Cinema Canada (Mar 1983)

; ad CINE MA G @ . i ee ee es ee ee eee Le ele nO eT A SHOOT ALBERTA See is ee a Re I EOS ERT ee (e) by Linda Kupecek (eo) .. pag ee | A a Se Three of the 23 Canadian features eligible for the Genies were filmed either partly or entirely on location in Alberta. Latitude 55, the first feature by producerdirector John Juliani for Savage God One Film Productions, originated in Edmonton with Juliani and writer Sharon Riis. Starring Andrée Pelletier and August 1500 PAPINEAU STREET, MONTREAL, QUEBEC. CANADA H2K 4L9 42/Cinema Canada -— March 1983 Schellenberg as two emotional and intellectual duellists trapped in an isolated cabin during a blizzard, Latitude 55 was shot entirely on location in northern Alberta on the outskirts of Edmonton. In addition to a handful of heavenly reviews, the one homegrown Alberta feature in the Genie race has gained five nomina tions : Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Art Director (Richard Hudolin) Best Costume Design (Wendy Partridge-Hudolin) and Best original Screenplay (Sharon Riis and John Juliani). Quest for Fire, the epic prehistoric adventure, was filmed all over the world, including the badlands of Alberta (for the opening scenes). And Harry Tracy, a western starring Bruce Dern and Helen Shaver, moved through a chain of locations in BC and Alberta, SCRIPT TO SCREpy, CANADAS LARGEST MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION CENTRE (514) 527-8671 including Canmore (where the camera was weatherized to combat cold temperatures), Jasper (for a train sequence) and the period streets of historic Heritage Park in Calgary (where set carpenters built a mock bank to be blown up in a robbery scene). Moving from Genie contenders to the lighter side of video... Moonbeam Productions’ TELEX 05 561 722 Apartment on the Dark Side of the Moon, a low-budget video movie aimed for pay-TV, raced to finish eight days of principal photography in Calgary before the end of’82 with a non-union cast and crew. Director was first-timer Richard Zywotkiewicz (ex-apprentice on Porky’s and Videodrome) and production manager was Bill Devers. Equipment was supplied by MTM, and ‘ultimatte’ (a special effects process) was used in some sequences, Workers at Risk, a video se-ries produced, written and directed by Michael Douglas for ACCESS Television, was screened at the Provincial Museum Theatre in Edmonton early in the year. Sponsored by ACCESS and Alberta Health and Safety, the six 15-minute chapters were the final production of the Douglas Film Group. The $150,000 docudrama followed the progress of the three blue collar workers : a construction worker, and oil rig worker, and a welder. Partner’ Peter Campbell was a.d. and Marke Slipp edited. The partners of Douglas Film Group have now formed new companies and new projects: Douglas (now with Douglas Communications Ltd.) is writing and directing a 15-minute drama for Alberta Agriculture, and Campbell (now with Dreamland Pictures) is directing a documentary on immigration for the NFB. Thunder Road Studios in Calgary reports a surge of activity in its sound studios, with the completion of two national jingles for Herkst Hoegrass and Gold Peak Beer. Head film sound mixer James Porteous reports their facility includes a 24 track state-of-the-art music room, and 8 track 16/35 film mixing facility and a 16/35 processing lab... Sir Richard Attenborough graced Calgary with his presence at a special charity premiere of Gandhi, with the healthy proceeds of the $100 ticket function going to the Muscular Distrophy Association of Canada and Diabetes Canada. Canadian Odeon’s North Hill Cinema was the scene of furs and finery fighting through crowds to sample east Indian finger food, champagne, and to glimpse Attenborough or producer Jake Eberts of Goldcrest Films... The sixth Annual Roland Synthesizer competition has been won by Calgary electronic musician Amin Bhatia (who is a production manager at CFCN radio)... The Glenbow-Alberta Institute and the National Film Board co-hosted a retrospective of NFB animation films, “The Art of Animation” in February. SSS