Vancouver: B.C.’s new minister of film is Penny Priddy. She takes over the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture from Bill Barlee, who was narrowly defeated in the May 28 provincial election.

Named to the post June 17, Priddy has yet to make a comment about the film industry because she has been in hospital being treated for breast cancer.

For film insiders, meanwhile, the 52-year-old minister from Surrey-Newton is an unknown quantity. Most are relieved that the bureaucracy has been maintained, but they don’t know what kind of an advocate she will be.

‘She has a social conscience,’ says British Columbia Film president Wayne Sterloff, ‘which is great because she will be supportive of training, women and Native issues. Hopefully, she’s a fan of documentaries. I hope, too, she’ll be inclusive and not cater only to the service industry.’

And whether Priddy will pick up the ball on the B.C. Tax Credit is also unknown.

Producer Julia Keatley met with Priddy about the now abandoned B.C. Film Investment Program when the B.C. Branch of the cftpa launched a lobbying campaign last summer. Priddy was supportive of the bcfip, says Keatley, but was unable to take the issue further because of budget constraints. ‘She’s very approachable,’ says Keatley. ‘I’m hoping for leadership on the b.c. tax credit issue, and that we’ve had her ear already will help.’

Banff bumf

Locals who attended the Banff Television Festival are talking about Baton Broadcasting’s proposed regional drama fund, the newest sweetener added to the race for a new television licence in Vancouver. Baton is vying with Craig Broadcasting, Rogers and Citytv for the licence and the crtc has tentatively set the hearing date for Sept. 23. Applications should be available for public consumption in mid-July.

Speaking of Banff and Baton, scuttlebutt that Baton is negotiating with Disney to have the Mouse net own a piece of the Canadian company (as per new foreign ownership rules) is unfounded, says Baton exec Ivan Fecan.

‘We have a relationship with them that we’ve had for many years because we buy a lot of their television product and some of their movies, and that’s not going to change. There’s really nothing more to it than that right now. But anything’s possible. You never know what the future holds.’

Big screen

Patrick Stewart of Star Trek fame beams into the starring role of Smart Alec, a feature being shot by Vancouver’s Dunlevy Pictures (an affiliate of Pacific Motion Pictures) and Triumph Films.

The project – valued at under $10 million – tells the story of a boy who saves the day when his sister’s school is taken hostage. Principal photography begins July 10 and runs through to Sept. 6. It will be distributed by Sony, but no release date has been set. Executive producer is Vancouver’s Matthew O’Connor.

Little screen

Vancouver producer Harold Tichenor is managing Titanic, a four-hour, two-part miniseries for White Star Productions valued at more than us$10 million. Principal photography takes place in Vancouver July 8 through Sept. 3 and the program will air on cbs during November sweeps.

The cast has yet to be announced, but local actors are expected to win 90 of the 100 roles available, says Tichenor.

Badge of Betrayal, an mow for abc, stars L.A. Law alumni Michele Green and Harry Hamlin as the ethical deputy and the corrupt sheriff. Principal photography takes place throughout July.

No air date has been announced.

Pacific Motion Pictures’ The Hand Off, a USA Network mow starring Stockard Channing, wrapped June 25 to take principal photography to New York City. It tells the tale of an affluent woman who sues for custody of her sister’s children after they were abandoned with her.

Echo, an mow for abc by Vancouver’s New City Productions for l.a.-based Kushner Locke, wrapped June 27. The story, yet another good-twin/bad-twin tale, features Melrose Place star Jack Wagner.

Vancouver’s Ark Films is shooting a two-hour special called Scams, Schemes and Scoundrels in Paris, Amsterdam, New York and Minneapolis. The project – which will be edited in Vancouver and delivered to a&e in December – is hosted by professional debunker James ‘The Amazing’ Randi.

Come again, won’t you?

About 20 delegates representing 14 b.c. film organizations flew down to Loews Santa Monica Hotel (home of the American Film Market) June 27 for the sixth annual Friends of b.c. event. The reception is the official thank-you to Los Angeles filmmakers who travel north and contribute to the Vancouver industry, dropping $432 million into the local economy last year.

Organized by the B.C. Film Commission’s Alice To, manager of marketing and operations, this year’s festivities included two 90-minute seminars. Topics covered were tax incentives in b.c., moderated by Arthur Evrensel of Heenan Blaikie, and b.c.’s new labor climate in a session hosted by Allan Krasnick, also of Heenan Blaikie.

Sponsors such as The Bridge Studios, Rainmaker Digital Pictures, the B.C. Council of Film Unions and New City Productions paid $1,000 each toward the $20,000 event, which culminated in an informal reception. At press time, about 200 were expected to attend from studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., and mgm and networks such as nbc and Showtime.