Giles Walker, Gemini-nominated director for his work on the Keatley MacLeod/aac series Cold Squad (‘Deadly Games Part 2′), says he is disadvantaged geographically. After directing three episodes over the course of the series’ first three seasons, Walker says the opportunity for him to work on the fourth season was in jeopardy because he is a Quebec resident. Since the series is an Ontario/b.c. copro, the producers have trouble accumulating enough points to qualify an episode for provincial tax credits if they hire a director from another province. Walker calls this phenomenon the ‘balkanization of the industry….[W]hen producers are making up their lists [of potential directors], it’s just so much easier for them not to have to deal with that issue [of out-of-province directors].

‘It cuts both ways. In Montreal there is a group of actors working because of tax credits. They get that work because they give the producer those points. Sometimes I think I should move to be better off.’

Walker was drawn to the world of episodic television after realizing how tough it is to make a living on feature films in Canada.

‘I wanted to make a living and become more versatile – do things in different styles. The more the better. You have to be versatile. You get slotted. Every producer is naturally inclined to want someone to do exactly what they’ve been doing and directors are all looking for fresh challenges; directors want something different, producers want exactly the same.

‘One of the reasons I did episodic was to get more versatile. It throws you into so many different situations and you learn so many techniques. And it’s great to work with so many actors and crews. I have a roster of 10 people in every position who I can go to,’ says Walker.

‘Episodic keeps you fit. Keeps you in shape. It’s the ultimate high-wire act, because you have to work so quickly and not compromise. You have to be inventive. It’s almost like you’ve got to trick the system – you can’t put a foot wrong and you have a very narrow margin of error – if you call a wrong shot you lose half an hour. It’s a tremendous thrill. I feel after 40 episodes I’ve learned the tricks of the trade.

‘It’s amazing how good the work can be in episodic.’

Walker has two projects in the works: The Book Collector, a feature comedy, is now in development, with plans for a shoot next summer, while Retribution, a feature drama ‘about my school days,’ will shoot sometime in the next three years. *