Paul Donovan

Salter Street Films

Paul Donovan, vice-chairman of Salter Street Films in Halifax, is a multitalented individual. He’s a veteran producer, director and writer who has been involved in a wide variety of feature films and television, including the hit series LEXX.

‘I have a theory that one of the reasons so many Canadian shows are weak is that the creators only have so much intellectual capital and they use up a lot of it chasing money, chasing methods of chasing money and lobbying to change the rules of the funds, so not a lot gets left over for the creative. Andra [Sheffer] seems to understand that and doesn’t want to waste anybody’s time, including her own.

‘Having dealt with agencies over the years, often the hardest thing is getting a straight answer. Too often people won’t tell you that you’re wasting your time because, unofficially, the money’s all gone. Andra was very straight about that: if you apply this year, you have a good chance. If you apply another way, it won’t work because the money will have been spent. So I just did what she said.

‘We made a profit the first year on LEXX, so we returned them all their money. We may have been the only ones that ever did that.’ (Editor’s note – they are.) *

Kevin DeWalt

Minds Eye Pictures

Kevin DeWalt, chairman and CEO of Regina-based Minds Eye Pictures, heads up the largest producer of children’s programs in the Prairies. Among the series DeWalt’s firm produces is Incredible Story Studio, Prairie Berry Pie and Mentors.

‘Incredible Story Studio is going into its fifth season this year. It’s always difficult, no matter if it’s children’s or adult programs, to get a first season off the ground. The fact that [the IPF] came in and showed their support on season one helped to build momentum and get people on board for the project.

‘Now that we’re in our fifth season, we’re paying back equity investors from seasons one, two and three. Andra [Sheffer] saw the project, realized it had potential and supported it. That proves that she and the IPF board have a knack for picking winners.

‘Andra and the IPF have always made themselves available to the industry. They constantly travel to various functions across the country. Especially when you’re a regional producer, it’s sometimes difficult to spend that $2,000 cup of coffee to come to Toronto. It’s great to have people like Andra who come out to the regions and spend time here.’ *

Richard Mozer

Devine Entertainment

Producer/director Richard Mozer is chief financial officer of Devine Entertainment, the Toronto-based producer of the critically acclaimed Composers, Inventors and Artists Specials television series. These innovative children’s programs have garnered four Emmys, five Geminis and an estimated 40 international awards.

‘We really like working with the IPF, not just because they’re investors but because of the way they deal with us. The board’s commitment to quality production has been important in terms of helping to establish our brand. IPF, and Shaw, our only other equity participant, are important strategic partners for us as opposed to just subsidies.

‘Andra Sheffer is fabulous. We’ve always had a great relationship with her. As a production company, we are focused on our own business. When issues happen, like claw-backs of provincial tax on this type of funding, she’s always our liaison. Andra is great for getting to find out what happened, what the effects are and how we can deal with it.

‘She’s always, on a more personal level, been a very good sounding board in terms of giving us a context for what’s going on in general in the industry.’ *

Pat Ferns

Banff Television Festival

Pat Ferns, president and CEO of the Banff Television Festival, is one of the leading spokesmen in the industry. While continuing to run the influential festival, Ferns is involved in rebranding the organization, which is now running other international media events.

‘Right from the start the IPF had a very beneficial and substantial impact on the industry. They’ve played a really key role in the decade of success that followed their inception. The Canadian audio-visual production industry is now something like a $4.4-billion industry. Certified productions make up $1.5 billion; without instruments like Telefilm on the public side and the CTF and IPF on the other, we’d never have got there. Congratulations are due to the IPF as a pioneer.

‘They partner with us in providing a really good-quality publication, the Banff Bulletin, that goes out four times a year and then six times during the festival itself. It’s a terrific relationship. We’ve also found that Andra has been a wonderful source of advice, just as an independent industry player. The IPF usually has a board meeting during Banff and we’re always delighted to see them.’ *

Melanie Friesen

VIFF Trade Forum

Melanie Friesen is the producer of the Trade Forum for the Vancouver International Film Festival. An industry veteran, Friesen has been working with Andra Sheffer and the IPF for the past six years.

‘We invite about 90 speakers to come to Vancouver during the film festival to address local film and television writers, producers, directors and actors on myriad subjects. One of our senior sponsors is the IPF, thanks to Andra.

‘The panel I usually give them to sponsor is one having to do with episodic television. Two years ago we featured one on show-runners, with panelists from DaVinci’s Inquest and Law & Order. Last year, they sponsored a panel on writing for television series. Whatever Andra wants to sponsor, we usually try to connect to her. We don’t arm twist.

‘Although Andra hasn’t moderated any of those panels, we always ask her to do so. Maybe this year’s our big year. She, and the IPF, have been a huge help to us. Andra’s always so full of ideas for panels and for panelists, and even for panelists on other panels. I worked outside Canada for 20 years so I don’t know the Canadian industry as well as I know the British and American industries. Whenever I’m at a loss for anything, I call her up. She’s just a symphony of information. So I love her!’ *