Hi Folks, seems like I'm catching up for lost time this last week so here we go. As always, my editor is my friend/confidant/snooze button, Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy!)
Friends it seems like this whole FilmNS fiasco of Ann macKenzie leaving for greener pastures/bluer skies/yellow submarines is for reals. (ed. "Reals"? um, you're far from a teen-ager.)
There's a going away party for Ann on Thursday at the FilmNS office. If I could leave my apartment i surely would go to this soirie as I have a feeling drinks will be flowing and talk will be glowing, know what I'm saying? (ed. no, I -)
Perhaps there'll be lobster like the FilmNS film festival party which is open to all filmmakers and stakeholders, except for most of them.
Still no idea what happened here but it has happened quickly. Just last week the announcement was made that Ann was leaving, then she went on vacation, and now the goodbye party. I think it took longer for the Titanic to go down. (ed. See, just mentioning Titanic implies there some "disaster" happening.)
So that question remains as to why. And then who is going to replace her? Does the board have someone in mind? Or are they starting with a blank slate? They met yesterday so maybe we'll see some developments on this soon. (ed. And what about the staff? Is this another clean slate?)
In other news, CBC went all out to wish Little Mosque on the Prarie (ed. aka "I Married a Muslim!") a bon voyage. (ed. speaking of the Titanic.) I must confess, the one episode I did watch reminded me of a slightly hipper King of Kensington.
Mr. D seems to being doing well for the CEEB. Someone up there (ed. CBC Toronto) must have really wanted it to work, what with all the publicity and shooting a second pilot and all. 2nd Season? Insecurity got one and well, not exactly a stellar first season. Even the second season after they brought in new writers, story editors, consultants, a shaman and a goat sacrifice didn't seem to help. Plus the producer now says that if Saskatchewan does away with the tax credit, she'll have to move production of a possible third season somewhere else. (ed. Aha! the saskatchewan government is more diabolical than we gave them credit for.)
Anyway that's all for today. as always comments/suggestions/muffins are always welcome.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Global Hits Town! And Other Stuff
Hi folks, back for a quick one with my pal/editor Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy!)
I was excited when I first heard that Global Television bought Palooka's Gym on Gottinghen St. and was going to turn it into their Maritime headquaters and studio.
Wha? Produce something? Glowball, that's not how it works, to compete with CTV, you have to buy American!
So I guess I wasn't totally surprised when I heard later that the main production is going to be a breakfast show which will compete with CTV's Breakfast Television. (ed. whoa, that's still on?)
I'm sure there will be talented people working on the show (ed. Have a drink everytime a host wears a sou'wester!) but really is this any way to showcase talent. The only people watching TV at that hour are toddlers who can't change the channel, plopped down in front of the TV while Mom and Dad get ready for another day of shipbuilding. (ed. Ships start here!)
From a business point of view it makes sense; When Shaw bought Global they agreed (ed. kicking and screaming agreed.) to spend a bucket load of money on CANADIAN productions. CTV had to do this when they bought CTV (ed. the first time). They financed a sitcom 100%, no CTF, to burn off the cash and then return to your regularly schduled CSI. But they erred because they didn't pay attention and Corner Gas became a hit (ed. canadian stylin', know what I'm saying?). It was kind of embarrassing because they had wanted another Blackfly so they could point out how fruitless it was trying to do homegrown TV. They did their best to knock it out moving it around the schedule and doing little promotion but gosh darn it kept chugging along and people liked it. (ed. you like it, you really - )
Anyway, now they'll spend a bunch of money on a breakfast show, the highlight will be watching the Grade 6 class of Upper Kenctisowaken singing Jingle Bells at Christmas. (ed. There's cousin LuAnn!.) It'll be spent "in the community", (ed. In the gritty, real streets, no less) and they can brag about ratings when they beat the tired Breakfast TV. (ed. 3 Toddlers vs 2 Toddlers is a 50% bushwackin!)
Wonder if the retired-to-Chester jim Shaw will be up and watching.
I was excited when I first heard that Global Television bought Palooka's Gym on Gottinghen St. and was going to turn it into their Maritime headquaters and studio.
Wha? Produce something? Glowball, that's not how it works, to compete with CTV, you have to buy American!
So I guess I wasn't totally surprised when I heard later that the main production is going to be a breakfast show which will compete with CTV's Breakfast Television. (ed. whoa, that's still on?)
I'm sure there will be talented people working on the show (ed. Have a drink everytime a host wears a sou'wester!) but really is this any way to showcase talent. The only people watching TV at that hour are toddlers who can't change the channel, plopped down in front of the TV while Mom and Dad get ready for another day of shipbuilding. (ed. Ships start here!)
From a business point of view it makes sense; When Shaw bought Global they agreed (ed. kicking and screaming agreed.) to spend a bucket load of money on CANADIAN productions. CTV had to do this when they bought CTV (ed. the first time). They financed a sitcom 100%, no CTF, to burn off the cash and then return to your regularly schduled CSI. But they erred because they didn't pay attention and Corner Gas became a hit (ed. canadian stylin', know what I'm saying?). It was kind of embarrassing because they had wanted another Blackfly so they could point out how fruitless it was trying to do homegrown TV. They did their best to knock it out moving it around the schedule and doing little promotion but gosh darn it kept chugging along and people liked it. (ed. you like it, you really - )
Anyway, now they'll spend a bunch of money on a breakfast show, the highlight will be watching the Grade 6 class of Upper Kenctisowaken singing Jingle Bells at Christmas. (ed. There's cousin LuAnn!.) It'll be spent "in the community", (ed. In the gritty, real streets, no less) and they can brag about ratings when they beat the tired Breakfast TV. (ed. 3 Toddlers vs 2 Toddlers is a 50% bushwackin!)
Wonder if the retired-to-Chester jim Shaw will be up and watching.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Film Tax Credit - I Have a Sinking Feeling
Been thinking about this whole CEO abandoning ship thing, then I saw an article that said Saskatchewan is cutting it's film tax credit because it's too expensive. It costs the province $8 Million a year. Last year New Brunswick cut their's because it cost $4 Million a year.
Last year Nova Scotia's tax credit cost $22 Million.
$22,000,000.
And with the NDP needing money to throw at the dying paper industry, to help it limp along until workers are too old to work, this might be the place to find it.
Maybe someone saw the light and didn't want to be the one in the driver's seat when the bus crashed. And crash it will.
I don't want to fear monger (ed. Monger away!) but without the tax credit, this industry is, you know, done.
Originally designed to develop the industry, it has instead become relied on so much that local producers would not be able to finance projects. And foreign producers would just go to Vermont or whereever, that does have a tax credit. (ed. Whoa, you mean Tomm Selleck's not coming back?) Even DHX relies mightily on it to continue. Maybe Michael Donovan also saw the writing on the wall and that's why he's getting into the business of buying other businesses for overseas and merchandising revenue. (ed. Another cup of Yo Gabba Jabba Java, Joe?)
But let's not think the worst. Yet.
Last year Nova Scotia's tax credit cost $22 Million.
$22,000,000.
And with the NDP needing money to throw at the dying paper industry, to help it limp along until workers are too old to work, this might be the place to find it.
Maybe someone saw the light and didn't want to be the one in the driver's seat when the bus crashed. And crash it will.
I don't want to fear monger (ed. Monger away!) but without the tax credit, this industry is, you know, done.
Originally designed to develop the industry, it has instead become relied on so much that local producers would not be able to finance projects. And foreign producers would just go to Vermont or whereever, that does have a tax credit. (ed. Whoa, you mean Tomm Selleck's not coming back?) Even DHX relies mightily on it to continue. Maybe Michael Donovan also saw the writing on the wall and that's why he's getting into the business of buying other businesses for overseas and merchandising revenue. (ed. Another cup of Yo Gabba Jabba Java, Joe?)
But let's not think the worst. Yet.
FilmNovaScotia - What the? (Gregor To Step In?)
This week Anne MacKenzie, CEO, announced that she was moving on to the next stage of her career. Yikes, leaving behind $150K+ a year and travel to France, Los Angeles, Banff, it must be quite the job she heading to. The job offer must have come out of the blue because she's only given the Board 2 weeks notice. Usually there's like a passing of the torch period where the old CEO show the new CEO where the keys to the mansion are kept.
Meanwhile allnovascotia.com is reportig that Gregor Ash, who ran the Atlantic Film Festival was probably the likely candidate for the job. He's seen a lot of films, knows the movers and shakers in the industry and he's NDP - Ta Dah!
Was this predetermined? Fate? A lucky coincidence? Stay tuned.
Meanwhile allnovascotia.com is reportig that Gregor Ash, who ran the Atlantic Film Festival was probably the likely candidate for the job. He's seen a lot of films, knows the movers and shakers in the industry and he's NDP - Ta Dah!
Was this predetermined? Fate? A lucky coincidence? Stay tuned.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Telefilm Surrenders
Been a while since I blogged...blah, blah, blah, but I'm back with my handy editor Lunchmeat Harold. (ed: Howdy)
Spring is nearing and with it news that Telefilm has re-vamped the way they'll be financing the developing and producing films. Turns out now that if you want to make a movie with Telefilm money all you need to have done is made a movie before. (ed: With Telefilm money.)
After years of piss-poor box office, the federal funding agency has just handed over the keys and handed the cheque book to the producers who have a "track record"; i.e. made a movie in the past five years. (Ed: If you made 2, you get to roll up the rim for a chance at a free donut!)
It doesn't matter if nobody saw your movie or if it made a dollar (Ed: That would be an exclusive club in itself.), as long as it showed in some theatre sometime, you sir/madam/other are a "sucessful Canadian producer" and they would like you to do it again please! But this time with no more of that meddlesome vetting of the script, agonizing over whether it was good or not, just go, go, make another. We'll just stand here and suck shrimp cocktail and hold town halls (ed: Maybe somewhere nice this year, like Paris!)
Really they seemed to be just going through the motions anyway so let's stop fretting and make Passcendale II: The Muddening or re-do Whirleygig and this time let the father talk and maybe he'll say something interesting.
So all the reviewing and paperwork is no more, which is good. But for young filmmakers, um, sorry, maybe you should think about heading south. Went to film school, worked 2 jobs to live while you wrote an awesome script? Sorry, Sarah Polley has a new movie she needs our millions for (Ed: Something about middle-aged or old people with feelings) and David Cronenberg, well, he's back, he couldn't get any work in the states and he is a national treasure.
Listen, keep, sweating it our and maybe in a couple of years we'll hand you $100,000 to make a "film". Get all your friends and family to help and chip in; it'll be a hoot! Then stick it on the internet or whatever yoou kids do, we have a red carpet in Toronto for Atom's newest homage to the suffering people of somewhere.
All this was not a surprise, in fact last fall, Paul Gross broke ground on a new mansion near Toronto and the Trailer Park Boys are already out beating the bushes (Ed: snicker) appealing to their fan base to contribute money to make their next film. (Ed: Do they say the F word? Funding?"
In Other News:
The CBC has tried a new strategy also; they've decided to make sitcoms the old fashioned way; "funny".
After the atrotious 2nd season of InSecurity they gave us Mr. D which actually made me laugh.
Alas, I must go now, "Lights out" time. Till next time.
BTW, anyone know whatever happened to Jay Dahl's monster film? Or Rollertown? Still waiting to see them.
Spring is nearing and with it news that Telefilm has re-vamped the way they'll be financing the developing and producing films. Turns out now that if you want to make a movie with Telefilm money all you need to have done is made a movie before. (ed: With Telefilm money.)
After years of piss-poor box office, the federal funding agency has just handed over the keys and handed the cheque book to the producers who have a "track record"; i.e. made a movie in the past five years. (Ed: If you made 2, you get to roll up the rim for a chance at a free donut!)
It doesn't matter if nobody saw your movie or if it made a dollar (Ed: That would be an exclusive club in itself.), as long as it showed in some theatre sometime, you sir/madam/other are a "sucessful Canadian producer" and they would like you to do it again please! But this time with no more of that meddlesome vetting of the script, agonizing over whether it was good or not, just go, go, make another. We'll just stand here and suck shrimp cocktail and hold town halls (ed: Maybe somewhere nice this year, like Paris!)
Really they seemed to be just going through the motions anyway so let's stop fretting and make Passcendale II: The Muddening or re-do Whirleygig and this time let the father talk and maybe he'll say something interesting.
So all the reviewing and paperwork is no more, which is good. But for young filmmakers, um, sorry, maybe you should think about heading south. Went to film school, worked 2 jobs to live while you wrote an awesome script? Sorry, Sarah Polley has a new movie she needs our millions for (Ed: Something about middle-aged or old people with feelings) and David Cronenberg, well, he's back, he couldn't get any work in the states and he is a national treasure.
Listen, keep, sweating it our and maybe in a couple of years we'll hand you $100,000 to make a "film". Get all your friends and family to help and chip in; it'll be a hoot! Then stick it on the internet or whatever yoou kids do, we have a red carpet in Toronto for Atom's newest homage to the suffering people of somewhere.
All this was not a surprise, in fact last fall, Paul Gross broke ground on a new mansion near Toronto and the Trailer Park Boys are already out beating the bushes (Ed: snicker) appealing to their fan base to contribute money to make their next film. (Ed: Do they say the F word? Funding?"
In Other News:
The CBC has tried a new strategy also; they've decided to make sitcoms the old fashioned way; "funny".
After the atrotious 2nd season of InSecurity they gave us Mr. D which actually made me laugh.
Alas, I must go now, "Lights out" time. Till next time.
BTW, anyone know whatever happened to Jay Dahl's monster film? Or Rollertown? Still waiting to see them.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Drunk and On Drugs Happy Funtime Hour - Where Art Thoust
Hi Folks, We actually had someone answer some questions posed in our last blog post. "We are family, I got all my sisters -" (ed. Get on with it, I have to go out into the sun before the recapture or whatever it is on Saturday)
Apparently the "Drunk and On Drugs Happy Funtime Hour" a new series from the Trailer Park Boys has not shown up on Showcase as originally scheduled. Frank magazine opined that it was a potato too hot (ed. offensive, racist, sexist, etc.ist) and weren't going to show it. But I was e-mailed that it was being "burned off" on another Showcase/Global network perhaps higher in the Tiers.
No trace of it on the Showcase website, (ed. somebody should really update that thing with, I don't know, Current Information!) There is a facebook page set up and in response to the question, the keepers responded that it may be shown in June/July. We'll keep on top of this hot potato.
Say I never got a response to my query for box office numbers from my last post from telefilm. Better e-mail them again. They're probably busy watching top-notch filims.
Apparently the "Drunk and On Drugs Happy Funtime Hour" a new series from the Trailer Park Boys has not shown up on Showcase as originally scheduled. Frank magazine opined that it was a potato too hot (ed. offensive, racist, sexist, etc.ist) and weren't going to show it. But I was e-mailed that it was being "burned off" on another Showcase/Global network perhaps higher in the Tiers.
No trace of it on the Showcase website, (ed. somebody should really update that thing with, I don't know, Current Information!) There is a facebook page set up and in response to the question, the keepers responded that it may be shown in June/July. We'll keep on top of this hot potato.
Say I never got a response to my query for box office numbers from my last post from telefilm. Better e-mail them again. They're probably busy watching top-notch filims.
Friday, 25 March 2011
My What a Lovely Quarter
So there's a whole bunch of stuff happening RIGHT NOW! My editor for today and everyday is Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy).
So Picnicface started shooting their series today. Seems like yesterday these kids were shooting 8mm films of themselves goofing around and now here they are making funny on The Comedy Network. (ed. where comedy goes to die?). But these kids are smart and funny (ed. You're sure they're on The Comedy Channel?) and young enough to - GO TO THE STATES! GO RUN NOW, WHILE YOU HAVE A CHANCE!!!
Coincidentilly, the "Upfronts" are happening in L.A. This is where the U.S. networks invite Canadian networks to come on down, party like it's 1999 and buy your self some good ole Yankee TV. "
Have some more champagne, Yeeehaaaa. Quick CTV, Global's looking this way. This show rat here may be this year's "Modern Love". Oh, bad example, but you should buy it so no one else in Canader will have it. You buy this and we'll throw in a half-season of a Paul Reiser show. He's very popular, sort of like an American version of, um, oh right you ain't got no TV stars up there. Is your'all television in color yet?" (ed. ooo, left out the "u" . Good one).
Other than that there's Wipeout Canada (ed. shouldn't that have "TV Industry" on the end of it?) airing on TVTropolis which is basically the American Wipeout made with your tax dollars.
Speaking of PicnicFace, where's their movie? It was shot about a year ago and no sign yet. And where's producer Jay Dahl's other film the monster one? That was shot like three years ago. And Paul Kimball's "Eternal Kiss"?
Speaking of Canadian films, I have not seen any reviews for Whirlygig, Chaz Thorne's recent film. (ed. Well, there was The Coast - oh yeah, nevermind). Apparently it was held over for a second week. That's major for a Canadian Film. Has it stayed for a third week? Is it any good? (ed. this matters because...?) How much money did it take in? In fact how much money did Hobo With a Shotgun take in? Maybe I'll just go ask Telefilm. Hang on, brb.
" Hi Telefilm, how are you? I'm good.
I write a blog that reports on film and television in Canada and more specifically, Halifax. I understand that Telefilm invested in several local features including "Whirlygig" and "Hobo With a Shotgun". I'm wondering if you could send me any statistics you have on box office dollars for these two films. Oh, and "The Corridor" too.
Also, "Gunless".
Thank you for your time."
There, just interested. We'll just wait for them to send those numbers back to me.
Oh and speaking of numbers, it looks like production or whatever is gradually moving from Toronto to Halifax by the appropriately named Halifax Film Company (Full disclosure, the writer owns 1000 shares of said halifax - I mean DHX- shares.(ed.Sounds like an awesome bike!)
I think a lot of it has to do with FilmNS taking the production cap off the NS tax credit. Because animation is so labour intensive, it makes up most of the cost of a TV show but the 25% production cap always limited how much a company could claim. Now we can claim 50% of all the labour which will be a pretty penny indeed. (ed. FYI Nova Scotia's the closest thing we have to Asia). Also they've made the residency requirements easier (ed. i.e. vaguer) so anybody moving here to work, who's living here now, who has a parent living (ed. or deceased) here, once saw a postcard of Nova Scotia or drank a Keith's beer is now considered a resident. The beauty part of this is that previously if DHX needed money to produce a show, it had to go cap in gown (ed. that's "hand") to FilmNS, fill out a form and submit an application with "othes". And there was the sometime chance that the province ran out of money. And they would have been "partners" with the province and share any potential revenue (ed. See "Coming to America"). Opening up the Tax Credits makes like so much easier and pradictable and moneyful. And it's absolutely unlimited with no one over their should watching them spend "their" money (ed. Suck that Department of Finance!)
So I'm going to close now but there are still so many unanswered questions that i won't go on and on and on - (ed. Got it) about. I'll just put them in question form.
- How many films are currently shooting in the Shelburne studios?
- Where's the new TPB TV series? Frank magazine said some lss than complementary things about the show a while back. It was shot last spring but has yet to be shown on Showcase.
Finally, a quick shoutout to FilmNS CEO Ann MacKenzie and staff who are currently working for you and me on the beaches of Cannes. The province will surely benefit from their presence there because...um, well, they show films, it's not really a place to pitch locations, but I'm sure it's money well spent.
Goodnight and stay out of the rain.
Oh and if anybody can give me an honest review of the aforementioned films please do.
This film festival
So Picnicface started shooting their series today. Seems like yesterday these kids were shooting 8mm films of themselves goofing around and now here they are making funny on The Comedy Network. (ed. where comedy goes to die?). But these kids are smart and funny (ed. You're sure they're on The Comedy Channel?) and young enough to - GO TO THE STATES! GO RUN NOW, WHILE YOU HAVE A CHANCE!!!
Coincidentilly, the "Upfronts" are happening in L.A. This is where the U.S. networks invite Canadian networks to come on down, party like it's 1999 and buy your self some good ole Yankee TV. "
Have some more champagne, Yeeehaaaa. Quick CTV, Global's looking this way. This show rat here may be this year's "Modern Love". Oh, bad example, but you should buy it so no one else in Canader will have it. You buy this and we'll throw in a half-season of a Paul Reiser show. He's very popular, sort of like an American version of, um, oh right you ain't got no TV stars up there. Is your'all television in color yet?" (ed. ooo, left out the "u" . Good one).
Other than that there's Wipeout Canada (ed. shouldn't that have "TV Industry" on the end of it?) airing on TVTropolis which is basically the American Wipeout made with your tax dollars.
Speaking of PicnicFace, where's their movie? It was shot about a year ago and no sign yet. And where's producer Jay Dahl's other film the monster one? That was shot like three years ago. And Paul Kimball's "Eternal Kiss"?
Speaking of Canadian films, I have not seen any reviews for Whirlygig, Chaz Thorne's recent film. (ed. Well, there was The Coast - oh yeah, nevermind). Apparently it was held over for a second week. That's major for a Canadian Film. Has it stayed for a third week? Is it any good? (ed. this matters because...?) How much money did it take in? In fact how much money did Hobo With a Shotgun take in? Maybe I'll just go ask Telefilm. Hang on, brb.
" Hi Telefilm, how are you? I'm good.
I write a blog that reports on film and television in Canada and more specifically, Halifax. I understand that Telefilm invested in several local features including "Whirlygig" and "Hobo With a Shotgun". I'm wondering if you could send me any statistics you have on box office dollars for these two films. Oh, and "The Corridor" too.
Also, "Gunless".
Thank you for your time."
There, just interested. We'll just wait for them to send those numbers back to me.
Oh and speaking of numbers, it looks like production or whatever is gradually moving from Toronto to Halifax by the appropriately named Halifax Film Company (Full disclosure, the writer owns 1000 shares of said halifax - I mean DHX- shares.(ed.Sounds like an awesome bike!)
I think a lot of it has to do with FilmNS taking the production cap off the NS tax credit. Because animation is so labour intensive, it makes up most of the cost of a TV show but the 25% production cap always limited how much a company could claim. Now we can claim 50% of all the labour which will be a pretty penny indeed. (ed. FYI Nova Scotia's the closest thing we have to Asia). Also they've made the residency requirements easier (ed. i.e. vaguer) so anybody moving here to work, who's living here now, who has a parent living (ed. or deceased) here, once saw a postcard of Nova Scotia or drank a Keith's beer is now considered a resident. The beauty part of this is that previously if DHX needed money to produce a show, it had to go cap in gown (ed. that's "hand") to FilmNS, fill out a form and submit an application with "othes". And there was the sometime chance that the province ran out of money. And they would have been "partners" with the province and share any potential revenue (ed. See "Coming to America"). Opening up the Tax Credits makes like so much easier and pradictable and moneyful. And it's absolutely unlimited with no one over their should watching them spend "their" money (ed. Suck that Department of Finance!)
So I'm going to close now but there are still so many unanswered questions that i won't go on and on and on - (ed. Got it) about. I'll just put them in question form.
- How many films are currently shooting in the Shelburne studios?
- Where's the new TPB TV series? Frank magazine said some lss than complementary things about the show a while back. It was shot last spring but has yet to be shown on Showcase.
Finally, a quick shoutout to FilmNS CEO Ann MacKenzie and staff who are currently working for you and me on the beaches of Cannes. The province will surely benefit from their presence there because...um, well, they show films, it's not really a place to pitch locations, but I'm sure it's money well spent.
Goodnight and stay out of the rain.
Oh and if anybody can give me an honest review of the aforementioned films please do.
This film festival
Monday, 14 March 2011
Hobo With a Shotgun - Embarrassing ?
Dear Friends as I write this something amazing is happening in this country.
Hi, I'm Stuart Sutcliffe the 4th, the 18th Beatle. (ed. Not!. Hi I'm Bev Oda) Not.
Anyway, helping me blog tonight is the always breathing Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy)
The amazing thing that's happening in this great land of ours is that a Canadian movie is opening nationwide and people are actually either going to see it or looking forward to seeing it. (ed. Going Down the Road? Whirleygig?)
Hobo With a Shotgun is a small budget, Canadian (ed. redundant) movie (ed. Excuse me, we don't make movies, we make "films")
There are actual advertisements in the newspaper and the internet is all abuzz with chat on this movie. Is it any good?
No idea. Haven't seen it and since I can't leave the apartment, I probably won't see it until it's released on DVD.
Apparently this film is not for everyone, it's definitely a niche film with a lot of killing, bloodletting and senseless mayhem and fun.
People seem to like it and the reviews have been glowing. And there dear friends, is the problem.
Telefilm has invested in this project. But not because they wanted to.
There's no gay angels, no desperate failed dreams, no meandering, pointless plots; in short, nothing for Canada to tout at tents (ed. say that 5 times fast) at FilmFestivals as important "message" films that we do so much better than the Yanks (ed. and that no one will see).
This movie started as a trailer that won a Quentin Tarentino contest which meant it got exposed in the U.S. And on YouTube. So a lot of people saw it, and liked it and a buzz grew. And thus (ed. a little Biblical, aren't you) when asked, Telefilm was able to say, "nay, this is not for us. Too common and there's no Eqoyan's attached to this. It does not scream 'Canada' in a 'put it in a box and forget about it way'. We can't finance this." Then they went and had shrimp cocktails and held another meeting/party/red carpet.
But they forgot something. Years ago they had a review/plan/meeting/conference/report where they got all "that" and hissy and asked Producers across this great land, "Oh yeah? Well, since we suck so much at deciding what works, you tell us, smartypants, how shall we divide the pool of money that we have to spend this year."
And the wise producers went away and talked and conveneed and spent telefilm's money making reports with graphs and said "for the benefit of the marketplace and to encourage creativity, to foster growth within the industry and help Canada emerge as a powerplayer (ed. they talked like that?) we have decided the best way of spending the taxpayers money is for you to give it to us."
And the Telefilm leaders, all on salary, with bonuses not attached to performance said "what the hell. This will give us Fridays off"
And thus ENVELOPES were born. So when Telefilm said no to Hobo and went off to have more shrimp cocktails, a producer, nay ProducerS stepped up and said "Wait! we've made a lot of films at taxpayers expense and we've got a pocket of money we have to spend. Let's give it to these kids to make their little Hobo film."
More tomorrow on this.
Hi, I'm Stuart Sutcliffe the 4th, the 18th Beatle. (ed. Not!. Hi I'm Bev Oda) Not.
Anyway, helping me blog tonight is the always breathing Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy)
The amazing thing that's happening in this great land of ours is that a Canadian movie is opening nationwide and people are actually either going to see it or looking forward to seeing it. (ed. Going Down the Road? Whirleygig?)
Hobo With a Shotgun is a small budget, Canadian (ed. redundant) movie (ed. Excuse me, we don't make movies, we make "films")
There are actual advertisements in the newspaper and the internet is all abuzz with chat on this movie. Is it any good?
No idea. Haven't seen it and since I can't leave the apartment, I probably won't see it until it's released on DVD.
Apparently this film is not for everyone, it's definitely a niche film with a lot of killing, bloodletting and senseless mayhem and fun.
People seem to like it and the reviews have been glowing. And there dear friends, is the problem.
Telefilm has invested in this project. But not because they wanted to.
There's no gay angels, no desperate failed dreams, no meandering, pointless plots; in short, nothing for Canada to tout at tents (ed. say that 5 times fast) at FilmFestivals as important "message" films that we do so much better than the Yanks (ed. and that no one will see).
This movie started as a trailer that won a Quentin Tarentino contest which meant it got exposed in the U.S. And on YouTube. So a lot of people saw it, and liked it and a buzz grew. And thus (ed. a little Biblical, aren't you) when asked, Telefilm was able to say, "nay, this is not for us. Too common and there's no Eqoyan's attached to this. It does not scream 'Canada' in a 'put it in a box and forget about it way'. We can't finance this." Then they went and had shrimp cocktails and held another meeting/party/red carpet.
But they forgot something. Years ago they had a review/plan/meeting/conference/report where they got all "that" and hissy and asked Producers across this great land, "Oh yeah? Well, since we suck so much at deciding what works, you tell us, smartypants, how shall we divide the pool of money that we have to spend this year."
And the wise producers went away and talked and conveneed and spent telefilm's money making reports with graphs and said "for the benefit of the marketplace and to encourage creativity, to foster growth within the industry and help Canada emerge as a powerplayer (ed. they talked like that?) we have decided the best way of spending the taxpayers money is for you to give it to us."
And the Telefilm leaders, all on salary, with bonuses not attached to performance said "what the hell. This will give us Fridays off"
And thus ENVELOPES were born. So when Telefilm said no to Hobo and went off to have more shrimp cocktails, a producer, nay ProducerS stepped up and said "Wait! we've made a lot of films at taxpayers expense and we've got a pocket of money we have to spend. Let's give it to these kids to make their little Hobo film."
More tomorrow on this.
Monday, 7 March 2011
Marches In Like a Lion With the Swords and Stuff that you see on Coats of Arms. Or is it Coat of Arms?
So yeah, busy, busy, busy last couple of months. And I have to be quick because I'm stealing (ed. sharing in the greater good) wifi from the neighbour. I just wish he hadn't called his network "Hey Porn!". Anyway, who am I to judge. I can't afford internet and the new TV cable rates that Eastlink has imposed, but they have a perfectly good reason for hiking the rates. I'm sure. Otherwise Billionairre John Bragg wouldn't. I guess.
My editor tonight is the indafatigueable Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy).
So Men With Broom has been cancelled. (ed. I believe they use the term "not re-newed" or "failed" or "sucked"). can't comment, never saw it (ed. Neither did -) Anyway CBC announced next years line up which includes the ever popular Rick Mercer (ed. duh), Blades of Glory (ed. duh) and InSecurity (ed. D - really?).
CTV and Global (ed. Shaw!) announced their american programs so we're alright there. Don't know why I'm paying for the same programs twice but what the hell, actually I'm not. (ed. Shush)
Oh, Harold went to various Christmas parties. Since I can't leave the apartment he's my ears and eyes and I guess taste buds. Harold?
(ed. Old news now but I went to the FilmNS party at the Halifax club. Two free drink tickets were nice but there could have been better snacks. That greenish cheese left me bound up for days. Anyway, there were new boardmembers there and Jeff Rosen and Michael Donovan. Luckily FilmNS CEO, President, Commander in Chief Ann MacKenzie was wise enough to keep the important people rounded up and she ran interference anytime any "norm" approached.
I was also at the panel they usually have for "hopefuls" to meet the broadcasters. Always a sad get-together but they had free coffee. Michael Donovan must have been at one of his vacation houses since this one was hosted by Charles "the Green Arrow" Bishop. The guy never ages, I swear. Anyway the whole laughable pretence of broadcasters down here to "explore Opportunities" was nostalgic. But you think Global would have at least played along but 2nd year in a row, they couldn't be bothered. And that's all the parties I went to.)
Wow, not like in my day when there was wall to wall parties. Even Telefilm had a national meeting before their party which I guess was a Pooper. Highlight was Telefilm saying that the 5% box office goal had not been achieved. So in the spirit of government they said they would not set that as a goal. Great! Any questions? Yes, Thom? Yes, your next film will be financed. Anyone else - ? No, can't here you...
Okay, gotta be quick. FilmNS also announced that the 25% cap on the tax credit is gone. Done. Finis! This was mostly done because animation uses a higher percentage of labour than normal production. I think we all know we have Michael Donovan to thank for this, I saw his picture in the paper when the press release was issued (ed. But Paul Rigg pestered the gov't - )
The beauty about this is that the gov't doesn't have to say "we've committed X number of dollars." That's always a drag the few times anyone even notices. Increasing the tax credit means we won't worry about paying it for years. Plus, (ed. full disclosure the blogger owns 1000 shares of DHX) there's none of the pesky asking FilmNS for money in competition with, shall we say, not so capitalistic entitities. And with the extra money being tax credits, the province is no longer an equity shareholder; i.e. the province owns parts of stuff it gives money to. (ed. See, even writing it out is hard to explain)
Other changes in the tax credit mean that the pesky living in NS rules to qualify for the tax credit rules will be loosened. Come on (ed. to your temporary) home Ontario animators.
Last thoughts "Hobo With a Shotgun" is doing extremely well (ed. Telefilm did not want to invest but Paul Gross's company did.) PicnicFace's "Rollertown" has gained a lot of momentum on-line and through Breakthrough's series deal with the group (ed. Telefilm did not want to invest).
Michael Clattenburg starts shooting "The Guys Who Moved Furniture" soon. (ed. can't imagine Telefilm wanting to be part of something titled like that but he has been successful in other things that Telefilm didn't want to sponsoer. Am I sensing a theme?)
K. Gotta go. BTW where is Eternal Kiss, Whirly Gig?
My editor tonight is the indafatigueable Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy).
So Men With Broom has been cancelled. (ed. I believe they use the term "not re-newed" or "failed" or "sucked"). can't comment, never saw it (ed. Neither did -) Anyway CBC announced next years line up which includes the ever popular Rick Mercer (ed. duh), Blades of Glory (ed. duh) and InSecurity (ed. D - really?).
CTV and Global (ed. Shaw!) announced their american programs so we're alright there. Don't know why I'm paying for the same programs twice but what the hell, actually I'm not. (ed. Shush)
Oh, Harold went to various Christmas parties. Since I can't leave the apartment he's my ears and eyes and I guess taste buds. Harold?
(ed. Old news now but I went to the FilmNS party at the Halifax club. Two free drink tickets were nice but there could have been better snacks. That greenish cheese left me bound up for days. Anyway, there were new boardmembers there and Jeff Rosen and Michael Donovan. Luckily FilmNS CEO, President, Commander in Chief Ann MacKenzie was wise enough to keep the important people rounded up and she ran interference anytime any "norm" approached.
I was also at the panel they usually have for "hopefuls" to meet the broadcasters. Always a sad get-together but they had free coffee. Michael Donovan must have been at one of his vacation houses since this one was hosted by Charles "the Green Arrow" Bishop. The guy never ages, I swear. Anyway the whole laughable pretence of broadcasters down here to "explore Opportunities" was nostalgic. But you think Global would have at least played along but 2nd year in a row, they couldn't be bothered. And that's all the parties I went to.)
Wow, not like in my day when there was wall to wall parties. Even Telefilm had a national meeting before their party which I guess was a Pooper. Highlight was Telefilm saying that the 5% box office goal had not been achieved. So in the spirit of government they said they would not set that as a goal. Great! Any questions? Yes, Thom? Yes, your next film will be financed. Anyone else - ? No, can't here you...
Okay, gotta be quick. FilmNS also announced that the 25% cap on the tax credit is gone. Done. Finis! This was mostly done because animation uses a higher percentage of labour than normal production. I think we all know we have Michael Donovan to thank for this, I saw his picture in the paper when the press release was issued (ed. But Paul Rigg pestered the gov't - )
The beauty about this is that the gov't doesn't have to say "we've committed X number of dollars." That's always a drag the few times anyone even notices. Increasing the tax credit means we won't worry about paying it for years. Plus, (ed. full disclosure the blogger owns 1000 shares of DHX) there's none of the pesky asking FilmNS for money in competition with, shall we say, not so capitalistic entitities. And with the extra money being tax credits, the province is no longer an equity shareholder; i.e. the province owns parts of stuff it gives money to. (ed. See, even writing it out is hard to explain)
Other changes in the tax credit mean that the pesky living in NS rules to qualify for the tax credit rules will be loosened. Come on (ed. to your temporary) home Ontario animators.
Last thoughts "Hobo With a Shotgun" is doing extremely well (ed. Telefilm did not want to invest but Paul Gross's company did.) PicnicFace's "Rollertown" has gained a lot of momentum on-line and through Breakthrough's series deal with the group (ed. Telefilm did not want to invest).
Michael Clattenburg starts shooting "The Guys Who Moved Furniture" soon. (ed. can't imagine Telefilm wanting to be part of something titled like that but he has been successful in other things that Telefilm didn't want to sponsoer. Am I sensing a theme?)
K. Gotta go. BTW where is Eternal Kiss, Whirly Gig?
Friday, 26 November 2010
Shelburne InSecurity
Okay, i'm very sorry I haven't blogged in a while but I've been very busy. (ed. Or very...tied up?)
*sigh* My editor tonight is again, the always loyal yet unamusing Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy) But yes, the holidays are sometimes a bit extra "too much" so I spent them "away" from the apartment in the care of some loved ones. (ed. enough " "'s? and btw, the orderlies loved you too. X 2 )
As my loyal readers know, I don't often leave my apartment (ed. unescorted, ((snicker))) so there have been a few trials and tribulations over the last few months. But anyways, I shall endevour to continue my sworn duty to report on the film and TV business in Halifax and beyond (ed. beeeeyyoonnnnddddddd).
Shelburne, Nova Scotia is poised to return to it's place as the apex of film production it used to enjoy back in the ....ummmm, (ed. Eternal Kiss?) For the past ? years the dynamic duo of Jim kendrick and Mary Barstow have readied us for Hollywood to come calling. Despite years of nothing besides promises these Americans with no film experience, convinced our government to give them a retired military base, including land, beachfront and buildings.
(ed. Gosh, sorry, someone seems to be having a hissy fit.)
Although they haven't paid a penny in property taxes, mortgage payments or the local Popsicle Pete distributor, they continue to - I'm sorry are we really this stupid in this province? These folks have tried to encourage Christian Filmmakers to come here as long as they have money up front, the "dad" faces DUI's in the province and apparently the son likes to pick fistfights with whoever. (ed. Thank you Frank, really the only true jornalism left in the province).
Why don't we just elect them to be MLA's and be done with it! (ed. - There we go, there's the pay off. Pheww)
Anyway, let's just gloss over Christmas. (ed. he's a bit bitter since they stopped running the Frank Mill's Tiny Dancer special.)
I watched the pilot for InSecurity, the latest comedy from CBC and I must say it was a breath of fresh air. I'm just coming off watching a Curb Your Enthusiasm/Barney Miller-a-thon and I could use the break from multi-dimensional character driven comedy. (ed. I hate those where you have to think. How can you twitter at the same time if you have to think and then laugh.)
My brain enjoyed the sabbatical from realistic situations and I eagerly shifted into nuetral as the jokes telegraphed themselves to my nostalgically grade 5 mind. It was like a cross between Get Smart/3's Company and Hanging with Mr. Cooper with just a hint of Blackfly. (ed. That's shows from three decades so I guess InSecurity is multi-generational.)
Sorry, it's "lights out" so I will continue later this week. But coutesy of allnovascotia.com (ed. this is TV related, sort of) John Bragg, the owner of cable TV/internet/telephone provider Eastlink, is a bit redfaced (ed. with success!) after he had to expose his value to the CRTC. Apparently the Nova Scotia Resident (ed. eat your heart out Newfoundlanders) is worth $771 Million dollars. But allnovascotia.com crunched some numbers and it turns out he may actually be a billionnairre. (ed. Like Thurston Howell!) Gosh darn it, the guy hates to bragg but the CRTC made him. (ed. really? The CRTC can do stuff?)
So he may be the making him the 39th or 50th richest man in Canada. (ed. Gotta be #1 in Nova Scotia).
But a listing in the millionairre top 100 (ed. Billionaire) is not always secure. Luckily the Nova Scotia Government has stepped up to the plate to help. The taxpayers of this province have offered John (ed. shucks, if we may.) a $5 Million loan to help his blueberry business.
Now, gasp, I know what you're all saying; why would the poorest province in the country help out one of the richest men in the country? There's a darn good reason -
(ed. sorry, at this point he fell asleep. I actually can't wait to hear his response. When I heard this news I was almost ashamed that our goverment would make this deal. But them I thought maybe the asker should be ashamed for asking. eh, what the hell do I know.)
Awake! Anyway, I'm always willing to help out a fellow maritimer down on his luck. In fact, completely involuntarily, but voluntarilly once I found out, I started paying $2 + more last month on my cable bill. Did the quality of my TV go up? Um, yes! (ed. BTW, not that I'm feeling paranoid but, can "they" trace where blogs come from?)
Anyway, we have other stuff to talk about, later this week - NSFilm Deeming Changes, No Production cap. Previously did away with $25 restriction. Plus The Green Arrow is spotted. Sorrye, maybe too many Cosmopolitans this evening but we'll ketchup. Meanwhile Hugs and Dishes!
*sigh* My editor tonight is again, the always loyal yet unamusing Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy) But yes, the holidays are sometimes a bit extra "too much" so I spent them "away" from the apartment in the care of some loved ones. (ed. enough " "'s? and btw, the orderlies loved you too. X 2 )
As my loyal readers know, I don't often leave my apartment (ed. unescorted, ((snicker))) so there have been a few trials and tribulations over the last few months. But anyways, I shall endevour to continue my sworn duty to report on the film and TV business in Halifax and beyond (ed. beeeeyyoonnnnddddddd).
Shelburne, Nova Scotia is poised to return to it's place as the apex of film production it used to enjoy back in the ....ummmm, (ed. Eternal Kiss?) For the past ? years the dynamic duo of Jim kendrick and Mary Barstow have readied us for Hollywood to come calling. Despite years of nothing besides promises these Americans with no film experience, convinced our government to give them a retired military base, including land, beachfront and buildings.
(ed. Gosh, sorry, someone seems to be having a hissy fit.)
Although they haven't paid a penny in property taxes, mortgage payments or the local Popsicle Pete distributor, they continue to - I'm sorry are we really this stupid in this province? These folks have tried to encourage Christian Filmmakers to come here as long as they have money up front, the "dad" faces DUI's in the province and apparently the son likes to pick fistfights with whoever. (ed. Thank you Frank, really the only true jornalism left in the province).
Why don't we just elect them to be MLA's and be done with it! (ed. - There we go, there's the pay off. Pheww)
Anyway, let's just gloss over Christmas. (ed. he's a bit bitter since they stopped running the Frank Mill's Tiny Dancer special.)
I watched the pilot for InSecurity, the latest comedy from CBC and I must say it was a breath of fresh air. I'm just coming off watching a Curb Your Enthusiasm/Barney Miller-a-thon and I could use the break from multi-dimensional character driven comedy. (ed. I hate those where you have to think. How can you twitter at the same time if you have to think and then laugh.)
My brain enjoyed the sabbatical from realistic situations and I eagerly shifted into nuetral as the jokes telegraphed themselves to my nostalgically grade 5 mind. It was like a cross between Get Smart/3's Company and Hanging with Mr. Cooper with just a hint of Blackfly. (ed. That's shows from three decades so I guess InSecurity is multi-generational.)
Sorry, it's "lights out" so I will continue later this week. But coutesy of allnovascotia.com (ed. this is TV related, sort of) John Bragg, the owner of cable TV/internet/telephone provider Eastlink, is a bit redfaced (ed. with success!) after he had to expose his value to the CRTC. Apparently the Nova Scotia Resident (ed. eat your heart out Newfoundlanders) is worth $771 Million dollars. But allnovascotia.com crunched some numbers and it turns out he may actually be a billionnairre. (ed. Like Thurston Howell!) Gosh darn it, the guy hates to bragg but the CRTC made him. (ed. really? The CRTC can do stuff?)
So he may be the making him the 39th or 50th richest man in Canada. (ed. Gotta be #1 in Nova Scotia).
But a listing in the millionairre top 100 (ed. Billionaire) is not always secure. Luckily the Nova Scotia Government has stepped up to the plate to help. The taxpayers of this province have offered John (ed. shucks, if we may.) a $5 Million loan to help his blueberry business.
Now, gasp, I know what you're all saying; why would the poorest province in the country help out one of the richest men in the country? There's a darn good reason -
(ed. sorry, at this point he fell asleep. I actually can't wait to hear his response. When I heard this news I was almost ashamed that our goverment would make this deal. But them I thought maybe the asker should be ashamed for asking. eh, what the hell do I know.)
Awake! Anyway, I'm always willing to help out a fellow maritimer down on his luck. In fact, completely involuntarily, but voluntarilly once I found out, I started paying $2 + more last month on my cable bill. Did the quality of my TV go up? Um, yes! (ed. BTW, not that I'm feeling paranoid but, can "they" trace where blogs come from?)
Anyway, we have other stuff to talk about, later this week - NSFilm Deeming Changes, No Production cap. Previously did away with $25 restriction. Plus The Green Arrow is spotted. Sorrye, maybe too many Cosmopolitans this evening but we'll ketchup. Meanwhile Hugs and Dishes!
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Falling, Falling, Falling...Like Madmen! (Get it? Cause it's Fall)
Okay, sorry it's been so long; things have been really hectic here. First my sister moved back in with her Brazilian husband and their child, then they moved out except they forgot to take the kid! She said it was just post-partum depression (ed. - Doesn't your mom still have that?) but I think she and hubby went for a mini-vacation while the child was here with me.
All alone. For two days! I have nothing against children, I just don't like them.
Anyhoo, on to the subject at hand - Nova Scotia TV and Film!
As usual, my editor is my friend Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy)
So I missed the Atlantic Film Festival this year. Again. On purpose. It just seems so cliquey since, well , forever. I always went to all the events when it was in it's infancey but... I watched it on Channel Ten and it was just like I was there. All talky and out of focus. Harold scored free tickets (ed. actually very few people actually pay. In the "in" crowd) and he saw some films. Apparently The Corridor was good and well, that's all he saw. (ed. I was sleepy).
Seaside Studios in Shelburne is rising up out of the haze. The American owners who "bought" the soundstage defaulted on, well just about everything; taxes, mortgage payments, suppliers, etc. My sources for all this is from allnovascotia.com (ed Harry Steele reads it) and Frank magazine whom I adore. And the Chronicle Herald for the press release official public version of events. The place went bankrupt and the owners hightailed it back to the states (ed. missed a court date for DUI, BTW, IYDM). But now they're back! With mysterious investors and they all want to make a lot of movies and bring a lot of money here. (ed. They wouldn't be looking for a little "seed" money from our gov't to let the investors know that we're serious here?) Surely the gov't wouldn't fall for that. Again. (ed. "gosh, they're Americans. And Americans make movies! I like movies. Garfield was hilarious! Not the sequel though."
Fitz 2 with Jason Priestly is shooting in the Annapolis Valley. So there's that. I should try and watch; I'll have to bit-torrent it as I can't afford the cable anymore.
In other news, those PicnicFace kids made a movie. For the last few years they've been making their own shorts their own way. Why? I don't know. But people have found them, fallen in love and watch them endlessly on YouTube. They also continue to perform live in downtown Halifax. For like five bucks. They are so naive, they're cute. Bill Niven produced their low budget film. And apparently they're going to have their own TV series on Comedy Network. (ed. that might make the name of the network less ironic). Anyway you kids blessed with only talent, you go girl(s) ...and boys. Hope Canadian film and TV reality doesn't crush your creative hearts too soon.
In national news, "Men With Brooms". Paul Gross, can you do no wrong? (ed. Apparently, if given enough Telefilm money.) I don't know what's wrong with Canadians that they're not tuning into a show about a bunch of guys they never heard of, curling. At least one person at the CBC thought this was a good idea.
Speaking of concepts, I'm also disappointed in you people about "Score". It's a musical about hockey, people! Shouldn't that draw in people who like musicals AND people who like hockey? (ed. I think the Venn diagram wis self-evident in this one).
(ed. - She: Honey, it's a movie about hockey!
He: Sounds great! Like Slapshot. Wait a minute. Do they sing? Because that would be stupid!
She: Olivia Newton John is in it.
He: Really? WTF? Maybe if it was Grease ONJ but...Jesus...
Speaking of Men With Brooms, it didn't win a Gemini but Spellchecker did! The spelling bee show won another statuette for the DHX trophy case (ed. it's right at the top of the stairs in their office.) won a Gemini. (ed. Didn't everybody? Except Men With Brooms which isn't eligible until next year.) Seriously I think this is the best million dollars the government has spent.
Speaking of DHX (ed. Full disclosure - the writer owns 1000 shares and is unnaturally passionate about the company), the bad times are over! I know I never said their were bad times but i didn't want to be negative. But the last few years have been kind of rough at DHX. But they cut expenses (ed. Employees were cut back. Managers gave up their six figure bonuses last year), and bought stuff that makes money and it looks like your tax dollars have not been spent in vain.
Acording to Michael Donovan DHX Media has seven series on the air. One of them Animal Mechanicals is doing well in the states on the HUB network. (ed. my DVR doesn't go up to the six figures). Michael doesn't want to say what the ratings are (ed. I thought ratings didn't matter only in Canada?), no one wants to quantify quality. Anyhow, this is the first quarter in a while that has a positive net income. And I'm no financial expert but I'm pretty sure that's a good thing.
One of the bright stars in the DHX family (ed. the best family are foreigners that you buy) is Wildbrain. Although revenues at DHX are low, there's plenty of cash! (ed. you're welcome Nova Scotia taxpayers) so they bought this American company that produces this show I've never heard of. According to Wikipedia, Wildbrain has a show on Nick Jr. in the states called Yo Gabba Gabba (ed. - my uncle made that same sound when he was choking on a sausage).
Speaking of which, here's part of the show. Maybe not to my taste but I can see why it's popular with pre-schoolers and college kids.
(ed. BTW, for an extra trippy afternoon, these guys are on tour with a live show. Mr. magic Mushroom is yummy in my tummy!)
And finally, I have to make note of a sadness. Powerpost has gone bankrupt. The passing of this "post house" is sad because it means a lot of post-production audio, animation and editing work will move to Ontario. But I feel bad for the guys who ran this place, I met them a long time ago, and I know that over the years they helped a lot, I mean a LOT, of newbies in the business with heavily discounted or even free work. It seemed they had the industry good in mind and maybe that's the problem. (ed. BTW DHX is up to $1.16/share.) Anyway, good to know you and good luck!
All alone. For two days! I have nothing against children, I just don't like them.
Anyhoo, on to the subject at hand - Nova Scotia TV and Film!
As usual, my editor is my friend Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy)
So I missed the Atlantic Film Festival this year. Again. On purpose. It just seems so cliquey since, well , forever. I always went to all the events when it was in it's infancey but... I watched it on Channel Ten and it was just like I was there. All talky and out of focus. Harold scored free tickets (ed. actually very few people actually pay. In the "in" crowd) and he saw some films. Apparently The Corridor was good and well, that's all he saw. (ed. I was sleepy).
Seaside Studios in Shelburne is rising up out of the haze. The American owners who "bought" the soundstage defaulted on, well just about everything; taxes, mortgage payments, suppliers, etc. My sources for all this is from allnovascotia.com (ed Harry Steele reads it) and Frank magazine whom I adore. And the Chronicle Herald for the press release official public version of events. The place went bankrupt and the owners hightailed it back to the states (ed. missed a court date for DUI, BTW, IYDM). But now they're back! With mysterious investors and they all want to make a lot of movies and bring a lot of money here. (ed. They wouldn't be looking for a little "seed" money from our gov't to let the investors know that we're serious here?) Surely the gov't wouldn't fall for that. Again. (ed. "gosh, they're Americans. And Americans make movies! I like movies. Garfield was hilarious! Not the sequel though."
Fitz 2 with Jason Priestly is shooting in the Annapolis Valley. So there's that. I should try and watch; I'll have to bit-torrent it as I can't afford the cable anymore.
In other news, those PicnicFace kids made a movie. For the last few years they've been making their own shorts their own way. Why? I don't know. But people have found them, fallen in love and watch them endlessly on YouTube. They also continue to perform live in downtown Halifax. For like five bucks. They are so naive, they're cute. Bill Niven produced their low budget film. And apparently they're going to have their own TV series on Comedy Network. (ed. that might make the name of the network less ironic). Anyway you kids blessed with only talent, you go girl(s) ...and boys. Hope Canadian film and TV reality doesn't crush your creative hearts too soon.
In national news, "Men With Brooms". Paul Gross, can you do no wrong? (ed. Apparently, if given enough Telefilm money.) I don't know what's wrong with Canadians that they're not tuning into a show about a bunch of guys they never heard of, curling. At least one person at the CBC thought this was a good idea.
Speaking of concepts, I'm also disappointed in you people about "Score". It's a musical about hockey, people! Shouldn't that draw in people who like musicals AND people who like hockey? (ed. I think the Venn diagram wis self-evident in this one).
(ed. - She: Honey, it's a movie about hockey!
He: Sounds great! Like Slapshot. Wait a minute. Do they sing? Because that would be stupid!
She: Olivia Newton John is in it.
He: Really? WTF? Maybe if it was Grease ONJ but...Jesus...
Speaking of Men With Brooms, it didn't win a Gemini but Spellchecker did! The spelling bee show won another statuette for the DHX trophy case (ed. it's right at the top of the stairs in their office.) won a Gemini. (ed. Didn't everybody? Except Men With Brooms which isn't eligible until next year.) Seriously I think this is the best million dollars the government has spent.
Speaking of DHX (ed. Full disclosure - the writer owns 1000 shares and is unnaturally passionate about the company), the bad times are over! I know I never said their were bad times but i didn't want to be negative. But the last few years have been kind of rough at DHX. But they cut expenses (ed. Employees were cut back. Managers gave up their six figure bonuses last year), and bought stuff that makes money and it looks like your tax dollars have not been spent in vain.
Acording to Michael Donovan DHX Media has seven series on the air. One of them Animal Mechanicals is doing well in the states on the HUB network. (ed. my DVR doesn't go up to the six figures). Michael doesn't want to say what the ratings are (ed. I thought ratings didn't matter only in Canada?), no one wants to quantify quality. Anyhow, this is the first quarter in a while that has a positive net income. And I'm no financial expert but I'm pretty sure that's a good thing.
One of the bright stars in the DHX family (ed. the best family are foreigners that you buy) is Wildbrain. Although revenues at DHX are low, there's plenty of cash! (ed. you're welcome Nova Scotia taxpayers) so they bought this American company that produces this show I've never heard of. According to Wikipedia, Wildbrain has a show on Nick Jr. in the states called Yo Gabba Gabba (ed. - my uncle made that same sound when he was choking on a sausage).
Speaking of which, here's part of the show. Maybe not to my taste but I can see why it's popular with pre-schoolers and college kids.
(ed. BTW, for an extra trippy afternoon, these guys are on tour with a live show. Mr. magic Mushroom is yummy in my tummy!)
And finally, I have to make note of a sadness. Powerpost has gone bankrupt. The passing of this "post house" is sad because it means a lot of post-production audio, animation and editing work will move to Ontario. But I feel bad for the guys who ran this place, I met them a long time ago, and I know that over the years they helped a lot, I mean a LOT, of newbies in the business with heavily discounted or even free work. It seemed they had the industry good in mind and maybe that's the problem. (ed. BTW DHX is up to $1.16/share.) Anyway, good to know you and good luck!
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Great Balls Of Fire!
Sorry Ladies (ed. and sensitive men) but this heat gets to me! If only I could store it up and use it in the winter when the apartment is frigid.
Anyway, as I type in front of the open fridge (ed. He doesn't pay for electricity and there's really only condiments in there anyway), it's time to see what's happening in the neighborhood. The Halifax TV/Film neighborhood, that is. My editor, as usual is my pal Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy)
So Sam Elliot (ed. apparently his moustache has it's own trailer) was/is in town to shoot a film. Along with Karen Allen (ed. Lord, she be the apple in my eye forever!). I'm not sure what they were working on but apparently they were in the valley and drank a lot of coffee.
And Sarah Polley (ed. smart and hot!) is in Louisberg shooting a feature film with Seth Rogan and Sarah Silverman. I, I, I never imagined any two of these being in a Louisberg setting shooting a film. What the hell is that? A time machine, foul languaged comedy that will make us cry?
Meanwhile I believe Haven has finished on the south shore, based on the fact it's airing on some Canadian station. Not seen it. And the same company that produced that Big Motion picture has started filming Meet Phil Fitz II after the successful screening of the first series on The Movie Network (ed. Actually they haven't aired yet.) But the always charming and always Canadian Jason Priestly is back, hopefully this time they will assign him a driver and not subject the elderly populace of Wolfville to his NASCAR type shenanigans.
"That's So Weird" was taped in front of a CBC crew this summer. Some kids show with a bunch of Toronto people who will be "Nova Scotian" for a crucial time of their lives. (ed. not puberty, he means the "end of the year" wink, wink)
The South Shore sound stage has apparently imploded (ed. Not literally) From what I can gather the Gov't put a bunch of money into building a soundstage near/in/on Shelburne because that would draw...millionaire producers, somehow. (ed. If you build it, they will come.) But apparently no one came. (ed. Except Virginia's Run and Eternal Kiss).
The story in a nutshell (ed. where it belongs) is this. The gov't put a bunch of money into the soundstage (ed. millions) because everybody would want to make a movie there. No one wanted to make a movie there. (ed. long story short). The gov't put it up for sale. Two CFA's (ed. with no soundstage/film experience) offered to buy it. The gov't said yes, you're American, you must know better than us. They "bought" it but didn't spend a dime of their own money. For several years they didn't pay the mortgage, they didn't pay taxes and they listed the property (ed. cut up in chuncks) on eBay for sale for more than they "paid" for it. (ed. Shout out to Frank for the info.) And now they've declared bankruptcy. Sigh.
Anyway, I went looking over the CMF results for the last Quarter ending March 31, 2010. this is money that you (ed. not us, we don't pay for cable) pays into a fund to help Canadian companies develop and produce Canadian shows. Locally, Halifax Film (DHX) received $1.7 Million dollars for Pirates II (ed. This isn't the paper machee head things, is it?). So my company (ed. the writer owns 1000 shares of DHX) may not have produced much last year but let's look forward, shall we? (ed. rhetorical, but yes, let's!)
For development funds DHX received $54,811 for "That's So Weird", $30,000 for "Boy Comedy" for Teletoon (ed. I'm hoping that's a working title) , "Big Monster Show" $51,910. (ed. I hope that's a - ) Never mind! And there's also "The Nation" for CTV $39,648. (ed. What the - ? ) So good news is that "we've" developed some shows without touching our $70M reserve. And we've cut a lot of the lower level grunt workers to reduce costs, and assigned a lot of salaries and overhead to the CBC. So let's stay in there for the long run people. We're still selling that jungle show to Equador so don't panic and drive the stock price down!
In other CMF results - The Candy Show (APTN) received $183,000, Jonathan Torrens Show received $202,000, and The Halifax Comedy Fest received $137,000 and $194,000. (ed., what the - double dipping?). the Trailer Park Boys, without Mike Clattenburg (ed. Let's see how that goes in the Showcase/Global world), received $853,000. (ed. You know, them boys seem to live high off the hog.)
And in other news, the Picnicface comedy troop which I projected great things of, years ago (go ahead check my archives) (ed. Yeah, guys like you are coming out of the closet now) are filming their first feature film "Rollertown" in the next week or so. But they say they don't have enough money and are raising funds via donations and goofy fundraising things. I thought it was all publicity but one of them was quoted as saying they don't really have enough money to complete the anticipated post-production. But would producer Bill Niven go into production knowing he didn'y have enough money to deliver a finished project? Would Telefilm commit funds knowing that? Ah, who knows. It's too hot.
I'm tired and sweaty. Still have to talk about the Atlantic Film Festival (ed. AFF) Geminis and other stuff soon.
Anyway, as I type in front of the open fridge (ed. He doesn't pay for electricity and there's really only condiments in there anyway), it's time to see what's happening in the neighborhood. The Halifax TV/Film neighborhood, that is. My editor, as usual is my pal Lunchmeat Harold (ed. Howdy)
So Sam Elliot (ed. apparently his moustache has it's own trailer) was/is in town to shoot a film. Along with Karen Allen (ed. Lord, she be the apple in my eye forever!). I'm not sure what they were working on but apparently they were in the valley and drank a lot of coffee.
And Sarah Polley (ed. smart and hot!) is in Louisberg shooting a feature film with Seth Rogan and Sarah Silverman. I, I, I never imagined any two of these being in a Louisberg setting shooting a film. What the hell is that? A time machine, foul languaged comedy that will make us cry?
Meanwhile I believe Haven has finished on the south shore, based on the fact it's airing on some Canadian station. Not seen it. And the same company that produced that Big Motion picture has started filming Meet Phil Fitz II after the successful screening of the first series on The Movie Network (ed. Actually they haven't aired yet.) But the always charming and always Canadian Jason Priestly is back, hopefully this time they will assign him a driver and not subject the elderly populace of Wolfville to his NASCAR type shenanigans.
"That's So Weird" was taped in front of a CBC crew this summer. Some kids show with a bunch of Toronto people who will be "Nova Scotian" for a crucial time of their lives. (ed. not puberty, he means the "end of the year" wink, wink)
The South Shore sound stage has apparently imploded (ed. Not literally) From what I can gather the Gov't put a bunch of money into building a soundstage near/in/on Shelburne because that would draw...millionaire producers, somehow. (ed. If you build it, they will come.) But apparently no one came. (ed. Except Virginia's Run and Eternal Kiss).
The story in a nutshell (ed. where it belongs) is this. The gov't put a bunch of money into the soundstage (ed. millions) because everybody would want to make a movie there. No one wanted to make a movie there. (ed. long story short). The gov't put it up for sale. Two CFA's (ed. with no soundstage/film experience) offered to buy it. The gov't said yes, you're American, you must know better than us. They "bought" it but didn't spend a dime of their own money. For several years they didn't pay the mortgage, they didn't pay taxes and they listed the property (ed. cut up in chuncks) on eBay for sale for more than they "paid" for it. (ed. Shout out to Frank for the info.) And now they've declared bankruptcy. Sigh.
Anyway, I went looking over the CMF results for the last Quarter ending March 31, 2010. this is money that you (ed. not us, we don't pay for cable) pays into a fund to help Canadian companies develop and produce Canadian shows. Locally, Halifax Film (DHX) received $1.7 Million dollars for Pirates II (ed. This isn't the paper machee head things, is it?). So my company (ed. the writer owns 1000 shares of DHX) may not have produced much last year but let's look forward, shall we? (ed. rhetorical, but yes, let's!)
For development funds DHX received $54,811 for "That's So Weird", $30,000 for "Boy Comedy" for Teletoon (ed. I'm hoping that's a working title) , "Big Monster Show" $51,910. (ed. I hope that's a - ) Never mind! And there's also "The Nation" for CTV $39,648. (ed. What the - ? ) So good news is that "we've" developed some shows without touching our $70M reserve. And we've cut a lot of the lower level grunt workers to reduce costs, and assigned a lot of salaries and overhead to the CBC. So let's stay in there for the long run people. We're still selling that jungle show to Equador so don't panic and drive the stock price down!
In other CMF results - The Candy Show (APTN) received $183,000, Jonathan Torrens Show received $202,000, and The Halifax Comedy Fest received $137,000 and $194,000. (ed., what the - double dipping?). the Trailer Park Boys, without Mike Clattenburg (ed. Let's see how that goes in the Showcase/Global world), received $853,000. (ed. You know, them boys seem to live high off the hog.)
And in other news, the Picnicface comedy troop which I projected great things of, years ago (go ahead check my archives) (ed. Yeah, guys like you are coming out of the closet now) are filming their first feature film "Rollertown" in the next week or so. But they say they don't have enough money and are raising funds via donations and goofy fundraising things. I thought it was all publicity but one of them was quoted as saying they don't really have enough money to complete the anticipated post-production. But would producer Bill Niven go into production knowing he didn'y have enough money to deliver a finished project? Would Telefilm commit funds knowing that? Ah, who knows. It's too hot.
I'm tired and sweaty. Still have to talk about the Atlantic Film Festival (ed. AFF) Geminis and other stuff soon.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
The Heat is On (This is a Post that looks like was never actually published so it's out of date. i blame the new (at the time) meds. Anyway, here it is.
Good Lord, it's hot! I have my fan up to the black button but still the apartment is stifling. I put it on swivel because it feels so good when it turns toward my face, after being off my face. I complain but there's others worse off than me. Well, actually that homeless guy out there is sleeping in the shade.
Anyway, what's happening in Halliwood?
I thought, not a lot but then I had an e-mail drop on my lap (ed. if only it were encased in ice) and my blogging finger may get a workout. As always, my editor is Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy.)
So "Afghan Luke" has wrapped production. This was a Mike Clattenburg "joint" filmed in B.C., for some reason. I thing it's about a loyal but conflicted dog, but I'm not sure.
"Cloudburst", a "filimm" by Thom Fitzgerald is still shooting in the province (ed. 2 will get you 5 there's a gay character) and "Jump the Broom" is also shooting with the lovely "Angela Basset". (ed. sigh)
"Happy Fun Time Drugs Hippies and Flatulence" the new show by the stars of TPB (ed. You don't have to write that out?) has completed filming. Apparently Amy Sedaris was in town for it. (ed. sigh)
And I thought that was all that was going on until I received the CTF (ed. CMF?) funding results in my box. There was a lot of stuff happening below the radar.
(ed. tch, if only someone out there would let you know).
"Man of a Thousand Songs" for Superchannel (ed. still alive?) producers Terry Greenlaw and William MacGillvrey (ed. Are they Newfoundland residents or Nova Scotian? Or do they have dual citizenship?)
"True Bromance" was developed for CBC by Jay Dahl.
Ocean Entertainment (ed. Producer of Chef Something) seems to be trying to branch out with "Criminal Makeover" in development for S-Vox (I thought we eliminated that with a vaccine) (ed. obviously EVERYONE needs a make-over once in a while) and "Radical Garage" for CTV?
John W. Chisholm's Arcadia (ed. is that spelled right?) produced Jonathan Torren's new TV show called..."TV With Jonathan Torrens" and they are in development on something called "Living Beauty" for CTV.
BTW, Rick Mercer's show received $3,580,111 from CTF. I'm not saying anything bad about the show (ed. It's adorable!) but if this is just part of the budget what the hell do they spend it on? Never mind, I don't want to know. (ed. can you move over, you're hogging the fan.) And This Hour received $2.1M but that's mostly star power salary so that's okay.
Now as many of you know I am an investor in HFX Films/Decode/Studio B/Bulldog (ed. his Father left him 1,000 shares) and I have been concerned lately because I hadn't heard anything was going on there. (ed. What were they doing? Sitting on their laurels? And stacks of investor cash?) The last i heard all they had going on was "something Idol" that they announced at Banff. But just going through the list of cable end users contributions I see they have been quite busy.
The list of projects in development includes (ed. Does not include Studio B and Decode projects which are CFA's):
"Big Monster Show" - CBC
"Befriend and Betray" - Global
"Boy Comedy" (ed. This sounds fishy) - Teletoon
"That's So Weird" - Now being produced for YTV at CBC Halifax studios
"The Nation" - CTV
What I like about this (ed. Beside the money?) is the fact that the pressure on the CTV/CBC/Global development people relaxes. No need to go through all those other submissions.
But besides devlopment DHX was in production last year on "Animal Mechanicals" (ed. $1.18M from CTF) and Pirates II ($1.7 M). God, they are so modest when it comes to making stuff.
And it warms my heart that DHX is on the cutting edge of (ed. mandated changes) multi-platformed entertainment delivery. Other platforms (ed. i.e. websites) were financed to the tune of $200,000 for 22 Minutes, $200,000 for Bo on the Go and $200, 000 for Pirates (ed. something tells me the maximum was $200,000)
This is sweet for various reasons. Joe and Joan Lunchpail's kids don't watch "TV" anymore. Everything is on-line. So creating content specifically for the computer generation is just da'bomb! Plus, really how much does it cost to set up a websiite and hire someone to cut and paste and type synopsis onto it?
Anyway, what's happening in Halliwood?
I thought, not a lot but then I had an e-mail drop on my lap (ed. if only it were encased in ice) and my blogging finger may get a workout. As always, my editor is Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy.)
So "Afghan Luke" has wrapped production. This was a Mike Clattenburg "joint" filmed in B.C., for some reason. I thing it's about a loyal but conflicted dog, but I'm not sure.
"Cloudburst", a "filimm" by Thom Fitzgerald is still shooting in the province (ed. 2 will get you 5 there's a gay character) and "Jump the Broom" is also shooting with the lovely "Angela Basset". (ed. sigh)
"Happy Fun Time Drugs Hippies and Flatulence" the new show by the stars of TPB (ed. You don't have to write that out?) has completed filming. Apparently Amy Sedaris was in town for it. (ed. sigh)
And I thought that was all that was going on until I received the CTF (ed. CMF?) funding results in my box. There was a lot of stuff happening below the radar.
(ed. tch, if only someone out there would let you know).
"Man of a Thousand Songs" for Superchannel (ed. still alive?) producers Terry Greenlaw and William MacGillvrey (ed. Are they Newfoundland residents or Nova Scotian? Or do they have dual citizenship?)
"True Bromance" was developed for CBC by Jay Dahl.
Ocean Entertainment (ed. Producer of Chef Something) seems to be trying to branch out with "Criminal Makeover" in development for S-Vox (I thought we eliminated that with a vaccine) (ed. obviously EVERYONE needs a make-over once in a while) and "Radical Garage" for CTV?
John W. Chisholm's Arcadia (ed. is that spelled right?) produced Jonathan Torren's new TV show called..."TV With Jonathan Torrens" and they are in development on something called "Living Beauty" for CTV.
BTW, Rick Mercer's show received $3,580,111 from CTF. I'm not saying anything bad about the show (ed. It's adorable!) but if this is just part of the budget what the hell do they spend it on? Never mind, I don't want to know. (ed. can you move over, you're hogging the fan.) And This Hour received $2.1M but that's mostly star power salary so that's okay.
Now as many of you know I am an investor in HFX Films/Decode/Studio B/Bulldog (ed. his Father left him 1,000 shares) and I have been concerned lately because I hadn't heard anything was going on there. (ed. What were they doing? Sitting on their laurels? And stacks of investor cash?) The last i heard all they had going on was "something Idol" that they announced at Banff. But just going through the list of cable end users contributions I see they have been quite busy.
The list of projects in development includes (ed. Does not include Studio B and Decode projects which are CFA's):
"Big Monster Show" - CBC
"Befriend and Betray" - Global
"Boy Comedy" (ed. This sounds fishy) - Teletoon
"That's So Weird" - Now being produced for YTV at CBC Halifax studios
"The Nation" - CTV
What I like about this (ed. Beside the money?) is the fact that the pressure on the CTV/CBC/Global development people relaxes. No need to go through all those other submissions.
But besides devlopment DHX was in production last year on "Animal Mechanicals" (ed. $1.18M from CTF) and Pirates II ($1.7 M). God, they are so modest when it comes to making stuff.
And it warms my heart that DHX is on the cutting edge of (ed. mandated changes) multi-platformed entertainment delivery. Other platforms (ed. i.e. websites) were financed to the tune of $200,000 for 22 Minutes, $200,000 for Bo on the Go and $200, 000 for Pirates (ed. something tells me the maximum was $200,000)
This is sweet for various reasons. Joe and Joan Lunchpail's kids don't watch "TV" anymore. Everything is on-line. So creating content specifically for the computer generation is just da'bomb! Plus, really how much does it cost to set up a websiite and hire someone to cut and paste and type synopsis onto it?
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Spring Cleaning
I was just doing a bit of cleaning when I found some older stuff behind the couch that I hadn't posted. (ed. Not covered in dust bunnies, are they?)
My editor as usual, is my friend Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy)
Halifax Film raised another $16.5 Million through a share offering some weeks (months?) (ed. It's all a blur to me too) They already have a lot of cash on hand and the government still owes them a lot of money from tax credits. (ed. Now we have to cash flow the government? Pay up you high rollers.)
So we're flush with cash (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX). And DHX intends to buy more and more companies that produce kids shows like the ones they already bought Decode and Studio B.
Sidebar, your honour, re share prices and Decode. (ed. relevence?) Isn't everything relevent, your honour? Aren't the singing birds relevent to a butterfly in Brazil who are relevent to the wrinkles on Abe Vigoda's scrotum? (ed. Whatever. Proceed.)
Per allnovascotia.com, a while back (ed. weeks? Months?) Yes, one of those, Exec VP at Decode, Beth Stevenson sold 200,000 shares of DHX stock at $1.05 to $1.16 a share. Over the last year she sold 400,000 shares, 169,000 of those @ $ 0.63 last June. Jeesh, somebody needed the cash. Should have waited, because they're trading at OVER $1.00, now. Whatsamatter, a temporary loss of faith? I wish I had the cash at the time, I would have bought them because I have the highest confidence in DHX. More than "some people" I could mention.
BTW, congrats to Beth on being a finalist in the IPF Multi-media o-rama. This was a "competition" where the winners would receive cash to finance web based entertainment shows. You know, TV on the internet that's so much more than TV on the internet. The competition is usually a place where struggling writer/director/animators get some money to live on while trying to develop projects and break into the business. Gosh, maybe Beth is struggling, after all.
Speaking of allnovascotia.com, yesterday they reported on an interview with Michael Donovan on the financial well being of Halifax Film. Although revenues are down because broadcasters are ordering fewer programs (ed. sigh, remember Global Television's early mornng kid's shows'o'rama?), an 11% cut in operational expenses (ed. the espresso/biscotti cart is no longer coming around?) should ease the pain of a Q1 loss.
And things are looking up (ed. look way up and I'll call Rusty. Heh, remember humans on kids shows?), one might say things are looking "toyetic". Animal Mechanicals, a hit in "Canada...U.K., Brazil and Poland" could be the knight in shining armor that we need. Toyetic, our word for the day, means this show will genrate sales of toys, games, T-shirt's, mongrammed L'il junior bathrobes, lollipops and all kinds of fine merchandise that kids will scream to own. The show, which I haven't seen, is apparently a Transformers for pre-schoolers but is supposed to teach co-operation (ed. Or some such crap. Who cares? I want my Animal Mechanical jumpsuit.
The key is a deal with a network in the states called The Hub. (ed. um, I fear that's not on basic cable.)
Speaking again of allnovascotia.com (ed. jeesh, why don't you just marry them?) they printed a letter (ed. I think you mean posted his e-mail, you hick.) from Paul Donovan who has nothing to do with DHX. Paul, apparently has just returned from working in Germany, on what, I do not know. I hope he was here in time to catch up on his old pal Rutger Hauer who just finished working on Hobo With a Shotgun, a local film produced by Paul Gross about a Hobo with something. (BTW, Paul Donovan, whatever happened to The Conclave?)
Anyway, Paul's letter was in support of PowerPost Productions Ltd which recently filed for bankruptcy protection. PowerPost, which does post-production work on TV and films, had started life as an arm of Salter Street Films. But they sold it to the Power Brothers (ed. just thinking out loud, that sounds like a cool name for a superhero show.) The company did a lot of work for DHX until they didn't anymore. Paul thinks the company is too inportant to the local industry and the government should step in and help them. (ed. tax credits, maybe?) Most production companies "are all struggling to get their next project financed" . "I think the film industry will soon discover that it's best days are behind it unless the province steps in and exerts some larger picture influence."
Troubling words indeed.
If PowerPost shuts down, DHX will have to ship stuff to Montreal for Post-production. Not only does that mean shipping costs but the post costs themselves won't count for the provincial film tax credit. (ed. Other local filmmakers may also - ).
This government better get off it's high horse soon if it wants to seen any return on it's investment. (ed. But they're not invest - ). Paul rarely speaks up about industry infastructure things (ed. Isn't he friends with - ) so you know this is important. It's time we think about others, don't you think, government with your money?
(He also mentions the millions of government dollars wasted on Elctropolis but it might not be the best time to bring that up.) (ed. Stop using brackets, that's my thing! And stop cutting me - )
So, um, yeah. I guess that's it with a few final notes. Our last post brought a few comments about Eternal Kiss, a film by Paul Kimball that had it's premier a month back (ed. or a few weeks, whatever.) A comment was made in less glowing terms that the film itself was not that good. But I've yet to hear any other reviews. Anybody else, see it?)
Film Nova Scotia was looking into setting up a local Film and TV Walk of Fame. Has this happened? Any ideas on who should be nominated to be the first filmmaker planted?
Walk of fame. Animal Mechanicals "Toyistic"
Walk of Fame
My editor as usual, is my friend Lunchmeat Harold. (ed. Howdy)
Halifax Film raised another $16.5 Million through a share offering some weeks (months?) (ed. It's all a blur to me too) They already have a lot of cash on hand and the government still owes them a lot of money from tax credits. (ed. Now we have to cash flow the government? Pay up you high rollers.)
So we're flush with cash (ed. Note: the author owns 1000 shares of DHX). And DHX intends to buy more and more companies that produce kids shows like the ones they already bought Decode and Studio B.
Sidebar, your honour, re share prices and Decode. (ed. relevence?) Isn't everything relevent, your honour? Aren't the singing birds relevent to a butterfly in Brazil who are relevent to the wrinkles on Abe Vigoda's scrotum? (ed. Whatever. Proceed.)
Per allnovascotia.com, a while back (ed. weeks? Months?) Yes, one of those, Exec VP at Decode, Beth Stevenson sold 200,000 shares of DHX stock at $1.05 to $1.16 a share. Over the last year she sold 400,000 shares, 169,000 of those @ $ 0.63 last June. Jeesh, somebody needed the cash. Should have waited, because they're trading at OVER $1.00, now. Whatsamatter, a temporary loss of faith? I wish I had the cash at the time, I would have bought them because I have the highest confidence in DHX. More than "some people" I could mention.
BTW, congrats to Beth on being a finalist in the IPF Multi-media o-rama. This was a "competition" where the winners would receive cash to finance web based entertainment shows. You know, TV on the internet that's so much more than TV on the internet. The competition is usually a place where struggling writer/director/animators get some money to live on while trying to develop projects and break into the business. Gosh, maybe Beth is struggling, after all.
Speaking of allnovascotia.com, yesterday they reported on an interview with Michael Donovan on the financial well being of Halifax Film. Although revenues are down because broadcasters are ordering fewer programs (ed. sigh, remember Global Television's early mornng kid's shows'o'rama?), an 11% cut in operational expenses (ed. the espresso/biscotti cart is no longer coming around?) should ease the pain of a Q1 loss.
And things are looking up (ed. look way up and I'll call Rusty. Heh, remember humans on kids shows?), one might say things are looking "toyetic". Animal Mechanicals, a hit in "Canada...U.K., Brazil and Poland" could be the knight in shining armor that we need. Toyetic, our word for the day, means this show will genrate sales of toys, games, T-shirt's, mongrammed L'il junior bathrobes, lollipops and all kinds of fine merchandise that kids will scream to own. The show, which I haven't seen, is apparently a Transformers for pre-schoolers but is supposed to teach co-operation (ed. Or some such crap. Who cares? I want my Animal Mechanical jumpsuit.
The key is a deal with a network in the states called The Hub. (ed. um, I fear that's not on basic cable.)
Speaking again of allnovascotia.com (ed. jeesh, why don't you just marry them?) they printed a letter (ed. I think you mean posted his e-mail, you hick.) from Paul Donovan who has nothing to do with DHX. Paul, apparently has just returned from working in Germany, on what, I do not know. I hope he was here in time to catch up on his old pal Rutger Hauer who just finished working on Hobo With a Shotgun, a local film produced by Paul Gross about a Hobo with something. (BTW, Paul Donovan, whatever happened to The Conclave?)
Anyway, Paul's letter was in support of PowerPost Productions Ltd which recently filed for bankruptcy protection. PowerPost, which does post-production work on TV and films, had started life as an arm of Salter Street Films. But they sold it to the Power Brothers (ed. just thinking out loud, that sounds like a cool name for a superhero show.) The company did a lot of work for DHX until they didn't anymore. Paul thinks the company is too inportant to the local industry and the government should step in and help them. (ed. tax credits, maybe?) Most production companies "are all struggling to get their next project financed" . "I think the film industry will soon discover that it's best days are behind it unless the province steps in and exerts some larger picture influence."
Troubling words indeed.
If PowerPost shuts down, DHX will have to ship stuff to Montreal for Post-production. Not only does that mean shipping costs but the post costs themselves won't count for the provincial film tax credit. (ed. Other local filmmakers may also - ).
This government better get off it's high horse soon if it wants to seen any return on it's investment. (ed. But they're not invest - ). Paul rarely speaks up about industry infastructure things (ed. Isn't he friends with - ) so you know this is important. It's time we think about others, don't you think, government with your money?
(He also mentions the millions of government dollars wasted on Elctropolis but it might not be the best time to bring that up.) (ed. Stop using brackets, that's my thing! And stop cutting me - )
So, um, yeah. I guess that's it with a few final notes. Our last post brought a few comments about Eternal Kiss, a film by Paul Kimball that had it's premier a month back (ed. or a few weeks, whatever.) A comment was made in less glowing terms that the film itself was not that good. But I've yet to hear any other reviews. Anybody else, see it?)
Film Nova Scotia was looking into setting up a local Film and TV Walk of Fame. Has this happened? Any ideas on who should be nominated to be the first filmmaker planted?
Walk of fame. Animal Mechanicals "Toyistic"
Walk of Fame
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