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Digital Media: D-cinema gives producers another shot
‘We had the world’s most public test-screening,’ says Niv Fichman. The producer of Blindness is laughing as he recounts the moment when the lights went up after the film’s world premiere in competition at Cannes. ‘The crowd was cheering, but [DOP] César [Charlone] was saying to [director] Fernando [Meirelles] and me, ‘I guess we have some work to do.”
Conservatives may axe Canada New Media Fund
While the federal Conservatives deny a recent report that they have made up their minds to eliminate the $14.5-million Canada New Media Fund, they do confirm the possibility the fund will run its course come March 31, 2009.
New Line returns to Alliance
Turns out Alliance Films didn’t lose its output deal with New Line Cinema, after all.
The Burning Question
Next month’s election sets the stage for a possible Tory majority. And given Ottawa’s recent cuts to arts programs and rumblings that CTF and the Canada New Media Fund could follow suit, things could get grim for film and TV makers in the near future. So we ask:
Sold!
• Sales picked up halfway through the Toronto International Film Festival with a wave of deals that included Maximum Films snapping up the Canadian rights to Steve Jacobs’ Disgrace, which stars John Malkovich, as part of a deal with Fortissimo Films. Maximum Films International, meanwhile, picked up the world rights on Control Alt Delete, the debut feature of Vancouver filmmaker Cameron Labine and part of the Canada First! program.
People
• Patrick Roy has been promoted to president and CEO of distrib Alliance Vivafilm, Alliance Films’ successful Quebec arm.
Correction
Technicolor in Toronto is performing the sound mix for Flashpoint, while Tattersall Sound & Picture is doing the sound editing. Incorrect information appeared in the Aug. 4 issue.
Nitro to roar again in Valhalla remake
Nitro, the 2007 Québécois street racing hit, is to be remade in Hollywood. The film, which grossed $3.5 million at the local box office in 2007, has been optioned by Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Motion Pictures. Valhalla is behind such mega-hits as the Terminator films, The Abyss and Aliens.
Mills wins Pitch This! with quirky comedy
A story about an outcast, dorky 12-year-old girl won over judges at the 2008 Telefilm Canada Pitch This! competition, which on Tuesday handed Toronto filmmaker Pat Mills a $10,000 cheque and bragging rights for his Don’t Talk to Irene.
CTV backing Burns on My Canada doc series
‘Frankly, I told colleagues that I could program a whole festival with docs this year,’ enthuses Terry McEvoy, Canadian Images programmer for the Vancouver International Film Festival. ‘That’s how many good ones crossed my desk,’ he adds.
CFTPA honors Merilees with Producer’s Award
Vancouver producer Rob Merilees was surprised to come out on top at the CFTPA’s third annual Producer’s Award ceremony, where he was feted for his work on the adventure comedy Stone of Destiny and other noteworthy features including Oscar winner Capote.
TIFFG’s new headquarters takes shape
If you live in Toronto and you love movies, the construction site at the King and John Streets is more than just an expanse of concrete and exposed reinforcing rods. True, there is a condo involved, but the main space that is slowly rising is the Bell Lightbox, the much-anticipated new home of the Toronto International Film Festival Group.
Juno winner fronts VisionTV drama
VisionTV is looking to bring in a new, younger audience with Mahalia, the first one-hour drama for the multi-faith, multicultural channel, now shooting in Nova Scotia.
Muse sends Schroder to Hell
Rick Schroder is in eastern Europe this month for Sci Fi Channel and Super Channel, directing Scott Elrod and Amanda Brooks in the horror Hellhounds. The copro by Montreal’s Muse Entertainment and S.C. Studiourile Media Pro of Romania – produced by Ric Nish (Durham County), Andreaa Stanculeanu and Silviu Viju – stars Elrod as an ancient Greek warrior out to rescue his bride from the underworld.
Picard leads Christal copro
Popular film stars Luc Picard and Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge are currently shooting Léo Huff, a $3.9-million film described by its producers as a cross between Blood Simple and Fargo.
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