with Theodore Tugboat

If it wasn’t for Maritimer Andrew Cochran’s self-confessed ‘romantic notion of moving home again and getting back to the ocean,’ Theodore Tugboat may never have crossed the waters of network tv. Cochran’s Halifax-based production company is the creator of the Tugboat animated series, currently running thrice-weekly on cbc.

Andrew Cochran Associates, an independent company which employs five full-time staff, produces primarily children’s programming and documentaries for tv. Cochran is involved creatively in each project and was responsible for the concept and initial creation of Theodore Tugboat, the company’s major current venture.

In 1984, Cochran – an associate of the defunct Star Channel – picked up the pieces of the late pay channel’s post-production facilities and moved back to Halifax to start up his own operation. ‘That’s how the company started out – doing post-production. But in ’84 there was very little independent production here, so we started getting into corporate production in order to feed the post-production facility.’

Since 1974, Cochran had worked in Toronto in network tv as producer and executive producer of such shows as Canada AM, The Medicine Show and CTV National News. When he made his move into independent production, the Maritimes weren’t exactly bustling with television and film activity.

‘Initially, people here in government and the financial sector didn’t really understand the industry. It was difficult to convince them that there really was a basis for a film industry here.’

Things have changed drastically down east, according to Cochran: ‘For the last two or three years we have been able to capture the interest of government and the business communities, and they now see that our industry puts money back into the ecomony.’

He adds: ‘The industry is quite healthy here now. There has been a recognition that this part of the country needs to concentrate on knowledge-based industries. And the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation is creating even more momentum. All the major companies down here now have enough productions under way that they’re not going into the market as first-timers. We have a solid track record.’

Attending international markets is a recent addition to the company’s shedule, beginning last October with Cochran’s first experience at mipcom. This April he will be at mip-tv pushing international sales of Theodore Tugboat.

The series is the company’s current prized creation, perhaps most original for its navigational pov: ‘We have 3D tugboat models which are operated by remote control in a very large water tank and shot with a special periscope system (leased from Britain) to create a tug’s-eye-view.’

With the sale of 30 episodes of Tugboat to cbc and 40 more in preproduction, Cochran’s business is steady these days. Recession is not a threat to the company, Cochran says, it’s just there: ‘One of the advantages of being in Halifax is that the market is in perpetual recession, so we don’t notice the downturns. We are always operating with a recession mentality – always making sure a close eye is kept on costs, and a maximum amount of quality is ensured to make the product attractive.’

Specialty channels may influence the recession mentality: ‘I’m optimistic about what they’ll do for us. They are certain to increase demand,’ says Cochran. ‘I know a lot of people think the channels will be fragmenting the financing money available, but I think that by creating new windows, they will give us – as independent producers – incentive to go and attract new money.’