Alternately dubbed the ‘American indie super-producer’ or the ‘Queen of the New Queer Cinema’, Christine Vachon is not above the conflicts that plague other indies – namely the struggle between art and commerce. At a recent master class in Montreal, the American indie (I’m Not There, Boys Don’t Cry) told Playback that government subsidies tend to make ‘flabby’ films. But that hasn’t stopped her from using Canadian loonies and French Euros on the romantic drama Lullaby for Pi, her $7.7-million copro with Kevin DeWalt currently shooting in Regina.

The outspoken American also counts as a citizen of France (her mother is French), which grants her European status, which in turn means that Lullaby can tap into subsidies on both sides of the Atlantic.

‘A culture of subsidy is inherently soft and flabby,’ said Vachon. ‘It takes away the incentive to really engage an audience and make it profitable. I know that’s a controversial thing to say, [and] I also know plenty of American filmmakers who feel very strongly that America could benefit by paying more attention to nurturing their filmmakers, and they’re probably right; but when a film culture goes too far in the direction of… I mean, I’ve met some young Canadian filmmakers who don’t think they need to engage an audience, because they’re going to get their films paid for regardless. I don’t think that makes for interesting moviemaking.’

There is an important message about reaching audiences buried in her intentionally controversial statements, which engaged a full house at the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois master class. ‘I know this is controversial, and some really don’t like it when I say it,’ Vachon told the enthusiastic audience, ‘but to me, interesting moviemaking is about the constant struggle between [the] commercial and the artistic. It’s that line that makes things so fascinating for me.’

Vachon also confirmed that America’s independent producers are most interested in Canada for a cheap dollar.

‘We’re coming back, for sure,’ she said. ‘As long as you keep your dollar at around 80 cents, American producers will be coming back to make movies here. It’s a great saving for us, and we’re returning.’

Lullaby’s 21-day shoot in Regina is scheduled to wrap April 8, when the production moves to Winnipeg for a further nine-day shoot.

Lullaby for Pi is produced by Forecast Pictures and DeWalt’s Minds Eye Entertainment. Jean-Charles Levy and Vachon are re-teaming (after Far from Heaven) as the ‘French’ producers on this official treaty copro – shot in Canada – which marks a directorial debut for French screenwriter Benoît Philippon. DeWalt says Lullaby has subsidies from both France and Canada, where the Canuck portion is strictly ‘tax credit’ coin, meaning no Telefilm Canada money.

With files from Suzan Ayscough