway, I was sleeping , fitfully for me anyway, when I heard this knocking on the patio doors. I woke up, still not sure I was dreaming or not, and there was the albino monkey that my sister's boyfriend had sent up from Brazil.
I had released it into the wild (ed. university freshmann life) because I felt it should be free like all of God's creatures. But mostly because it was pissing me off, slurpling my cospmopolitans every time I put them down.
Anyway, this monkey knocked until I was awake and when I looked at it, it gave a beckoning wave to me. But I remebered all those movies about vampires, how the only way they could enter your house was if they were invited in. And me, not prejudiced or anything, had no desire to join the ranks of the albino monkey brigade. Plus he had taken his pants off.
Luckily, after I turned over for sleep/not hallucination, the monkey was gone.
Speaking of albino monkys, last week DHX/Halifax Film announced that they were acquiring (ed. or not let's not show our cards yet) Tribal Media which has something to do with on-line media games for children. (ed.virtual bricks and mortar for the upcoming trainables!)
It has nothing to do with on-line gambling i.e. gaming for young'ins.
Tribal Inc has relationships with CBC, Cookie Jar, etc, but then so did my Mother.
On another topic, "we" are working on another internet "initiative", Wondermedia Inc.
Luckily of the $79,900 it cost to hire a "Director of Digital Media" we had help from ACOA, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency which gave us a modest grant to hire poor unemployed Nova Scotian, of $50,000. Hopefully they won't notice that the person we hired is not from here.
Luckily the agency that does nothing but give away money didn't waste their funds on farms or inventions or new ways of creating business opportunities. We (ed. us and HFX Decode). Joe Lunchbuckets should just get a job and leave the creativity to us.
As a postscript, I don't want to hear anybody whining about the $50,000 of taxpayers money from ACOA. It's money well spent and most importantly, it doesn't come out of our, $22M governmant tax credit receivable, our $2 M NSBI payroll rebate etc.
Let Free Enterprise rein! (ed. chuckle!)
Other than that, film and tv in nova scotia continues to shine on the shy Halifax Film DHX takeover of Canada. (ed. But I thought Alliance Atlantis was our county's international showboat...oh, right.)
Regular bloggees know that I'm a Halifax Film/DHX shareholder so lets just get that out of the way now. I own 1000 shares! Not a lot compared to the millions that Michael Donovan, Charlie (The Green Arrow) Bishop, and Dana.. whatever, grant themselves wheneven the mood strikes them, but I have a say. Albeit on an anonymous website, but I can read it and know that somebody has an opinion!
My roommate Carly is finally asleep after literally climbing the walls in the apartment. For some reason she was upset that a ship from Lebanon was delayed several days from docking in Halifax because of storms.
Really, nobody should be that upset about the weather! It just doesn't pay.
Anyway, I was sleeping , fitfully for me anyway, when I heard this knocking on the patio doors. I woke up, still not sure I was dreaming or not, and there was the albino monkey that my sister's boyfriend had sent up from Brazil.
I had released it into the wild (ed. university freshmann life) because I felt it should be free like all of God's creatures. But mostly because it was pissing me off, slurpling my cospmopolitans every time I put them down.
Anyway, this monkey knocked until I was awake and when I looked at it, it gave a beckoning wave to me. But I remebered all those movies about vampires, how the only way they could enter your house was if they were invited in. And me, not prejudiced or anything, had no desire to join the ranks of the albino monkey brigade. Plus he had taken his pants off.
Luckily, after I turned over for sleep/not hallucination, the monkey was gone.
Speaking of albino monkys, last week DHX/Halifax Film announced that they were acquiring (ed. or not let's not show our cards yet) Tribal Media which has something to do with on-line media games for children. (ed.virtual bricks and mortar for the upcoming trainables!)
It has nothing to do with on-line gambling i.e. gaming for young'ins.
Tribal Inc has relationships with CBC, Cookie Jar, etc, but then so did my Mother.
On another topic, "we" are working on another internet "initiative", Wondermedia Inc.
Luckily of the $79,900 it cost to hire a "Director of Digital Media" we had help from ACOA, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency which gave us a modest grant to hire poor unemployed Nova Scotian, of $50,000. Hopefully they won't notice that the person we hired is not from here.
Luckily the agency that does nothing but give away money didn't waste their funds on farms or inventions or new ways of creating business opportunities. We (ed. us and HFX Decode). Joe Lunchbuckets should just get a job and leave the creativity to us.
As a postscript, I don't want to hear anybody whining about the $50,000 of taxpayers money from ACOA. It's money well spent and most importantly, it doesn't come out of our, $22M governmant tax credit receivable, our $2 M NSBI payroll rebate etc.
Let Free Enterprise rein! (ed. chuckle!)
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Hey DHX Halifax Film! No Cheese For Me?
I'm a bit put out tonight as I heard that there was an Annual General Meeting of shareholders of DHX yesterday, and I wasn't invited! As you know I own 1000 shares which may only be .00001% of the outstanding shares but who knows, maybe someday I'll be the swing vote over some contentious issue between Oscar(c) Winner Michael Donovan and his right hand man Charles (the Green Arrow )Bishop!
Though I couldn't have attended because I can't leave the apartment, it would have been nice to have been invited. It's the thought that counts, after all. And sometimes the proxy.
I learned this from the e-news allnovascotia.com. They also said that DHX is neither confirming or denying that they are acquiring (they paid $100,000 for the right to possibly someday, maybe purchase) this company in Quebac that makes interactive games for kids. That's the take of about 50 welfare mothers, depending on the age, number and heft of their children.
Sorry, I guess I'm a little ticked, because when I initially heard they were looking to acquire a company, I thought there was a remote possibility they were thinking of my all but defunct corporation I had a few years ago. On retrospecte, it's probably not much of a catch considering the brightest jewel in its crown was a documentary entitled "Joe Clark: A Dynasty in the Making."
Have I mentioned I've been in this business a long time and some of my choices have not been the best?
As for me, my roommate, Carly is back to "normal" so my dog Biscuitface is getting his regular walks and I'm getting my regular Whopper with cheese.
Probably not as good a cheese as they had at the Annual General Meeting of DHX last night.
Though I couldn't have attended because I can't leave the apartment, it would have been nice to have been invited. It's the thought that counts, after all. And sometimes the proxy.
I learned this from the e-news allnovascotia.com. They also said that DHX is neither confirming or denying that they are acquiring (they paid $100,000 for the right to possibly someday, maybe purchase) this company in Quebac that makes interactive games for kids. That's the take of about 50 welfare mothers, depending on the age, number and heft of their children.
Sorry, I guess I'm a little ticked, because when I initially heard they were looking to acquire a company, I thought there was a remote possibility they were thinking of my all but defunct corporation I had a few years ago. On retrospecte, it's probably not much of a catch considering the brightest jewel in its crown was a documentary entitled "Joe Clark: A Dynasty in the Making."
Have I mentioned I've been in this business a long time and some of my choices have not been the best?
As for me, my roommate, Carly is back to "normal" so my dog Biscuitface is getting his regular walks and I'm getting my regular Whopper with cheese.
Probably not as good a cheese as they had at the Annual General Meeting of DHX last night.
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
Hi Honey, I'm Hom-o!
This was the payoff to a joke I wrote years ago about a guy who comes home from work one day and in a spontaneous gesture decides to out himself to his wife. Maybe the build-up wasn't worth the pay-off but really, the Air Farce turned it down?
And before you jump on me for using the term "Homo", we're reclaiming ownership of the word! (ed. who? the heteros?).
And you will note that I spelled it with a dash. Why you ask? Well, I've noticed that a lot of people who find my blog have been googling "kicked in the balls". Now I'm sure they're not looking for the story I commented on a few months ago. I'm not sure what they are looking for, exactly. Well, I guess I know what, I just don't know why. Most of these searches come from Germany. So I thought I would save a whole bunch of guys from looking through my blog for pictures that aren't here.
Anyhoo, as was repeated in weeks past, DHX Halifax Film Factory has been price-ranged out of their home away from home, the Electropolis Films studio.
Electropolis was a former power substation on the Halifax waterfront that was convereted into a soundstage with millions of Federal and Nova Scotiian tax payer dollars. Salter Street Film used the space quite a bit for Lexx and other intelectually stimulating properties, than a totally new animal Halifax Film Ltd. bought the company that operated the sound stage and rented it out to Halifax Film Ltd. (ed. I'm a little dizzy) This was all done on behalf of the owners Nova Scotia Power Inc who agreed to a less than fair market value rent for ten years. Now ten years later, those power hungry (ed. and full) owners want to charge Halifax Film Company full market rent? (ed. excuse me, do they not know what province they're in? Unless there's government subsidies available, we're out!)
And so we are. Even the NDP stepping up to bat, couldn't convince the gov't to chip in. (ed. chuckle)
allnovascotia.com and Playback announced that Halifax Film is moving production facilities from Electropolis to a building beside CBC radio.
We (ed. note, the writer owns 1000 shares of DHX/Halifax Film), are not disloyal. We are cost concious. And when you think about it, do we really need 50 ft high ceilings for drugged out animators to manipulate their tiny figurines? I think not. So with their (ed. "our!") employees in mind we are moving from the rat infested waterfront to...beside the CBC which I'm sure will be vastly different. As VP David Regan notes, the employees will now actually have windows to look out off. But do we want them looking out windows fantasizing about the day they can pitch their own superhero/alien/laugh fest cartoon that's going to compete with our staid and true puppet/animation thingys? Let's not start spoiling them now. Next they'll be wanting 12 hour days, time off for funerals, and washrooms!
At least they're not going to be within a smell of DHX/Halifax Film Factory World Headquarters on Spring Garden Road, sitting above a ...yes...Starbucks!
So, I don't want to be trading inside, whatever that means, but its all good news! So let's get that share price up from today's $1.70!
Meanwhile, its been a very hectic week here. Last week Carly, my roommate quietly went to her room for a few days to sleep, after a nasty reaction to some antibiotics (ed. see previous blog).
On the 31st she emerged from her bedroom wearing a filthy robe, someone elses's pajama's ,with her hair all bunched up from sweat. I, oblivious in retrospect, asked her what her Halloween costume was. She told me she was a cold turkey, but I really didn't want to look at her giblets.
The albino monkey that arrived last week (ed. Ya know when you type/read this stuff it sounds weird) for my sister's Brazillian boyfriend, easily escaped it's cage and spent the week hanging out with Carly, watching Fox news and biffing food around the place. (ed. Apparently there was a lot of vomit and poo flung about, but we can't totally blame that on the monkey.)
By Friday I had enough. I opened the patio doors and threw a Bud Light over the railing (ed. the monkey's favourite and no loss to us, really, we have water.)
The monkey scrambled over the patio railing and I quickly closed the doors. I'm not a cruel man. I know the monkey will be fine, mostly because we are near St. Mary's and Dalhousie University and there are many who would assume that's he's merely a freshman and throw food at him. As long as he doesn't sign for a student loan, his future is secure.
And before you jump on me for using the term "Homo", we're reclaiming ownership of the word! (ed. who? the heteros?).
And you will note that I spelled it with a dash. Why you ask? Well, I've noticed that a lot of people who find my blog have been googling "kicked in the balls". Now I'm sure they're not looking for the story I commented on a few months ago. I'm not sure what they are looking for, exactly. Well, I guess I know what, I just don't know why. Most of these searches come from Germany. So I thought I would save a whole bunch of guys from looking through my blog for pictures that aren't here.
Anyhoo, as was repeated in weeks past, DHX Halifax Film Factory has been price-ranged out of their home away from home, the Electropolis Films studio.
Electropolis was a former power substation on the Halifax waterfront that was convereted into a soundstage with millions of Federal and Nova Scotiian tax payer dollars. Salter Street Film used the space quite a bit for Lexx and other intelectually stimulating properties, than a totally new animal Halifax Film Ltd. bought the company that operated the sound stage and rented it out to Halifax Film Ltd. (ed. I'm a little dizzy) This was all done on behalf of the owners Nova Scotia Power Inc who agreed to a less than fair market value rent for ten years. Now ten years later, those power hungry (ed. and full) owners want to charge Halifax Film Company full market rent? (ed. excuse me, do they not know what province they're in? Unless there's government subsidies available, we're out!)
And so we are. Even the NDP stepping up to bat, couldn't convince the gov't to chip in. (ed. chuckle)
allnovascotia.com and Playback announced that Halifax Film is moving production facilities from Electropolis to a building beside CBC radio.
We (ed. note, the writer owns 1000 shares of DHX/Halifax Film), are not disloyal. We are cost concious. And when you think about it, do we really need 50 ft high ceilings for drugged out animators to manipulate their tiny figurines? I think not. So with their (ed. "our!") employees in mind we are moving from the rat infested waterfront to...beside the CBC which I'm sure will be vastly different. As VP David Regan notes, the employees will now actually have windows to look out off. But do we want them looking out windows fantasizing about the day they can pitch their own superhero/alien/laugh fest cartoon that's going to compete with our staid and true puppet/animation thingys? Let's not start spoiling them now. Next they'll be wanting 12 hour days, time off for funerals, and washrooms!
At least they're not going to be within a smell of DHX/Halifax Film Factory World Headquarters on Spring Garden Road, sitting above a ...yes...Starbucks!
So, I don't want to be trading inside, whatever that means, but its all good news! So let's get that share price up from today's $1.70!
Meanwhile, its been a very hectic week here. Last week Carly, my roommate quietly went to her room for a few days to sleep, after a nasty reaction to some antibiotics (ed. see previous blog).
On the 31st she emerged from her bedroom wearing a filthy robe, someone elses's pajama's ,with her hair all bunched up from sweat. I, oblivious in retrospect, asked her what her Halloween costume was. She told me she was a cold turkey, but I really didn't want to look at her giblets.
The albino monkey that arrived last week (ed. Ya know when you type/read this stuff it sounds weird) for my sister's Brazillian boyfriend, easily escaped it's cage and spent the week hanging out with Carly, watching Fox news and biffing food around the place. (ed. Apparently there was a lot of vomit and poo flung about, but we can't totally blame that on the monkey.)
By Friday I had enough. I opened the patio doors and threw a Bud Light over the railing (ed. the monkey's favourite and no loss to us, really, we have water.)
The monkey scrambled over the patio railing and I quickly closed the doors. I'm not a cruel man. I know the monkey will be fine, mostly because we are near St. Mary's and Dalhousie University and there are many who would assume that's he's merely a freshman and throw food at him. As long as he doesn't sign for a student loan, his future is secure.
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