✖
Playback Barometer
Rain and Fog
Half staff
The industry lost two more ambassadors in March.
Water, environment lead Hot Docs charge
Cold water is the hot topic at this year’s Hot Docs, which will include five titles about H2O, including the world premiere of Kevin McMahon’s Waterlife, the Canadian director’s look at the Great Lakes, set to the tunes of The Tragically Hip and narrated by lead singer Gordon Downie.
Help TDF help you
In times of financial turmoil, you can either gripe or focus on solutions. Elizabeth Radshaw, the new director of the Toronto Documentary Forum, chooses the latter – particularly when it comes to supporting films.
Must-see gear at NAB
Spring has finally arrived, which, to tens of thousands in this biz, means that it’s time again to fly to Vegas for the big show – not the ones on the florid casino floors, but to NAB, the multimedia technology extravaganza held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Neeson wraps Chloe
Moving under the radar of the international media, actor Liam Neeson flew in and out of Toronto to finish production on Atom Egoyan’s thriller Chloe. The project came under intense scrutiny with the untimely death of Neeson’s wife, Natasha Richardson.
L.A. museum lauds Jewison
Filmmaker and Canadian Film Centre founder Norman Jewison will be honored with a two-night tribute April 17-18 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, in an event organized by the CFC to commemorate its 20th anniversary. The program, co-organized by L.A.-based non-profit Film Independent, includes screenings of Jewison’s Oscar winner In the Heat of the Night (1967), preceded by a 90-minute panel discussion featuring the director with cast and crew from his films. The LACMA will also screen 1971’s Fiddler on the Roof, which garnered nine Academy Award nominations, including best picture.
Livent duo face jail time
Entertainment titans Garth Drabinsky and Myron Gottlieb face possible jail time after being found guilty on two charges of fraud in excess of $5,000 and a third charge of uttering a forged document while they were heading Livent.
Bob & Doug set for Sundays
The Great White North’s Bob & Doug McKenzie will make their long-awaited return to Canadian airwaves in animated fashion, as part of Global’s Sunday night comedy lineup, beginning April 19.
Specialties flush with cash
According to statistics released by the CRTC, strong ad figures combined with higher subscriber revenues last year led the specialty sector to a profit (before interest and taxes) of $549.6 million, up from $531.1 million. Local and national advertising rose to a combined $1.02 billion for the broadcast year ended Aug. 31, 2008, up from $948.4 million, with national advertising making the greatest gains. The majority of the ad revenue flowed to the lucrative analog channels, such as TSN, YTV and Teletoon.
Big Apple eyes little tax break
A move by New York State to pour another $350 million into its stalled film/TV incentive program has been called too little and too late by Canadian border players.
Cut a deal on Part II fees, says CRTC boss
Konrad von Finckenstein was pessimistic about the future of local television, calling it a ‘major concern’ during an appearance before Parliament’s Heritage committee, and expressing fear that it could disappear completely. Committee MPs asked the CRTC chair to appear in order to address the recent upheaval in the television sector. He indicated a bailout of conventional broadcasters could be in the cards, and called on Ottawa to cut a deal on Part II fees.
Mercer on top, Mosque headed down
The Rick Mercer Report again led the pack on CBC’s primetime schedule this season, while newcomers Being Erica and Wild Roses…
New home for Cinema Parallele
Cinephiles are breathing easier after Quebec’s culture minister kicked in $175,000 to help the venerated rep theater…
The definitive CDN broadcast and production resource.Over 5,000 company listings!
