Re: The April 30 Editorial ‘Codes, convergence, contradictions’:

Thank-you for a terrific editorial. Once again you’ve managed to hit the nail on the head.

More and more producers, especially young producers trying to establish themselves, seem at wit’s end trying to access funding for their projects.

A frequent refrain I’ve heard in the past two-and-half years is one of broadcasters’ or distributors’ expectations not corresponding to the funding provided. In an era when producers are expected to deliver content for a New Age they are being asked to do so by archaic methods.

Simply speaking, the producers I’ve talked to have been asked to produce programming for our Age-of-Convergence (broadcast/webcast/DVD, etc.) and yet have not been provided any extra funding or delivery time to comply with this. How are they managing to do it? Can it even be done without some creative sacrifice or production compromise?

Now, what about these broadcasters and distributors? They seem to be in the same situation but on a different playing field. Rushing to stay current with delivery mediums, converging technology, and less and less revenue-generating options, they are themselves trapped.

These questions could take years

to answer completely. Definitely the CRTC has a lot to work on as we all try to find the most sensible path through the current Convergence (there’s that word again) Era.

What I’d like to see is the CRTC devise consistent structures for broadcasters and everyone else. So, how about it?

TRACY GRANT,

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER,

OPTIX DIGITAL POST & FX,

TORONTO.