Here I sit at some ungodly hour, poring over the 1,500-or-so pieces of information that comprise Playback’s 18th Annual Report on Independent Production, trying to make some sense out of the current state of production in Canada. Although I’m bleary-eyed, a few things seem clear.

We’re all well aware of the odds against a healthy life for a Canadian drama series. Just getting one to air is an impressive feat. And then, if the show is good enough and the broadcaster cares enough to invest some thought and resources behind its promotion, it may actually catch fire with viewers and get renewed.

Alliance Atlantis’ April 21 rollout of The Rocket on 115 screens in English Canada – and 35 more in Quebec, five months after its initial release there – represents likely the biggest-ever launch for a French-Canadian film in the rest of the country. It marks a tremendous leap of faith on behalf of the distributor, and while I admire the scale of AA’s ambition, I fear for the outcome of its gamble.

In this issue of Playback, we launch a home video column to accompany our regular box office write-up on p. 4. (For those of you looking for our TV ratings column, you can find it on p. 6.)

The 78th Annual Academy Awards provided another strong showcase for the Canadian production industry. It also provided a forceful reminder of what Canada’s role in the global film business can be, and how CAVCO should rethink its definition of ‘Canadian.’

Ottawa: CBC’s Richard Stursberg fired back at critics at the CFTPA Prime Time conference last month, defending the performance of CBC president Robert Rabinovitch within hours of presenting his own plan to revive the pubcaster with mainstream shows looking for big audiences.

Ottawa: The state of domestic TV production provided producers with one of few sources of optimism in Profile 2006, the economic study of the Canadian film and TV industry unveiled at CFTPA’s Prime Time conference (Feb. 15-17).

At the recent CFTPA Prime Time conference in Ottawa, CBC TV boss Richard Stursberg told a roomful of producers what the pubcaster’s new regime wants in its programs.

Buzzin’ along in Montreal

Magnetic North is getting out of the audio post-production sector, and Urban Post Production is taking over its audio facilities.

The Liberals might be out of office, but they leave an impressive legacy regarding the growth of the Canadian film industry, as Canuck flicks met a five-year goal to claim 5% of the domestic box office in 2005.

Many players in the Canadian production community are putting on a brave face in the wake of the Conservative Party’s unsurprising victory in the Jan. 23 federal election. But don’t let that fool you – privately, many are expressing some grave concerns. These range from the new heritage minister to potential funding cuts and greater deregulation of the broadcast industry.