Bridge gets better

The Bridge Studios is about to get a $2.8 million facelift courtesy of the b.c. provincial government.

The improvements will increase production capacity at the studio by 25% and include a new soundstage/warehouse/office as well as upgrades to the special effects electric system and repairs to three buildings currently housing workshop and storage space for film production.

The publicly owned facility, operated by the B.C. Pavilion Corporation, features North America’s largest effects stage and last year generated close to $400,000 in net profits.

Two Canadians vie for Rockies

two Canadian entries made the final cut for the Banff Television Festival’s 1994 Rockie Awards: cbc’s tv movie The Diary of Evelyn Lau, and Blanche, the Cite Amerique Cinema Television miniseries.

This year, 568 programs from 38 countries and territories around the world vied for Rockie Award honors. A preselection committee winnowed the field down to 64 nominees in 10 categories. This month 31 finalists – three per category plus an extra miniseries – were selected by a seven-person international jury headed by Canadian actor/writer/director Andree Pelletier. The winners in each category plus Special Jury Awards and the Grand Prize, Best of the Festival winner will be announced at the Banff Rockie Awards ceremony, cohosted by Pelletier and Tom Jackson, June 6.

Blanche, an 11-hour miniseries, was directed by Charles Biname and written by Andree and Louise Pelletier. Lorraine Richard and Monique H. Messier were executive producers, with Michel Gauthier as producer. Thomas Vamos was dop, Michel Arcand edited and Richard Gregoire created the original score. Blanche stars Pascale Bussieres, Marina Orsini and Roy Dupuis. Blanche’s rivals are The Second Heimat – A New Generation by Edgar Reitz Filmproduktions GmbH for wdr/ard, Germany, and two u.k. entries, A Dark Adapted Eye from bbc, and Prime Suspect 3 from Granada Television.

The Diary of Evelyn Lau was written by Barry Stevens and directed by Sturla Gunnarson. Maryke McEwen was executive producer, Tony Westman was dop, Jeff Warren edited and Jonathan Goldsmith takes musical credit. Sandra Oh starred. It’s up against fellow made-for-tv-flicks The Snapper (Screen Two) from bbc, and The Cow – The Adventure of an Extraordinary Life from Czech Television.

In production

soft Deceit, Darkline Productions’ crime thriller currently in production in Toronto, has a $3 million budget of homegrown funds and stars Patrick Bergen (Sleeping With the Enemy).

Directed by Jorge Montesi (Friday the 13th), Soft Deceit is a Canadian commercial product aimed at the international marketplace.

Alliance and its new international arm, Le Monde, are distributing.

Executive producer Lewis Chesler says negotiations are underway for u.s. distribution and the film is set for release early next year. Aside from ofip money, government film agencies are not involved in the production.