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The perfect storm
This year stands to be a watershed in the production and marketing of 3D TVs across the globe. While some companies, such as Mitsubishi, have had a 3D TV model on the market since 2006, the number of actual units in living rooms worldwide is estimated at a relatively minuscule two million. However, consumer electronics manufacturers are gunning to multiply that number manyfold in the coming quarters. As such, majors like Panasonic, Sony, Mitsubishi and Philips are busily readying 3D-enabled TVs for mass-market distribution.
Could U.S. online content swamp Canada?
Funding agencies and other industry players need to do more to adapt to YouTube and iTunes, which are driving Canadian Internet users to American content, or risk the eventual marginalization of Canadian content online.
Cookie Jar lifts the lid on new video-streaming site
When Cookie Jar Entertainment acquired DIC Entertainment in 2008, the company found itself with a vast kids library, much of which had not seen the small screen in some time. So after studying models employed by popular video streaming sites like YouTube and Hulu, SVP of digital media Kenneth Locker and his team decided to develop a strategic plan to showcase CJ’s 5,000-plus animated eps (ranging from 1980s classic Inspector Gadget to Johnny Test), on recently launched streaming site Jaroo.com.
Alice in Torontoland
Disney is heading down the rabbit hole with Tim Burton, as the highly anticipated Alice in Wonderland hits theaters on March 5. And members of the Disney Interactive Studios team popped by for tea time in Toronto last month to show off the Nintendo Wii and DS video games based on the classic children’s tale with a twist, coinciding with the film release.
3D more than just a fashion statement
As the 3D wave continues to ripple across the industry and studios begin exploring ways to tap into this new dimension, Toronto-based Tim Dashwood has been keeping mighty busy.
New B.C. credits aimed at games, foreign shoots
B.C. is sweetening its foreign production tax credit and effects bonus, while also offering a new video game development incentive. The B.C. government proposes to increase the Production Services labor-based credit from 25% to 33%; with the qualified labor expenditure cap rising from 48% to 60%.
Effects get a tax break boost in Quebec
In order to sweeten its brand as a one-stop shop for foreign producers, the Quebec government has made post-production work in the province 20% cheaper. In what will likely be a boost to the province’s burgeoning effects industry, the minister of finance, Raymond Bachand, has increased the tax breaks on computer-aided special effects and animation for foreign productions.
Alliance pacts with Paranormal team
Alliance Films and the makers of Paranormal Activity have signed a deal to make five low-budget genre films, and will start this spring with a new one from the creators of Saw. Insidious, to be directed by Saw’s Jason Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, will shoot in Los Angeles – produced by Paranormal creators Oren Peli, Jason Blum and Steven Schneider.
APTN, Film Board seeking docs
Are you an aboriginal producer of French-language content with a good documentary idea? If so, the National Film Board and APTN want you. The Winnipeg-based channel and the NFB’s French arm are soliciting ideas from aboriginal producers for six half-hour docs aimed at youth between the ages of 18 and 35.
Spin Master teams with Titmouse
Toy maker-turned-producer Spin Master Entertainment has partnered with Hollywood animation studio Titmouse to co-develop and produce The Special Offers. Featuring the music of Gina Schock, best known as drummer for the band the Go-Go’s, the series will follow four misfit kids who bond over their love of music, forming the titular band. Each episode will feature an original song, which will be compiled and distributed as a soundtrack album at the end of the season. A live touring version of the band is also planned for between seasons.
Portfolio puts up $10,000
Portfolio Entertainment is looking for new ideas, and is putting up $10,000 for any aimed at the eight- to 12-year-old cartoon-viewing set. The Toronto company has launched a contest (‘In Toon with Tweens’) aimed at animators and other creators, and is offering prizes of $7,500 and $2,500 for the best and second-best pitches ‘that are fresh, surprising and utterly new.’ Both prizes also come with option and development agreements.
IFC buys McGowan’s Week
IFC Films has picked up One Week, taking all U.S. rights to the road-trip drama that has paid off so well for Mongrel Media and director Michael McGowan. The deal was brokered by Arianna Boccho and Elizabeth Nastro for IFC, and Charlotte Mickie for international rights holder E1 Entertainment.
OMDC doles out $2.9 million
The Ontario Media Development Corporation has dished out nearly $3 million to the province’s creative community, including the film, television and interactive sectors, as part of its Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnership Fund.
Super Bowl hits six million on CTV
Super Bowl XLIV has become the most-watched TV event ever in the U.S. and the biggest NFL championship game for CTV. The monster final that saw underdog New Orleans Saints defeat the high-flying Indianapolis Colts 31-17 delivered a record six million viewers for CTV, making it the most-watched event on the broadcaster since it began keeping track in 1994. The first Super Bowl appearance and win for the Saints nabbed an additional 650,000 viewers on RDS. (All numbers 2+.)
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