There’s a pretty thin representation of B.C.-made feature films at the Toronto International Film Festival this year. Not surprising, mind you, given the paucity of feature film production in the province last year.

So far only four dramatic features have been accepted. Mort Ranson’s Margaret’s Museum (formerly titled Glace Bay Miner’s Museum), The War Between Us, directed by Anne Wheeler, The Michelle Apartments, directed by John Pozer, and Once In a Blue Moon, a first-time feature for director Philip Spink, produced under British Columbia Film and Telefilm Canada’s Premiere Program.

Apparently, Blue Moon’s distributor, Malofilm, has pushed the producers, Jane Charles and Alan Morinis, for some last-minute changes, which include a voiceover narration to help clarify several complex surreal fantasy scenes for the intended children’s/family audience.

Director Jonathan Kay’s latest film, Starlight, distributed in Canada by Astral, was also supposed to be in the festival, but it seems delays in the extensive optical effects have set back the festival premiere for Kay’s New Age sci-fi drama until a later date.

Energized

Expect the action to get a lot livelier at B.C. Motion Picture Industry Association board meetings.

Earlier this month, former business agent Brenda Collins was appointed as executive director of the industry association.

Some members of the production community were thrilled that Collins will now be devoting the same energy and tenacity to envigorating the association that she spent building up the b.c. branch of acfc from scratch over the last seven years, before she resigned earlier this spring.

However, word around town has it that members of the joint council of film unions who also sit on the bcmpa’s board were not quite as enthusiastic about the appointment.

Collins says her primary mandate over the next six months will be to find some way of making the bcmpa a self-sustaining organization, not so dependent on government handouts.

Other plans include setting up a bcmpa Internet Web site for all members and the production of a cd-rom to help promote b.c. producers and productions at the international markets.

Candyman can

Larry Sugar, former lawyer and Hollywood studio executive turned producer, is moving up to Vancouver to set up shop.

Earlier this year, Sugar filmed Annie O, and Robin of Locksley here, now he’s in production on his third mow, The Halfback of Notre Dame, part of a Contemporary Classics Series for Showtime in the u.s.

Good news for local crews and service companies, Sugar has plans to do at least nine more films in the series, a collection of teen movies with a sports edge. Prisoner of Zenda Inc. and Cindy are in development with production planned for later this fall.

Cash and carry

It was more good news for the Forefront Productions crew this month.

For the first time since Neon Rider, the CTV Television Network has kicked in some cash to finance the development of a b.c.-produced project. What finally caught their eye?

A one-hour dramatic series hopeful created by Kim Hogan and Brenda Liles of Makara Productions. Peter Mitchell, story editor on Madison, will write the pilot script.

Brothers hopes for ’96 start

CanWest Global could have another new series in production on the West Coast.

Blood Brothers, a one-hour dramatic crime series created by writer/producer Chris Haddock with Paragon Productions West, centres on two brothers, one a forensic pathologist and the other a cop.

Word has it the scripts are taut and tough, with interesting high-tech elements.

If all goes well, production is slated for early ’96.

Not even resting

The latest word from b.c. government bureaucrats is that the bcfip is not dead.

In fact, if anything, they say local producers should be gearing up their lobbying activities to take advantage of the ndp’s re-election campaign scheduled to begin later this fall.

Yes indeed, even the b.c. government realizes now that the ofip program has been frozen by Ontario’s new Conservative government, the time is ripe for a bcfip to gain some real advantage in attracting production to the province.

CBC wants Teamsters

Filmmaker Anne Wheeler will be taking a break this fall from directing to let another filmmaker interpret her work.

Wheeler will, instead, produce and write a mow script about international vice-president of the Teamsters Diana Kilmuray’s remarkable ascent through union ranks, while Toronto-based Sturla Gunnarson (Diplomatic Immunity) will direct the primetime movie for cbc.

Still waiting

No word yet from the B.C. Trade Corporation on the appointment of a B.C. Film commissioner to replace Dianne Neufeld, who resigned in May after more than 10 years in the position.

Despite summer vacations and a long short list to interview, what can I say, they’re taking their time.

Rumor has it Carrie Hunter, former Banff Television Festival executive director, is the frontrunner.

Safe witchcraft

What a difference a mortgage and a few kids makes.

Richard Davis (Cadence, Chaindance, Harmony Cats), previously a producer devoted exclusively to feature films, appears to have embraced television production wholeheartedly.

Let’s face it, tv pays.

Davis’s company, Once and Future Films, began filming this month on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, an mow for Showtime.

Sabrina, based on a character from the Archie comic book series, is the tale of a young witch learning how to responsibly use her magical powers. Gosh, things must really have changed, whatever happened to Moose, Jughead, Betty and Veronica?

Directed by Toronto-based Tibor Takacs and starring Melissa Hart, production in Vancouver wraps on Sept. 8.