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Vol. 1, no. 2 december-january

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Of wolves in sheep's clothing, and eagles and beavers.. Boycott of Cinema Canada Revives the Digest starting this December, the cause the Association would be guarantee from the Association try, and would cover the ac­ Canadian Motion Picture Distri­ putting all its resources into its in order to begin publication. tivities of the CMPDA. butors Association will be pub­ own "organ." In October 1975, a formal lishing its own magazine, a re­ A conversation with Vic Beat- meeting had been held between vived Canadian Film Digest. An­ Calling Nat Taylor's offices tie, president of the CMPDA, Millard Roth and Frank Man- thony Ross, director of inform­ in Toronto, Cinema Canada con­ confirmed the above inform­ cuso, respectively executive di­ ation services for the CMPDA, tacted Pat Thompson who con­ ation. Beattie, having been out rector and president of the informed Cinema Canada of this firmed that she had been nam­ of town in recent weeks, did not CMPDA, and Connie Tadros, in response to a routine query ed editor of the Canadian Film know if the actual decision had editor of Cinema Canada. At about the advertising policy of Digest, which is to be a monthly been taken to back the Digest, that time, it was made clear the CMPDA. Ross announced publication in magazine format. but acknowledged conversations that the magazine would wel­ that a decision had been taken Although denying that the Digest were being held. He insisted on come the participation of the at a CMPDA executive session would be a house organ for the the necessity of creating an "or­ CMPDA - on a equal footing not to advertise in any Canadian CMPDA, she did say that Taylor gan" which would realistically with all the other organizations publications in the future be­ was expecting an advertising reflect the Canadian film indus­ interested in filming in Canada

December-January / 9 communication had been going Cinema Canada contacted be glossy and attractive. The on between the CMPDA and George Destounis, president of first issue is to contain 64 pages. Cinema Canada, and admitted Famous Players, in order to The offices are already equipped - in Cinema Canada. Since that that he himself had only begun confirm that the support with a composer and a camera, time, correspondence has been to read Cinema Canada two Famous had accorded the and have a staff of four: editor, continuing with Millard Roth and months ago. magazine over the last year art director, and two contribut­ Tony Ross, and the invitation When asked whether he would be forthcoming in the new ing editors. has been renewed several times. thought the market could sus­ year. Destounis reassured us of The members of the CMPDA Nevertheless, the American tain yet another film magazine, his support, saying that we are Ambassador, Astral Films, members of the CMPDA have Beattie answered that the Di­ shouldn't be surprised to see Columbia Pictures, International exercised a virtual advertising gest would need the advertising that Famous had given the Di­ Film, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, boycott concerning Cinema Can­ support of the distributors, ex­ gest a Christmas ad "because Twentieth Century-Fox, United ada, and have never submitted hibitors and producers and that the boys in New York didn't Artists, Universal Films and any articles for publication. Cinema Canada "doesn't have have time to free up the cash." Warner Brothers. Vic Beattie, the current pre­ a chance" of surviving the re­ Like other American-backed sident, was unaware that any vival of the Digest. projects, the new Digest should Connie Tadros Capital Cost: Annual CPDC Report The Canadian Film Develop­ The total cost of the feature ment Corp. has published its films funded by the C.F.D.C. annual report for 1975/76. With in 1975/76 was $5.9 million. "Canadian Film^^ increased investment, the CFDC This figure is down $2.2 mil­ On November 24, in the Cana­ personnel must go to Cana­ participated in fewer films than lion from the $8.1 million in­ dian Gazette, the Treasury dians in preceding years; English vested last year, but the Cor­ poration's share was $3.8 mil­ Board officially defined a Cana­ d) Seventy-five percent of pro­ production was on the increase dian film/video work to qualify while French production was lion as mentioned above. Thus, cessing and post-production for the first time since its in­ it for the lOO'^r capital cost al­ must be spent in Canada. seriously depressed. The lowance. That makes it official­ following is an excerpt from ception in 1968, the Corpora­ Certification can be officially ly law, retroactive to May 26, the introduction of that report: tion's share of production costs gained at either of two points in 1976. exceeded the contribution of the the filmmaking process, at "The Corporation assisted in private sector (64.62', to Briefly the following criteria completion of principal photo­ the production of 18 feature 35.38''f). This is not a desirable are required for certification: graphy or at completion of pro­ fihns during the year, one of situation and in 1976/77 at­ 1-The film is a co-production duction. A ruling can be gained the lowest years on record. To tempts will be made to keep under current international in advance, though certification maintain even this figure, it had the Corporation's share below agreements OR procedures must still be follow­ to increase its financial contri­ 50'r of production costs." 2-a) The producer is a Cana­ ed at one of the above two points. bution significantly. The drop dian The amendment applies to in the number of films produced English Production b) A minimum of six points is features or shorts. Although occurred almost entirely on the Eleven new English-language allocated to Canadians in the shorts need not meet the point French side: from 14 in 1974/ features were produced in 1975/ following roles: director (2), system, they must have a Cana­ 75 to 7 this year. English-lan­ 76 with Corporation assistance, screenwriter (2), lead actor/ dian producer and spend 15'c of guage features dropped by one, ten in Ontario and one in British actress (1), second lead (1), production budgets in Canada. 11 as opposed to 12 in 1974/75. Columbia. The cumulative cost art director (1), cinematogra- No mention is made of the of the eleven features was pher (1), music (1), editor (1) national character or location The Corporation's revenues dropped slightly from $864,011 $4,298,259. Of this, the Corpo­ c) Seventy-five percent of the of the production company. in 1974/75 to $833,998. The ration's share was $1,673,155 or renumeration paid to other Stephen Chesley main sources of this revenue 38.93'"f. Investment from indus­ were foreign sales of Kamou- try sources such as laboratories, raska. Death Weekend, Black distributors and exhibitors in­ ment favors a non-profit sys­ Christmas and The Apprentice­ creased considerably over pre­ tem. She sees pay-TV as a cata­ ship of Buddy Kravitz. Some vious years, reaching a total of Sauve lyst to promote Canadian pro­ revenue was also derived from $1,091,000. For the second suc­ duction, but admits that most of Canadian theatrical releases. cessive year, the response of on the programming will be Amer­ private capital did not meet ex­ ican. "It's not realistic," she This year, in a total of 75 pectations, reaching only approx­ said, "to be exclusively Cana­ projects including 18 features, imately $683,000. dian" as some groups have pro­ the Corporation invested Pay TV posed. She also raised the like­ $3,882,000, up $300,000 from French Production lihood of competing means of last year. The amount contribut­ In 1975/76 the Corporation delivery, making use of cable, ed by the private sector - pro­ participated in the production Communications Minister satellite and perhaps even broad­ duction houses, private in­ of 7 feature films in the French Jeanne Sauve has revealed that cast systems. vestors, distribution companies language. The combined bud­ she sees pay-TV as a non-profit Also announced, though not and theatre chains, plus the gets of the 7 films amounted to venture, with the specific cor­ officially, is that pay-TV will be writers, directors and produc­ $1,896,554, the Corporation's porate arrangements still to be a further six months in the fu­ ers who contributed part of share amounting to $1,228,700, determined. She has agreed, in ture, or at least two and a half their salaries - provided ano­ or 64.79''c. The amount invested response to a storm of de­ years away. This is in response ther $2,098,000. This figure by the Canadian film industry mands, unanimous among groups to the 105 briefs the CRTC has represents a significant drop (laboratories, distributors, ex­ affected by pay-TV, that the received on the subject, most of from the $4,536,000 derived hibitors, production houses, etc.) CRTC will hold public hearings, them calling for a delay until from these sources last year was $430,138. Private invest­ possibly across the country. the details of the new commu­ and the amounts contributed by ments represented $5,000 of this In a speech in Toronto on No­ nications medium can be fully private investors outside the sum. The balance of $187,716 vember 9, Sauve said that the worked out. industry remained low at was invested in deferred fees general thinking of her depart­ Stephen Chesley $688,000. and services.

10 / Cinema Canada Three Versions of Bethune

Now that the CBC has com­ Gordon, to be called The Lone­ ACTRA sought an injuction to pleted shooting its major spe­ some Road. Gordon was co­ prevent production unless Lang- cial on Bethune starring Donald author with Allan of The Scal­ ley's script was used (he had Sutherland, others are moving pel and the Sword. been paid for his work). When into the picture. The CBC's production was the showdown came in the On­ John Kemeny has hired Ted the largest in its history, and tario Supreme Court, Langley Allan as screenwriter for a one of the costliest. Over 300 backed off because Roderick seven-million-dollar feature to extras were employed, with 100 Stewart threatened to sue every­ be co-produced with Columbia of those working on a single day one in sight, claiming that Lang­ Pictures. Allan was co-author to portray China's miUions. The ley had lifted most of his in­ of The Scalpel and the Sword, production was on tape, with formation from his biography. a Bethune memoir published 20 Eric Till directing. Strange Stewart was placated by CBC years ago. events attended the scriptwrit- cash and Langley's agreement Otto Preminger still plans to ing: Rod Langley's script, bas­ not to pursue his action. make a feature on Bethune, and ed on his play Bethune, was A footnote: Preminger says in addition to the rights to the first planned for use. Then Suth­ he wants Sutherland for the Roderick Stewart Bethune bio­ erland brought a friend in to Bethune part. Sutherland says graphy, Preminger has purchas­ collaborate, and he rewrote the he hates Preminger and would ed the rights to a forthcoming script to make it more suitable never work for him. volume on Bethune by Sydney for television. Langley and Stephen Chesley Norman Bethune

Jonathan Welsh, Kurt Schiegl, CFDC invests in first pic Ted Turner and Daniel Pilon. made on foreign soil Click has also optioned the When the Wind Blows, a $1.1 FEATURES Lance Hill bestseller King of million horror film now shoot­ White Lady, and hired Ted ing in England, stars Mia Far­ Post (Magnum Force) to direct row, and marks the first time and Hill to do the screenplay. ROLLING the CFDC is investing in a film Hill is also doing well in not actually made in Canada. show biz. He's got offers for It's a co-production shooting in several more projects based on Deadly Harvest to Story concerns cats terrorizing England, with Famous Players others' work, and his own next shoot outside of humans. Stars are Ray Mil- investment too. Forty per cent land, Peter Gushing, ^Samantha novel, Torture Doctor, has Toronto generated interest, even by the of the cast, crew and investment Eggar, Donald Pleasance, as is Canadian. Also appearing are A mid-November shoot for well as several Canadians. likes of George Roy Hill (Butch Cassidy, etc.). Keir DuUea, Jill Bennett, and Deadly Harvest, a Burg-Am­ Odeon, Rank and the CFDC in­ Tom Conti. bassador co-production, has vested. been announced by producer Tony Kramreither. About a time in the future when there is a food shortage in Canada, this violent thriller stars Clint Wal­ ker, Nehemiah Persoff, and is directed by Tim Bond. Produc­ tion manager is Peter O'Brien, camera is by Bob Brooks, and John Ryan is first A.D. Music will be by John Mills-Cockell. Investors include Ambassador, Famous Players and private sources. Kramreither is also planning a late winter production of In Council Rooms Apart. The $1.2 million film is yet to be cast or Peter Gushing in The Uncanny staffed, but novelist John Gray, who wrote the original work, will do the script. Ed Hunt shooting Alien Encounter Denis Heroux and Ed Hunt, whose features The Uncanny never had a budget above in Montreal $100,000, is now shooting the The $800,000 co-production. $1.8 miUion science fiction The Uncanny, is now shooting film Alien Encounter in To­ in Montreal with Denis Heroux ronto. Earl Click is producing at the helm. It's a British-Ca­ for his Hal Roach Studios, and nadian effort, with part of the the cast includes Christopher filming to be done in England. Lee, Robert Vaughn, Tiu Leek, IWia Farrow as she was in Gatsby 0^

December-January / 11 the National Lampoon group. Reitman produced their touring stage show. Toronto Angela filming in Montreal Bellevue Lab Angela, a feature film star­ ring Sophia Loren, John Vernon and Steve Railsback, is current­ ly shooting on location in Mont­ Closed real. (C.T.) - Bellevue Pathe Labo­ do not permit a lab with a sub­ Budgeted at $3 million, Ange­ ratories (Ontario) closed its stantial overhead to compete. la is a Canafox Films (Parimont doors on Friday, Nov. 5. Ac­ Bellevue-Pathe was the only Reitman/Cinepix have holding company) production in cording to Andre CoUette, vice- lab which employed union work­ one shooting, one in association with Zev Braun Pro­ president and general manager ers, and the fringe benefits and the works ductions with the participation of of Bellevue-Pathe Quebec (1972) elevated salaries were a major factor leading to the closing of Producer Ivan Reitman has Classic Films Industries Ltd. Inc., the lab had not been profit­ the lab. Other factors cited were two projects with Cinepix, one A Canadian company. Cine- able for about five years. Over the lab's geographical position now shooting and one planned video, has been engaged for the the last year, he went weekly to in the city which led to high for the near future. production services. Line pro­ Toronto, initiating marketing studies and administrative transportation costs, and the David Cronenberg is current­ ducer is Claude Heroux, execu­ evaluations. His conclusion, ap­ general market in Toronto which ly filming Rabid, a $500,000 tive producer is Zev Braun who proved by the parent company, Collette feels is declining. horror film financed by Cine­ recently completed filming The Astral Bellevue Pathe Ltd., was pix, the CFDC and Famous Little Girl Who Lives Down Some of the equipment will be that Toronto could not support Players. Stars include Marilyn the Lane in Montreal. Boris brought back to the Bellevue- the eight laboratories which Chambers, Frank Moore, Pat­ Sagal is directing. Screenplay Pathe lab in Montreal, strength­ now vie for clients. The decision ricia Gage, and Joe Silver. is by Montrealer Charles E. Is­ ening its position. There only was made to close the facility. Story concerns a girl who con­ rael. Director of photography is four laboratories compete with tracts rabies and terrorizes a Canadian Marc Champion (Part­ The last years have been dif­ each other. Collette expects cer­ city. ners, Slipstream, Why Shoot ficult for the Toronto labs. Film tain clients, especially those who the Teacher?). Reitman will produce Convoy House went bankrupt in 1974 and require release printing, to send in the near future. It's a $1.4 An official Canadian film pro­ Quinn labs had a close call this their work to Montreal. million futuristic thriller to be duction, Angela (formerly Jo- year. These difficulties were The annual volume of business directed by Bill Fruet, and con­ casta) is a contemporary ver­ cited by Collette as evidence of in Toronto was approximately cerns urban guerrillas in con­ sion of the Greek myth, Oedipus the tough competitive situation $3 million a year; the lab em­ voy trailers. Investment is by and Jocasta. The story entails a among the labs. Pricing prac­ ployed about 75 people. the CFDC, Cinepix and Famous passionate and tender romance tices are, in his opinion, un­ Players. between a mother and son - healthy at the present time and Connie Tadros Another project of his own neither being aware of their finds Reitman as co-producer blood bond - which ultimately with Universal (of Hollywood results in tragedy. fame) of a $3 million comedy by Stephen Chesley Action at CBC Pearson starts shooting nipeg Flood, and Hank, about a last of Journalistic small businessman collapsing, Series both directed by Don Haldane. The Tar Sands, based on the Syncrude deal between the feds, CBC remembers Alberta and Ontario, with a Two CBC programs marked script by Peter Pearson, Peter the network's fortieth anniver­ Rowe and producer Ralph Tho­ sary. One was a three-hour ra­ mas, is the last production plan­ dio compilation from the past. ned for the Journalistic Series And on TV on October 30 was on CBC this year, and it was a tribute to Alphonse Ouimet, shot in November with Pearson president from 1958 to 1967. directing. Based on the actual events, real names are used, CBC prez honored and even Premier Peter Loug- heed's office has been re­ Al Johnson, newly installed created. Kenneth Welsh played CBC president, has been award­ Lougheed, and the rest of the ed the Vanier Medal for public cast includes Mavor Moore, Ken service by the Institute of Pub­ Pogue, and Dr. Morton Shul- lic Affairs. man. The script is based part­ ly - according to its author, CBC sells Down Under only very partly - on the book The Australian Commercial The Tar Sands by Larry TV Network has purchased a Pratt. large package of TV product Others in this year's Jour­ from the CBC. Included in the nalistic Series are Ada, about a sale are King of Kensington, mental patient, directed by Jalna, Sidestreet, The Collabo­ Claude Jutra; The Dream rators, The National Dream, Speaker, about a disturbed boy and one-shots such as Sarah and an Indian medicine man, di­ and others. rected by Jutra in Vancouver; Broadcast will begin in Feb­ Some Day Soon, about the Win­ ruary 1977.

12/Cinema Canada Film Projects Galore Gulkin chores, with Fried assisting. Ashley Multi-Media addition to their major TV series It's the first time automation announces three for Imperial Oil. These in­ and Carle has been examined since Chap­ clude a series of shorts for Bell to film together lin's Modern Times 40 years productions Canada, The Voyage of Norma ago, says Gulkin. New Vancouver-based pro­ Exit, Gilles Carle's ninth and Gladys, two for the Depart­ ducer and distributor, Ashley feature film, will be made in Production services will be ment of Fisheries, a documen­ Multi-Media, has three projects both French and English, and supplied by Gulkin Production tary on Karen Kain in Moscow, in advanced planning stages. will be produced by Harry Gul­ Services Inc. of Montreal, with and a BBC co-production on Ashley's head of production is kin. Gulkin and Carle, along many of the same people doing Canada's forest workers. Harve Sherman, formerly of with stars Carole Laure and duty as for Lies and Jacob: Vision IV in Toronto. Planned songwriter Lewis Furey, gave a Howard Ryshpan, Susan Lewis, are a $6 million production, press conference to announce Michele Boudrias. Mendeluk well into with United Artists, of Freder­ plans for the feature, and Gulkin Lies My Father Told Me has third of Xmas triology ick Forsyth's Dogs of War, was still beaming from his grossed $8 million world-wide a $3.6 million western with Writer/director George Men­ seven-award win at the previous to date. Burt Lancaster to be called deluk is finalizing plans for the night's Canadian Film Awards Bounty, and a $1 million effort final film in his series of three for Lies My Father Told Me. with Universal titled Gringo shorts on Christmas themes. Carle's feature is budgeted Legions. The third effort, to star a fe­ at $1.5 million, and concerns male in a Dickens-type plot, will the travels of a circus troupe International Film Distribu­ tors in Toronto acts as distrib­ be shot this winter in either around Quebec. It will be filmed Quebec or Niagara-on-the-Lake, in the first half of 1977 around utor for Ashley product, both original efforts and those that Ontario. Shawinigan and in Montreal. It He began the triology as a is, says Gulkin, a love story Ashley buys or controls, in­ cluding output by Brut Produc­ search for new approaches to with music. A second male lead Xmas themes, and wanted to will be announced. tions and the Canadian rights to The Passover Plot. make films that would be enter­ Furey will write the music, taining as well as a learning and is now working on the score experience, especially since he for Gulkin's Jacob Two-Two, feels that so many Xmas tradi­ scheduled for Easter release. tions are common throughout the Both Gulkin and Carle discover­ Ongoing world. ed Furey's work at about the and upcoming His first effort. The Christ­ same time; he has released two Angela, starring Sophia Loren mas Tree, was shown last year albums of original compositions. and John Vernon, now on in on CBC and Radio-Canada, and Carle was pleased at the op­ Montreal, although original is distributed internationally by portunity to work with a reason­ director Sydney Furey was Walt Disney Educational Media. able budget for the first time; ousted at the last minute and The second, Miguel's Navidad, all his films have been made replaced by US TV director was shot in Mexico last winter, for under $350,000. But he re­ Boris Sagal... Toronto-based and will be shown on CBC and sents greatly what he calls the Video Program Services will Radio-Canada this Christmas; 'contempt barrier' in Canada. act as executive producer for a two U.S. networks are bidding Every time he makes a film, he $12 million production of Leon for the rights. Linda Sorensen says, it's treated like his first. Uris' Trinity, about the current produced and Harry Makin shot After eight features and 100 Irish troubles. It will be filmed it on a six-day shoot. Ricardo shorts, the various government in Ireland and partly in the Montalban narrates. agencies act condescendingly to Lewis Furey will star in Exit Maritimes. VPS has mainly him. "They give a grant but they worked on made-for-TV movies, never let you get ahead. For­ such as the Fitzgerald/Zelda -"'.*' '' ^'.\ eigners are different; they call biopic last season and Eleanor me and say come work with us. OECA begins series and Franklin.. Allan King is : ** ** jy "* I don't have to start each project co-produced with gearing up for another project... as if I must prove myself. British TV Sophia Loren will return to "But what I want to be able to Ontario's TVO will co-pro­ Canada in 1977 for National say to the foreigners is 'You duce a series of six half-ljour Holiday, a co-production produc­ come up here and help me with dramas with Highgate Associ­ ed by Carlo Ponti. It will be my film.'" ates and Harlech TV in Eng­ shot in Canada and Italy. So­ Gulkin emphasized that pro­ land. Each of the three will phia's adventures with six kids ducing Carle's film continues make two episodes, and the on the day in 1938 when Mus­ his policy of making quality series title is Classics Dark solini is visited by Hitler in films that are commercially and Dangerous. Jim Hanley and Rome constitute the basis for successful. Philip Nixon are producing the the plot. Also planned by Gulkin are two here, and Don Thompson is two more projects for 1977, one directing. definite and one still to be con­ The first went before the Neilsen-Ferns firmed. Definite is The Dodo cameras in November, and was announces heavy Bird, based on an eight-year- The Mannikin, based on a story old off-Broadway play by Em­ by Psycho author Robert Bloch. shooting schedule manuel Fried. To be directed Stars were Keir Dullea and Hard on the heels of conclud­ by Bill Fruet, it's a tragicomedy Ronee Blakely. The other local ing a deal whereby SO'^r of the about the effects of alcoholism effort is The Ugly Little Boy, company has been purchased by Makin, Sorensen and automation. Fruet will as­ by Isaac Asimov, with Guy the Toronto Star, Neilsen-Ferns and Mendeluk in Mexico sume major screenwriting Big, Kate Reid and Barry Morse. announce several productions in

December-January/ 13 Festivals Festivals Festivals Festivals

Festival of Festivals Upcoming fest activity questioned as to If you can arrange to have 'famous' attending your film play in Los Angeles Press reports questioned the for seven consecutive days be­ assertion by Festival of Festi­ fore December 31, you can vals organizer Bill Marshall enter the Academy Awards for that such luminaries as Jack next April. You may even be Nicholson, Julie Christie, Ro­ nominated. bert Towne, and so on, were to The Festival of Short Films appear at the Festival of Festi­ at Tampere, Finland, will be vals. held from February 17 to 20. Contacting their agents or the Deadline for entry is January parties themselves, all denied 10, and requirements specify having been invited or said they films under 35 minutes made in had informed Marshall of their 1976 and in either 16 or 35 mm. For further information contact Waiting for Fidel inability to attend. All were an­ nounced as possibilities as late the Film Festivals Bureau, Sec­ as the opening day of the fest. retary of State, 66 Slater Street, Marshall said that all were Ottawa. Montreal formally invited through the of­ fice of Secretary of State John More Canadian film Roberts, and airline tickets activity in Washington 16inin-Fest were sent to a few. The Canadian embassy in Dino de Laurentiis was there. With the lowest budget in its this year's were generally well Washington recently expanded history (almost nil) the Coop­ received and well worth watch­ its staff by a large number, to erative des Cineastes Indepen­ ing. Judging from audience re­ a rumored double its previous dents held its sixth annual In­ sponse they were also the most level. Increased cultural activi­ ternational Festival of 16 mm. popular. Cooperage (Phil Bor- ty goes hand in hand with this Cinema October 27 - 31 in Mont­ sos, Vancouver), Waiting for CFI lands encore expansion, and the cultural at­ real. Its aim is "to bring atten­ Fidel (Michael Rubbo, NFB), animation fests for tache is busy working up pro­ tion to important films that do and La veillee des veillees grams of Canadian films. not get circulation through the (Bernard Gosselin, NFB) reap­ 1978 and 1980 Many features are being commercial channels." It is ing the bulk of the praise. ASIFA, the International Ani­ shown, including Mon oncle An- non-profit and non-competitive. Although the powers that be mation Association, has award­ toine, Kamouraska, La tete de On the surface the Festival deemed the Festival unworthy ed the Canadian Film Institute Normande St-Onge, Eliza's was much like last year's - an of funding this year, there are the honor of hosting the inter­ Horoscope, Bar salon, Partis unpretentious, mild-mannered those who want to see it con­ national animation competitions pour la gloLre, and Pour le publicity campaign attracted tinue. The theatre was kindly set for 1978 and 1980. In a unan­ meUIeur et pour le pire. Hav­ feimiliar faces to the drab base­ rented out for a token sum, the imous vote at their executive ing been informed that several ment locale of the theatre of the projectionist worked at a dis­ meeting in Luca, Italy, in No­ English-language features have Bibliotheque Nationale. The count, the National Film Board vember, ASIFA approved Ot­ also been made, the diplomats theatre seats 250 - the audi­ in particular and friends in gen­ tawa and the CFI. made plans to show some of ence averaged 30 in number for eral gave the Co-op considerable In a new arrangement, begin­ them too. each presentation. moral support. ning in 1978, animation fests Also being set up is a short The Festival this year was The Co-op forges on, already will be held in the spring and film package. entirely self-funded. Not long planning Festival number seven, fall of each year, one in Eastern Stephen Chesley before the scheduled opening its hoping funds will reappear, Europe and one in the West. The director resigned, apparently dreaming of a real "festive" best of each fest will be shown Sunny days in Kamouraska discouraged by lack of financial atmosphere in an attractive lo­ at the next. Hence 1978 will see support. Undaunted and firmly cation, providing refreshments Zagreb as the spring site and idealistic, Claude Chamberland, between films to inspire dia­ Ottawa in the fall (more con­ one-time coordinator, took over logue with real live roving film­ flicts with existing Canadian and went ahead on less than a makers and, shall we say, giv­ fests!). Annecy and Mamiai will shoestring. ing itself a bit of glamor. share 1979. Four months are The Festival this year focus- Certainly there ought to be required between fests, accord­ sed on Canadian films - 19 some viewing ground for these ing to ASIFA rules. over last year's eight - under films - after all, it's where Other CFI activities include the theme 'Looking at Our­ most filmmakers start. The continued work on computeriza­ selves'. Also presented were Co-op's optimism notwithstand­ tion of their 10,000-title film three retrospectives on foreign ing, the future doesn't look rosy. library, arranging a tour of a filmmakers - Werner Nekes of Hopefully the Festival will de­ group of Indian films across the West Germany, Austrian Peter velop and expand. Chamberland country in response to the In­ Kubelka, and Robert Nelson, an is hanging on fiercely like a dog dian showing of Canadian efforts, American. onto a bone. At this point one and enlargement of the Film­ It is encouraging to note that can only wait and see. Stay tun­ makers' Service Unit, designed while last year's Canadian films ed in '77. to serve independents who need tended to be very 'Canadian' in publicity or other advice and the ho-hum sense of the word, Jane Dick aid.

14 / Cinema Canada bourne Film Festival, and before re­ turning to Canada the pic won First awards, kudos, Prize at the First International Fes­ tival of Animation in Melbourne. Fest was modelled after Ottawa 76 and An­ appointments et al necy fests. Grand Prix went to Russia. Other Canadian winners were Potter- ton's The Happy Prince for Best Chil­ dren's Film and both Illusion and The Twitch received Diplomas of Merit, all NFB picks up another one to production The Nutcracker; Gordon at the Animation fest. The NFB feature documentary II n'y Luker for lighting in The Nutcracker; a pas d'oubli, made by exiled Chileans Dr. William Gunn for recording of ani­ and about Chileans in exile, received mal and bird sounds in the Toronto pro­ Odeon announces Engineering a Special Jury Mention at the recent duction The Arctic Islands and Rudolf Department shifts Locarno International Film Festival in Kovanic for cinematography in The Arctic Islands. Odeon Theatres has moved some Switzerland. members of its engineering depart­ ment for Eastern Canada up the ladder. CBC internal awards given CBC sells Kensington in U.S. Chief Engineer responsible for all tech­ nical services in the region is Ed Mc- Emily Carr, a two-part English- The CBC has made its first U.S. sale Cormack. Bill Devitt is now Chief En­ language documentary on the life of one of a show it owns totally. King of Ken­ gineer for theatre projects in Eastern of Canada's foremost painters, has won sington, the sitcom, has been sold to Canada. And Robert Hilder is now the Prix Wilderness award for docu­ nine major markets with a potential Chief Sound Engineer for Eastern Ca­ mentary programs, CBC announced. audience of 20 million homes, includ­ nada. All are long-time Odeon em­ Quebec Printemps 1918, a two-hour ing New York and Los Angeles. It's ployees. French-language program, has won the also the first U.S. sale while a program is in production... Other CBC foreign Prix Anik award for best drama. CTV announces The Prix Anik awards incorporate sales include Beachcombers to five the Prix Wilderness awards, which British cities, Nancy Ryley's Emily management changes were instituted in 1963 by CBC em­ Carr and Terry Filgate's Lucy Maud The CTV TV network, headquartered ployees to commemorate three CBC Montgomery to Southern TV in Britain... in Toronto, shifted some employees up filmmakers who were killed in a plane and added new faces and new positions crash while filming a documentary in recently. John T. Coleman, formerly Alberta. Manager of Marketing Services for the The awards were presented by John network, is now Director, Government Roberts, secretary of state, on October and Industry Liaison... Babs Pitt, for­ 7. merly Vice-President of Marketing for Special program awards also were CFCF's production arm, Champlain presented to The October Crisis, which Productions, in Montreal, moved to To­ the jury said was "a courageous and ronto to become Director of Inform­ careful use of television to explore ation Services... A new position. Man­ social and historical realities," and to ager of Sales Administration, was filled Billy Cox, a St. John's, Nfld., pro­ by Alex Semeniuk... Alfredo Gerard, gram "for a fine example of the way formerly Advertising and Sales Pro­ in which a community station can motion Manager for Fiat Canada, has sympathetically and constructively ap­ joined CTV as an Account Executive. proach community problems." Winners of Prix Anik awards for artistic and craft contributions include: Literary matters Mark Blandford, producer of The Oc­ TV is 24 years old in Canada, and tober Crisis; David Halton, narrator of CRTC researcher David Balcon will The October Crisis; Eric Till, for di­ publish a history of this period next rection of the Toronto production The spring with complete program descrip­ First Night of Pygmalion; Elizabeth tions and an index... The Toronto Star Sheppard and William Hutt for their has sent a letter of intent to the Niel­ performances in The First Night of sen-Ferns film company to purchase Pygmalion. branvois IN. Macerola controlling interest in the successful Kate Reid for her interpretation of TV and industrial short company. Pat the voice of Emily Carr: David Knight NFB names new Head Ferns and Richard Neilson will con­ for film editing in Emily Carr; Jack tinue to hold equity interest and will Long for photography in Emily Carr; of French Production manage the company, which had $3 Joe Grimaldi for sound mixing in Emi­ NFB head Andre Lamy has appoint­ million in revenue last year. They ly Carr; Mike Halleran for narration in ed Francois N. Macerola, 34, as Di­ welcome the Star's offer because of the Vancouver production of The rector of French Production. Macero­ the expanded money sources for future Reckoning; Danny Tanaka for film edit­ la was in distribution at the Board. He production. And the Star, awash with ing in The Reckoning; Peter Kent, Ni- succeeds Yves Leduc who has return­ money due to a 25*^0 increase in pro­ colaos Evdemon and Ian Wilson for re­ ed to making films. fits, is not entirely new to the film porting and filming in the fall of Cam­ field: it put money into Joyce Wei- bodia; Les Nirenberg, Brian McKenna land's The Far Shore... Brian Moore and Michael Auger for investigative The Owl wins again, and again has sold his novel The Doctor's Wife reporting in the Montreal production Carloine Leafs animated NFB short, to United Artists and F.P. Rosenberg Settling Accounts; Eamon Beglan, Tom recent Ottawa 76 Grand Prix winner, for filming. Farquharson, Michael Gyll and Ron won two awards in Australia recently. Manson for camera work in the Toron­ One was a Silver Trophy at the Mel­ 0^

December-January/ 15 ^^W^SSD

quota quickies, westerns and ent Second Wind, his feature awards, kudos, other features, early govern­ accepted for competition. Just ment shorts, NFB war efforts. before he left, Shebib burned The Royal Visit of 1939, and so himself in a kitchen accident, appointments et al on. and arranged to acquire a dark Papers were given on Quebec suit for planned receptions by dignitaries, including the Shah's SMPTE Twentieth Century-Fox in Cana­ cinema during the 'forties by da, replacing Doug Ouderkirk Pierre Verroneau, on feature wife. honors Canadians who has been shifted to Atlanta. production from 1915 to 1922 by CTV's special The ChUdren's Several Canadians were hon­ Schwalm had been Ouderkirk's Peter Morris, and on the NFB Hospital has been nominated in ored with awards at the recent assistant for the past two years. war years by Seth Feldman and the non-fiction category for an annual convention of the Society Chetwynd Films has moved Barbara Martineau. International Emmy. Five final­ of Motion Picture and Televi­ Robin Chetwynd to Executive Discussions were held, led by ists will compete. sion Engineers in New York. It Vice-President and Sid Priddle President Peter Morris, about Shebib's Second Wind has was the 118th get-together of to Director of Marketing Serv­ future plans for the organization been accepted as an entry at the the group. ices. as well as specific matters Berlin fest, the first Canadian Maurice L. French of the As a result of the Toronto such as access to historical ma­ appearance since Duddy won CBC received a Citation of Out­ Star acquisition of 80'; of Neil­ terial. A further gathering is the Golden Bear three years standing Service to the Society. sen-Ferns, Bill Watchorn will planned for Montreal in the ago. Gerald G. Graham received move from Manager of Corpo­ spring. the John Grierson International rate Development at the Star to Morris set up the screenings. Newman talks Gold Medal. Graham was direc­ Neilsen-Ferns as a Vice-Pres­ Secretary Seth Feldman handled The Film Advisor to the Sec­ tor of planning and research at ident. notification of members, and retary of State, Sydney Newman, the NFB and is now retired. Pierre Juneau is the new President David Eley arranged was in London in September to Fellow Awards were present­ Chairman of the National Capital facilities, assisted by Karen deliver the first James MacTag- ed to Hellmut Berger, director Commission. Laurence, at Ottawa's St. Paul's gart Memorial Lecture, named of engineering for Baton Broad­ Gordon Craig assumed the Universitv. for a BBC drama producer. He casting, and to Leonard A. position of Program Director at was also a guest at a dinner Green, chief, Sound and Projec­ celebrating the 21st anniversary CBUT-TV, a Vancouver CBC Winners and entries tion Division of the NFB. station, on December 1. Craig of commercial TV in Britain. was Head of TV Sports, and or­ The NFB film Jack Rabbit, In late November Newman ganized this year's Olympic co­ directed by Bill Brind, won gave a talk at the Ontario Col­ Low raised high verage. first prize in the Special Skiing lege of Art as part of its Cen­ NFB veteran filmmaker Colin Film Category at the Third An­ tennial Lecture Series. Topic Low was recently made an In­ nual Samsonite International Ski was "Square Eyeballs on a dian chief in his home town of Mexicans visit NFB Film Festival in New York in Round World: Some ruminations Cardston, Alberta. The Blood Twelve Mexican filmmakers the fall... I'm the Same as Ev­ on drama as communication." Indians of Alberta made him a visited Quebec as guests of the eryone Else, a film by Tony Kainai chief and renamed the NFB during October. It's all Douglas Associates, won the Screenings prize in the Medical Category pioneer producer Chief Bull part of a $1.2 million two-year The NFB's one-hour docu­ Horn. co-production program between at the San Francisco Film Fes­ tival film as communication mentary A Great White Bird, by the NFB and the Secretary of Mike McKennirey, about the Public Education of Mexico. competition, held in October... At the Mannheim Festival Al­ struggle to protect the endan­ Plans are to shoot social do­ bert Kirsh's Los Canadienses gered whooping crane, was cumentaries about problems won Best TV Film and receiv- shown on CBC in October... common to both countries. The Potterton's The Remarkable Mexicans saw features by the Planet was rebroadcast on CTV NFB and others and showed in November... Apple Cider, by some of their own. They visited Toronto-based Nelvana Produc­ Radio-Canada and Radio-Quebec tions, was seen on CBC in No­ also. vember. Film concerns a city Canadians participating in the boy who travels to the country program include Maurice Bulbu- and learns how to make cider. lian, Georges Dufaux, Gilles Groulx, Arthur Lamothe, Yves Colin Low Dion, and Jacques Leduc. Working Jeffrey Lynas, that lovely Appointments child in Lies My Father Told Tony Ciancotta, long-time FUm Studies Association Me, will appear as the lovely York Theatre manager, has been meets in Ottawa young Paul Muni for PBS-TV moved up to the Film Booking The weekend of November 12- in the US... Margo Lane, Department in Odeon Theatres' 14 saw 75 film historians, former CBC producer and head office. He'll be responsi­ teachers and researchers gather broadcaster, is now in New York ble for theatres in Toronto and in Ottawa for a weekend of Jacli Rabbit with director Bill Brind and in demand. She's doing do­ some in Eastern Canada. screenings and learned papers. ed the International Federation cumentaries for NBC flagship Peter Herndorf, now head of The group, a year-old asso­ of Cinema Critics Honorable station WNBC. She has had no CBC-TV current affairs, will ciation concerned about film Mention. A People's College work in Canada since her CBC become Vice-President of Plan­ studies in Canada, concentrated Diploma was awarded to John series Some of My Best ning in April 1977. He'll be in on Canadian efforts this week­ Smith's Bargain Basement at Friends Are Men ended... Ted charge of operations, coverage end. About 35 olden goldies the same fest. Both Bargain Kotcheff will direct another re­ and capital, all long-term con­ were shown, mostly from the Basement and Los Canadienses make of A Farewell to.Arms siderations. Public Archives and NFB Ar­ are NFB efforts. for Peter Bart and Max Palev- Diane Schwalm is now Head chives collections. Included Don Shebib attended the Te­ sky, in Hollywood. of Publicity and Advertising for were Back to God's Country, heran Film Festival to repres­ Stephen Chesley

16/ Cinema Canada 1920s and becomes involved in politics (he was a conscientious objector during the war) and IN AND OUT women, the latter being a wealthy widow with a British background (Honor Blackman) and the headmaster's daughter, played by the young OF THE MOVIES Canadian actess Trudy Young. (She was the fated girl in George McGowan's Face-Off.) Other Canadian actors playing supporting roles gerald pratley are Tim Henry (seen with Michael Sarrazin in Eye of the Cat), Cec Linder (several UK films Canada's English-speaking film endeavors to his credit) and Lois Maxwell, James Bond's seem awash with "co-productions" these day; Miss Moneypenny. that hybrid form which only the French and The lighting cameraman, Brian West, is from Italians seem to pull off without a one-sided use London, although he was here to photograph of technicians and actors, and an undue sacrifice Duddy Kravitz and Russian Roulette. The sound of native qualities. recordist, David Bowen, editor Kirk Jones, pro­ Businessmen in films see only dollar signs, ducer George Willoughby and director Alan Brid­ and without knowing what they are talking about ges are here from London. Three horses in the declare that co-production is the only way to scene being shot are local! "create a viable industry," whatever that means, The money ($175,000) is coming from the in "smaller countries" such as Canada. CFDC, the Rank Organization and Odeon Thea­ In Canada, when producers speak of co-produc­ tres of Canada - one of Canada's two "foreign- tions they mean movies made to look like second- owned" circuits. rate American films, complete with second-rate Everyone is working quietly and efficiently American players, preferably written and direct­ (in spite of almost constant rain) and the fact ed by second-rate Americans, and*in which that the small budget precludes all the help everything Canadian (Black Christmas, for behind the camera a director might want. Alan example) is disguised to look American. Bridges, whose remarkable picture The Hire­ Making films this way is supposed to open ling was shown, and destroyed, on commercial those magic doors to the American marketplace, TV the night before, took cheese and biscuits where they will be gratefully received as "inter­ for lunch under dripping trees, and remarked national pictures" by eager distributors and that he hadn't thought much about the film as audiences, and thus make fortunes for their a co-production. producers. The fact that this seldom happens "I was shown the screenplay, I liked it, but (partly because the films are awful and the US it needed work. I was asked to direct it. We've has enough second-rate productions of its own) come here to do it as well as we can. But I deters Canadian businessmen and politicians can see that, successful or not, it doesn't do not at all. Any mediocre person arriving from very much to further Canadian production. the States with a 'proposition' will get a favor­ You've simply got to make your own films with able welcome and an interview in the Toronto your own people. There's enough talent in Canada Star. And sad to say, the CFDC (the Canadian to do this. But that's not my concern, is it? Film Development Corporation) is now involved I want to make a film which I hope audiences in this dubious practice. will like and reflect credit on all those who It is with some interest then that we watch made it." a departure in kind as the first Anglo-Canadian Politics aside, the rain reminded him of the co-production, Ragtime Summer, completes its weather during the filming of the car rides in five-week shooting schedule in Lakefield, Onta­ The Hireling, a film he is pleased to have made. rio, on the Severn River about 100 miles from Out of Season is a film he'd rather forget. "I'll Toronto. never get involved in an arrangement like that Although the screenplay is by the Toronto again. I didn't really care for the script, but I writer and actor, Ratch Wallace (previously he wanted to work with Vanessa. The two writers made an interesting short subject, The Match), took over the film, took it to Los Angeles and and everyone connected with the picture is re-edited it. The result is not my original going to great pains to call it a "Canadian-Anglo" film." film (very awkward phrasing!) this is really a He thinks that the continuation of film produc­ British film of a Canadian story shot on loca­ tion in England depends on low-budget pictures. tion where it is supposed to take place. In this "To pour millions into one or two big pictures respect it is at least honest to its characters is wasteful. Several smaller films made for the and background. same amount of money would give everybody David Warner plays an English teacher who more work, and if some of them fail, the loss comes to a small Ontario town in the early is much less than an expensive film that fails." n

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