✖
Quebec loves clay cartoons
Montreal: The self-proclaimed ‘ordinary guys’ behind a series of satirical online videos taking Quebec by storm are close to signing an international distribution deal with Just For Laughs.
Briefs
The Jane Show back on Global
Letter
This has been quite the week for me: first I am an answer in a National Post crossword puzzle, now I note you referred to my show, The Mad Dash, in Matthew Hays’ Jan. 22 article ‘Insight makes a Deal.’
Readership Poll Results
There’s fear in the air. In a recent online Playback poll asking ‘What effect would CanWest Global’s purchase of Alliance Atlantis have on Canadian production?’, 65% of respondents feel that it would be negative due to fewer broadcast players. 20% believe it would be a win-lose situation, while 15% think that it would be good due to a sizable benefits package.
Dissenting cablers forget the point
The moves by Shaw and Videotron to abandon their obligations to the Canadian Television Fund may be motivated by some legitimate beefs with the system, but ultimately show that the dissenting cablers have forgotten what the CTF is all about.
Water’s journey to Oscar glory
An Academy Award nomination was not on the horizon for producer David Hamilton when he, writer/director Deepa Mehta and the rest of their crew were struggling to shoot Water, the third film in Mehta’s trilogy after Fire and Earth, on location in India in 2000.
Danish Poet lands Kove’s second nom
A meditation on fate has earned Montreal animator Torill Kove her second Academy Award nomination. The best animated short nom comes for her 15-minute The Danish Poet, inspired by her parents’ own story of a chance encounter. The film is a copro between the National Film Board (Marcy Page) and Norway’s Mikrofilm AS (Lise Fearnley).
National Film Board Oscar wins
The Danish Poet’s nomination marks the 69th Academy Award nom for the National Film Board, which has been called to the podium a dozen times so far. Below is a list of NFB productions and copros that have brought home Oscar gold, as well as two special awards.
Will bigger movies equal more Genie viewers?
Some say a successful Genie Awards broadcast is all about building buzz for Canadian films and talent. Some say it’s about host and format. Some say it’s the titles fighting for best picture, and the box office they tallied. But with Live! At the Genies airing Feb. 13 on CHUM stations, certainly everyone agrees they hope more Canadians tune in this year.
Consulting their inner poutine
Jason Anderson, Eye Weekly, Toronto
Huard comes full circle at Genies
A funny thing happened to Patrick Huard four years ago on his way to the podium as a Genie presenter. During his comedy monologue he looked out at his English and French audience – and had a flash for a movie. The result of that divine inspiration is Bon Cop, Bad Cop, which has 10 nominations, including best picture, and is a lock for this year’s Golden Reel Award.
Nominees for best motion picture
Box-office successes from French Canada dominate a strong short list of contenders for best motion picture at this year’s Genies. Four of the nominees cracked the domestic box office’s top 10 for 2006, although only Bon Cop, Bad Cop has sold well internationally.
The definitive CDN broadcast and production resource.Over 5,000 company listings!
