en-ca Jitbit RSS Feed Creator Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:03:22 -0500 http://www.actratoronto.com http://www.actratoronto.com/images/ACTRA-logo.gif 04B3D337-DD55-438B-8C61-6CE752E3D310Dust off that pile of screenplays. The Ontario government is introducing a new fund that will rebate development costs for content creators in the film, television and digital media sector. As with the current labor- and production-based tax credit in the province, the new rebate will be administered by the Ontario Media Development Corporation. OMDC director of tax credits Jennifer Blitz says the proposal surfaced last March when the Ontario government mentioned a pilot program that would rebate the costs associated with the development of intellectual property for screen-based sectors. She describes the rebate as part of a fund that "is not jury-based" that will return a portion of the costs associated with developing screen-based content. http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20091106/rebate.htmlWed, 11 Nov 2009 12:03:22 -0500 5B2B94D7-278A-458D-AFD0-920AD85A13E7A debate between Canada’s TV networks and cable/satellite companies that’s taken up an obscene amount of ad-space recently and left viewers wading through waves of confusion is set to come to a head this month. Both campaigns emerged over the past few months and target young and working-class Canadians who care about preserving culture and community. But whether you feel that *Local TV Matters*or we should *Stop the TV Tax,* you’re probably going to get screwed either way on an issue that has nothing directly to do with either. http://www.nowtoronto.com/daily/story.cfm?content=172248Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:09 -0500 A26397EA-4131-4D82-B5D0-56109D6FF675Karpluk credits the show's unique premise and the CBC's new-found edginess for helping keep the show in the public eye. "The theme of next week's episode is very racy," says Karpluk. "It's kind of shocking for the CBC but it's very cool. Jana (Sinyor), who created Erica, really goes outside the box, she crosses the line and fights very hard for storylines that are very human and aren't often shown on television." http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Gemini+profile+Albertan+Erin+Karpluk+pushing+boundaries+Being+Erica/2200500/story.htmlTue, 10 Nov 2009 12:15:25 -0500 C3B91712-7EF3-4438-B3A6-5FF89D5B43F4If Canada's songwriters and recording artists are going to be able to make a living from the music they create, we need copyright legislation designed to reflect the technologies people are using now, and which is also flexible enough to accommodate future changes. Measures to properly protect artists' work, and to ensure that they receive fair compensation for the copying and use of their music, make it possible for them to earn a living. Without the needed changes, many Canadian songwriters and artists won't be able to afford to continue to create music at, say Amy Sky, Marc Jordan and Marie Denise Pelletier, songwriters and recording artists who make their living from their music, in the Toronto Star.http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/721915Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:10:43 -0500 31FE0527-930F-4930-B0CC-774ACE4685F2Canada’s copyright regime is outdated and needs to be brought in line with its major trading partners, which stakeholders are hoping will be accomplished through a bill the federal government has said it would bring forward no later than the spring. The main thing the bill must accomplish is implementing the World Intellectual Property Organization Copy Right treaties, commonly referred to as the WIPO treaties, which were signed in 1996 and are intended to update copyright laws for the digital age, says one leading expert in copyright law. "First and foremost we need to implement the 1996 WIPO treaties. We’ve been saying that so long it begins to sound ancient," said Grace Westcott, vice-chair of the Canadian Copyright Institute. Ms. Westcott said Canada lags behind the U.S., and Europe, and noted that new American Ambassador David Jacobson recently said at a public forum that Canada has been placed on a priority watch list or a 'naughty list' for its antiquated copyright law. Canada is on the list with China, Algeria, Pakistan and Russia and has not been able to amend its copyright laws in more than decade to deal with the digital age. Stephen Waddell, national executive director of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), said his organization’s principal hopes for the new legislation is modernization and balance. He said the current legislation only covers technology that is "past obsolete." He praised the government for holding the public consultations, which he said were comprehensive and inclusive. "The private copying regime under present legislation is limited to CDs, and mini discs, and storage formats that are past becoming obsolete. What we want is the private copying regime extended to digital audio recordings. Clearly iPods are the way that everyone is storing medium now. We’re lobbying the government to extend the private copying legislation to digital audio recorders," Waddell said. http://www.thehilltimes.ca/Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:14:20 -0500 269300ED-23BE-4C4F-B0E1-433511326FE2The federal broadcast regulator has been inundated with emails from consumers who are lining up on both sides of the TV war. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has asked the public to comment on whether over-the-air television broadcasters — such as CTV, Global and CBC — should be compensated for their signals by the cable and satellite industry. 'The consumer is standing up and having his or her voice heard, and it's clearly against a TV tax.' —Mirko Bibic, Bell CanadaIt will hold hearings on the issue this month, and the deadline for the public submissions is Monday. The consumer comments are being prompted by a heated ad campaign by the broadcasters and the cable and satellite companies. http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/11/02/tv-fees-crtc.htmlMon, 02 Nov 2009 17:12:13 -0500 Telefilm Canada's annual report contained a good news-bad news scenario, with Canadian films increasing their take at the box office but at the same time, experiencing less of a share of the total market. The government-funded agency, which develops and promotes Canadian film and online projects, released its 2008/2009 report on Friday. It revealed that Canadian movies raked in a total of $919.6 million at the box office compared to $857.4 million from the previous fiscal year. However, their share of the market dropped from 3.3 per cent to 2.9 per cent. The report said the agency sought more collaborations overseas, resulting in bigger sales. "We are placing a great deal of importance on forging alliances with foreign partners and promoting co-production activities which help to build industry capacity and ensure its long-term viability," stated Michel Roy, chair of Telefilm's board of directors. "In terms of results for our international activities, it's worth noting that in 2008, each dollar Telefilm invested in markets generated close to $12 worth of foreign sales." http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2009/10/31/telefilm-report.htmlMon, 02 Nov 2009 17:10:24 -0500 69838E78-73CF-458E-9069-E52148A8E086"The most important conversation - the one that isn't being heard - is about drama and comedy. The rules say you should be getting a good selection of Canadian programming from your cable companies and broadcasters - including drama, comedy and local news. But for years we haven't been getting what we're paying for with our cable fees or our taxes," writes Robb Wells of 'The Trailer Park Boys' in the Montreal Gazette. http://www.ourtv.caTue, 20 Oct 2009 17:27:04 -0400 172927DA-8FAE-4437-A521-F73963E11D33Subject to the formality of Mr. Asper accepting our offer to purchase, my associates and I (being me and our family cat Tigger, since my wife and children declined to participate in this venture) have been thinking carefully about why one of Canada's private networks finds itself bankrupt and without net value.... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/brian-topp/a-modest-proposal/article1329731/Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:23:51 -0400 7564A370-4997-4A0D-BA4D-C462B428AB77A failure to deliver payments to the Performers and ACTRA has left ACTRA with no alternative but to take action pursuant to the Independent Production Agreement. The effect of the declaration is to preclude future engagements of ACTRA members by the company and/or its principals until such time as all outstanding payments have been made. Furthermore, this declaration will be communicated worldwide to all Performer Guilds and Unions, Funding Agencies and other interested parties.http://www.actratoronto.com/downloads/unfair_producers/looking_in_obituaries.pdfThu, 08 Oct 2009 15:53:10 -0400 E5810438-3482-4E72-B0CC-813BC018311DAn endangered locations library will stay in business for at least another year, following an injection of cash from the Ontario branch of the Directors Guild of Canada. DGC Ontario has put an unspecified amount into the Digital Locations Archive, following an "eleventh hour deal" with owner Absolute Support Services. The online database was set to close on Oct. 1, due to lack of funds at the Toronto-based equipment renter. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Absolute boss Paul Kenyon says the guild came to the rescue because "they thought that the film industry was heating up, and they'd heard from their membership [who] didn't want to see the resource go away." The database contains 700,000 photos -- helping directors and producers scout locations in Ontario. The physical library was shut down in April, due to a sharp decline in film and TV production in the province. http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20091007/library.htmlThu, 08 Oct 2009 11:18:34 -0400 564E4DEA-7EAB-4513-B299-8890BB7C61C2The federal government has agreed to forgive $450-million in fees it is owed by the country's broadcasters and cable industry, but will set up a new funding structure that will see them pay up to $100-million a year. Ottawa said Wednesday it will not seek the money held in escrow by the broadcasting industry on the so-called Part 2 Licence Fees, which the government levies to raise money to help run Canadian airwaves and have been bitterly disputed by the industry since they began in 1997. “I think this represents a healthy step forward for an industry that's been expressing a great deal of concern about their well-being for a long time,” Heritage Minister James Moore told reporters. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/ottawa-broadcasters-agree-on-fees/article1315591/Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:17:21 -0400 B8E18431-22E3-478D-A1E9-4C5505F83305Eric Peterson receives the Gordon Pinsent Award of Excellence on Oct. 8 at Canada's Gemini Awards.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/canadian-acting-legend-receives-honour/article1315747/Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:14:40 -0400 F30C0C2E-16FA-4490-ADED-3A7F20C6423DOn Friday, October 2nd at the historic Imperial Theatre in beautiful Saint John, New Brunswick The Comedy Network Presents The Canadian Comedy Awards celebrated true excellence in Canadian Comedy. Hosted by Sean Cullen, the event's presenters included the notorious Nikki Payne, Gordon Pinsent, Leah Pinsent, Peter Keleghan, Derek Edwards, Dan Redican, Lisa Lambert, Pat Thornton, Tim Steeves, Tim Progosh, Roger Abbott and Don Ferguson. One of the big winners of the evening was the film Young People Fucking. YPF celebrate three wins with Director, Writer Martin Gero receiving two awards, one for Director in Film and the other for Writing in Film, which he shared with Aaron Abrams. Also from YPF actor/comedian Peter Oldring took the award for Performance by a Male. http://canadiancomedy.ca/media.phpMon, 05 Oct 2009 13:26:17 -0400 AE63029D-ECDA-42F8-A1B0-77BB27C06FCFACTRA is calling on the Liberals, NDP and Bloc to support the Conservative government's plan for extending parental leave benefits to self-employed Canadians. The performers union -- which has a history of being at odds with the Tories -- says the majority of its 21,000 members are among the 2.6 million Canadians who are self-employed and are not entitled to basic benefits such as employment insurance, including maternity and paternity leave benefits. Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Sept. 15 that a re-elected Conservative government would give self-employed Canadians the chance to access these benefits. "Our union has been fighting for years to get governments at all levels to recognize that our members, like all self-employed Canadians, deserve the same rights and access to benefits as other workers. This is a positive first step by the federal government," commented ACTRA national president Ferne Downey in a Friday release. http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20091002/actra.htmlMon, 05 Oct 2009 12:31:39 -0400 4B6077B6-FEE5-46C5-AE09-E7B262AC7F14When Vera Santamaria was growing up she couldn't help but notice that there weren't a lot of 'brown families' like hers on TV. She wondered, "What gives? My family's funny!" And right then and there she started dreaming up her very own TV show about a South Asian girl and her family...l Heroic Film Company is an award-winning media company based in Toronto, Canada specializing in programming for kids and tween-age audiences. Founded in 2000 by veteran writer/creators John May & Susanne Bolch and producer Karen Lee Hall, Heroic shows such as Our Hero, Captain Flamingo, Connor Undercover and How To Be Indie can be seen all over the world. http://howtobeindie.ytv.com/index2.phpFri, 02 Oct 2009 14:22:19 -0400 66E4C243-74A7-47BA-A264-ADCE0BE987C8Super Channel is distancing itself from remarks made by a group that is calling for a boycott of Rogers Communications. Earlier this week a group calling itself Friends of Super Channel took aim at the Toronto cable giant over a recent CRTC ruling, which found that Rogers had unfairly discouraged consumers from subscribing to the troubled pay-TV channel. This week, in a strongly worded statement, Friends of Super Channel called on viewers to boycott Rogers, suggesting that hundreds of Canuck producers are going to go bankrupt as a result of the company's actions. "If this situation is not quickly resolved it will be impossible for new services like Super Channel to achieve the cultural and business objectives of their CRTC licence," said FSC. The group appears to be unconnected to the similarly named watchdog Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. The group is fronted by former Super Channel executive Nic Wry. http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20091001/super.htmlFri, 02 Oct 2009 14:11:36 -0400 5676257D-619B-494F-A7AE-097CCA3B1E04Documentary maker Allan King, the Canadian pioneer of cinéma vérité who died in June, will be honoured with an Academy Achievement Award at the Geminis later this month. The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television will also bestow special awards on actor Eric Peterson, screenwriter Barbara Samuels and the documentary series Club Native, it announced Thursday. King, whose films included Warrendale, A Married Couple and EMPz 4 Life, was known for his insightful documentary making. He is being honoured post-humously for his contribution to television, which includes CBC series Road to Avonlea and Danger Bay as well as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and By Way of the Stars. Peterson, whose TV credits include Corner Gas and Street Legal, wins the Earl Grey Award for an actor or actress who has made a significant contribution to the profile of Canadian TV. http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20091001/geminis.htmlFri, 02 Oct 2009 14:08:21 -0400 B466B14D-7F08-443B-96DB-FE58D136CBA7The union representing Canada’s film and television performers is calling on all federal political parties to support the Conservative government’s plan to introduce new rules extending parental leave benefits to self-employed Canadians. “Our union has been fighting for years to get governments at all levels to recognize that our members, like all self-employed Canadians, deserve the same rights and access to benefits as other workers. This is a positive first step by the federal government and so we are urging all parties to support the extension of parental leave benefits to all workers,” said Ferne Downey, ACTRA National President. The majority of ACTRA’s 21,000 members are among the 2.6 million Canadians who are self-employed and therefore have not been entitled to basic benefits such as Employment Insurance. Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s National Executive Director said, “This legislation is a question of basic fairness and equal treatment for Canadian workers. We’re calling on the, Liberals, NDP and the Bloc to avoid an election and get this initiative passed into law.” http://www.actratoronto.com/downloads/pressreleases/2009.10.02_Parental%20Benefits.pdfFri, 02 Oct 2009 10:24:26 -0400 D882C70F-A296-486F-8E91-12C6D8C33DB3Indie filmmakers exchanged their incredibly diverse tales of filmmaking on the Beating The Odds: The Stories of Indie Filmmakers panel Wednesday. Sixteen-year-old Colin Carter's environmental video was supposed to be two minutes long and done by the end of Grade 9. Instead, it took three years to finish and snowballed from a short into a 60-minute feature documentary that will premiere in Sudbury today at the Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival. Actually, all the panelists' films are premiering at the festival. Both A Touch of Grey and Puck Hogs took advantage of the TIP program, which enables the makers of low-budget films to hire ACTRA union actors at a much lower cost. That's how Puck Hogs, made on about $200,000 budget, was able to cast Colin Mochrie. "Even though it's a balls-out comedy, there's a lot of heart," said Sonoda. "We did luck out with a great cast." http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1767445Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:18:22 -0400 A70701DE-15F3-4262-A0F3-B8B6A1EE9DFCThe Canadian Black Film Festival is pleased to dedicate a program for stories and issues pertinent to the lifeblood of all African-Canadian and Diaspora communities, its women. From a hysterical male-driven perspective on the journey of pregnancy, to the trials and tribulations of female poverty in Africa, this program covers issues of race, relationships, education and the thing that binds us all, love. http://www.cbff.caThu, 24 Sep 2009 13:48:58 -0400 DB770DE9-4452-47B5-B750-2920AD24065DA group of small Canadian Internet Service Providers has launched a campaign to try to drum up consumer support for keeping key network infrastructure affordable to small ISPs. A group of businesses and associations including MTS Allstream and the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses launched the "Campaign for Competitive Broadband" earlier this month, aimed at CRTC decisions that the small ISPs say will result in Bell and Telus essentially pricing them out of the marketplace. On Thursday, the group launched a version of the campaign aimed directly at consumers, with the hope that if enough Canadians write to their Members of Parliament, Ottawa will step in and ask the CRTC to reconsider its decision. The centre of the fight is the network infrastructure built and run by the large carriers. The small ISPs want to ensure that Bell and Telus can't refuse to give them access to the broadband networks or offer them a access at a price that makes it impossible for the small ISPs to compete. The large carriers had previously been required to sell access at a specific wholesale rate. If Bell and Telus can charge whatever they want, the small ISPs say, Canadians will see less competition, higher prices and slower Internet speeds.http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090924.wisps0924/BNStory/BusinessThu, 24 Sep 2009 13:46:58 -0400 02C8305A-CF0D-487C-8B2B-ED01EF85FB8FMore than 300,000 Canadians in remote and rural areas could be cut off from CBC TV in two years, because the broadcaster doesn't have the money to convert its signals to digital from analog. August 2011 is the deadline for the switch to digital broadcast technology, but the CBC doesn't have the cash to continue the conversion process, corporation President Hubert Lacroix told the company's annual general meeting Wednesday. It has managed to switch over only eight of its 600 transmission towers, covering about half its potential audience. http://thestar.com/entertainment/article/699897Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:57:59 -0400 98775AF9-0DE6-4DC8-803A-54EF50BFBCF4The CRTC turned down a bid by Slice to reduce its annual Cancon requirements to from the current 82.5% to a mere 60%. The regulator also rejected the specialty channel's request to spend just 45% of the previous year's gross revenues on Canadian content, down from 71%. Canwest stated it was applying for the licence amendment in advance of group-based licensing so that it would not "get lost," but the CRTC ruled that the upcoming group licensing is the appropriate place to deal with the matter. Creative organizations including ACTRA, the Writers Guild of Canada, the Directors Guild, and the CFTPA intervened, arguing that the application was premature. http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20090910/slice.htmlFri, 11 Sep 2009 13:44:04 -0400 D70DA607-3D62-44D9-AD50-E231534D73D3Sunday the 13th of September kicks off the official launch of the Canadian Black Film Festival and The AfriCan Heritage Festival with Cinema Noir, an annual reception and opportunity for those working in the industry to mingle, network and connect in style. The event at the Manyata Courtyard Cafe in Toronto's Yorkville will be hosted by Trey Anthony and guest host Karlin Percil and will feature artists Eddie Bullen and Quincy Bullen as well as DJ's Carl Allen and Nijero. Tickets are now available. http://cbff.caFri, 11 Sep 2009 13:43:39 -0400 63A1661E-345D-44A1-B12F-5E8C3A287BB9"Canada needs fair copyright laws that ensure a balance between the interests of Canadian consumers and the rights of Canadian creators," says Ferne Downey, ACTRA’s National President. Over the summer, ACTRA participated in the federal government’s nation-wide consultations to solicit Canadians’ opinions on the important issue of copyright reform. The federal government is expected to introduce a new copyright bill during the upcoming fall legislative session. "Given that Canada’s copyright laws are older than Napster, we hope the government will act quickly to update Canada’s copyright laws to support Canadian culture in the digital economy. It’s time Canada stepped up to be a leader not a laggard in protecting the rights of Canadian artists and performers," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s National Executive Director. http://www.actratoronto.com/downloads/pressreleases/2009.09.11_Copyright_Submission_Rls.pdfFri, 11 Sep 2009 11:28:03 -0400 FA6DED66-FE7B-4C5C-863D-DC0EA4C8DD78Organized labour holds its annual march in Toronto today under the shadow of recession and globalization. Together, the twin forces have stripped working people of jobs and benefits – some of which may never come back. "Throughout the media we hear reports of green shoots: the markets are up; banks are back to record profits; GDP is growing again, if only by one-tenth of 1 per cent," says Wayne Samuelson, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour. "Some headlines have even triumphantly proclaimed that the recession is over. But over for who? Perhaps it is over in the stock markets and for those on Bay Street, but in the labour market and for those on Main Street, this recession is far from over." http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/691793Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:51:49 -0400 CAAFFD86-F4AA-4030-A631-47282C22813FHundreds of local workers marched through downtown Ottawa on Monday to celebrate Labour Day - though the sunny skies overhead were mixed with concern about unemployment and insurance benefits. About 500,000 more Canadians are unemployed compared to the same time last year, according to Ken Lewenza, president of the Canadian Auto Workers union. "Today is a chance for workers and members of the community to join together and celebrate the work we do have and work together to raise awareness for better times," said Chris Cornish of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA).http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090907/OTT_labour_day_090907/20090907/?hub=OttawaHomeTue, 08 Sep 2009 14:41:36 -0400 65382262-8F17-42AC-A9DE-22D40537DC2COntario premier Dalton McGuinty has been on a shopping spree to lure entertainment jobs to Toronto. The province recently hiked its 25% tax credit to offset all local production costs and poured nearly $250 million into studio spaces for Starz Animation and French video game company Ubisoft. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i295a6fb278def93869c4c6360372eda1Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:04:09 -0400 B18714D0-FCE7-49CB-A2E1-5598ADDD23C2"I drink Scotch. I pinch women's bottoms. I'm randy as hell. I'm homophobic and nasty and I never met a bribe I didn't like." And those are his good points. Those, and his vast and colourful wardrobe of hideous Hawaiian shirts. Paradise Falls mayor Pete Braga is nonetheless a work of Art... as in Art Hindle, the veteran Canadian actor whose countless film and TV credits range from Invasion of the Body Snatchers to Porky's to ENG, and who returns tonight to Showcase in the durable homegrown satirical soap, Paradise Falls. http://www.thestar.ca/article/689678Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:49:30 -0400 10761E20-E6D9-4A60-A9BE-032D1569A61BWal-Mart seeks an injunction on the basis of trademark infringement, in an attempt to have a union dismantle its website, www.walmartworkerscanada.ca. The order sought by Wal-Mart would require that the union not use the words "Wal-Mart" or "Wal-Mart Workers," not make fun of the Wal-Mart slogan "Save Money. Live Better," not use oval signs similar to Wal-Mart signs, etc. If successful, the scope of this injunction order could easily have the effect of silencing Wal-Mart's opponents. In response, the union is challenging this use of trademark protection by Wal-Mart. http://tinyurl.com/mgto3dMon, 31 Aug 2009 15:05:52 -0400 038E7320-85A7-4A01-ADA0-A273EAECE436The Walt Disney Co. said Monday it is buying Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion in cash and stock, bringing such characters as Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and WALL-E. Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters. Many of them, including the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, were co-created by the comic book legend Stan Lee. Analyst David Joyce of Miller Tabak & Co. said the acquisition will help Disney appeal to young men who have flocked to theaters to see Marvel’s superhero fare in recent years. That contrasts with Disney’s recent successes among young women with such fare as ``Hannah Montana” and the Jonas Brothers. http://ow.ly/15N8qFMon, 31 Aug 2009 13:42:44 -0400 6D54D518-02DC-40F9-8F46-01B64804840CArctic Blast stars Canadian actor Michael Shanks, who leads a battle to save the world from a series of huge blasts of ice fog that are causing deadly snap-freezing. Tasmania's capital is one of the stars of a new feature film being shot in Hobart, the state capital.The film's Australian and Canadian producers started filming on Monday, and will shoot for a total of 18 days. Exectutive Producer Pierre David says Tasmania's lack of film-making expertise was an obstacle, but making the film in the state will help change that. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/29/2670523.htm?section=entertainmentMon, 31 Aug 2009 12:24:12 -0400 E2E2A576-A4DC-45E4-8D70-98C3A678DCD2The police drama Flashpoint got an explosive head start in the contest for 2009 Gemini Awards, garnering a record 19 nominations in its first year of eligibility. Rounding out the top six shows at the Gemini nomination announcement in Toronto yesterday were The Tudors, a Canadian-Irish-British-American co-production costume drama, with 11 nods; and four shows tied at nine nominations apiece: Being Erica, The Border, the miniseries Diamonds and Less Than Kind. http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=1929651Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:49:16 -0400 AD2CFE6D-E7A4-4039-9B67-181F42256C6CThat's not to say that foreign competition isn't tough or that American networks aren't extremely fickle. Even though CTV's The Listener established further inroads into the U.S. market, the Canadian series was nevertheless recently cancelled by NBC. “I think people are hungry for new good product. And I think Canadians, more and more, have a reputation internationally for producing very high quality and less expensive drama series,” said Peter Raymont, executive producer of The Border. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/foreign-viewers-love-canadian-tv/article1264141/Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:46:55 -0400 28FC0BC3-9644-4365-A152-4E689604B4B8According to the National Post, a fresh sign that Toronto’s film industry is bouncing back is the fact that director M. Night Shyamalan has moved filming of his next feature, Devil, to Toronto after encountering funding issues in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer said the film sat in limbo for 56 days waiting for legislators to approve tax incentives for the film industry. Mr. Shyamalan has shot eight of his last nine features in the Philadelphia area. Production was moved to Toronto ostensibly to benefit from the 25% tax incentive provided to foreign produced films by the province of Ontario. There are currently nine feature films being shot around Toronto, including the big-budget action Resident Evil: Afterlife. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World and Saw VI have also been filming in Toronto in recent months. http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/08/25/m-night-shyamalan-shifts-filming-of-new-movie-to-toronto.aspxTue, 25 Aug 2009 15:04:57 -0400 DCBADB8F-ACAB-4A73-8FDF-6412DFBF72FDCanwest requests the addition of programming categories 9 (Variety) and 11 (General Entertainment and Human Interest) to the list of categories from which it can draw programming in order to meet its described video requirements.http://bit.ly/2IpvmMTue, 25 Aug 2009 14:24:09 -0400 4F504DD5-3CFF-4390-BFD5-A567055FCB36"They said they wanted less blood," he says. "I said, `I want more blood.'" On the set of The Bridge, a joint CTV-CBS project loosely based on his tumultuous career running the Toronto police union, Craig Bromell puffs a cigar as the tape rolls. Bromell seems oddly at home here, in TV land, where controversy and violence are just part of the script. "People aren't going to expect this," he said about the show, which is set to air late this year, or early in 2010. "These aren't hero cop stories – cops can be heroes and cops can be villains." http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/685966Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:16:31 -0400 A7A0A6C8-D85D-40EC-9C00-FC288A100835Steven Spielberg's untitled alien invasion pilot for TNT has landed in Hamilton, Ontario. The Dreamworks Television project is set for a two-week shoot for an action series, starring Noah Wyle of 'E.R.' fame, about a makeshift army of humans fighting off an occupying alien force. Spielberg flew in last week to view progress on the shoot, visiting the set at the Royal Botanical Gardens in nearby Burlington. The Canadian presence includes Montreal actor Peter Shinkoda playing a battlefield commando, plus Toronto-based CARP Shop for sets and ACME FX for local special effects work. http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/daily/20090824/spielberg.htmlTue, 25 Aug 2009 12:16:31 -0400 12FFB70D-E6A3-4B5C-8230-61AAAC1328E0Veteran and emerging talents of world cinema are converging on Thursday at the 33rd Montreal World Film Festival, a revitalized event that eschews Toronto's celeb-soirees, promising easy access to 400 films (240 features) from 78 countries. The festival's future once looked bleak, but the event has bounced back over the past few years, repositioning itself as a launching pad for new blood with its exciting First Films World Competition, keeping budget-conscious cinephiles happy with a low single ticket price ($10) and by upping free sidebar events. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/an-enduring-spirit-and-a-bright-future/article1263107/Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:16:29 -0400 C4D7FEFC-9585-4B18-8850-51F7493E721DACTRA TorontoMichael Cera of 'Superbad,' 'Juno' and 'Year One' and Weezer lead singer Rivers Cuomo took the field with sports enthusiasts from across the Toronto at the Athletes for Africa soccer tournament this past Saturday sun at Cherry Beach. The performers laced up alongside regular-joe soccer players to raise money for a youth centre in northern Uganda. http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/290659--soccer-event-gets-superbadMon, 24 Aug 2009 13:29:08 -0400 09EB482E-CCBC-4A30-BAA4-EC5B531DBAEEACTRA TorontoCanadian director and performer Sarah Polley and Jared Leto will screen their film Mr. Nobody next month at the Toronto International Film Festival, which has announced the last round of titles for 2009. http://www.tiff.net/default.aspxMon, 24 Aug 2009 13:26:26 -0400 http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/680436ACTRA TorontoHENRY RAMER The 'Voice' of Canadian broadcasting spoke his last words early on Sunday, August 9, 2009. (Conrad) Henry Ramer passed away privately, peacefully and with dignity early Sunday morning. He is survived by his loving partner Valerie Iles. Henry was the writer's choice for voice in broadcasting and movies. Along with hundreds of commercials, Henry starred with Orson Welles, Richard Dreyfus, Kate Reid, Leslie Nielson, Eli Wallach and Christopher Plummer as well as playing Elizabeth Taylor's lover in 'Between Friends' along with Carol Burnett. Henry was always larger than life and leaves a giant gap in the lives of those that knew and loved him. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/680436Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:21:55 -0400 http://www.cbc.ca/arts/theatre/story/2009/07/13/niel-munro.htmlIn addition to his noted work in theatre, Munro was a familiar face on Canadian screens for his the title role in the TV movie Beethoven Lives Upstairs, as well as film roles in The Jonah Look and Dancing in the Dark.He also appeared on television series such as Night Heat, Ray Bradbury Theatre, The Twilight Zone and RoboCop. Neil Munro was a resident director at the Shaw Festival since the early 1990s.http://www.cbc.ca/arts/theatre/story/2009/07/13/niel-munro.htmlTue, 14 Jul 2009 12:53:16 -0400 http://www.ctf-fct.ca/ctf_home_en.htmlThe Canadian Television Fund says it will give stakeholders a chance to comment on its transition into the Canada Media Fund through an online town hall meeting. The Aug. 6 online meeting will see the fund present briefing papers on the "key policy issues" raised by its new mandate, after which stakeholders may submit written comments. CTF will next year morph into the CMF, broadening its mandate to include the support of new media. The change has raised concerns across the industry, including fears that cable and satellite companies may have too much influence over its revamped board of directors, and that the new fund's greater emphasis on commercial programming will short-change smaller, more cultural productions. "Through the consultation process, industry stakeholders will play an active role in determining the program policies of the Canada Media Fund. This consultation with the industry is critical to a successful launch of the CMF and we look forward to hearing the great ideas this process will generate", said Valerie Creighton president and CEO of the CTF in a statement. Further details on the online meeting will be released later, say organizers. The fund says it will also host provincial, territorial, and national focus groups aimed at addressing further questions and concerns. http://www.ctf-fct.ca/ctf_home_en.htmlTue, 14 Jul 2009 12:25:14 -0400 88B92CB3-77D9-412C-A7AC-945919DDD009Bell and other Canadian Internet service providers (ISPs) employ so-called traffic-management techniques that identify and slow down certain forms of Web traffic -- usually peer-to-peer data used to distribute large files such as videos. While Bell says this necessary to ease congestion, the Canadian Association of Internet Provides contends it is designed to handicap the competition.http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1776164Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:06:04 -0400 C62A80ED-1480-4B7A-9F00-0D29DAAF1276Cross-platform media strategist Gavin McGarry has a thought for producers and broadcasters: maybe TV programs aren't meant for the Internet after all. This perspective may surprise the likes of CTVglobemedia and Canwest, which have taken years to negotiate online rights for U.S. shows such as Grey's Anatomy and 24. But McGarry, head of startup Jumpwire Media, says audience expectation on the web is fundamentally different.http://www.playbackonline.ca/articles/magazine/20090706/digimedia.htmlFri, 10 Jul 2009 12:02:05 -0400 14CFEE49-9FF3-408A-840D-F13D4305FDBE Independent films may have trouble reaching their audience and people with disabilities will suffer if internet service providers are allowed to keep slowing down certain internet applications, Canada's internet regulator heard Wednesday, according to coverage provided by the CBC. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2009/07/08/tech-crtc-hearings-film-industry-disabilities-mts-allstream.html Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:25:40 -0400 E03514F4-82A2-4AB6-8B9D-0E56C1EA0C7C Conventional television's "difficult period" in recent years can be blamed on the loss of advertising market share to specialty television, according to the StatsCan Television Broadcasting Report for 2008 released today. http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20090709/statscantv.html Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:21:06 -0400 ACTRA Toronto will deliver entertainment industry news from Canada's main production centre. The feed will emphasize union activities and news that impacts Toronto's community of professional performers. http://www.actratoronto.com test2009.07.06_1 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:34:43 -0400