INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION FUND ANNUAL REPORT . c n I . c s e n I r I u I t . c c i h n c P I o . ) e d c C r . m n u B I c o ( t n I i I M I I I p I s y E s r r , m n u e l 8 i o v b i F s t o e e c l t c t r c e f u e y e a d r d h t o C r n S S , P , n U d I I a o r n i e t o o n S a n o r m r n s i e h a o n A c e i C e , S I R , I G , r , s I e t n I e v x i o r e o s n e c a o N t r s e s e a e S y d e h , n S M T d : r , U i h a e s c r s u n o i o a G L d n r r g n e e u e o h h T T M C D Table of Contents
Board of Directors...... 3
Administration and Overview...... 4
Message from the President...... 5
Statistics...... 6
Series...... 8
Professional Development and Training...... 12
Canwest Alberta Fund...... 13
Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 2 Board of Directors
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1. Charles Ohayon - President 2. Roman Melnyk - Vice Weekend Club and was previ - 6. Denise Robert 7. Robert Roy Charles Ohayon has worked in President ously the CEO of the Ontario Denise Robert, president of Robert Roy is a consultant to television, advertising and film Roman Melnyk is a lawyer and Film Development Corpor- Cinémaginaire inc., is an the television Industry. He was since 1979. He produced former television executive. ation. Academy award-winning pro - a member of the Board of commercials at Films 24 and Among other positions, he was ducer. She has produced some Directors and Selection feature films and TV series at formerly Vice President, 4. Heather McGillivray of Canada's most successful Committee of the Cogeco Cléo 24 where he was Business Affairs at CTV and Heather McGillivray is a films such as Maurice Richard Program Development Fund President. From 1994 to 1998 Network Program Director and lawyer with experience in dis - and The Barbarian Invasions, from 1993 to 2006. He has he was the Director General of Executive Director of Media tribution and production as which won an Oscar for Best occupied many different exec - Programming (Television) for Operations at the CBC. co-owner of Ironstar Commun- Foreign Language Film as well utive positions for a variety of the Société Radio-Canada. He ications. She also has experi - as over 37 awards around the film and television organiza - was a member of the Board of 3. Paul Gratton ence in broadcasting as a for - world. She has been awarded tions and associations in Directors of the APFTQ and Paul Gratton currently serves mer Vice President, Programm- numerous distinctions includ - Canada and internationally. the CTF as well as the as Chair of the Canadian ing for Family Channel. ing "Chevalier” (France) of the He has been a member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema Television Fund. Formerly the Order of Arts and Literature by Board of Directors of the IPF and Television. In 2005, he Vice-President of Entertain- 5. Peter Mortimer the French Minister of Culture since its inception in 1991 and took a one year mandate as ment specialty channels for Peter Mortimer, President of and is a member of the was Vice-President for many General Manager to reorgan - CHUM television. He current - AVA Communications, is a Academy of Motion Picture years. ize the operations of l’Institut ly sits on the Board of the writer/producer and interna - Arts and Sciences (USA) and national de l’image et du son. Academy of Canadian Cinema tional communications policy the BAFTA (UK). He is President of the board of and Television, having served consultant. He sits on the directors of the Academy of four years as the organization's Board of Directors of the Canadian Cinema and Chair. Paul has done five tours Cogeco Program Development Television- Quebec section. of duty on the Board of the Fund as well as the Cogeco Canadian Television Fund, sits Selection Committee. on the Board of the First
3 Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Administration and Overview
What is it?
Production financing for dramatic television series and grants for professional development programs.
Who is it for?
Andra Sheffer Claire Dion Charles Zamaria Canadian independent producers with a private Canadian Executive Director Associate Director Financial Director broadcaster first-window licence commitment.
What do you get? Toronto Office Montréal Office Production financing for dramatic television series and Carly McGowan Joanne Duguay grants for professional development programs. Project Coordinator Coordinator
Lisa Baylin Huguette Giroux Program Manager Executive Assistant How do you get it? Independent Production Fund Le fonds indépendant de production 2 Carlton St., Suite 1709, 4200, boul. St-Laurent, bureau 503, Application deadlines are March 15, May 1, and October 15 Toronto, Ontario M5B 1J3 Montréal (Québec) H2W 2R2 each year. The Board of Directors evaluates all eligible Tel: (416) 977-8966 Tél. : (514) 845-4334 applications based on quality, creativity, business plans and Fax: (416) 977-0694 Télécopie : (514) 845-5498 financial viability. E-mail: [email protected] Cour. élec. : [email protected] www.ipf.ca www.ipf.ca
Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 4 Message from the President
that has been invested in 223 dramatic series, pilots for series and professional development projects. In 2008, the IPF invested $1.6 M in 11 series. An additional $125,000 was granted to support ongoing industry trade organizations and their training and events such as those organized by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television’s, the Alliance for Children and Television, INIS and the Canadian Film Centre, to name a few.
The IPF’s other role providing administrative services for other inde - pendent Funds continues, with the management of the Cogeco Program Development Fund, the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, the new Canwest Alberta Fund, and the legacy of the CFCN Production Fund. We also appreciate the annual contributions of Mountain Cablevision that provides funding for at least one IPF- It was with a big sigh of relief that we finally saw the end of 2008. funded series each year. The fluctuations in the financial markets and the global economic crisis gave us all a lot to worry about. With politicians, governments My thanks goes to my colleagues on the Board of Directors who and economists running to the rescue, there is hope on the hori - remain concerned and committed in these uncertain times. zon. But, hope must be tempered with caution and prudence so A special note of appreciation also goes to former Board member that our industry can continue to benefit in the long-term from the Paul Gratton who resigned his position during 2008 in order to take many support programs that exist. on the even greater challenges of the Chairmanship of the Canadian Television Fund. We welcome a very knowledgeable The Independent Production Fund was not exempt from the mar - and experienced new Board member in 2009, Steve Ord. Thanks ket fluctuations in 2008 and it saw the value of its endowment also to our dynamic teams in both the Toronto and Montreal offices. decrease significantly, particularly in the latter half of the year. Therefore the endowment will certainly generate less revenue for I wish you all the best in the year ahead. It’s the time to prove just project funding in the coming year. We have advised producers how creative, inventive and collaborative you can be. that there will be tight times ahead, and we are very hopeful there will only be a short-term impact on the Fund’s activities.
However, it is not all bleak news. The Independent Production Charles Ohayon Fund has managed to maintain and grow its endowment over the President past 17 years while at the same time generating $50 M in revenue
5 Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Statistics
INVESTMENTS IN THE CANADIAN TELEVISION INDUSTRY INVESTMENT ($) NUMBER OF PROJECTS Category 2008 1991-2008 2008 1991-2008 Series 1,600,000 45,061,655 (1) 11 240 (2) Professional Development 138,000 3,710,625 11 289 FIRST WI NDOW BROADCASTER TOTAL 1,738,000 48,772,280 22 529 OF IPF FU NDED SERIES (1991-20 08) (1) Includes $647,678 in funding for Pilots 1991-1998 (2) Includes 17 pilots funded 1991-1998 Broadcas ter Number of projects APTN 8 SERIES INVESTMENTS BY LANGUAGE CFCF 5 INVESTMENT ($) NUMBER OF PROJECTS CHUM 2 Language 2008 1991-2008 2008 1991-2008 CTV 36 English 1,000,000 28,393,226 7 139 Family 15 French 600,000 16,020,751 4 84 TOTAL 1,600,000 44,413,977 11 223 Global 24 Groupe TVA 45 FAMILY/YOUTH DRAMA VS. PRIMETIME DRAMA Séries+ 1 Showcase 2 SERIES 2008 TOTAL: $1,600,000 SERIES 1991-2008 TOTAL: $44,413,977 Teletoon 3 TMN 7 FAMILY/ FAMILY/ TQS 8 YOUTH YOUTH Investment: Investment: Treehouse 2 $550,000 $17,101,153 PRIMETIME PRIMETIME VRAK.TV 26 Investment: Hours: 29 Investment: Hours: 860.5 WIC/ITV 4 $1,050,000 Projets: 5 $27,312,824 Projects: 92 YTV 55 Hours: 58 Hours: 1,198 Projects: 6 Projects: 111
Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 6 Statistics Cont’d
INVESTMENT S BY REGION (SERIES)
Investment: $1,600,000 2008 Number of projects: 11
Investment: $44,413,977 1991-2008 Number of projects: 223
British Columbia Prairies Ontario Quebec Maritimes $200,000 $100,000 $700,000 $600,000 $0 Series: 1 Series: 1 Series: 5 Series: 4 Series: 0
$4,200,353 $3,969,396 $18,195,460 $16,948,768 $1,100,000 Series: 21 Series: 25 Series: 84 Series: 89 Series: 4
7 Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Series
Connor Undercover Degrassi: The Next Generation, Cycle 8 Gentleman Connor Undercover I Inc. (Shaftesbury Films Inc. Epitome Pictures Inc. Productions Gentilhomme (Duo Productions) & Heroic Films) 13 x 30 minutes; CTV 8 x 60 min.; Groupe TVA 13 x 30 minutes; Family Channel Exec P: Stephen Stohn, Linda Schuyler P: Anne Boyer, Michel d’Astous Exec P: Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, P: Stephen Stohn, Linda Schuyler D: Louis Choquette John May, Suzanne Bolch D: Phil Earnshaw P: Suzanne French and Peter Meyboom Double agent Louis Cadieux takes risks and plays D: David Warry-Smith, Steve Wright, John May Remaining true to the principles of Degrassi, this with danger, and with the law. A tragic event season focuses on timely issues, including video shakes up his life when is own girlfriend is the vic - Fifteen year-old Connor Hayes loves all things game addiction, incest, open adoption, religious tim of an inexplicable attack. 'spy,' but for now, he just longs for excitement. persecution, bullying, and death of a sibling. Also, Until an island nation’s first daughter comes to live the ongoing presence of "Newly Graduated with Connor’s family. Together they go about the Classic" characters will be explored as they deal business of being teenagers, while unravelling her with the challenges of adulthood while also help - mystery and fending off bad guys. Along the way ing a new generation grow up. they discover that opposites attract, debate is healthy, and most things in life are nothing like they seem.
Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 8 Series Cont’d
The Guard, Season II Il était une fois dans le trouble V Inuk III Air Sea Productions II (BC) Inc. (Halifax Film & Zone 3-XXIII inc. Tube Nunavut inc. Brightlight Pictures) 20 x 30 min.; VRAK.TV 13 x 30 min.; APTN, Télé-Québec, Knowledge 9 x 60 minutes; Global P: Jacques Payette Network et SCN Exec P: Charles Bishop, Michael Donovan, D: Mark Soulard P: Roddy McManus, Dominique St-Louis Raymond Storey, Stephen Hegyes, D: François Brisson, Martin Bergeron Shawn Williamson Now in its fifth year of operation, there are new P: Cynthia Chapman people in charge of the business. Deprived of his 3D animation series for children 3-6 years old. At D: Ernie Barbarash, Lynne Stopkewich position as President thanks to a bad joke by his the heart of this series is Inuk, an eight year old boy employees, Jon must hand over his position to with a wild imagination, living in a fictional This action series explores the lives of four 'rescue Max, who has lots of trouble in his role as the boss. Northern Canadian community. Destined to specialists', elite members of the coast guard. It is But, this new job is not his only problem. become a shaman, he discovers his powers such as their job to reach the scene of disaster and bring his ability to talk to animals. Relationships between back the survivors alive. These are the stories of the humans, nature and the environment are recurrent flawed, offbeat heroes whose greatest search may themes throughout the series. be for meaning in their own lives.
9 Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Series Cont’d
The Line, Season II (Previously The Weight) Murdoch Mysteries, Season II Overruled! - Season II Richmond Street Films II Inc. Shaftesbury Murdoch II Inc. Shaftesbury Overruled II Inc. 8 x 60 minutes; Movie Central, TMN 13 x 60 minutes; Rogers Broadcasting Limited 13 x 30 minutes; Family Channel Exec P: Debbie Nightingale (City TV) Exec P: Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie P: Debbie Nightingale Exec P: Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie P: Suzanne French D: Gail Harvey, Shawn Alex Thompson P: Peter Mayboom D: Paul Fox, Tony Poffandi, Marni Banack, D: Don McBrearty, Paul Fox, and various Jeff King, Mitch Ness Max and Donny are cops-turned-saboteurs. The stories push into new and exciting territory as Max Set in 1895 Toronto, Murdoch Mysteries explores Overruled is a comedy about the trials of Josh and Donny creep higher up the pipeline as they try the intriguing world of William Murdoch, a hand - "Coop" Cooper, a smooth-talking teen who puts his to destroy the drug business in their neighbour - some young detective using radical forensic tech - charm and principles to good use as the defence hood. niques, like fingerprinting and trace evidence to lawyer at his school’s Youth Court. Students get to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders. have their cases decided by a jury of their peers in Though his unconventional approach is often the after-school court. ridiculed, Murdoch is often the only one who can crack the case.
Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 10 Series Cont’d
Les Soeurs Elliot II Wapos Bay (Eps 20-26) Productions Soeurs Elliot II inc. Wapos Bay Productions Inc. 10 x 60 min.; Groupe TVA 7 x 30 minutes; APTN, SCN P: Anne Boyer, Michel d’Astous Exec P: Anand Ramayya D: François Gingras P: Dennis Jackson, Melanie Jackson, Anand Ramayya What will happen to the Elliot sisters this season? D: Dennis Jackson, Melanie Jackson, The disappearance of Gerry plunged the girls into Trevor Cameron danger and a brush with death. Will his presence amongst them be more reassuring? Will Gerry This is a light hearted animated series about grow - have a good and soothing effect on his three ing up in a remote Cree community. In Wapos Bay daughters? hunting and gathering and dog sledding are part of every day life but so are video games and TV. Guided by elders and extended family, these kids learn how to balance traditional ways with new ones.
11 Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Professional Development and Training
ACADEMY OF CANADIAN CINEMA AND ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL CREATIVE WOMEN WORKSHOPS TELEVISION ASSOCIATION Strategic Partners 23 rd Annual Gemini Awards 2008 September 12 – 14, 2008 Women in the Director’s Chair 2009 November 28, 2008 Halifax, Nova Scotia December 5, 2008 – February 1, 2009 Toronto, Ontario Banff, Alberta & Vancouver, British Columbia CANADIAN FILM CENTRE 23 e Prix Gémeaux 2008 September 10 and 14, 2008 Prime Time Television Program 2008 INIS (INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L’IMAGE ET DU Montreal, Quebec September 2008 – February 2009 SON) Toronto, Ontario Télésérie 2008: Maisons de carton ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN AND TELEVISION April 13 to June 17, 2008 CANADIAN SCREEN TRAINING CENTRE Montreal, Quebec Prix d’excellence francophone 2008 May 29, 2008 Summer Institute of Film and Television (SIFT) Publication du guide:
22 nd Annual Vancouver Film and Television Forum September 24 – 27, 2008 Vancouver, British Columbia
Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 12 Canwest Alberta Fund
Overview Productions
The Canwest Alberta Fund (“CAF”) is administered as a Program of the Independent Production Fund. It was established by Canwest MediaWorks Inc. as a result of CRTC Decision 2007-168, to sup - port Alberta’s independent production community by financing the production of priority television programming produced by Alberta production companies for Canadian broadcasters. This $10.5 mil - lion fund will be distributed as equity investments over seven years. The Fund operates under Managing Director Jane Bisbee, based in Edmonton. Burn Up Eligible projects include drama, documentaries, reality and lifestyle Seven24 Films programming. Eligible applicants must be Alberta-based produc - 2 x 90 minutes; Global ers. A Selection Committee representing the industry recommends Exec P: Tom Cox, Stephen Garrett projects to be funded to the Board of Directors of the IPF, for final P: Jordy Randall, Christopher Hall, Alison Jackson approval. D: Omar Madha
During its first complete year of operation, the Canwest Alberta Burn Up is a high-stakes conspiracy/political Fund invested in over forty hours of new programming, ranging thriller set against the backdrop of the world’s cor - from documentaries, dramatic series and mini-series, to adventure rupt and violent oil industry and the desperate programming, comedy and more. The CAF projects also brought a attempts of those trying to save the planet from wide variety of broadcasters to the table, including CBC, Food global warming. Network Canada, Global, History Canada and APTN.
13 Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Canwest Alberta Fund Cont’d
Caution: May Contain Nuts Family Restaurant (Season 3) Fish Out Of Water Mosaic Entertainment Anaid Productions Joe Media Group 6 x 30 minutes; APTN 10 x 30 minutes; Food Network 13 x 30 minutes; APTN Exec P: n/a Exec P: Margaret Mardirossian, David Way, Exec P: Joe Novak, Katery Legault P: Camille Beaudoin, Chester Sit Helen Schmidt P: Katery Legault, Neil Grahn D: Chester Sit P: Karen Redford D: Neil Grahn D: Sophie Madirossian, Neil Grahn, Connie Edwards From the days of SCTV to the madness of the This series follows the adventures of stand-up world’s second biggest Fringe Festival, Edmonton This popular series about running a restaurant by comedian Don Kelly, as he tries to master his tra - has a long history of fabulous sketch comedy. Now members of one family launches its third season ditional native life skills. While he’s made it in the a team of the city’s finest comes together in a new with a twist – a new family! The flavour is Chinese, white man’s world, he’s a ‘fish out of water’ in the ensemble series. but the relationships between generations are just world of Canada’s first nations. as engaging.
Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 14 Canwest Alberta Fund Cont’d
Hitler’s Stealth Bomber Inuit Invasion Mixed Blessings Myth Merchant Productions Clearwater Media Prairie Dog Productions 1 x 60 minutes; History Channel 1 x 60 minutes; CBC 6 x 30 minutes; APTN Exec P: Carrie Gour Exec P: Tom Radford, Michael Alder P: Ron E. Scott P: Carrie Gour, Michael Jorgensen P: Niobe Thompson D: Francis Damberger D: Michael Jorgensen D: Tom Radford This comedy series is set in Alberta’s ultimate It’s widely acknowledged that Germany won the Award-winning documentary maker Tom Radford boomtown – Fort McMurray. A Ukrainian plumber ‘aviation technology’ battle in WW2, but could the joins with University of Alberta anthropologist and a Cree waitress, both widowed with kids, fall in German stealth aircraft have eluded Allied radar Niobe Thompson to explore the intriguing tale of love and set up a new family together – with some and changed the course of the war? Now, more eradication of an Arctic First Nations people -- by challenging results. than sixty years after the Horten flying wings first another First Nation challenged by climate change. took to the air, this revolutionary aircraft will be put to the test.
15 Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Canwest Alberta Fund Cont’d
Ride Guide Snow Wild Roses Ride Guide Productions Seven24 Films 13 x 30 minutes; Global 12 x 60 minutes; CBC Exec P: Kevin Pennock Exec P: Miranda de Pencier, Jordy Randall, Tom Cox P: Kevin Pennock P: Jamie Paul Rock D: Kevin Pennock D: Grant Harvey, Dean Bennett, Mike Clattenburg, Ken Girotti This ski and snowboard series is jam packed with action. It takes viewers around the world to chase This series is a Shakespearean tale of family loyal - the most remote and interesting rides on skis or ties, love, betrayal and alliances forged between boards. two Southern Alberta cattle ranches. This new prime-time drama series is about a deep bond to the land and the lengths people will go to get, and keep, it in the family.
Independent Production Fund | ANNUAL REPORT 2008 16