IR employees of the Quebec government who were shooting ftomo movies in the Will know the difference. If something's Mihalka said to me at one point, supply. Rick Wallace said, "In my opi­ basement of the National Assembly tunny, then nobody cares about quality " "Criticism. After having done Pin ball nion, there" s not a character that specifi­ He added, "If the script called for a building in Quebec City. Summer and My Bloody Valentine, I'll cally represents anyone," and Mihalka sunny day, and it happened to be a rainy laugh it off." Well, start laughing George, saiti, ""We could have safirized Quebec, Thaf 8 the naked truth - the skeleton day, then thats what it turned out to be." around which R.S.L. producer Robert because I really didn't like the cut of the or we could have satirized government Lantos has tailored Scandale, a film That attitude isn't exactly what they suit I saw being made for the Pornobec We decided to satirize government" teach in film schools, but its probably shot in less than a month for under a scandal. (Not that I was actually allowed And what that means in concrete not as reprehensible as it sounds. In million dollars by George Mihalka fPin- to see any cuts from the film. Lantos terms is that two scenes that Mihalka fact, Mihalka even sounded a bit poetic ball Summer, My Bloody Valentine). seemed a little, well, skittish about that described as being satiric highlights are when he spoke of the creWs attitude as idea.) one in which a government minister The Pomobec scandal broke in the being out of the- unwritten- book"Zen being interviewed doesn't notice a bath­ early autumn of 1981. George Mihalka I admire Lantos and the others invol­ and the Art of Filmmaking" "Bend Uke tub being wheeled by his office, and agreed to do the film on December 4. ved in Scandale for having the nerve to the willows in the wind," he said was another scene in which a minister enters "There was a script ready, complete'with deal with such a touchy subject espe­ their motto. And there was some genuine his office, finds it empty, and says "Where step-outline, by December 11. There cially since this is Mihalka's first film in esprit de corps in the air when he talked are my employees ? On coffee break or were 4 weeks of pre-production, ham­ French. Indeed, Mihalka said that "One about the contributions of Frangois Pro- of our biggest problems was to cast the on strike?" pered by the fact there were four-day tat the director of photography (Les film," given that so much of the artistic Well, some people might call that holidays this year for both Christmas Plouffe), and Nanette Workman, who community in Montreal is so politically sensitivity to the feelings of the people and New Year's, and the bulk of the appears in one of the five cabaret num­ active, and so "Parti Quebecois.'" of Quebec. But I call it pulling your shooting took place between January 12 bers in the film. But summoning up the nerve to do the punches. and February 2. As Mihalka puts it, "It But... happened so fast we began shooting film seems to have exhausted their David Clarke • without knowing some of the people we were going to be working with." The Pedlar When I visited R.S.L., in early March, postproduction had started even as pick-up shooting I establishing shots, the Three cheers little things that help a film run smooth­ ly) was still going on. Distribution deals for the cook had been made, and a release date of April 23 had been set. Making a film that quickly poses pro­ Meleb, Manitoba, is the perfect setting blems, to say the least. In the words of for the bleak final scene in The Pedlar, a George Mihalka, "When you're making a one-hour NFB drama set in the indeter­ film so fast, on a shoestring budget minate past in the hardscrabble Inter- things are bound to foul up. And they lake district of central Manitoba. Even did. Every day." He gave a "for instance'. when its hot here ftte place makes you On the very first day, 2 1/2 hours before shiver. shooting was scheduled to begin at the Meleb is a small general store, three Palais de Justice, the provincial govern­ houses, two churches, a parish hall, cast and crew have been staying and Lubomir Mykytiuk, who is perhaps ment mysteriously cancelled R.S.L.'s various outbuildings, and some stunted eating for the 16-day duration of the familiar as the bread-juggler in Paper permit to use the site. "All our lighting aspens clustered along a railroad cross­ location shoot. , Wheat, likes the script of The Pedlar equipment" says Mihalka, "and our crew ing on a dusty road about 100 kilometers Dinners here have been like extended ""because it is open to so many interpre­ were there when we got thrown out." north of Winnipeg. One church and the Ukrainian Christmas feasts. Homemade tations at different points. Thats what's That problem was solved, but it took hall are boarded. Nothing but the Uk­ perogies, stuffed cabbages, meatballs, nice but also whats tricky about it" He some midnight shooting to do it. In fact rainian church, it seems, has seen paint pies, fresh vegetables and fruit and sour and Kroeker discussed his character working at night seems to have been in 40 years. The place is so fiat and cream, etc., etc. The cooks are as tune­ and the spareness and sublety of the standard operating procedure. Rick exposed that all you can think of is the fully busy and insistent as your favorite drama for many hours before the shoot Wallace, the editor of the film, (whose cold prairie winter - 40° below and grandmother. This is not your usual began. That has allowed the director credits include Meatballs and My Bloody nothing between the drafty, still-func­ catered fare; its more like a child's more time with the other characters, Valentine) recalls that "Occasionally, I'd tioning outhouses here and the North dream of vacations on the farm. People especially Marilyn Magnussen. Under­ have to go in at 3 a.m., when the crew Pole except a marrow-freezing wind. have to loosen their belts and belch to standably ner\'ous and self protective in was having lunch, to project the dailies." Between takes on The Pedlar Michael watch the after-dinner rushes. her first shot at acting, she needs to be But clearly, not all the problems with Scott, ""executive producer, producer, The Pedlar, one of only two dramas 'delicately coaxed into each emotion. Scandale could be solved. Mihalka was best boy, and general all-around meanie,'" being shot this year by the National Film The results so far have been promising. quite philosophical about the fact that recounts a dream he had last night. The Board, is based on a short story by WD. I sat with the cast and crew as we the conditions under which the film cast and crew are in a basement. Its an Valgardson entitled "A Place of One's tried to digest our bountiful dinner and was shot made even approaching pei^ inferno. There are coals everywhere, Own" Its the story of a young girl who watched the rushes that had been bussed fection impossible. Speaking of the pro­ and its fiercely hot. Everybody is sweat finds herself pregnant and abandoned, up from Winnipeg. At the end there bability that there are going to be tech­ ing madly and toiling like dogs. Sudden­ much to the chagrin other mean-spirited were three cheers for Alan Pakarnyk for nical flaws in the film, he said "I'll know ly, Stanley Knowles, the eminent NDP father (Tom Peacock of The Hounds of the marvelous dragons and eagles he the difference and every photographer churchman and member of parliament Notre Dame fame). Against the wishes had spent six hours tattooing onto Lubo- in the world will know the difference, shows up. He condemns the NFB, a of the girl but with the consent of her mir's body with marking pens. Three but I doubt if anyone in the audience government agency, for mistreating the mother (Doreen Brownstone), the girl is cheers forcameraman Charlie Konowai workers. Mike tries to explain that this is married off to a mysterious itinerant and all his sharp close-ups. Three cheers SCANDALE p. RSL Films Limited d. George what they all like doing; this is their pedlar a man distinguished by the fact for the stand-in's steady walk with a Mihalka scr. Robert Geoffrion music Tony Roman life's work! He says he'll be happy to that his entire upper torso is covered dripping water bucket And three cheers d.o.p. Francois Prolat ed. Rit Wallace p. man. assemble the crew to explain how much with tattoes. Alan Kroeker, the film's for gaffer Frank Raven who had created Wendy Grean p. ace. Manon Bougie-Boyer p. sec. Jacky Lavoie Isl a.d. Malthieu Viben 2nd a.d. they love it. They are all singing testimo­ director and screenwriter, has taken to the blacksmith's forge that had broiled Arden Ryshpan loc. man. Fran^iois Leclerc scr. nials to convince Stanley as Mike wakes calling the film Tess of the Interlake. everybody, but had gotten a horseshoe sup Monique Champagne cast Andr6e Champa­ up. You don't need to be Freud to see The Pedlar is the third Valgardson to glow magnificently red right on cue gne dancer's cast Kathleen Graham focus Michel where that dream came from. story that Kroeker has translated to the By the time dinner was over I was Cirard clapper/loader Palty Morein gaffer Don Saari best boy Charles Hughes key grip Serge The previous day's shooting had gone screen. (A fourth, based on the story "On beginning to wonder whether the secret Grenier sd. mix. Donald Cohen boom Gabor into overtime, ending just before dark Lake Therese,'" is planned in the near to moviemaking, like the secret to so Vadney art d. Csaba Kertesz asst art d. Michel with a scene in ah abandoned barn future for local television.) The first two. many things, was just a matter of good Demuel set dec. Frances Calder set props Claude when a young girl (played by Marilyn God Is Not a Fish Inspector and Capital heart\ home-cooking Charbonneau asst set props Pierre Plante ward. des.Paul AndreGuerin ward, mistress Mary Jane Magnussen) brings a cup of coffee to a though done quickly and with very Wallace make-up Marie Josee L.afontaine hair sweaty pedlar (Lubomir Mykytiuk) as he limited resources, have both won Gene Waiz • Andre Lafreniere asst hair Denis Muller stills fashions a horseshoe over a roaring awards (at the Seattle and Yorkton Film Alex Dukay. Altilla Dory unit man. Jacques Lefla- forge. Despite the heat, the long day, and Festivals) and have gained considerable guais asst ed. Chantal Bowen sd. ed. Autone Productions Inc superv. sd. ed. Richard Lighlstone the after-effects of a boozy farewell local favor THE PEDLAR d. Alan Kr„..k,.r p eiec. p. dialogue ed. Tony Reed. Patrick Dodd sd. efx. ed. party for Tom Peacock the night before, Although he has made a handful of Michael Scoll sc Kroeker based onstory'.APIaci- .Munika Dorfman Lighlslone assls. ed. Susan the cast and crew are in surprisingly well-crafted films, ThePedlaris Kroekei's of One's Own " by WD, Valgardson d.o.p. Andr«as Schneir, Ross Overbury i.p. Sophie Lorain, Gilbert good spirits. Its the kind of atmosphere first opportunity to be a full-fledged Poulsson ed. Lara Mazur p^ man. \onnie von Comlois, Alpha Boucher Francois Trottier, Robert Helmoll an d./a.cL Kim Johnston cam. op. Charlie Des Roches, Sylvie Boucher, Douglas "Coco' l.eopold, that is achieved only in a publicists flak- director With this film he has the budget Kunowal asst cam. op. Elise Swerhone. Charles Les Freres Brosses (Jean Pierre Alonzo and Robert happy imagination. and the time to rehearse and actually l.evak lalloo des. Alan Pakarnyk make-up Rita Morrisellel, Nanette Workman, Marcel Giguere. Jean What caused it ? It could be the dinner direct his actors, not just prompt and Steininan gaffer Frank Raven, Ken Rodeck. Mictiael Guy Moreau, Denis Larocque, Liliane C|une, J C that will soon be served at the Fisher position them. He also has a crew to Scott sd. rec Leon Johnson asst sd. rec Ed Robillard, Marie-Alyne Joyal. Jean Chevalier. Sonny Ackerman Lp. Doreen Brownslone Marilyn Mag­ Forbes. Gayle GarTrnkle, Celyne Verreaull, Les Branch Motel, the focal point of another direct Previously, he was both the di­ nussen. Lutiomir Mykyliuk. Tom Peacock p.c. The Soeurs Ciseaux. small, remote Interlake town where the rector and the crew National Film Board of Canada

Cinema Canada - Apnl 1982/47