Canadian Film Digest (May 1974)

=F > SEER ONE CR US Oe RR SC aR ame Nee Page 4 ot « ie ee Gathercole. The Council of Canadian Filmmakers held its first annual meeting on April 28th, and despite no concrete news about success in their various activities vis-a-vis government, the executive gave a distinct impression of optimism about current and future situations in the Canadian Film Industry. : Set up last year by a founding group of people from all segments of the industry, the Council has grown and made its presence very strongly felt, especially in government circles. It has been asked to comment on the Bassett report (now shelved), appear before the Commons Committee on Broadcasting, and has made forceful presentations to the CRTC and other bodies. Made up of about three hundred individual members and group memberships totaling about 4,700, the Council is run by an executive committee with reps from all of the segments of the membership. Groups include ACTRA, The Canadian Film Editors Guild, The Canadian Society of Cinematographers, The Directors’ Guild, IATSE 644c, IATSE 873, NABET 700, Societe General du Cinema et Television (ONF), and the Toronto Filmmakers Co-op. The numbers were sparse at the New Yorker Theatre in Toronto as the general meeting took place, possibly because of mail disorders. But the crowd was enthusiastic, and discussion carried on until the time arranged with owner Bennet Fode had been long. over-used. Executive members present were Kirwan Cox, Ken Post, Richard Leiterman, Sandra Gathercole, Peter Pearson, Robin Spry, Jack Gray, Agi Kiss, Ron Kelly, and John Board. Gray began the meeting by summarizing the last one, in June of 1973. Chairman Peter Pearson then gave his report. He summarized *CCFM activities since last June, and indicated the direction the Council had taken in regard to its purpose. ‘‘We tried to find political solutions for the problems,” he said. ‘‘We worked on the CBC, and the Canadian Filmmakers’ series is an immediate result. At the CBC hearings held by the CRTC, we scored a singular victory. Juneau urged a strong role in features, whether :] , a a z ;, , ’ ad . Ae nus Ak Head of the Inter-Union committee Richard Leiterman gives his report. in financing or showing, He asked for twelve feature premieres per year, and said the CBC Should use its purchasing power when buying foreign films to influence international distribution of Canadian films. “This statement shows the effects of collective action.” He termed the Winnipeg Manifesto the first point of really articulating a feature film policy. After describing the appearance by himself and Kirwan Cox before the Commons Committee on Broadcasting, Film, and Assistance to the Arts, Pearson said he felt the industry is on the verge of a major breakthrough. The British Columbia Film Co-op is on the puint of joining the CCFM, whose membership is sorely deficient from out west. The Winnipeg Film Symposium to which the CCFM sent delegates, certainly helped, because the CCFM must become mere of a national body. He continued that talks with John Hirsch, new drama head at the CBC, indicates that film will play a major role in CBC programming. Hirsch conveys optimism Some of ‘the executive: (left to right) Kirwan Cox, Ted Post, Richard Leiterman, Santira % The Canadian Film Digest CCFM annual meet plans to develop ten to sixteen new directors, and Don Macpherson implies that the CBC will participate in features. Pearson emphasized that the role of the CBC should be only in distribution if the low budget projects are involved. Using their own people in production doesn’t help the industry. Agi Kiss then put in the only really pessimistic comment of the day. She said, “Other reports I hear are the opposite. Everything about features has been given up for five years, and emphasis will be on developing people and projects on the CBC.” Sandra Gathercole and Kirwan Cox said they felt optimistic about things in general. Jack Gray gave the treasurer’s report. He said the bank balance stands at $1,500, and that income sources have been $3,300 from dues, a Canada Council $5,000 travel grant and a $2,000 research grant from the Ontario Arts Council. Gray said that no budget had been officially set up; they just spend wisely. Hopefully, a paid executive secretary can be hired in the near future, especially to facilitate communication. Whereupon the discussion turned to the desirability of having -a regular newsletter. All agreed that such an organ should be set up, and the executive said that the matter would be looked into. Next item of business was the election of representatives from the individual members. Seven were chosen out of eleven nominees. New reps are Richard Leiterman, Don Shebib, Kirwan Cox, Agi Kiss, Ken Post, Pen Densham, Robert Linnell. As Linnell is from Vancouver, John Board was chosen to act as an alternate if Linnell is unavailable for meetings. Richard Leiterman gave the inter-union committee report next. His premise was that while not all goals had been reached, steps forward had been taken. “It was interesting that everyone, IATSE, NABET, and nonaffiliates were all in one room. A good dialogue took place. The unions have agreed to an opendoor policy whereby applications are dealt with through a non-partial trade test. “Unions are realizing that the industry is changing, and that therefore constitutions must change. No more is U.S. drafting acceptable. We. need a new influx of members who are interested in changing things. Hopefully IA 644 will be locally autonomous by next year, and it’s because of new members. A third union can’t help — we should affiliate because ) otherwise we can’t get anywhere. ‘*Mixed crews can’t be allowed under present constitutions, only with OECA can union and non-affiliates work, together. And at the moment none of the advances apply to the west coast. The unions in the west should be included.”’ . Since the CCFM had been asked by the Commons Committee to formulate some proposals together with the CFDC, Pearson brought up a draft of recommendations he planned to send to the CFDC the next day. The draft, in rough form only, called for a quota of 10 per cent per year building to 25 per cent per year within ten years; revised taxation; additional CFDC activity as outlined in the Winnipeg Manifesto, i.e. fully publically financed features and the two-type industry; an increase in the with-holding tax from 10 to 15 per cent; no CFDC primary financing in TV (because other CFDC activity might be restricted); a statement that the USS. distributors stop calling the Canadian market part of their ‘domestic’ market; and a statement that filmmaking is a high financial risk activity, and a highly significant social and cultural activity, and therefore investors must be treated properly. The consensus was favorable to the outline, alter some discussion about details. The meeting adjourned. * The CCIM has engaged an answering service. The number is (416) 869-0716. ENTERTAINMENT STOCKS STOCK CLOSE CLOSE NET HIGH LOW MAR.1 APR.17 CHG. 73-74 73-74 TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE All Can 3.45 2.95 —.50 3.65 2.85 Baton 4.90 4.85 —.05 Ty 4,50 Bushnell 84 8% — 9 7% Canadian Cable Systems 1614 1312 —.3 187; 13'y CFCN 74 61, —-1% 8 6 CHUM B B54 8%, +i, 95 714 IWC Industries Ltd. 2.15 1.75 —.40 2.50 1.60 Maclean-Hunter Cable 12 1154 —!, 12°, Il's Premier Cable 9 9 —10 Bly Q Broadcasting 3.60 3.00 —,60 3.75 3.00 Rank Organization 614 6 i Ty, 5h, Selkirk A 135, 121, —h l4ty 12', Standard Broadcasting B14 8 —ly 10° Ths Western Broadcasting 12! 10 —JZl, 12! 10 MONTREAL STOCK EXCHANGE Astral 1.30 1.30 — 1.70 1.10 NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE Columbia Pictures . 33% 2% —l, 3 25 Walt Disney 435% 457, +24 541, 3514 Gulf & Western 255% 26% +1% 291% 225, Lowes 19% 2015 +% 23! 5 17 MCA 244 2415, — 25 191, Metromedia BY 8 —M; 105% 74 MGM 134 1234 —I!, 155% 91, Transameria 934 814 —1'4 10%, Ble 20th-F'ox 8% Big —i, 91, SY Warner Communications 17 13% —3l2 18% 95% AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE Allied Artists 3% 3 My 4M, 2s Cinerama 1% 1 —\% 1M 1 Filmways 5 4 7 6 354 General Cinema 123% 95% —25% 14 914 On the Move! This is GHIC heartland... are “YOU listening? —CHRO Directors’ Guild ups A.D. rate, seeks to admit designers The Directors’ Guild of Canada held its annual meeting on April 25th at Toronto’s Film House, and elected a new executive, raised the A.D. rate structure and initiated ‘proceedings to admit art directors and production designers to the group. The new executive is comprised of reelected president Peter Pearson, first vice-president Don Wilder, second vicepresident John Board, Treasurer John Eckert, secretary Sam Jephcott, and national executive secretary Evelyn McCartney. Board members are Bob Schultz, Al Waxman, Julius Kohani, Christopher Chapman, Al Emid, Ray Arsenault. Regional representatives are Robert Linnell (West), Munroe Scott (Ottawa), Charles Braive (Quebec). The meeting, which lasted from 6:30 to 1:00 a.m., saw the first raise in six years in the A.D. category rate structure for commercials and features. Also approved by the body was a request on the part of production ‘designers and art directors that they be admitted to the Directors’ Guild as a classification. The artists made the request originally last year, but only this year was it accepted. As a_ conStitutional amendment was required, discussing the move took place at the annual meeting when everyone was 7IOAM-“RADIO 1021SFM present. Since the Directors do not want to unionraid, honourable withdrawal by the designers from IATSE is necessary. Up to this point the Directors have approved admitting them, but terms of reference still have to be established. The designers initiated the proceedings because they felt separate from the rest of the crew since they are hired by the director, not the producer. President Peter Pearson reported on various political activities during the past year. His activities have occurred as Directors’ Guild President, and since he represents the Guild on the Council of Canadian Filmmakers and is chairman of the council, he also referred to activities by that group. Plans were announced regarding an appearance before the CRTC in their Canadian contents hearings. The Guild takes the position that 80 percent is useless. Neither fish nor fowl, such an arrangement is also unpoliceable. Betler to have all or nothing. The Guild has shown spectacular growth during the past two years. The total number of members has increased by over one hundred to only a few shy of three hundred. And applications are pending for more at the moment, April-May 1974