Canadian Film Digest (Dec 1972)

Pare ia) The Canadian Film Digest DECEMBER 1972. SSAA DOLLARS (cont'd from page 4) man’’!!! At present Canada is a very ‘“‘little man”’ in feature film-making — a traditional “big man’s’’ business. Recent Canadian films, such as Don Shebib’s Goin’ Down the Road (all private capital I believe) and Larry Dane’s The Rowdyman (government and private investment, but mostly private) and perhaps others are showing some signs of returning at least the negative costs at the box office, which, as they say in the vernacular, “Is where it’s at”’. RECOGNITION — PASSION vs. PRACTICALITY Many Canadians, privately and in government, are wearing their ‘‘cultural passion’’ all over their proverbial coat sleeves. From an artistic and cultural standpoint it is stimulating to be recognized and praised by critics, to win prizes and awards (mostly Canadianoriented) and see one’s name up on the screen. But let’s be honest — such titivation is very short-lived. Yesterday’s hero quite often is tomorrow’s bum. It is exceedingly difficult to turn this kind of ‘‘glory”’ in at your local grocery store! The only commodity that is understood by adult, mature people in any country or in any language (particularly if one wants continued support from one’s favourite ‘banker’) is tangible results at the box office. The ‘‘commodity”’ is called MONEY!!! The reason Canadian-made information films, documentary films, TV commercials, etc., continue to be a small but reasonably healthy ‘bell-whether’ in the Canadian film industry, is that these films have a long success story for producers, sponsors, advertisers, etc., at their respective ‘box offices’ . . . promoting travel, selling goods, educating, motivating — at firm prices with predictable results — A proven record of success. THE CANADIAN CONUNDRUM The reasons for lack of real success in any Canadian feature film to date are complicated. We have indicated some of them . . . the demand for risk money exceeds the supply . . . our track record is less than attractive to potential financiers. (When the federal government closes some of the more obvious tax havens effecting investment in feature films, the field may become even less attractive than it is now.) Many current efforts in our search for identity and nationhood, well-meaning though they may be, appear to be isolating Canada or parts of Canada and some of its industry from the rest of the world . .. Asyndrome which mystifies people from other countries who wonder at our self-torture or even worse, just laugh at us. Some Canadians — both French and English — are dedicated to the political dissection of Canada, without really counting the costs. There are people in B.C., as well as Quebec, who have their own ideas of separation. And everybody hates Ontario, don’t they? There are too many divergent political passions along with a rapidly approaching welfare state (frightening to any Canadian who still believes in individual freedom and enterprise.) Some day we may get it out of our systems without too much permanent damage, but in the meantime these are terribly energy-sapping activities which inhibit the rational thought, hard decisions and unity of effort necessary to develop such a difficult ‘“‘animal”’ as a Canadian feature film industry. TO CATCH A DREAM : . We must get our priorities in the right place. We all wish for a really successful Canadian feature film industry. Canada, for its population, has developed many artistic and talented people. Also, we have a great deal of natural wealth compared to other countries. BUT we cannot afford to waste this wealth and talent on ill-conceived and unfruitful investments. Feature film-making, despite its artistic solitudes, is a real teamwork business ... marketing and financial expertise are most important cogs in the team effort. We have not yet proved whether we can put it all together and compete successfully in a very tough professional world league. We have to turn our dreams into practical reality ... If anyone thinks it is going to be easy, it’s because they don’t quite understand the situation! There is not going to be very much room at the top. What little there is will probably be caused by some disillusioned or unsuccessful producer-film-maker vacating in a hurry or just falling off the bandwagon. Finally, let us remember that ‘‘wishing will not make it so’’. Some educators and intellectuals are telling us and our youth that the ‘‘work ethic’’ is finished. . . !!! IS THAT SO — when were they last out on ‘‘the playing fields’’ of life where the real business is generated and the chips are counted? Only mature, alert, hard-headed, knowledgeable ‘‘showbiz”’ attitudes and very competent hard work will allow us to succeed. Even then, success knows no nationality and is not the. prerogative of any class, culture or educational level. We will need some good luck, but much more important, we will need good management and realistic marketing. To catch a dream of success requires that both the government and private sector have a firm grip on reality. Only then might we capture a viable share of the elusive world entertainment feature film market. BONNE CHANCE EN GARDE! Toronto has seen a veritable explosion of film activity this past month. No fewer than four films are being shot here now. Pictured at the right are (from left to right) emminent producer, writer, actor, and director John Houseman, Director of Photography Gordon Willis, and Director James Bridges of Fox’s The Paper Chase. Below are (Left) Jack Nicolson and Director Hal Ashby of Columbia’s The Last Detail. Also shooting currently are The Neptune Factor for Fox and Don Shebib’s Get Back. SE EELS EE ES ES ES SES ES ES EES SSS ES ES ES ESS IS ESS, ESSE ES ESS ES ESS LES LES YEE EEE PES LIS PERE IRE MERE VLE NINE BNE Ye WOE ee eae \ ~ FAMOUS PLAYERS THEATRES FAMOUS PLAYERS LIMITED ka 0BLOOR STREET IWE Sas TORONTO 5 ——— SST TE STE SK OSE LTE OTE GT OI EIA INTE NE TE OE ES RT NT ATG IGE HEN Page 5 ARAN RRA AAA BARA RA SAGA BARRA IA RE RA RA AANA RAR RASA CESSES RS BS SS SSS SE RSS VERE BEE PSN YER BE ERC BK WOES POE BERL PES YEE BEE ELE EL ERS EE GES ES LEE IS ESE YEE YES ES LES SL fe