This is in response to the letter to the editor of Playback entitled ‘Producers ‘missing the point’ on SAP’ by Rebecca Schechter, president, Writers Guild of Canada (Oct. 24, p.13).

The Screenwriting Assistance Program was established in 2000, as a complementary component of the Canada Feature Film Fund, and is dedicated to developing and retaining a pool of creative, talented and experienced screenwriters, as well as a bank of Canadian feature film screenplays. The successful applicants are chosen by a jury of their peers, comprised of professional screenwriters, feature film producers, distribution executives and directors.

While Telefilm recognizes the WGC’s valuable insight and committed contribution to SAP, we would like to address a number of points made in your letter regarding this program.

It is correct that SAP’s budget is $2.3 million. However, in addition to SAP, Telefilm has $4.78 million in financial resources earmarked for development, which cover screenwriting and packaging expenses.

In order to promote SAP, Telefilm launched Le Grand Flirt, a matchmaking initiative, organized as a speed-dating service, intended to match established producers with successful SAP recipients whose work has not yet been optioned.

The first edition took place in Montreal in February 2003 and was enthusiastically received; English Canada launched its own edition during the Toronto International Film Festival later that year. The spirit and intent of SAP was evident in both editions of this event and was repeated in 2004 and, most recently, in 2005 in Montreal. In fact, a larger venue was secured to accommodate the producers who were interested in participating. In addition, Telefilm ensured that the screenwriter/producer teams met with distributors in an event set up for the occasion in Montreal entitled Le Match Parfait.

In addition, Telefilm issues press releases to the industry and stakeholders after each round of SAP decisions to ensure that the word is getting out there about the program and the successful writers, not to mention that they are listed on the corporation’s website.

The corporation also remains committed to working with the WGC to create and introduce to the industry a website dedicated to listing all SAP-funded screenwriters and scripts. Financial resources are of course a factor and we hope that future discussions can address this soon.

Finally, your statement that SAP has widened the program ‘beyond its intended reach to include non-professional writers’ is not correct. The current SAP guidelines clearly state that the applicant (or one of the applicants if there is a cowriter) must be a professional writer.

Thank you for taking the time to raise your concerns and I hope that the WGC maintains its commitment to working together to enhance and build upon the success of SAP.

Wayne Clarkson,
Executive director,
Telefilm Canada.