Cinema Canada (Feb 1982)

Industry effort spearheaded by producers AGMPC pays own way as lobby effective TORONTO According to Mar tin Bockner, executive director of the Association of Canadian Movie Production Companies (ACMPC), the importance of his organization “was proven by its participation in the united industry response to the proposed changes in the capital cost allowance” in the MacEachen budget handed down November 12. “From November 13 to the third week in December, the budget was in fact the prime reason for this organization’s existence,” Bockner told Cinema Canada. “If we accomplished nothing else all year, the input we were able to give, together with the other industry groups, to realize the one year transition period to the end of 1982 was enough reason for this organization to exist.” Bockner joined the ACMPC on September 13, 1981 and opened the group’s Toronto office on October 1. During the four to six week orientation period that followed, Bockner said his organization was working on such possibilities as comprehensive insurance or comprehensive travel and hotel . 4/Cinema Canada February 1982 allowances for member companies available through the organization, These projects, said Bockner, “were dropped like a hot potato when the budget came down.” Through its Toronto office, the ACMPC organized a meeting of the entire production industry on November 18 in Montreal (see Cinema Canada, No. 80). This initial meeting provoked a little response from the government. “It became apparent,” said Bockner, “that the Finance Department didn’t understand the ramifications of what they were doing to the industry. Very specifically, what they didn’t understand was the multi-million. dollars worth of production ground to a halt. Not only did perhaps as many as 50 companies face immediate extinction, given no change, but several thousand people employed by these companies faced the same problem” Bockner said the producers, assisted by other members of the industry, organized the collection and documentation of evidence which proved that $148,445,000 worth of produce: tion, already in pre-production, and $56.6 million in interim financing had been pulled back, put on hold, or cancelled as aresult of the budget. “These members documented — the alarms we were sounding with facts that could not bo ignored,” said Bockner. Bockner expressed the gen: eral industry sense of reliof in MacEachen’s rollback of the budget provisions for 1982.a budget provisions for 1982, “We can exist with the 50/50 scheme, but we couldn't conceivably exist without a twelve month transition period,” he said. ‘The immediate item on the agenda is the best way to exist at the end of the transition period.” Bockner added that ACMPC members were moving right ahead with production. “What was on hold, will now procede, Projects which were in planning in ’81 for ’82, will be made,” Bockner characterized his group’s relationship with the Canadian Association of Motion Picture Producers (CAMPP), the other Canadian producers’ ote eer a >< aisoclations which the ACMPC split from last April, aa “frlend ly.” Ho added ; “I ean't say that at the break there wan or was not any animosity — To wasn't there — but assuming Uf there ever was any, Whatever feeling of that kind which had extated was totally done away with in the common cause given the Industry when the budget war handed down,” He emphasized that) both groups have a place in the te dustry, “Our place ti asa yroup of some of the larger, on“olny production companies, who, because of thelrcommon prob: loms in producing major motion pictures, felt an association representing tke companies would serve them better, Many momboers of CAMPP aren't the same type of producers, In torms of on-going projects, ar wo are,” Bockner said the ACMPC'rs immediate alma were to in: croaso Membership, negotiate Viable agreoments with the guilds and untons, and make a greater contribution to the din: cussions with yovernmant concerning industry regula tions. CAR AND TRUCK RENTAL Budget : BD in ma & ~ 2 5 ef ist Budget presents THE WORLD premiere of “KINGS OF THE ROAD’ STARRING -Budget Hy-Cubes Budget 16, 18 & 20 feet trucks CO-STARRING A complete range of Budget vehicles. INTRODUCING Budget Mobile Homes Budget Custom Campers Budget Vans Budget Cadillacs For information write to; Budget Rent-A-Car co Mr steve Kobitis Ost Michel dasmin. Montreal, Que HOP 1C5 oF phone (514) 646.074% eles ie eee (9 421.677 Oo © oOo OOo Oe Oe OrOreserecec® ee Fee ee ee ee ee <<<. ee SSS Sr —s~ Seu oe ee a Industrywins (cont, from po wD represent them, and that we had to get organized to ean Hine the process We were ahiuiply the beat people to do the job,” concluded Noaubter The Producera Counedl af Canada will hold a meeting on January 20 in Montreal, and Will be comprised of three membera each trons the Agia clation dea Productoura de Viliis du Quabee, the Canadian Mil and Toleviston Assoota Hon and the Assoclatlon of Canadian Motlon Ploturea Pre. ductlon Companies, Not rep roneanted ia the Canacdlan Asan clation of Motion Ploture Pre ducers, whore members deemed to have been absent by and large from tha lobbying process, "There are other pre ducora also who are not rap resented, people ke Pater Siimpion and John Gasset who don't belong to any group," commonts Boaublon, The purpose of the PCC will be to davise an dndusatelal strat amy, and to “Oo direatly to Ottawa to defend tt, "Woe sonnel that we ware working tina void, that no one wanted to close the door to the industry, The further wo pushed, the further we ware able to fo," says Deaublen, the PCC, whose rales and regula Hons have yet to be written, Intends to continues the push, SSE Ve teers _ssee ae ESD