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That’sShowbiz!
Who’s making movies?
Not us. Not anymore, that is.
@ On February 9 Famous Players president George P. Destounis regretfully announced that the company’s recently formed production company, Famous Players Film Corporation, would cease active operations as of April 1.
Destounis said that despite encouragement prior to the formation of FPFC, Famous had received adverse reaction from various sectors of the Canadian film industry. This factor, coupled with current government considerations to insist on majority Canadian ownership of production companies as a requirement for Canadian certification of films under the Income Tax law, led to the decision.
Despite the closing of FPFC, however, he said Famous Players Limited will continue its policy of interim financing for Canadian feature films made by independent producers.
News of the closing of FPFC nine months after its birth made headlines in the U.S. and Canada, where many film veterans considered it a major setback to the country’s struggling movie industry.
‘*It’s a shame it didn’t work out — but no one’s denying that,’’ said FPFC chief Samuel V. Freeman, whom Destounis appointed president of Famous Players Film Corp. when the company was formed last August. ‘‘But at least we were able to make one film, and we’re very happy about that — not only that we were given the chance to do so, but also because the picture worked out so well.’’
Ex-film critic George Anthony, who joined FPFC Oct 1 as the company’s Vice-President: Creative, echoed Freeman’s disappointment but added: ‘‘I’ve been ‘cancelled’
before, at newspapers and at television networks, but this time it’s being handled properly — professionally — instead of clumsily. It’s a shame it didn’t work out, for Famous and for us, but at least we’ve been given the opportunity to launch the one film we did make, and to see it through properly. I think that shows a lot of good business sense on Famous’ part — and a lot of class.”’
FPFC’s solo film, Kelly (formerly called Touch the Wind), premiered March 20 in more than 40 theatres across the country, with an additional 30 openings set for April. Distributor for the film in North America is Paramount Pictures.
Also affected by the closing were FPFC’s executive consultant Robert Meneray, who joined the company in August; Mr. Freeman’s assistant Karen Hamasaki, who joined the company in September; and Mr. Anthony’s assistant Denise Mulvey, formerly of the Canadian Film Development Corporation, who joined FPFC January 1, 1981. @
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Sam Freeman, departing head of now-defunct Famous Players Film Corp., looks out onto
Bloor Street, Famous’ permanent home.
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Before the company called it a ‘wrap’, it was business as usual at FPFC. Oscar-winning director Christopher Chapman (A Place To Stand) huddled with his Kelly stars Robert Logan, George Clutesi, Doug Lennox and Twyla-Dawn Vokins in a Toronto sound studio doing the final looping (dubbing) for the picture, until director Chapman was satisfied. Logan flew in from his ranch in Aspen, Ms. Vokins flew in from Vancouver and Clutesi travelled all the way from Victoria, B.C. to re-record a few lines of dialogue for the family adventure film, but Toronto-based actor Lennox just rolled out of bed
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March/April, 1981 9