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First Cut Judges
Johnny Chambers: Freelance producer, Toronto
Playback readership poll results
Many believe the CBC has taken the best course of action in the current NHL lockout. In response to a recent online Playback poll asking ‘What would be the best substitute for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada?’, 37% of respondents chose the route the Ceeb has taken with Movie Night in Canada. 23% voted in favor of a good book instead, followed by games from other leagues (17%), classic NHL games (14%), Canadian or hockey movies (8%) and ongoing strike coverage (1%).
Producers combat soaring loonie
Studio owners, unions and other stakeholders are in huddles across Canada this month looking for ways to offset damage caused by the U.S./Canada exchange rate.
The loonie has been trading at a 10-year peak of more than $0.80 against the greenback since October, fueling fears that the high rate and lack of savings will scare off penny-conscious U.S. producers. The 80-cent mark is often thought to be the tipping point at which Hollywood begins to shun Canada.
Best comedy program or series: Will Gas pass CBC for comedy prize?
When asked last year how he felt about his show’s chances in the Gemini’s best comedy series or program category, Trailer Park Boys actor Mike (Bubbles) Smith was not optimistic.
New blood fuels Gemini optimism
The past couple of Gemini Awards ceremonies were marked by grave industry concerns over the future of dramatic programming in this country. But this year, the clouds seem to be breaking somewhat. Could it be there is new optimism in the air?
Telefilm narrows search for exec director to three
Telefilm Canada says it has handed a shortlist of candidates for its top job to the Department of Canadian Heritage and is now awaiting a final decision from Minister Liza Frulla. Her decision is expected within the month.
Revamped AFM eyes fall calendar
This year has been a year of changes at the American Film Market for both organizers and Canadians. For starters, the eight-day confab has moved from its usual slot in the spring to November, making this the second AFM of 2004. What’s more, organizers have also linked arms with the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival in the hope that both events – now promoted as a combination consumer and industry event – will come to dominate North American sales and the back half of the calendar year, perhaps stealing some thunder from the TIFF.
No winners for the Montreal million
Four groups vying for Telefilm Canada and SODEC funds to host a Montreal-based international film festival will have to wait longer than expected to find out who among them will become the recipient of $1 million previously earmarked for Serge Losique’s Montreal World Film Festival.
Jump Cuts
Grey market victory
Nominees for best TV movie or dramatic miniseries
Cowboys and Indians – The Killing of J.J. Harper (The Film Works, High Definition Pictures)
H2O makes big splash for CBC
While several new shows on CBC struggled to reach audiences during the final stretch of the 2004 Major League Baseball season, the pubcaster came out on top when it premiered H2O, a two-part thriller starring Paul Gross, just days after the final game of the World Series.
Julia going strong across Canada, U.S.
Istvan Szabo’s Being Julia has been picking up steam at the box office since Toronto distributor ThinkFilm started the film’s platform release with an exclusive Toronto engagement on Oct. 15.
Ferns returns
Cannes, France: It is another in a string of hot, beautiful days in Cannes. W. Paterson (Pat) Ferns sits across the street from the Palais des Festivals where nearly 11,000 TV producers and broadcasters are hunkered down dealing in the broadcast equivalent of an Egyptian spice market.
A brief history of the history congress
Gerry Flahive is a documentary producer at the National Film Board of Canada in Toronto. His projects have included Just Watch Me: Trudeau and the ’70s Generation and The Man Who Might Have Been: An Inquiry Into the Life and Death of Herbert Norman. He is currently developing three history documentaries.
Not-so-gay Paris
The National Film Board and Galafilm Productions are going all the way to Paris, all the way back to 1919, having announced a deal to produce a two-part doc series based on the Margaret MacMillan bestseller about the peace talks held there after World War One.
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