The Commercial Producers Association of Toronto and the Directors Guild of Canada have come to an agreement on the contentious issue of stopping foreign directors at the border.

According to sources familiar with a meeting between the two groups held earlier in October – the second such get-together – the producers agreed to take a more proactive stance in promoting Canadian commercial directors and the guild agreed to step down its support of an initiative by the federal government to restrict access to Canadian productions by foreign directors. The meeting was attended by Scott Mackenzie of Radke Films, Geoff Cornish of NewNew Films, Michelle D’Ercole and Marcus Handman from the Ontario wing of the DGC.

Late last summer, Human Resources Development Canada called the initial meeting to discuss whether there was a need to limit the access of foreign, particularly American, helmers as a means to help support Canadians directing jobs. The federal ministry’s move was based on a letter from the DGC recommending an American director on the Industry Films roster be denied a work permit to shoot a low-budget spot in Canada.

While HRDC ultimately pulled out of the meeting, CPAT and the DGC got together in August for an initial dialogue on the subject and again earlier this month.

‘Basically, the outcome was that the producers agreed with the guild that Canadian directors should be and need to be promoted so that they have good access to opportunity for the work,’ says one source. ‘The guild was prepared to accept that and the guild withdrew its letter to HRDC.’

‘Things are moving forward,’ says Handman. ‘We’re working with CPAT to help encourage the use of Canadian directors on Canadian commercials for Canadian broadcasting. I have every confidence that the members of CPAT are going to work hard and diligently to try and ensure that [Canadian directors] have a fair shot at that work.’

Still, just how the producers plan to up their support remains an open question. But one executive producer points to awards, including the First Cut Awards, as a good way to channel such support. Another is to look to Canadian advertising agencies.

‘On the agency front, I think what you’ll find is a resurgence over the past six months to go Canadian,’ says the producer. ‘If you ask the Canadian shops they’re all scouting around for Canadian directors. Nobody is bragging about who they just signed in America, they’re bragging about who they just signed in Canada.’