While the Ontario Film Development Corporation continues working to establish the new Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, plans are being laid for other initiatives supporting the agency’s new philosophy. Says ceo Alexandra Raffe: ‘We aren’t in a position to be handing out money, but our focus will be on helping producers raise money.’

In efforts to support development of writers, producers and directors, the agency, under the direction of Jim Murphy, has already begun building program partnerships with existing facilities and groups.

With its $175,000 budget, the ofdc hopes to provide linkage between resources already available, consult with existing groups to identify gaps in training and compile resource materials. The intention is also to make inroads into the education streams to help turn out grads with a strong grasp of international markets and the new realities of financing within Canada.

A short film program, which Raffe hopes will open its doors in September, will provide filmmakers with access to funds to produce a short calling-card piece as a prelude to a longer work.

The $300,000 fund is not intended for first-time filmmakers,but those who feel they need something tangible to help establish their name on the road to producing a marketable long-form project.The program, which will probably consist of two competitions per year, will be designed to have a quick turnaround time, with winners given a green light within a month of the deadline.

Piggybacking on the short program will be the establishment – probably in the fall – of a mentorship and travel program whereby up-and-coming producers, perhaps with new calling-card shorts in hand, would travel to international markets paired with an experienced sales agent or producer. The ofdc hopes this project, budgeted at $100,000, will provide essential lessons on how the international market works and foster presales for projects coming back to Canada for production.

‘Our direction,’ says Raffe, ‘is to turn out producers who can take advantage of the tax credit, particularly the considerations for first-time producers. We’re looking to help potential producers adapt to and accept the massive changes within the Canadian structure.’