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Faces Behind the Scenes: Atuat Akkitirq
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN – BEFORE TOMORROW
Critics’ picks for best pic
Playback asked four of Canada’s savviest film critics to make their ‘best picture’ predictions – and not two picked the same one.
Riding the 3D wave on set
Whether you’re betting the farm or just upgrading, 3D is here.
Cookie pacts with MTV on Lucha Libre
English-language Mexican wrestling matches headed to U.S. channels. Series deal includes product licensing
The NAB hunt for pheasants under class and the latest 3D gear
‘We’re looking at the future of 3D and how it relates to what we’re doing,’ says Rob Sim, despite the current 3D frenzy.
Don Carmody has a lot to smile about
Even though 3D post-production is ‘a bit of a nightmare,’ veteran producer Don Carmody (Chicago, Meatballs) has a lot to smile about these days.
From pillar to post
Post-production has had its ups and downs of late – and coming off last year’s rough ride, it’s certainly seen better days. But there’s a lot of buzz happening on this technical side of production in the lead-up to NAB, everything from the opportunities of the 3D revolution to finding a collective voice for the post community. Those were just some of the topics raised at a recent roundtable with reps from five Toronto-based post houses, who gathered together for an in-depth discussion to voice their opinions and concerns on the state of the industry.
More money, less visibility
The CRTC’s new TV policy is eliciting mixed reactions from the creative community which, despite its reintroduction of minimum spending requirements, is raising concern that the commission is not doing enough to ensure the visibility of Canadian programming.
Warner to open game studio in Montreal
Another 300-or-so video game jobs are coming north courtesy of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, which says it will set up shop in Montreal – lured by government incentives and a birds-of-a-feather effect in the increasingly game-centric city.
TVO proposes new channel
TVOntario has applied to the CRTC to operate a new Category 2 digital channel, TVOKids+. The application, to be heard May 12, calls for a new specialty channel that will effectively program TVO’s current daytime kids offering round the clock.
Profits, revenue still way down for TV
Profits and revenues continued to move in the wrong direction last year among conventional broadcasters, which together lost $116.4 million before interest and taxes, according to the CRTC’s annual report on the financial health of private television.
Cable and satellite still in the pink
What recession? Satellite and cable companies continued to make financial gains in 2009, according to numbers released by the CRTC.
Online beats TV, says study
A harbinger of things to come? An anomaly? A Christmas blip?
Shaftesbury grants $25,000 to arts school
Shaftesbury Films is entering the public school system, teaming up with the Toronto District School Board to offer master classes and set visits for high school students from the Etobicoke School of the Arts. Shaftesbury CEO Christina Jennings made the announcement from the Toronto set of its new live-action comedy Baxter. (The 13-ep series will debut on the Family Channel this fall.) The ongoing initiative comes with a $25,000 cash donation, and marks the first collaboration of a Canadian prodco with a public school in Ontario.
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