Montreal: ctcpf lfp executive director Garry Toth and Telefilm Canada executive director and eip administrator Francois Macerola have prepared extensive industry discussion papers in preparation for a national consultation tour which opens in Halifax Monday, Dec. 1 and wraps in Vancouver Dec. 11.

The consultation process is aimed at meeting the fund’s primary goals for ’98/99 as outlined by the ctcpf board of directors, namely an increase in both the quantity and quality of production, and an increase in the viewership for Canadian programs.

The discussion paper from Toth asks for feedback on three primary issues, including the oversubscribed, first-come, first-served lfp and its current ‘arbitrary’ April 1 deadline:

* an lfp wish to create an incentive for programming which achieves a 9/10 point Canadian content level and other distinctly Canadian criteria;

* a revised application procedure and date, including the possibility of more than one application date, the reservation of a portion of the funding for each application date, a streamlined ‘core document’ facility, and the allowance of an ‘earlier-than-application’ principal photography for certain genres such as documentaries and animation; and

* possible revisions to the current $150,000 mow licence fee threshold from broadcasters.

A discussion paper from Macerola summarizes a series of proposed modifications to eip guidelines.

On feature films:

* maintenance of the current $15-million envelope if the fund is renewed, otherwise a reduction in both the investment and contribution components in an amount proportionate to the overall ctcpf reduction;

* the revision of contributions to two times the licence level up to $500,000 for an English-language feature, four times the licence fee level up to $500,000 for French-language features.

On feature film minority coproductions:

* a proposal to exclude projects which are not distinctly Canadian or prorate revised caps ($500,000) to the percentage of Canadian ownership;

* the inclusion of ‘all official coproductions including feature films as eligible for eip funding.’

On principal photography:

* ‘the eip’s non-recoupable contribution to a feature film should be contingent on the project commencing principal photography in the fiscal year in which the financing is made.’

On series caps:

* a proposed cap revision, in the case of one-hour drama series to $3.5 million with at least 13 episodes; half-hour drama series to $2 million with at least 13 episodes. In cases with fewer than 13 episodes, the caps will be prorated downward;

* no changes to caps regarding miniseries, $2 million, or mows, $1 million.

On series renewals:

* a proposal to reduce caps after two years as follows – cycle 3, 5%; cycle 4, 10%; and cycle 5, 15%.

* a maximum of 65 episodes for one-hour drama series.

On fees:

* a proposal which states that allowable costs including non-arm’s length and overhead fees paid to the producer and/or the production company should not normally exceed 10% each of the below-the-line budget items (categories b and c) up to a total of $1 million;

* a proposal to disallow the grandfathering of caps and fees.

On the evaluation procedure:

* a proposal that the eip not automatically renew existing drama series or automatically accept new drama series. Selection would otherwise be based on project analysis criteria, including creative and cultural elements, financing structure, exportability and recoupment potential. In the case of renewals, criteria would include audience ratings/share. Demonstration of sufficient experience and expertise on the part of key personnel is also included.