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Summer forecast mostly sunny in the West
While the Saskatchewan industry hopes a rise in indigenous projects will offset a soft 2005, B.C. remains Western Canada’s Hollywood hot spot, and Manitoba and Alberta are basking in an Oscar glow that is making for a busy summer of offshore activity.
Drama demand fuels B.C. TV boom
TV work in British Columbia has bounced back – after taking a heavy hit in 2004 – according to recent stats from the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts and the B.C. Film Commission.
Cameras rolling…
TV titles currently shooting in B.C. include season three of BattlestarGalactica for the Sci-Fi Channel, season 10 of Stargate SG-1 for the same network, and a fourth run of Showtime’s The L Word. Stargate Atlantis and USA Network’s The 4400 are both working on their third seasons, while second go-rounds are underway for Showtime’s Masters of Horror and The CW’s Supernatural.
Yukon seeks shooting gold rush
The economy of the Yukon was sparked by the Klondike gold rush at the end of the 19th century, and Margarita Ramon now hopes to script a new economic rush with celluloid.
Toronto megastudio delayed another year
It’s been a long wait for a megastudio in Toronto, and the city’s production community will have to hang on at least two more years, according to the head of the proposed FilmPort studio, who alludes to more news forthcoming about the project.
B.C. studios hot, Toronto mild, Montreal picking up
Soundstages in B.C. unsurprisingly report the most business this summer shooting season, buoyed by a rejuventation in dramatic programming, while a pair of large features highlight a sub-par summer in Toronto, and volume in Montreal is finally picking up with film work from both U.S. majors and indie producers.
Time now for Calgary studio
After years of steady industry growth, Calgary could finally see ground broken for its first purpose-built film studio as early as spring 2007.
Service providers rise to challenge on summer shoots
It is a busy summer of shooting in most regions across Canada, with a healthy dose of foreign productions putting down stakes north of the 49th. But there are also numerous indigenous projects going to camera, and some technically challenging ones, at that.
Should CBC drop ads and sports?
The recommendation that the CBC should get out of both advertising and sports coverage has reignited long-standing debates about the network while making for strange bedfellows among lobbyists and insiders.
Glover game for Virgo feature
Following up on his sexed-up Lie with Me, director Clement Virgo is tackling the very different themes of race, revenge and forgiveness in his latest movie, Poor Boy’s Game, starring Danny Glover and now shooting in Halifax.
TVOntario upping education, eyeing ads
TVOntario is going digital, thanks to a $25-million boost from the province, and will refocus its programming on education as part of a major overhaul of the pubcaster and its French-language sister, TFO, announced in late June.
Quebec film reps meet Oda
Representatives of Quebec’s film community say they are optimistic about the province’s lack of film funding following a meeting with Minister of Heritage Bev Oda.
Specialties announce fall lineups
Bit by bit, the specialty channels have pulled back the curtain on their plans for the 2006/07 season. Highlights announced so far include:
Hot Sheet
The Hot Sheet tracks Canadian box-office results for the period June 23-29, 2006 and DVD sales in Canada for the period June 12-18, 2006.
Duo rebounds, Americans meet Beowulf & Grendel
The Quebec-made romantic comedy Duo was a box-office disappointment in its opening June 16 weekend but rebounded somewhat in the week of June 23, taking a per-screen average of $1,486, up from $1,121, and claiming the number-one spot among domestic films.
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