Singin’out a

Prairie tune

kevin DeWalt, president of Regina-based Minds Eye Pictures, one of Saskatchewan’s most active production companies, was elected chairman of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association earlier this year – the first Westerner in the history of the national organization to hold the post. Joanne Morgan caught up with the busy DeWalt as he was about to head for Ottawa for the Dec. 2-4 cftpa summit, which he was instrumental in organizing. Following, as he nears the end of his term, he discusses his experiences as head of the organization.

Playback: What are some of the major issues facing the cftpa at this juncture?

DeWalt: The primary issue is that we are at a transition point as an industry. So much has happened in the last 12 months that will greatly impact production in the future. Several major production companies have gone public in the last year and we have to examine what impact that will have on the industry as a whole. The (funding) agencies are wondering, the production community is also uncertain what the impact will be.

The whole issue of co-operation amongst the provinces across the country is becoming a critical area of concern. I think now most people are realizing that production can be done anywhere in the country in terms of quality, but there still doesn’t seem to be the sense of co-operation amongst the provinces as a result of that quality happening.

The idea of the summit is to bring everyone into one room and have an open discussion with filmmaker-to-broadcaster and broadcaster-to-broadcaster and public agencies, and hopefully at the end of the two days, come out with some solid sense of direction.

We as producers need to see the industry from a national perspective, not just a narrow view from our own little pockets of production.

Playback: As an independent producer and the first chairman of the cftpa from Western Canada, what do you think you bring to the table?

DeWalt: Maybe a slightly different perspective on the importance of the association in the decision-making in the country. In the past the association had a tendency to sit back and react to changes that affected independent production. Now I think we would much rather be an organization that is more proactive, and it takes an association that truly represents the entire country to be proactive.

Playback: What’s on your personal agenda as chairman of the cftpa? What did you go in wanting to accomplish?

DeWalt: Certainly highest on my list was to make it a truly national association and to forge a strong link with the provincial associations. Another major focus was to have a five-year plan for the association. We put this plan on the table at the very first meeting of the new board and we’re sticking to it, so that’s a very positive sign.

Playback: Having been chairman now for nine months, what do you feel you’ve been able to accomplish thus far?

DeWalt: Again a sense of cohesiveness across the country and the formulation of our five-year strategy. You can only have so many goals in the one-year terms of the chairman. And I’d rather take on just a few and do them correctly than to take on too much and spread my efforts too thin.

Some of the areas we still need to work on are at the committee level to ensure that there is national representation at that level as well. But sometimes cost is prohibitive and we’ve had to make do.

Playback: At this point, do you feel that Western producers believe that the cftpa does accurately represent their concerns?

DeWalt: I think in the past, no, it was definitely questioned. But over the last two or three years that thinking has really changed. Now we have an excellent board of directors that is truly made up of a representation from across the country. There are five or six producers on it from the West – traditionally it was made up of eastern producers. So that has had a positive impact because it brings a different perspective.

Also, with the new representation from the Maritimes as well, we are starting to have a focus that we as an organization do represent the country as a whole.

Playback: Do you think the quality of the productions coming out of the Prairie provinces warrants a new look at the redistribution of public funding for production?

DeWalt: I think the agencies now realize that quality is coming from all parts of the country. As far as any regional bias for the spending of those funds, as an association, we don’t feel that that should be the case. But this is something that we are grappling with within the organization.

If I were to switch hats and speak as a producer from Saskatchewan, the statistics clearly show that there has not been an even distribution of funding throughout the regions. But part of the reason is that in the past there just wasn’t a lot of production going on nor was there a sufficient number of crews available. But now that’s changed. You don’t have to think about shooting in central Canada, you can pretty well shoot anywhere in Canada and get the quality you’re after, which is very exciting.

Playback: Are Western producers looking seriously at finding alternative sources of financing to ensure less reliance on the public purse?

DeWalt: I think all producers have to think that way. Let’s face it, it’s a reality. In light of the $46 billion deficit that was just announced, we all have to think about new ways to finance our projects, to have less reliance on public funding. But in the same breath, that funding has already built an incredibly strong independent production community and you can’t just stop dead and say there’s no more public funding available.

There has to be some sort of long-term plan in place so that collectively the private sector, government and the distributors can work according to that plan. If it’s just done on an ad hoc basis, it will naturally have a very negative impact on the industry.

Playback: Do you think the productions coming out of the West are stereotyped by the region, fulfilling people’s preconceived expectations of life on the Prairies, or are they starting to broaden in terms of content and appeal?

DeWalt: I think they have started to broaden, but where you’re from is usually the source of your stories initially, and to me there’s nothing wrong with a Prairie perspective or Maritime perspective in a film. But naturally as an independent producer coming from the Prairies, most of my films have some sort of regional Prairie sensibility to them which reflects where I live.

Playback: Has your attitude about the cftpa changed since you became chairman or has the cftpa had to adjust to some of your ideas or attitudes?

DeWalt: I think it is more likely me adjusting to the cftpa. I’ve only been involved in the association for two years, and if you don’t live in the central filmmaking communities then let’s face it, there’s a lot of major players on the boards that you don’t have a relationship with. But overall it’s been a very rewarding experience for me and I hope I’ve brought something to it.

Process is certainly something I have been able to bring to the board and the committee structure. It’s that process that allows us to reach a consensus and to have the association back those decisions. I think we do that better now. We go to our membership and ask them for some direction, and that’s a big step for the association.

Playback: You mentioned interprovincial barriers are a big issue in hindering more coproductions. What is the cftpa doing to help change that situation?

DeWalt: We’ve been involved in sponsoring workshops that deal with interprovincial coproductions. The agencies themselves are meeting. Earlier this year they met in Banff to discuss this matter, among others. So during the last year we’ve been seeing a will at all levels to see interprovincial coproductions happen. But it’s clear the agencies must loosen their rules so that producers from two different provinces can produce together and make it work.

For us, I think it’s mainly a matter of helping with the dialogue and showing the willingness and support of the independent production community.

Playback: What is the cftpa doing for Prairie producers in particular, if anything?

DeWalt: The cftpa represents independent producers in the country, and the issues that we deal with affect all producers. So whether a producer lives in Toronto or in the Prairies, these issues affect all of us in the same way.

Playback: But is the cftpa doing anything to encourage more Western production?

DeWalt: Part of having a voice is having members from the region you’re representing. We’ve had a dramatic increase of membership from the Prairies in the last couple of years. In Saskatchewan three years ago we had two members and now we’re up to probably 15 or 20 members, so in that sense what we’re getting is more involvement.

Playback: What’s the single most important thing that Prairie producers need right now to encourage more production?

DeWalt: What they really need is commitment from government in the regions for some long-term support. That doesn’t necessarily have to mean a lot of dollars but more a recognition that this is, in fact, a viable industry.

There’s definitely been some movement in this area in Manitoba and Alberta, but Saskatchewan is still playing catch-up. We’re a young industry here and it takes time I guess to earn that recognition. I’m sure that recognition will come with geater productivity and as they start to feel the greater impact of the film industry.

Playback: What could the cftpa be doing to help in that regard?

DeWalt: Strengthening the provincial links to the association and having more direct communication to what the concerns are in each of the different provinces.