Cinema Canada (Mar 1982)

Writers settle dispute with the CBC TORONTO An agreement has been reached between the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Association of Canadian Radio and Television Artists Writers’ Guild. Their dispute involved a mandatory clause the CBC had included in contracts with _ television dramatists allowing the CBC, at its option, to have original script material from one writer re-written by another. At a January 28 meeting between members of the ACTRA Writers’ Guild and senior CBC officials, it was concluded the disputed clause would no longer appear in writers’ contracts, and a new clause was agreed upon, If the CBC now wishes to commission another writer on a script originated from a previous writer, it must . first enter into and conclude negotiations with the original writer on the situation. If the dispute concerns the matter of aroyalty payment to the original writer, the amount of the royalty payment shall be re ferred to an arbitrator, who shall act according to normal industry practice concerning royalty payments and whose decision shall be final and binding. The agreement also outlined a four-step procedure for the CBC to follow if it wishes to commission another writer to work on a previous writer’s original material. First is discussion between writer and producer; if no agreement is reached, then further discussion takes place between writer, ACTRA, producer, and the CBC-TV drama area head; if further discussion is necessary, the matter is referred to anew ACTRA-CBC working commit ‘tee ; the fourth and last step is final and binding arbitration. The agreement applies to all contracts to be signed by the CBC and ACTRA, with the exception of five agreed-upon series : Home Fires, The Great Detective, Hangin’ In, Flappers, and Seeing Things. The ACTRA Writers’ agreement with the CBC is to be renegotiated this spring, and ACTRA is expected to recommend the new agreement be applied to all contracts. Margaret. Collier, national executive director of the ACTRA Writers’ Guild, told Cinema Canada that pressure from Canadian writers and the fear of bad publicity convinced the CBC to change its earlier hard-line stand on the issue. According to Collier, no writers signed contracts with the CBC from late last December, until the agreement was reached January 28, “which meant sooner or later, production would have ground to a halt.” Collier also pointed out that an ACTRA petition declaring the original mandatory CBC clause unacceptable was signed by 134 top Canadian writers, both screenwriters and top novelists like Timothy Findley, Marian Engel, Mordecai Richler, and Alice Munro. This petition, dated January 15, made the CBC anxious to reach a conclusion with the ACTRA Writers’ Guild, said Collier. hn, GA al REED COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTION PERSONNEL VIDEO REED COMMUNICATIONS, Canada’s largest and most advanced independent video production company, is seeking individuals with a desire to grow in an expanding organiza tion. We are currently searching for people to work in the field of video production. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to work in the most sophisticated video production facility in Canada today. Reed projects are produced exclusively in 1” Type C video format with fully computerized post-production ’ facilities. We require: Unit Managers, Directors, Camera Operators, Recording Technicians and Production Researchers. If you’re looking for a fulfilling career in an active challenging atmosphere, in addition to an excellent salary, contact: E. Gasparik Reed Communications Suite 800, 4445 Calgary Trail, South Edmonton, Alberta ~ T6H 5C3 10/Cinema Canada ~ March 1982 . SHOOT ALBERTA The Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association (AMPIA) elected a new slate of officers at the Eight Annual Meeting held in Edmonton on December 4. Arvi Liimatainen was reelected President; Nanci Pedursen is Calgary Vice-President; Nick Bakyta is Edmonton VicePresident; Peter Roberts (ACTRA Writers’ Guild) is Corporate Affiliate Representative; and Directors are Peter Campbell, Peter Haynes, and Mike Waite. President Liimatainen re viewed the year’s activities : presentations to the CRTC and the Federal Cultural Policy Review Committee; publication of the AMPIA quarterly, SHOOT ALBERTA, in a new format; the establishment of a Southern Alberta chapter; a film industry survey;'a CBC series showing Alberta films; and the SUPERMAN II fund-raising parties in Edmonton and Calgary. Projected changes include a reorganization of administration in or der to accommodate the separate Edmonton and Calgary bases, _ Bill Marsden, Director of the Film Development Office, addressed the membership on’ the status of the Alberta Motion Picture Development Corporation. He predicted the funding | ae | YORK UNIVERSITY TORONTO, CANADA N agency would be in business “by February or March at the latest”, with a province-wide Board of Directors appointed, as well as an advisory committee from the film industry. The regulations for the Corporation will be approved by the permanent Board of Directors, with “mega Alberta content,” according to Marsden. The mandate will be broad enough to cover film, television, videotape, videodiscs, and documentaries, as well as features. The producer would raise 40 percent of the development seed money, with the overnment able to loan 60 percent, in appropriate situations. Liimatainen advised the AMPIA members ( a mix of Calgary and Edmonton representatives) that “As individuals and companies, next year we are going to have to make more money, and have a better time doing it’. (Sr In Quebec, two deaths have saddened the film community. Jaoques Paquet, electrician, died suddenly after a massive thrombosis. Marguerite Duparc-Lefebvre, editor, producer and wife of Jean-Pierre Lefebvre, passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. ag — FILM SUMMER/FALL ‘82 FEATURING: e Honours degree programs © Film production and film studies ° Graduate Studies (Master of Fine Arts) in film studies and production 9 Intensive SUMMER courses in film production, TV production and screenwriting, JULY 5-AUGUST 13 Courses also available in Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts, including Summer _ programs in ITALY and FRANGE. For further information, contact: Room 206C, Faculty of Fine Arts. York University, 4700 Keele Street, Downsview, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3 Telephone: (416) 667-3237 AEBS