Cinema Canada (Nov 1981)

Joan Schaterspeaks of six point First Choice project j A major dilemma formeinmy time is Canadian, sixty percent _ entire cost. For larger budget down to it the only thing that in the Past Lane.” We know time as an independent pro-. of our programming dollars productions some money atcounts in broadcasting is prothere are Canadian scripts in ducercan bestbeillustratedby are for Canadian films and protracts more money. We will gramming that gets and keeps progress. Ralph Thomas is a story. If you are calling CBC . grams. make it possible for the prothe subscriber. We share the _ busy, writing his next feature and the party you are trying to Three, we pledge extensive’ gram to be produced. May I CFDC’s enthusiastic appraisal aftef Ticket to Heaven. Beryl ‘4 contact is out of his office and and expensive promotion and __ also say we will not be tied to ofa few daysagothatthetalent Fox is in pre-production with down the hall, you ask to be advertising for it takes well hardware. We will own no _ is here. two Canadian features. Joe transferred. In order to accomplaced support for our Canafacilities, nor staff, any prolets £ it 24h Koenig of International Cine plish this, the person will ask diane programs and films to ducers executive or otherwise. aa ae a oy ee ifi a media is in production with you the all important question, havethedesiredimpact.AmeriOurprograms willbe produced ~ viewin iy fi see he ; ioe children’s drama. Norman ‘Are you Calling from outside or canshows are promotedinthe ona free enterprise system, enducks = : 9 aD ae aes Klenonn is developing 5 proé inside ? If you're out, youcan’t minds of our viewers and so _couraging the development of an Sen ti SP ce jects — one on the B.C. prison “ be transferred. The phone sys-__ shall it be with our Canadian _ State of the art facilities. P Aa phe bipe eae riots. We look forward to docu ; tem doesn’t work that way. programs. ; 1 Third ofall, program creativee ie ata Pee dramas, short films made by > Neither does CBC. Four, we pledge to help _ ity. ; emmand) Wetcel (ie Geet that first time filmmakers. It will be 7 , : 5 industry can support. With the in ane y: When I moved from the producers make export sales We have intentionally not meoduct f TV our responsibility to encourage warmth and security of inside and obtain additional licénsing preconceived the concepts of C Ae eh sf oe x ae the new wave of Canadian television to the outside as an__‘ fees. With Riff Markowitz on our programs for that is the ai Ao age Ppendgent Ara comedy writers. independent, the significance our managementteam,weare business of the independent it t Sa aha cons ea We know that the talent is of the CBC telephone system in the best position in Canada community. We intend to eneta een op moe oe here. We intend to encourage : hit home. It was the outside to really help. courage it. Our 175 special aT Rites To ete it, use it, sell it. We know our versus the inside in real life Five, we pledge to take no premium presentations and this a distene ie Gpennends subscribers will buy First too. Getting your project into equity interest in productions. our 40 Canadian films is a fitionte mee ae ne ee Choice Canadian for the Amerithe system is a major task, We are encouragers, licensers demand, we feel, the Canadian tioned: 113 ee aii can blockbusters. But for every there are political consideraand schedulers. We look upon _ industry can support. another 15 million dollars “™etican hour they will also tions, little money and less ourselves as the connecting With the introduction of payavailableionthnoterthel: buy an hour of great Canadian facilities. For the independent link between th akers of TV our independent base will . ye Ncense films and productions. I emes : Reuces SU Pp : is granted to develop programs Pp is In Continuous competition films and programs and our _ flower. Our Canadian creators specifically f phasize great Canadian proi 2 : : : : : pecifically for our use. : with American programs _ First Choice subscribers. Having and crafts people will work all ductions for every dollar spent bought at a fraction ofhiscost tested our Strategy out on the _ the time. A real industry will In our programming schedabroad more than a dollar will and with in-house low budget independent community they bloom. And to start up the ule First Choice subscribers bespent in Canada. First Choice productions. hope for our success, for if we development board and fund could get a taste of Mordecai Canadian pledges to create a As one potential buyer of a__ succeed, they succeed. it in its first few months we Richler’s new novel “Joshua demand for our own indigetelevision concept said to me... Six, we pledge that we do have committed $1.5 million Then and Now” going into nous programming making it's not that I don’t like your not seek any endorsements from the day of licensing. Our mini-series. “His Majesty's new generations in Canada idea... it’s just that I have so from the independent producprogram schedule is entirely Yankee’s’—amini-seriessetin more familiar with their own many options and none of tion community. Weare open dependentonthe independent Nova Scotia. Peter Simpson’s culture than those generations them arein yourfavor:Icould toeveryidea.Wehavenodeals sector. For when it comes _ proposed documentary..“Death before them. do it myself inside. I could on the side. 5 purchase an American proThree points I would like to ‘ 1 ; duction along the same lines emphasize: U eS Aciion how CRIC hearings close for 5% of the cost or you buy me First of all, development <3) 7 (cont from p.2) a series of lunchs. Then I can monies. Without substantial = ~ ~ apn es operation. More seriously no say I was instrumental in endollars worthwhile projects 1 wi of ju risdiction disciplinary action was ever couraging your programifand die. I spoke earlier of a 13 taken by the CRTC against when it gets made. As you million dollar script, concept TORONTO — Recommendaproduction if the number of — either of these companies. remember Joan, on the inside and interim financing. First tions that the CRTC restrictincompetitors inthe pay TV marThroughout the four days of you're covered, on the outside, Choice understands the need _ tegration of production, distri_ ket is limited. general remarks, the Commisit’s just cold. tofoster the creative talentthat bution, and exhibition interAllow openentryandcom-_ sioners questioned presenters I swore that if I ever found gives us the scripts and show estsin thenewpayTVindustry _ petition in the provision of pay on what they would do if they myself on the inside with the formats. First comes the word. highlight the Combines InvesTV programming service subwere in the CRTC’s shoes. Few resources andthe powertosay -Scriptsneedtimetodevelop,to tigation Act’s intervention to ject to the applicants meeting _ gasped the opportunity to give yes, it would be different and be reworked and fine tuned. the CRTC on pay TV licensing the CRTC’s Canadian content the Commission specific direcits going to be. First Choice Script writers need steady applications, according to requirements and other con_ tives. pledges not to produce anyworktodeveloptheircraftand © Claude Thivierge, Combines’ siderations set out in Public That American feature films thing ourselves, not to buy make a few mistakes. Our deputy director of investigaNotice 1981-35. will be the attraction, and the from the world marketatafifth creative development board _ tions and research. Encourage a long-term pol_ Staple, for those who subscribe of the costandnottoencourage could fund two hundred and Speaking at the Festival of icy to promote the lessening of tO pay-TV, at least at the outset, producers to buy me lunches. _ fifty projects at 25,000 dollars Festivals Trade Forum, Thiconcentration in the cable TV Was something that nobody Pay TV is my chance, First each, leavinganequalamount vierge warned against the possector; in the interim, order questioned. What the CRTC Choice Canadian’s chance to for interim financing. May I _ sibility of price fixing agreecompulsory access to the intemust do now is to plota course help others bridge the inside/ repeat, two hundred and fifty “ments between licensees uder grated cable operator’s prime across a very thin tight-rope outside gap. Here’s how. individual projects. This fund many of the systems proposed time viewing channel capacity Which will allow the pay-TV First, we pledge to produce _ operates independently of First by applicants. He argued that for independent pay TV dis| Companies a chance to get off no in house programming.We Choice Canadian givingusfirst the proposal of regional sys tributors. the ground, but not at the exwill use only independently negotiation for first refusalon tems to combine together in Like many industry observpense of the Canadian producproduced films and programs. projects. That’s a substantial joint programming ventures’ ers, Thivierge sees the hearton industry. Two, we pledge 13 million injection into the industry of | could result in an unfair lessings which began September Following the first stage of. dollars for creative developthe hardest money to find... ening of competition. 24asalastchancefortheCRTC general presentations, the ment and interim financing. money that puts food on the “The game is now,” said Thito insure the survival of anin| CRTC moved immediately to These funds will be administable while the writers works _vierge. “Because of the nature dependent Canadian produc-' hear from the license applicants tered by a Creative Develop-_ up the script. of regulated industries in Cantion industry. themselves. All 28 were covered ment board independent of Second of all, licensing fees. | ada, once the CRTC exercises “Everything we (the Comin an intense six-day-a-week First Choice and representative Important works requireimits jurisdiction, the Combines bines intervention) said they work period from October 1-13. of the industry. We pledge portant money. First Choice Act will not apply.” (the CRTC) have said in the Following that, intervenors substantial license fees forinCanadian is committed to an The Combines Act is depast. We'll see if the CRTC is | were allowed to comment on dependently produced films average of 33,000 dollars per signed to maintain free marreally serious about protecting _ specific applications. With a and programs leaving withthe hour for premium presentakets, protect competition and Canadian production.” final rebuttal from the appliproducer all rights except the tions or programs, which is fair practice dealing, and precants, the CRTC wound up its Canadian pay window. We_ equal to the American pay-TV — vent false advertising in nonhearings on the proceedings have earmarked over $90 millicensing fees. For some pro_ regulated industries. The main and isnow pondering who will : lion dollars a year for Canagrams, the combination ofour _pointsoftheirintervention are: be granted a license to bring . dian produced material, fifty development money and our Order divestment of pay TV pay-TV to Canada. percent of our programming licensing fees would coverthe ownership from programming Sarah Jennings © November 1981-Cinema Canada/11 a r R oe 7 03 ) ae pe Fite Dante : i a ro s