Cinema Canada Page 47 Cinema Plus Int E Rnational

CINEMA CAN A D A administrative council. Memos followed To date, none of these conditions have been mid -1970s when American companies exported Communications indicating that project reconunendations lacked met. Demers explains that although there second-rate Canadian tax shelter films) will sufficient financial analysis . remains concern about the future of SOGIC collapse with too many untutored agents in the down at SOGIC "It appeared as though the newadministra Film, a substantial increase (May 12)in Quebec's marketplace carrying films without conunercial tion was modifying financial criteria. We had capital cost allowance from 133. 3 per cent to value. Ultimately, he says, market forces will MONTREAL - After several failed attempts to not been informed that this was happening and 166.6 per cent has subdued any outcry of prevail and many of these agents will face the convene ameeting with the president of SOGIC, we felt strongly that if the goal was now to invest betrayal. hard fact that only 20 to 25 per cent of all four members of the directorial staff of the film on more of a financial basis, this would be the Canadian films and television product are division of Societe generale des industries end of the more risky projects that we had been saleable in the foreign marketplace. culturelles quebec (SOGIC -Film) have resigned. shepherding,, . says a former staffer. They will also learn, says Rofekamp, that Marie-Noel Pichelin (director of conununica This perceived shift of criteria, says a former Telefilm's 50 per cent reimbursement of lions), Vincent Leduc (assistant director of staffer, created resentment among the staff promotional costs will not touch the private marketing), Rene Chenier (assistant director of because arbitrary decisions were being taken by costs of sales abroad. Film Transit budgets business affairs), Lucette Lupien (director of persons "unknown by the film and television New export $75,000 annually (lor markets) not covered by production development) and three secretaries industry. " Telefilm. have resigned as of the last week in July. "The right people are not being hired", says a policy creates The anticipated rush to the marketplace will Former staff members choosing to go on former staff member. be shortlived, lasting two or three years, butthe record and remain anonymous say the daily "In order to make sound decisions you must controversy damage caused will have long-term effects, says operation of SOGIC, the Quebec government's have people in place who are close to the Rofekamp. funding agency for television, film and video, milieux. " MONTREAL - Aglut of low-grade Canadian Buyers, already overworked and increasingly has become mired in bureaucratic red tape with Former staff members say they fear that films in the foreign marketplace is the more selective, will have seen one too many bad virtually no direct conununication between SOGIC -Film is evolving into a bureaucracy more anticipated result of a Telefilm decision in June Canadian films. At home, a bidding war among Charles Denis, president of SOGIC and the concerned with conunercially viable films vs to lower the eligibility criteria for export Canadian exporters, offering inflated minimum consultative staff of SOCIC -Film. cultural or artistic properties during a time when assistance programs, say Canadian film guarantees, will hurt producers. Denis declined to be interviewed by Cinema the level of funding has not realistically exporters. Pascal Hebert, of Cinema Plus International, CaTUlda and Robert Brisbois, vice-president increased since 1984 to keep pace with rising "We already see people going around with the foreign sales arm of Cinema Plus Productions (SOGIC), was on vacation at press time. costs. unusable Canadian films. Our answer to the Inc. established in 1987, says Cinema Plus asked Former staff members say that following the SOGIC-Film production funding budget buyers who are complaining is that this is an Telefilm for a change of policy in January. 1988 merger of the film, television and video (1988/1989) of approximately $6 million is still in example of the Canadian government handing "We pressured them for our own films. I agency with a larger provincial organization place but very close to depletion, says Andre out money, ,. says Jan Rofekamp, president of don't know who else might have done the dealing with all cultural industries, it became Theberge, director-general of SOGIC-Films, Films Transit Inc. same," says Hebert, not entirely satisfied with increasingly more difficult for staff to do their who would not conunent on the resignations. Micheline Charest, president of Cinar Films, the decision . jobs according to the guidelines set down by the Theberge is hopeful that the next provincial calls the decision "ludicrous. " Acrowd of "It goes too far, " she says. "It should have Institut Quebecois du Cinema. The resignations budget will provide an additional $5 million exporters with minimal product will not reflect been lowered to 10 hours from 15. We also were the only recourse they had, they say, after television fund as is Rock Demers, president of the level of film production in Canada. Rather, suggested criteria for the quality of the project. it became apparent that Denis would not discuss the Associations des producteurs de films et de she says, "It will leave a bad impression of a It's true that everyone should have the right to grievances. video du Quebec (APFVQ). fragmented industry, the furthest thing from an sell but there is some horrible stuff in the As one former staff member says: "The Demers and several producers met, earlier impression of a strong Canadian inventory. " marketplace. And, after all, Telefilm is tragedy is not so much what is happening to this summer, with Denis who has been invited Film exporters were informed in late June that representing Canada. " well-intended employees who want to work for to attend the general assembly of the APFVQ on the eligibility criteria for Telefilm marketing She adds, "If Telefilm was an unlimited the industry, but the impact that the SOGIC -Film August 26. assistance had been lowered from 15 hours of financial source, it (the new criteria) would not in disarray will have on the industry. " Although, according to Demers, financial Canadian productions with proven marketing be a problem. " In December 1987 it was announced by criteria have not changed at SOGIC-Film, experience to a requirement of holding rights to Pierre Latour, who with partners Roger Quebec Cultural minister Lise Bacon that the producers are eager to win assurances that three Canadian films . Frappier and Pierre Gendron (formerly of Societe generale du cinema du Quebec (formed SOGIC will become less bureaucratic and that Noel Cormier, director of planning and Cinema Plus) have formed Max Films Inc. (see in 19&3) would become SOGIC -Film (effective the qment staff is maintained. policies at Telefilm Canada, says the new policy story), is in agreement with the Telefilm April 1988) upon integration with the larger "We want to see a less bureaucratic process is temporary and will apply long enough to decision. Societe de developpement des industries de la and we feel that all SOGIC (Film) staff must allow companies (that would otherwise not Like Rofekamp, Latour is confident that culture et des communications (SODlCC), stay. There are very good people working qualify for assistance status) to enter the field market forces will win out and separate the real which was created in 1977 to promote the there," says Demers. He admits there have been and develop a ., normal portfolio. " contenders from the rank amateurs. He goes a development of cultural industries in Quebec. a significant number of resignations but he adds Declining to say for how long the policy will be step further, explaining that the Canadian film The integration which created SOGIC was that resignations are not unusual following any in effect, Cormier explained, "This is a industry is maturing to a poinJ where there is a intended to rationaJize costs, according to the large-scale merger. permanent policy and it is not intended to narrowing financial distinction between Quebec government. He says the proposed move by SOGIC-Film support proliferation. On the other hand, film production, distribution and sales. Denis, a former aide to Robert Bourassa and into the Teleport building with the rest of the export should not be a private club. " "It is obvious that the future of the Canadian the former director of the department of cultural SOGIC organization in downtown Montreal He says the policy represents one way in industry lies in more integrated companies," ~dustries, external affairs, trade and technolog could facilitate better conununications. which Telefilm can get a return on its film says Latour, formerly of the Malofilm Group. Ical development, which was also folded into The APFVQ anticipated the problems of an investments by assisting in the development of a "Production is linked to pre-sales. This is the SOGIC, was appointed president in December. expanding bureaucracy after the merger was greater number of viable sales companies. key to financing a feature film . So you must be Communication problems at SOGIC -Film announced last year and quickly called a press Rofekamp, who has been working in the able to manage all aspects of filmmaking began as early as April when, according to conference to state their own conditions for the major markets since the early 1980s, says including sales. " former staff, the new president failed to appear merger. The three conditions were: increased Canadians enjoy a reputation for quality Cormier agrees. He observes that the industry and introduce himself at the weekly consultative production funding, a television fund and that productions among foreign buyers. is going through a period of mergers and committee meeting where projects are the new SOGlC president be formerly employed His concern is that this carefully rebuilt diversification and that this will likely be the recommended for later approval by the in the film and television industry.

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