Ferment at the National Film Board

Ferment at the National Film Board by Groulx is that "it is necessary to The NFB boss thinks that the overthrow capitalism and establish the French-section of the Film Board hasn't "While I understood the integrity of new society." The film shows scenes of made enough of an attempt to make the film-maker, I felt that the film, in violent demonstrations during the strike films that communicate effectively with the rather extreme direness and pes at the Montreal newspaper La Presse, people in Enghsh-Canada. One of his simism with which it viewed our soci and the huge labour rally at the basic tenets is that the entire film board ety, concluded that the only way this Montreal Forum, where Louis Laberge, is guilty of neglecting to make films society could be fixed up would be by president of the Quebec Federation of that speak "to the ordinary men, who its complete destruction." Labor, urged Quebec workers to break have no particular axe to grind." In the Thus spoke Sydney Newman, Cana the system. interests of better communications be dian Government Film Commissioner A woman whose husband is accused tween people on that level, Sydney and Chairman of the National Film of killing three supervisors at the Newman proposed a major program of Board, to a Montreal Star reporter in Dupont Chemical Company plant in 60 films, half to help people speak the wake of his controversial decision to Montreal is interviewed at length. French, the other half to help people halt work on Gilles Groulx' latest film Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa is speak Enghsh. The NFB's bilinguahsm for the NEB, Vingt-Quatre Heures ou shown in his swimming pool and after series will be ready for adult education Plus (Twenty-Four Hours or More). wards talking about how he makes classes throughout the country in 1974. The Quebec press was quick to react decisions while in the water. Groulx' "Second," explains Newman, "1 with all Its fury, and the Montreal film position is that "to condemn capitalism wanted to bring English Canada up to community held a protest meeting is not to condemn democracy. In fact, it date with the cultural and social changes shortly before Christmas. Some of those is a defence of democracy to show that in Quebec. All that Canadians generally in attendance were Michel Brault, capitalism has become so greedy and know about Quebec is that the Quebec Arthur Lamothe, Jean-Claude rapacious that it is no longer accept Premier is asking for more money and Labrecque, Jacques Leduc, Louis able." the French-Canadians are being difficult Portugais, Mireille Dansereau, Gilles again. There is no reason for an Groulx and Roger Frappier. Albertan to identify with a Quebecker Frappier, a socially committed 27- because he has never been given the year-old free-lance filmmaker (Un touchstones of communication. With Grand Film Ordinaire, Alio Tout this in mind we approached the CBC L'Monde) and one of the organizers of with the Adieu Alouette idea and said: the meeting, said that the Groulx affair 'How would you like 13 half-hours on was just the tip of the iceberg, and that Quebec?' The rest is history." aU Quebec filmmakers, whether working So is the Gilles Groulx affair. And free-lance, for the NEB, or for private the events his film chronicled. And so industry, are trapped in a system which •are reports that things aren't as smooth forces them to obey the canons of behind closed doors at the NFB as federal and capitalist orthodoxy. Sydney Newman would have us believe. Gilles Groulx' most recent film (of The National Film Board is being decen his earlier works, Le Chat Dans Le Sac is tralized under a new regionalization best known) was shot in 1971, and program, reportedly opposed by chronicles events in Quebec during the Newman. New NFB production quarters months of November and December. will be established in Vancouver, But those were especially explosive Halifax and Winnipeg, stripping the months, and obviously Vingt-Quatre Montreal headquarters of some of its Heures ou Plus reflects this. glory ^nd power. There is talk of broad Sydney Newman bowed to the pres ening the Film Commissioner post now sure somewhat and has allowed comple held by the NFB chief. Distributing tion of the film since then, but he also some of that power among the ten stated publicly that in order to get member committee appointed by the distribution, the film's sombre tone and Secretary of State, composed of five political stance will have to be modified. Newman still claims that he is acting government chiefs and five industry Otherwise, it will join Denys Arcand's in the best interest of the majority of representatives. On Est Au Coton and Jacques Leduc's Canadians in keeping them from seeing "The new pohcy, in general, is a very Cap d'Espoir, as yet another NEB film, this film. "I simply have to contain the long way from being implemented," finished and officially forgotten. more exuberant notions about social explains Newman, "because it involves "Of course I regret the loss of the organization. I want to rock the legislation and these things are not done money that it cost," explained boat . but I've got to watch that we overnight. At the moment there is an Newman. "I can only say that if each don't capsize in the process. One of the advisory committee . and we are year we make about 140 films , , . I problems here is trying to defend the meeting and discussing broad Canadian doubt if it represents more than one or Film Board from extreme public cen policy, but what will happen as a result two per cent of our total production sure which might force politicians to of these deliberations, I cannot pre nioney. So it's not a significant say, 'Well, who needs this place; sure it's dict." amount. ..." a beautiful place, it makes lovely films, Things are in ferment at the Nation but if they rock the boat too bloody On official orders, even the press al Film Board and Gilles Groulx' cries of much, let's get rid of it.' If 15 per cent hasn't been allowed to see the film, and "political censorship" are only a bit of my staff are well politicized, creative that's a bit too much, considering the more yeast. Adieu Alouette is being fact that it was made on public money. people, 1 have to remember the other 85 shown weekly on the CBC to unani Gerald Godin, the editor of Quebec per cent in whose work there's no overt mous critical acclaim. But one pro Presse, snuck into an NFB projection political view. And 1 don't want to gramme managed to deal with the huge booth, and managed to see most of it. jeopardize them. It's a question of question of the Church in Quebec in He reported that one of the points made trying to strike a balance." half-an-hour, while most controversial Cinema C.in.ida I U Quebecois films are usually two, three rural Quebec life was directed by Film Board production facihty being set hours long. Self-analysis is a long, and Cynthia Scott. up in Vancouver. Even Sydney Newman painful process, but even some Quebe The Catholic Province: takes a look was exuberant about it on a recent trip cois think that those films are awfully at the intluence the Church had on there. boring. Quebec in the past, and how it's losing "The present government has opened Michel Brault, on the other hand, its hold on the people today - directed its purse to us." he is quoted as saying, doesn't think it's too much to expect an by Bill Weintraub. "which has enabled expansion of the English-Canadian to look at the original The Revolutionaries: portrays the Vancouver production office from one French-version of L'Acadie, L'Acadie changes in attitudes among the revolu man and a secretary to 17 people, with for two hours (with subtitles), instead tionaries of Quebec - directed by Pierre eight films already made here in the past of the English-version, which Sydney Lasry. year and eight more to be made this Newman decided to 'improve' by chop Quebec Theatre: a film on Michel year." ping forty-five minutes out of it. Tremblay and Andre Brassard and their "And they're not being made by And although the National Film theatrical universe - directed by Jean- people from Montreal parachuted into Board of Canada is in the middle of Pierre Lefebvre. Vancouver, but by local blokes." said producing several series of films to help Quebec Youth Involved in Social Newman. the two sides of this bilingual country Action: describes the participation of One of the 60 NFB language-films, understand each other better, the head young quebecois in different projects of called The Egg Story, was scheduled to of the NFB, Sydney Newman, doesn't social action - directed by Jack Zolov. start shooting late January, with Eugene speak French, and has given up trying to La Gastronomic Quebecoise: shows Boyko as executive producer. He re learn. When asked by Les Wedman, film why Quebec is known for the best turned to Vancouver from Montreal to columnist for the Vancouver Sun. what restaurants in North America - directed supervise production there. The films he would do were the government to by Doug Jackson. will be shown in schools, universities, insist on bilingualism for civil servants, The French-Canadian Woman: a con and on television to teach Canada's two the Canadian Film Commissioner temporary picture of the importance of official languages.

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