Atlantis, Showtime deal

Atlantis Films has paired up with American specialty cable channel Showtime for an exclusive, two-year production deal with l.a.-based Maintitle Pictures’ head Barbara Title (formerly vice-president, motion pictures at Showtime). First up on the development slate is Possessed, a tv movie based on the Thomas B. Allen book which tells the ‘real’ story behind The Exorcist’s premise. Showtime gets first right of refusal on the program.

Title is no stranger to Atlantis. She previously worked with the production arm of the company on films for Showtime such as Heads and Sodbusters.

Tana Nugent (previously of MWG Productions and Dick Clark Productions) will head up development on the deal.

Atlantis says there is no connection between this deal and Viacom’s recent announcement of productions to be made in Canada for Showtime (see page 1).

CBC happenings

Developments at cbc include settlement of a regional advertising sales dispute and the departure of a high-profile vice-president.

The corporation has settled a drawn-out scuffle between the network and its five affiliates in British Columbia over the network’s desire to sell advertising time on a regional basis. The agreement now in place allows cbc to solicit ads from regional advertisers in such a way as to ‘mitigate impact on the stations.’ The hard-won agreement has prompted both sides to drop their legal actions.

Tim Kotcheff is expected to finish up as cbc’s vice-president of television news, current affairs and Newsworld as of July 31. While the public broadcaster has stated officially that Kotcheff is leaving to pursue other interests, media speculation surrounding his departure has concerned Kotcheff’s governance of Prime Time News in its 9 p.m. time slot and his ability to connect with the rank and file.

Scuttlebutt suggesting Kotcheff will return to the CTV Television Network, where he had worked for many years before moving to cbc, is unfounded, according to ctv president John Cassaday.

Let off lightly

Following up on a February promise to review boards and agencies, Marcel Masse, minister in charge of public service renewal, recently announced cuts and closures in cabinet and agencies.

The final word is that fish were hit much harder than film. Out of 96 positions eliminated and 13 boards and agencies scrapped, the National Film Board lost two of its board directors and Telefilm Canada came out with one less secretarial position.

Meanwhile, rumors that the two agencies are to be merged are quelled for now, awaiting release (maybe in the fall) of the Secor study.

Falling for Johnny’s Girl

Telegenic Programs has sold Johnny’s Girl to the CTV Television Network in Canada and abc in the u.s. ‘The film will be delivered this week and be aired during the 1994/95 broadcast season sometime after September,’ says Telegenic vice-president Michael Taylor, ‘but a specific date has not yet been announced.’

Produced by Jonathan Goodwill and directed by John Kent Harrison, the two-hour tv movie tells the story of the relationship between a father and daughter. Filmed on location in Vancouver, the movie stars Mia Kirshner, Gloria Reuben and Treat Williams.

A leg up

The Banff Festival of Mountain Films will be offering a new prize at its 1994 gathering, Nov. 4-6. Worth $500, it’s called the . Roberts, an avid climber and an executive in tvontario’s international affairs department, decided to set up the prize after attending the festival and recognizing a need to spur on young filmmakers working in this genre.

The prize is intended to reward a young producer – 25 or under – who demonstrates ‘the best spirit of alpine climbing or mountaineering adventure’ along with ‘promise of a creative film or television talent.’

Liba, Hildebrand saluted

The Western Association of Broadcasters has named a pair of men as broadcasters of the decade. At its 60th anniversary convention, held last month in Jasper, Alta., wabe honored Peter Liba and Elmer Hildebrand. Liba is executive vice-president of CanWest Global Communications and Hildebrand is president of Altona, Man.-based Golden West Broadcasting.

SPARS chapter formed

Toronto has launched a chapter of the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services. Organized by David Greene of Magnetic Music, the new chapter says it may be modeled on its counterpart in New York.

spars is 15 years old and a was originally set up ‘to provide a forum for an open dialogue between the various players in the professional audio field.’ Attendance at the first Toronto spars meeting – including people from pro audio, manufacturing, broadcasting and major recording facilities – suggests industry professionals here are interested in talking together.

Other chapters are located in Los Angeles and Montreal.