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NFB celebrates Champlain
Big-budget short made for Quebec museum may also tour country, says NFB chair Tom Perlmutter. Live action and animation shot with prototype 3D camera
Lot of talk, little new at ABC
With only two new shows, it might have behooved ABC to have been a tad more humble at its upfront. But it was a whole other story at The CW
Citytv picks up Crusoe
NBC’s partly Canadian take on the Daniel Defoe novel marked for Fridays this fall. More American Gladiators, Bachelorette and homemade baseball newser added to summer lineup
Erky goes to Denmark, HBO
CG bugs expand reach following deals by CCI Entertainment
Latimer nets Astral mentorship
Filmmaker and activist headed to Banff World Television Festival with help from Astral Media and WIFT-T
Production spending dips in 2007
Canadian independent film and TV production and development spending fell 8% to $1.41 billion in 2007, down from $1.52 billion the previous year, according to Playback’s 20th annual survey on independent production.
The Small Screen: Searching for The Son of Corner Gas
Our nation suffers from a conspiracy-prone mind-set. Or maybe it’s just me. But on hearing in quick succession that three of our most revered comedy series were winding down – with Air Farce Live and Corner Gas heading into their final season, and Trailer Park Boys reportedly done – didn’t you wonder if there’s some kind of hara-kiri trend in comedy taking shape? Has Canada lost its funny bone?
Nine industry icons named to Hall of Fame
Nine Canadian industry icons – including trailblazer Robert Lantos and comic legend Catherine O’Hara – have been inducted into the second annual Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame, organized by Playback.
‘We believe that artistic freedom is good public policy’
The following is an excerpt from the official translation of a speech delivered by Leader of the Opposition Stéphane Dion at the annual conference of the Association des Producteurs de Films et de Télévision du Québec in Quebec City on April 29.
Normal, Brightlight lead pack at 10th Leos
This month will mark the 10th time the B.C. production community has assembled to celebrate itself at the Leo Awards, and although the province has witnessed great industry growth in that time, the director of this year’s most nominated film wishes the domestic sector would get bigger still.
Cattrall Banff-bound
Canuck thesp Kim Cattrall will be honored at next month’s Banff World Television Festival with the fest’s award of distinction, and will sit down for an onstage interview with the New York Times’ Bill Carter to discuss her life and career.
Joe, Seven24 win at Rosies
Joe Media was the big winner, but Seven24 Films walked away with some of the most prestigious categories on Saturday night at the Alberta Film and Television Awards in Edmonton.
Sold!
• Peace Arch’s The Tudors has been renewed for a third season by Showtime and production on new episodes is scheduled to begin in June in Ireland, going to air in 2009. The series airs domestically on CBC.
People
• Sturla Gunnarsson has taken over as president of the Directors Guild of Canada’s national board, following the organization’s recent AGM in Calgary and replacing longtime boss Alan Goluboff. Gunnarsson will serve a two-year term.
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