Vancouver: Few confessions are being offered from the set of Confessions of a Trick Baby, a new low-budget u.s. feature by producers Brad Wyman and Jeff Barmash (Freeway).

Trying to keep a low profile because of the subject matter of the film, producers are mum.

Described as a twisted take on Hansel and Gretel, Trick Baby is about two young women on the lam after a prison break. One is a serial killer and the plot revolves around a road movie and murder spree.

The feature, which wrapped Dec. 4, stars Natasha Lyonne (Slums of Beverly Hills) and Maria Celedonio (How to Make an American Quilt).

Same is true for the cbs mow Behind the Mask starring Donald Sutherland and Matthew Fox (Party of Five). Production on the feel-good telepic continues to Jan. 8,1999, though the production is quiet about details.

In the storyline, Sutherland plays a workaholic non-profit society administrator who discovers potential in the mentally handicapped Fox. Through a work program, Sutherland does a kind of Eliza Dolittle routine on Fox to shine up the diamond within.

*First of two

Victoria’s Pastiche Productions has entered into a two-episode coproduction deal with Talos Entertainment of Toronto for the docudrama The Real Life Series.

The ongoing series – which follows the successful debut and retail video sales of the first episode called Travelling Alone – recreates cases involving issues such as date rape, traveling safely and substance abuse.

The episode ‘Fire Safe’ began production Nov. 27 and filming will take place in b.c. and Ontario. The episode is set to air next year on a unnamed national network.

*First Wave gets U.S. sale

Vidatron Entertainment Group has sold 66 episodes of Vancouver-made First Wave to the Sci-Fi Channel in the u.s.

The series – a Fugitive-style storyline about a man eluding authorities while he searches for the aliens he believes killed his wife – is produced by Larry Sugar (of Vidatron division Sugar Entertainment) and executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola of American Zoetrope. International distribution is handled by Pearson International.

With 16 episodes completed to date, First Wave airs in Australia, South Africa and on Space: The Imagination Station in Canada.

*Drive for five

The fifth annual Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival unspools Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, 1999. Exploring the theme Feast on Film, the festival will showcase 18 features, 50 shorts and 12 documentaries from around the world.

The accompanying Film Forum features guests such as directors Anne Wheeler and Mort Ransen, producers Janet Graham Borba (Hackers) and Rob Cowan (The Net), and production designer Denise Pizzini (Like Water for Chocolate).

*Production notes

Marker of Change: The Story of the Women’s Movement aired Dec. 2 on Vision tv and in separate screenings in Vancouver and Montreal on Dec. 6.

Produced by Sher Morgan and Pamela Millar (Battle Creek Productions) and executive produced by Hillary Jones-Farrow (May Street Group), the one-hour documentary chronicles the efforts of Christine McDowell and other Vancouver women to raise a national monument to the 14 victims of the Montreal Massacre in 1989.

* Vancouver comedy troupe Local Anxiety – Mark Leiren-Young and Kevin Crofton – had their hour-long ‘environmentally themed’ satirical revue called Greenpieces air on vtv Dec. 10. Filmed during the Vancouver Folk Festival this past summer, the special features appearances by b.c. celebrities such as Vicki Gabereau, David Tarrant, Bill Richardson, Judi Tyabji, Rhona Raskin and David Suzuki.

Local Anxiety will also appear in the Feb. 1 episode of cbc’s new series Sketchcom and has contributed to an installment of the Jim Byrnes Show (for vtv), to air in the New Year.

* Loretta Todd’s film Today is a Good Day: Remembering Chief Dan George won the best documentary prize at the American Indian Festival in San Franscisco.

*Yule be calling me

Just for you, a Phone Ian Free card for the holidays. As we roll into the new year, I again remind everyone with a production story lead to call me so that we keep this column as comprehensive as possible. For that, I need your input. Phone (604) 717-8800, fax (604) 717-8811 and e-mail iedwards@istar.ca.

‘Til then, top o’ the season.