Vancouver: Elizabeth Friesen will drive a Western business plan that is designed to decentralize Telefilm Canada operations and allocate funds for Western film producers. The three-year plan – which began last year and will be augmented by a similar national plan by Telefilm’s head office this year – will be the linchpin of her duties as the new operational head of the Western office of the federal funding agency.

Friesen replaces John Taylor, who stepped down as director of operations for the Western Canadian office of Telefilm after seven years on Sept. 1.

The protracted discontent among Western filmmakers has sparked the internal change, says Friesen, who recognizes that she steps into an office that has not enjoyed a lot of respect in recent years. ‘I’ve seen Telefilm try to reorganize itself from the inside,’ says Friesen. ‘Telefilm has committed to initiatives that I believe in.’

Key to the Western plan are programs to help capitalize small and medium-sized production companies (through loan guarantees, for example) and allocations that protect pockets of funding for Western producers.

In 1997/98, the Western office of Telefilm spent about $9.1 million on private broadcasters, $6.1 million on the cbc and, to date, about $1.5 million on Western-based features. Based on population, however, Western Canada is entitled to 37% of the funding, which means that feature film production should be assisted to the tune of $4 million in the current year. Broadcast funding targets are about 5% below the Western region’s allotment for the year.

Prior to being given the top Western Telefilm job, Friesen was director of television and multimedia at the Western office, was a production officer at British Columbia Film and was a producer on the film Terminal City Ricochet.

Before he retires next April, Taylor will spearhead a review of national film policy that springs from an independent Telefilm review by film consultant Michel Houle.

‘This is an industry consultation that will look at change for the future, both inside and outside Telefilm,’ says Taylor.

The hearings begin in Halifax Sept. 22 and move to Vancouver tentatively Oct. 7, prior to the Vancouver International Film Festival Trade Forum.