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Sandra Cunnigham sees long road ahead
Last year’s Prime Time in Ottawa marked film producer Sandra Cunningham’s first as chair of the CFTPA. And what a time to assume the role: the past 12 months have seen the evolving impact of broadcaster and film distributor consolidation, a slumping service sector, Bill C-10, and a collapse of the indie feature film market worldwide.
Profile 2009: sneak preview
A whopping 37% increase in service production in British Columbia led to a small gain of 4% in overall production volume across Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, according to a sneak preview of the upcoming CFTPA annual report. Combined domestic and service production increased to $5.2 billion, from $5 billion the previous fiscal.
CFTPA 25th anniversary and counting
The Canadian Film and Television Production Association is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and then some.
By the Numbers
How the Canadian film industry stacked up in 2008
Playback Barometer
Welcome to Barometer, our read on the state of the industry from the wonderful (there’s always a chance…) to the horrifying. And though there has been no shortage of discouraging news recently – enjoy the competition from Michigan, Filmport – we see brighter skies ahead, thanks to our once-again underperforming loonie and the odds-beating renewal of CTF and the New Media Fund. All under Tory leadership, no less. Who’d-a-thunk it?
Bruce McDonald collects $20K
In the middle of a snow storm on a cold January night, a creative fundraiser for Bruce McDonald’s experimental film about John Coltrane still managed to pack the jazzy Trane Studio bar and raise $20,000 for A Love Supreme. Asked about the total film budget, the Pontypool director laughed and said, ‘There isn’t one.’
Vancouver’s worst-kept secret
New Moon, the sequel to the US$340-million box-office hit Twilight, is slated to shoot in Van beginning in March, though the local industry remains tight-lipped about the ‘top secret’ shoot.
TIFF’s Lightbox gets its final beam
Bell Lightbox, the new headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival Group, was recently the scene of a ‘topping off’ ceremony – an ironworkers’ tradition in which the final beam is decorated with flags and an evergreen to mark an accident-free construction site, before being hoisted into place.
Passchendaele hits Blu-Ray
Paul Gross’ Passchendaele is poised to win this year’s Golden Reel award at the Genies with its box-office take of $4.4 million, and Alliance Films took advantage of its momentum with a Blu-Ray release on Feb. 3. ‘I hope everybody who saw the film and everybody who hasn’t seen the film goes out and buys a copy,’ Gross told Playback with a characteristic chuckle. ‘What else can I say? I want everyone to see this film.’
The NFB gets personal
The National Film Board has set its sights on mobile after launching an online screening room that gives film enthusiasts free access to over 700 classic and contemporary Canuck titles. NFB chair Tom Perlmutter says the online initiative marks a big step into the digital age for the organization, which has been pushing to reach a broader audience with its catalogue. He adds that the content from the online screening room will also be available on mobile platforms ‘within the next few months.’
Fancy yourself Canada’s next leading commercial director?
Winnipeg-based Frantic Films has joined forces with prominent commercial producer Soft Citizen and ad agency TAXI for the new reality series Commercial Break, looking to sniff out top talent to create television commercials for existing brands. The 10 x 60 series will pit 10 participants against each other in weekly challenges for the chance to win an exclusive one-year contract with Soft Citizen. Contestants’ work will be evaluated by TAXI exec creative director Steve Mykolyn, Soft Citizen exec producer Dr. Link York and a guest judge.
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