Discovery names VPs

Discovery Channel has named Ken Murphy as vice-president, production and administration and Meg Pinto as vice-president, marketing.

Most recently, Murphy was director of technical operations for Labatt Communications, Inc. and helped to design and construct lci’s new digital Broadcast Centre. Pinto comes to Discovery from the CBC where she was director of international sales.

Murphy’s immediate responsibility will be to prepare Discovery for its January launch and Pinto will be responsible for planning and marketing the launch campaign.

Astral signs deal with France Film

Astral Distribution and France Film have signed a marketing agreement expected to boost their home video distribution activities in Canada.

Under the new arrangement, Astral will distribute France Film’s English-language video releases across the country, while France Film will handle Astral’s titles in French.

Combined, both companies expect to release about 40 titles annually in their respective markets.

Performer angst

The B.C. Labour Relations Board mediator wants the ongoing jurisdictional dispute between the Union of B.C. Performers and ACTRA British Columbia, which continues to cause friction in the b.c. film and television industry after more than two years, settled once and for all. The mediator has outlined a process by which the board would oversee voting by the membership of each union. The results would determine which of the two unions would represent performers in the province.

Roy heads Que. ACCT

Popular industry veteran Robert Roy has been elected to a two-year term as president of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television – Quebec section.

Roy spent 30 years as a program director with Radio-Canada where he gained a reputation in the production sector as a pioneer in quality, innovative children’s programs. He served several terms as director of the Montreal International Film, TV and Video Market and has been an activist in international children’s programming issues through the Alliance for Children and Television.

Roy is a former acct director and replaces past Quebec president David Novek, whose term ended in June.

acct – Quebec director Patrice Lachance says a new board of directors will be announced shortly.

Weaveworld news

Atlantis Communications, along with London’s Lifetime Productions, will explore the world of antique rug-dwellers in eight, one-hour suspense tales based on the fantasy novel by Clive Barker. The programs, called Weaveworld, are in development and the producers hope to shoot next spring. The shows will air on Showtime and the BBC, but a Canadian broadcaster has not yet been announced. Executive producers are Barker, Peter Sussman for Atlantis and Robert Page for Lifetime.

Cineplex results

Cineplex Odeon announced its financial results for the second quarter and six months ending June 30, 1994: total revenue for the second quarter of 1994 was $116,374,000 down from $133,313,000 in the second quarter in 1993; total revenue for the six-month period ending June 30, 1994 was $247,141,000 compared to $249,962,000 for the same period last year. General and administrative expenses were down in the first six months of 1994, reduced to $7,640,000 from $8,001,000 reported in the first half of 1993.

Alliance sets record

The special effects comedy The Mask, distributed in Canada by Alliance Vivafilm, has earned $3,126,938 in its first four days, setting a new Canadian box office record.

The previous record was established in 1990 by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which grossed $2.4 million at the box office after its four days. Turtles, also distributed by Alliance, went on to a cumulative gross of $15 million.

Suit settled

Producer Claude Heroux and La Presse have reached an out-of-court settlement in a $1.3 million defamation case brought against the newspaper and one of its writers, Nathalie Petrowski.

La Presse issued an Aug. 1 retraction and clarification of remarks about the use of public funds for the Rene Levesque miniseries made in two articles published in April. La Presse has agreed to pay damages to Heroux, but the amount has not been divulged.

Imax names Kubsch

max Corporation has appointed Christian Kubsch as executive in charge of production for Ridefilm Corporation, Imax’s simulation-based film production and systems subsidiary.