– CFC rolls on its seventh project

The cameras have started rolling on the Canadian Film Centre’s seventh Feature Film Project, The Three-Hundred and Ninety-First.

Slated for a 20-day Toronto shoot, the film is a feature first for producers Tina Grewal (Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy, Wind at My Back), Jeffrey Berman (The Kids in the Hall) and writer/director Andrew Ainsworth, who graduated from the cfc Resident Programme in 1996.

The Three-Hundred and Ninety-First is the story of a Casanova-type hairdresser who has a near-death experience following a role in the hay with his 390th conquest. His guardian angel then pays a visit to warn him that 391 will be his last.

Michael McMurtry (Last Night, The Newsroom) stars as the hairdresser, Allgood Butts. Also featured are Janet Kidder (The Industry), Christine Donato (Car 54), Murray Furrows (Robocop) and Joan Heney (Nikita).

Christoper Ball is the dop and Russell Chick is the production designer.

– Atlantis revenues up in second quarter

Atlantis Communications has announced increased revenues, net earnings and earnings per share for the second quarter ended June 30.

Net earnings for the quarter increased to $659,000 up from $418,000 during the same period in ’97. On a per share basis, second-quarter net earnings increased by 25% to $0.05 from $0.04. The increase in second-quarter net earnings were due to continued growth in operations in both the television and cable channel broadcasting business segments.

Television production and distribution revenue in the second quarter was $34.7 million, compared to $19.6 million last year. The increase is attributed in part to licensing European, African and Middle Eastern rights to a number of tv movies and series library titles to Endemol Entertainment for approximately $10 million. The second-quarter revenue reflects the delivery of 14 hours of tv programs, compared to 13 delivered in second quarter 1997.

Second-quarter broadcasting revenue increased 30% to $8.2 million, compared to $6.3 million in 1997.

In post-merger news, shareholders meetings are scheduled for Sept. 16, 1998 at the Design Exchange in Toronto at 10 a.m. for Atlantis shareholders and at 2 p.m. for Alliance Communications shareholders.

– WIC acquires more Cancom shares

As a result of WIC Western International Communications’ purchase of 50,000 shares of Canadian Satellite Communications through the tse on Aug. 25, wic now owns 5,421,830 shares or 54% of Cancom.

The shares were acquired for investment purposes and wic said in a statement that it ‘intends to make further purchases of Cancom shares in the market, or privately, if attractive opportunities become available.’