With the flurry of specialty channel applications, industry executives are busy playing musical chairs. The latest participant in the game is Paul Gratton.

Gratton, who spent ‘two years and four months’ as ceo of the Ontario Film Development Corporation, is joining CHUMCity as senior program executive.

‘I’m salivating at getting back into the application/programming mode,’ says Gratton, who starts his new job Feb. 1. ‘One of my first tasks will be to focus on the Bravo! application above all, and after that I’m a kind of free-floating consultant for all the tv stations and new initiatives,’ he says.

CHUMCity is involved in eight licence applications; three have a movie component. Gratton, who worked as vice-president of programming and program director at First Choice Canadian Communications for seven years, says he is excited by the creation of three movie nights within the Bravo! application. ‘It lends itself to the kind of movie programming that has always motivated me, which is a showcase for quality cinema and not just Hollywood schlock.’

Gratton says his decision to leave the ofdc was not unexpected. He informed the agency’s board of directors three months ago that he would not be renewing his contract. ‘In my initial conversations (with the former Ontario Ministry of Communications and Culture) it was always clear it was a three-year gig at the most.’

Gratton admits he gave short notice, but says the opportunities exist now, prior to the hearings. ‘CHUMCity was one of the few organizations who could offer long-term employment,’ he says, adding that the Toronto broadcasting company needed him for the hearings in February.

Gratton is the second executive from the ofdc to take the plunge into the private sector to stick-handle a specialty channel application. Wendy MacKeigan, executive director of funtv, left the ofdc last year.

Gratton says his departure should not delay the process of applications at the agency. Bill Mustos, executive co-ordinator of the Ontario Film Investment Program, has been named acting ceo until a replacement is found.

Considering the economic times, and the cuts in government spending, Gratton says he is happy with the progress the ofdc has been able to make during his tenure. ‘It’s been hard to address new initiatives. We’ve been in maintenance mode,’ he says.

‘Given the circumstances, it’s been a very good two years. The first thing that has to be mentioned is that we’ve received extraordinary support from our ministry in the midst of the worst financial crisis in the history of this province,’ says Gratton. ‘Getting ofip renewed for another two years was a major accomplishmentand we’re pleased to report that no significant program bit the dust or was unduly cut.

‘I don’t think we can ask for much more in the quality of movies that have come out in the last couple of years,’ he says, referring to pictures such as Love and Human Remains, Thirty-two Short Films About Glenn Gould and I Love a Man in Uniform, all of which were programmed within the last two and a half years.

Gratton will report to Jay Switzer, vice-president/station manager of City-tv and vice-president development of CHUMCity.