The latest report from the CRTC came down hard on simultaneous substitution, arguing that inserting Canadian commercials into U.S. shows undermines homegrown programming and efforts of the entire industry to produce and promote it. CAB was as quick to criticize the report (‘irresponsible…without any rationale’) as ACTRA was to cheer (a ‘first glimmer of hope’). So we ask:

• The National Film Board has upped Tracey Friesen to exec producer of its Pacific and Yukon Centre, where she has worked since 2001 producing such films as Scared Sacred and Being Caribou.

• Peace Arch Entertainment Group has added seven films to its distribution slate. Headlining the list is The Last Hit Man, a mob drama starring Joe Mantegna, as well as the Jake Busey vehicle Time Bomb.

what’s turning heads, what isn’t, and what’s on deck

The Jon Dore Television Show will debut on The Comedy Network on Oct. 17, not Oct. 18 as reported in the Sept. 17 article ‘Dore cracking wise for Comedy.’ Its team includes exec producer Barbara Bowlby and supervising producer Lindsay Cox.

Comparing the digital media news out of Hollywood and Canada in recent weeks has been a matter of innovation in the case of the former and what looks to be a step back here at home.

Jeremy Podeswa’s Fugitive Pieces and David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises both had well-received premieres at the recent Toronto International Film Festival, with the former grabbing the coveted opening-night slot, and the latter winning the People’s Choice award.

Vancouver Film School’s marketing of its student-produced content is paying off for its young creators, and could continue to pay off as a fund for films by future alumni.

The turbulent times of one of Quebec’s most popular politicians will be brought to life, again, in René Lévesque II, a miniseries now shooting in Montreal and Quebec City for CBC/Radio-Canada.

Bruce Dern is in Montreal for three weeks shooting the horror Swamp Devil for Muse Productions.

Quebec director Jean-Claude Lord is scheduled to wrap Summer House, an MOW for Montreal’s Incendo Productions and Power in the U.K., following a three- to four-week shoot in Montreal. Slated to air on The Movie Network, Movie Central and Super Écran, the story follows Lindsay Price (Coupling, Beverly Hills, 90210) as a pregnant woman dogged by an apparent family curse, and also features David Haydn-Jones (Fatal Trust) and Sadie LeBlanc (Rumors).

Minds Eye Entertainment starts work next month on the psychological thriller Walled In, a Canada/France copro starring Mischa Barton (The O.C.) and Deborah Kara Unger (Shake Hands with the Devil). The Saskatchewan company has linked arms with Paris-based Experience Films (Gomez Vs Tavarès) and Forecast Pictures (O Jerusalem) on the psychological thriller, with financing and distribution assistance from Leomax Entertainment of Berlin and Los Angeles. Remstar will distribute in Canada.