C in E Mati • TRADE MEWS • Quebec 1500/0 Shelter Wide Open for Under 75 Min
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C IN E MAti • TRADE MEWS • Quebec 1500/0 shelter wide open for under 75 min. programs MONTREAL - In a major bid to in obtaining final agreement, persons who are not Quebec publication in the "Gazette won't have much impact for attract private investment for in a consultative process be residents, the full two points officielle du Quebec." '83, it should produce a definite French-language, made-in gun in August, was defining will be attributed if one of the While the adopted definition improvement in film produc Quebec films and television who can be considered a Que screenwriters is at the same is broader than the Institut's tion for '84. programs, the Quebec cabinet bec producer. time a Quebec resident, and definition of a Quebec film (for "The decree establishes a has approved the definition of The government, for instan the screenwriter of an original purposes of state aid to film complementary mechanism to eligibility for a 150% capital ce, wanted to limit the defini work, and the person who de production), IQC executive the Institut's own programs in cost allowance. tion of a Quebec producer to cides the script's final version, director Louise Ranger wel support of Quebecois films The ministerial decree, en someone who had resided in and the highest paid screen comed the decree. which give greater weight to titled "Concerning the recogni Quebec at least 200 days prior writer. "It can only help Quebec film cultural development. We tion of a Quebecois film," ap to the beginning of principal The decree establishes obli production," Ranger told Cine have to diversify available sour proved Dec. 6, follows recent photography, while industry gatory minima of 75% in total ma Canada. "In the past, franco ces of finanCing and, to the new federal regulations con associations, including the Ins fees to be paid for services ren phone films have not had much extent the decree does that, it cerning pre-sales which should titut quebecois du cinema, dered in Quebec iI ab, film edit private investment so every should be positive." make the Quebec tax shelter wanted the definition limited ing, sound editing and record body stands to benefit. This is According to cultural affairs additionally attractive. to someone who had payed ing, titling or music); a 75% an important incitement for Although no pI'e-sales had Quebec income tax in - the total in production salaries to private investors, and while it (cont. on page 31) been permitted previously, previous year. be spent in Quebec, exclusive when the federal government The decree offers three defi of the functions of producer, was promoting productions nitions of a Quebec producer: and those positions covered by through its 100% capital cost 1) either a physical person pos the point system, as well as Combines' deal 6 months old allowance, the department of sessing a Quebec birth certifi those positions related to the Finance recently accepted the cate; 2) a Canadian citizen who financing of the film. A film notion that an investor's money has resided in Quebec two under 75 minutes is nonethe blind bidding biggest problem is still" at risk" if pre-sales fall years prior to the beginning of less recognized as a Quebe within normal industry prac principal photography, or 3) a cois film, even if it does not MONTREAL - In the past few ments submitted to Hunter. It tices and are at arm's length. person who was visited ("se meet the above conditions, as months, Lawson Hunter has is now up to him to write the Quebec is banking that its new joumer") in Quebec for 200 days long as 75% of the film's produc spoken wi~h an almost endless report which will determine 150% capital cost allowance, in the year prior to the begin tion costs are paid to Que stream of distributors and whether the Majors have fallen and the liberal definition on a ningofprincipal photography. A bec residents. Official copro exhibitors has he prepares his short of their undertakings, in Quebecois film, will generate Quebec film must be produced ductions are recognized as first six-month report for the which case the hearing would sufficient interest to revive the by a Quebec producer. Quebec films if the Canadian Restrictive Trade Practices resume and witnesses called, moribund production industry Furthermore, the decree portion of the film is produced Commission (RTPC), due in or whether the system is opera here. established a system of ten by a Quebec producer and a early January. ting as it should. Cinema Cana One reason for the long delay points, of which eligible films minimum of75% of production Hunter, director of the Com da spoke to a wide range of must qualify for six. Only per costs of the Quebec portion bines Investigation Branch, exhibitors about the process of sons residing in Quebec are eli of the film is paid to Quebec responded to a complaint bidding in Canada. Discussions drag gible for the points which are residents. Documentaries are by the exhibitor Cineplex established as follows: di exempt from the point system's last March, which charged Rules unclear rector-2, screenwriter-2, high minimal requirement of six that the American major dis There is a general consensus for FIR Aand Orion est paid actor-I, second high points if the positions enu tributors in Canada were that the rules of bidding are still unclear. Says Frank Kettner OTT AW A - Orion Pictures Dis est paid actor-I, set designer-I, merated are filled by Quebec illegally withholding product director of photography-I, residents. from independent exhibitors, of Landmark Cinemas in Alber tribution Corp. of New York ta (70 screens), "There needs to seems to be in no hurry to sort composer-I and editor-I. In Requests for Quebec certifi and were in fact favoring the order to qualify, a film must get cation must be made through two big chains, Famous Players be some drastic changes made. out the legal situation with the Even when you bid strongly for Foreign Investment Review at least two of the four points the Institut quebecois du ci and Canadian-Odeon, with attributable to the director and nema within 60 days of the their first-run films. By early a film, the distributor can find Agency (FIRA) which, on Sept. excuses not to give it to you. 30, denied its application to do screenwriter, and at least one completion of production and, summer, Hunter asked for a from the actors' categories. for films completed in 1983, postponement of the scheduled Perhaps you haven't paid your business in Canada. bills within 30 days, or another In the case of screenwriters, within 90 days of the decree's RTPC hearing, noting that the According to legal counsel theatre has a few more seats, if the position is filled by several going into effect Dec. 16 with respondents (the Majors) had Barry Burton, who works in Los or its house expenses are dif Angeles and is not involved in agreed to certain undertakings which were acceptable to Cine ferent... there's always an out. the proceedings, but who is the And then, if they don't like a only spokesman for the com Law's enactement for next year plex. These undertakings, which amounted to the intro bid, they can always go to pany, discussions have taken negotiation, so it's not really a cinema law. The nomination duction of the bidding system place with FIRA and further QUEBEC CITY - It will be at bidding situation at all." process, upon the minister's in Canada, came into effect on discussions are scheduled with least one year before Quebec's Echoes Norman Stern from recommendation, Steenhaut July 1. The commission agreed the agency to find out what controversial cinema law 109, the Ontario Theatre Group (22 told Cinema Canada, should to postpone the hearing, pro changes might be required for adopted late in June '83, comes screens), "It's a system for the begin "soon" "We have to viding that Hunter monitor Orion to get the green light. into application. big boys. There are so many appoint 'the bosses', first, the the situation and report back in Meanwhile, the company, At the time of the law's adop 100Jrholes and ways of locking application of the articles of January. which has been in operation tion, Quebec cultural affairs you out that favoritism still the law itself will follow from Although the director's for a year, is continuing to dis minister Clement Richard had holds." Yet, comments Stern, that." report is not expected to be tribute films from its Toronto vowed to make swift applica his company has proved it can So the law's more controver made public, its tenor will offices. tion ofthe law a top priority for perform: The Crest Cinema, sial articles - such as French determine whether or not the Orion does plan to resubmit the next parliamentary session, rented by David Cronen berg to versioning, the billeterie, the situation should be aired in a its application, and FIRA staff which began in August, but four-wall Dead Zone, played production fund - "the French public commission hearing, or has told Cinema Canada that, according to cultural affairs the film for eight weeks with aspects," according to Steen whether such a hearing will in principle, reapplication si policy advisor Andre Steen good returns. "We could have haut, "will be difficult to apply again be postponed. The ori tuations are dealt with quickly, haut "it will take a good while, never got that film through the ginal accomodations made by so not as to permit a disallowed at least a year, before the law before the people who will bidding system.