Journal

March 23, 1998 Playback Staff Share

- PolyGram non-prop to Red Sky

On the heels of a video output deal between PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Vancouver distribco Red Sky Entertainment, the two companies have entered into a non-exclusive theatrical distribution arrangement that will see Red Sky distributing PolyGram’s non-proprietary films.

Under the terms of the deal, Red Sky will execute the theatrical release of certain films from PolyGram across Canada, with the exclusion of Quebec.

First up under the two-year agreement is No Looking Back, the new romantic drama from director Edward Burns, starring Lauren Holly, Jon Bon Jovi and Burns. Other upcoming releases include Go Now from writer/ director Michael Winterbottom and Clay Pigeons, starring Vince Vaughan and Joaquin Phoenix.

- DTH ruling overturned

The Canadian Association of Film Distributors and Exporters says it is seriously considering a formal Cabinet appeal of the crtc’s March 13th decision to remove conditions from Allarcom Pay Television’s dth pay-per-view licence benefiting Canadian distributors.

The removed conditions required dth ppv providers to purchase non-proprietary feature film rights from Canadian distributors and to split gross ppv revenues from feature films equally three ways between the domestic dth company, the ppv licensee and the film rights holder.

‘The commission didn’t even read its own decision of two years ago,’ says cafde president Richard Paradis, referring to a previous crtc decision imposing non-proprietary rights conditions in all dth licences. The decision came under a u.s. studio-driven attack that was successfully defended before both federal Cabinet and the Federal Court of Appeals.

- Global deal for Insight

Toronto’s Insight Productions has signed on Global Television as a broadcaster for its coming-of-age series Hockey Boys, which is currently in development.

Insight exec producer John Brunton, who created the series with Pete Mitchell (Madison, The Rez), is hoping to begin production on at least 13 episodes as soon as scripts can be completed and financing structures finalized.

Brunton estimates Hockey Boys will be budgeted at between $375,000 and $400,000 per episode.

- L.A. firm sues Behaviour

Montreal’s Behaviour Communications is being sued for us$50 million in the Superior Court of California by Virtual Image Productions. The matter apparently relates to the development and distribution of certain multimedia games.

Behaviour has retained u.s. counsel to act on its behalf and contends that ‘the lawsuit is frivolous and totally without foundation and will not have any adverse impact on operations.’

Behaviour’s agm is slated for the morning of March 26 in Montreal.

- Temple in Emmy running

In His Father’s Shoes, produced by Toronto’s Temple Street Productions, has been nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards: best children’s special, best directing in a children’s special (Vic Sarin), best writing in a children’s special (Gary Gelt), and two for best performer in a children’s special (Louis Gossett Jr. and Robert Ri’chard).

Produced by Patrick Whitley and Dan Redler, the film tells the story of a young boy transported back in time to experience his father’s troubled childhood.

In His Father’s Shoes was produced in association with Showtime Networks, Hallmark Entertainment and Citytv.

- Arthur grows to syndie #s

Montreal’s Cinar Films and pbsbroadcaster and flagship station WGBH Boston will produce an additional 15 episodes of the animated series Arthur, bringing the total number of episodes to 65.

The new episodes will be broadcast on pbs in October. Arthur is currently the #1-rated children’s show on pbs and is in its second season. In Canada, Arthur airs on tvontario, cfcf-tv Montreal, A-Channel, mtn, bctv and in French on Radio-Canada.

- Alliance Sins

Principal photography begins March 30 in Miami on 13 episodes of Alliance Communications’ and Chesler/Perlmutter’s new television series for USA Network, now working titled Shades of Sin.

Produced by Lewis Chesler and David Perlmutter as part of their overall deal with Alliance, Chesler and Steve Feke are exec producing.

The series, set to begin airing on usa in July, follows an ‘ethically flawed ex-cop through the morally ambiguous boundaries of humanity while examining the sin behind the crime.’ Alliance has worldwide distribution rights.

- Vidatron series renewed

Vancouver-based Vidatron Entertainment Group and subsidiary Sugar Entertainment have received a 22-episode order from Showtime Networks for a second season of Dead Man’s Gun.

Created by Ed and Howard Spielman, creators of the Kung Fu and The Young Riders series, Dead Man’s Gun is executive produced by Henry Winkler and produced by Larry Sugar.

In Canada, the first season of Dead Man’s Gun was licensed by CHUM Television and premiered Jan. 9.

MGM Worldwide Television is the series’ international distributor.

Currently, Vidatron is in preproduction on the one-hour series First Wave and recently wrapped Electric Playground, a half-hour magazine style series profiling the video game industry, coproduced with Greedy Productions.

- Who’s Who wants you

The Academy of Canadian Film and Television’s last edition of Who’s Who In Canadian Film and Television was published in 1992, and a fifth edition is now in the works.

Listings are free and forms are available through the Academy offices. Deadline for submissions is April 13.

For info call (416) 591-2040.

- People

At Telefilm Canada, two investment analysts have joined the tv and multimedia unit in Montreal. Segolene Roederer has worked with Videographe as a distribution officer and as programmer with the International Festival of New Cinema. Jean-Daniel Eigenmann was exec director with Poly Productions, an active documentary producer, from 1992 to 1997.

And the agency has a new director of human resources at head office, Louise Champoux, who takes up her post at the end of March. Champoux previously worked with the National Capital Commission in Ottawa.

- At the National Film Board, James Roberts is the new sales manager for Asia/Pacific and Latin America. Roberts succeeds Anthony Kent, who is retiring after 30 years with the nfb.

- Sean M. Murch has been appointed director of Canadian sales and distribution at Nelvana. Murch joins the Toronto-based toonco from Vancouver-based Natterjack Animation, where he was director of development.

- Impresario and tv producer Guy Latraverse’s variety and comedy program house Sogestalt 2001 is the latest to join the rapidly expanding L’Equipe Spectra empire.

- Felice Fleisher has been promoted to senior vp, Paramount Home Video Canada.

- Steve Yanor has been named vp corporate communications and marketing for Vancouver’s Lions Gate Entertainment.

- David Wolk and Sandra Upeslacis have been appointed vps at National Public Relations in Toronto.