*B.C. revamps kid regs

Vancouver: The b.c. government announced a plan to overhaul the laws protecting children involved in the film industry. Eight months of consultations went into the draft laws that are meant to put b.c. in line with the laws protecting child actors in California.

Among the new regulations: one-quarter of gross earnings will be deducted automatically and held in trust by the Public Trustee; no child will be required to work in situations considered unsafe by the child or parents; no child will work more than five days per week without special permission. Kids under 12 are limited to eight hours per day, kids between 12 and 14 can work up to 10 hours per day, and children under two get 20-minute breaks after 15-minutes of work; children require written permission to leave school to work and qualify for a tutor if they are away from class more than three consecutive days.

About 400 children are employed by the b.c. film and tv industry per month.

*Sullivan series for Baton

Sullivan Entertainment is edging from its historical dramatic mainstays onto modern comic ground, having just inked a development deal with Baton Broadcasting for Brass Tacks, a one-hour series to be coproduced by and starring Mary Walsh.

Carol Hay, head of dramatic programming at Baton, dubs the project ‘a comedy drama’ and says Ray Storey (Butterbox Babies) and Walsh will be involved in putting together the creative.

The series will follow the exploits of three women in their 40s struggling to keep a business afloat in a world they perceive as favoring younger women.

The project is still at an embryonic stage and until a full script is delivered a budget figure won’t be pinned down, says Hay. A director has not been attached.

If production is greenlit, Sullivan is aiming to shoot 13 eps as early as spring ’98.