• I, N E M A G • Shortly after receiving the nomination, Rhombus was in­ formed of a Washington, D,C Orchestra and Snit nominated for Oscar top prizes entrepreneur's decision to run Making Overtures as a com­ TORONTO - Two Canadian they like it down there," he nation. As Canadians with the time on its creative concepts panion piece to Amadeus dur­ productions have been nomi­ says simply). Having seen the more immediate aspirations of than promoting itself ing an Oscar night in March, nated for the US:s 58th annual other two animated short film a Genie Award nomination, on March 24 entries (Anna and Bella and Weinstein says Rhombus in Los Angeles, Capturing one Second Class Mail) and con­ Media's Making Overtures is of three nominations in the sidered them "really good," he "definitely a part of our Cana­ animated short film category is even charitably wouldn't mind dian experience - we don't try producer/director if either of them won, to hide its Canadian-ness," Richard Condie's acclaimed Currently at work on a pro­ The $60,000 film, a co-pro­ The Big Snit, while Toronto's ject with the NFB and another duction with TVOntario Rhombus Media Inc, received "tiny work" with IMAX, Condie (which put up half the fmanc­ one of five nominations in the says The Big Snit would never ing, other contributions com­ documentary short subject have been realized without ing from the Saidye-Bronfman category for its 28-minute film Scott's faith in both the film Foundation and the Woodlawn Making Overtures - The and Condie himself, Still, Con­ Arts Foundation of Toronto), Story of a Community Or­ die, despite his self-effacing re­ also says something in favour chestra. ticence, and Scott plan to at­ of making of documentaries in For both, the nominations tend the Academy Award cere­ , "It proves we can are the latest in a series of ac­ monies with their wives, Asked make a documentary and in­ colades, The 10-minute-Iong what would happen if The Big spire people and deserve to be The Big Snit, produced by Snit won, Condie, not surpris­ supported a lot more," says Ginette D'Amico Condie and Michael Scott at ingly, remarks "It would come Weinstein, CASTING DIRECTOR the NFB's Prairie Region office and go; a bit of excitement, and Producer Barbara Sweete, in Winnipeg, has five recent that would be it," pointing out that Rhombus has Make a Success Out of Your Next Production awards to its credit: Best Short Conversely, the nomination several projects in the works Get the Right Cast Film at the Montreal World was at once "shocking and with a culture/arts orientation Film Festival; an International wonderful" at Rhombus, says (Sweete, Weinstein, and part­ PARTIAL CREDITS INCLUDE: Critics Award last year at An­ Making Overtures director ner Niv Fichman produced Joshua Then & Now - Alan Arkin, James Woods, necy, France; a Hiroshima Larry W einstein, Weinstein, two one-hour specials with the Gabrielle Lazure. Meatballs III - Loretta Swit. Award at the Hiroshima, Japan, describing the flim as "basi­ CBC and Telefilm last year on Fun Park - Carl Marotte, Carolyn Dunn. Festival; a silver Prize at last cally a love letter to a commu­ the music of Johann Sebastian Paroles et Musiques - Catherine Deneuve, Christophe Lcnnbert, Of Unknown Origin - Peter fall's Chicago Film Festival; and nity orchestra" (specifically Bach, and one current under­ Weller, Shannon Tweed. Au Nom de Tous Les Miens Cobourg, Ontario'S Northum­ taking is a lO-part series with the International Critics Award _ Michael York, Brigitte Fossey, Jacques Penot. berland Symphony Orchestra the NFB on contemporary at Zagreb, Yugoslavia, Cover Girl - Jeff Conaway, Irena Ferris. Gas - Making Overtures, for its and Choir), says that despite composers in Canada), hopes Donald Sutherland, Helen Shaver. Scanners­ patt, won Best Production and home-grown cynicism toward the Oscar nomination will Jennifer O'N eill. Patrick McGoohan. Visiting Hour - Best Documentary Production the Oscars, "We're going to further Rhombus' orientation. William Shatner, Lee Grant, Michael Ironside. under 30 minutes at last fall's have fun with it." In particular, Rhombus is 21st Yorkton Short Film and Weinstein, commenting that working towards a variety Plus many documentaries and commercials, Video Festival, as well as cap­ Rhombus is something of a special on composer Maurice turing Best Performing Arts low-profile company with an Ravel, one of the trio's favour­ GINETTE D'AMICO Film at the American Film Fes­ empathy for their subject in ites, Aiming to enjoy the rec­ 970 av, de l'Hotel de Ville tival in Athens, Ohio, Making Overtures, reported ognition stemming from the Montreal, Quebec HZX 3A5 Taking three years to pro­ that orchestra conductor nomination, Sweete hopes the Tel. : 514-876-1370 duce, The Big Snit is also not­ Philip Schaus was "very blase fallout would be one of allow­ able for being the NFB's 51st at first" when told of the nomi- ing Rhombus to spend more nomination. Previous Oscar winners for the NFB have been eight short action, documen­ T. - t E F P "A renowned world-class approach to tary, or animated films: Stuart lorono - on-location video/ ' " , Legg's Churchill's Island in 1941; Norman McLaren's • 'Equipment Rentals • Production' Crews Neighbours in 1953; Co ;~ a -t«xn~ ~ItCMneni Hoedeman's The Sand Castle To~ontO If?' is Canada's best equipped field .' " Toromo 's correct post production add ress " and Beverley Schaffer's I'll pro-duction. facllit)', We ' v~ custom designed ':: . , ' Find a Way, both from 1978; 9ur Video packages to Yield maximum flexa,blilty and cOflSisrant optimum, performance, . Introducing a new approach to Betacam interfo[rnar John Weldon and Eunice editing in the heart of To ronto. Macauley's Special Delivery Et.JG/EFP caJ)1era systems include: c>~, ': ,," -:, c in 1979; Eugene Fedorenko's _ Plumbicon & Saticon Betacarns wit!) 'matte One-twenty Parliame nt is a luXurio us post-production concept that encourages " conversatio nal editing" Every Child in 1980; Terri boxes, wide angle lenses, ah9 '(CU's, .:' _ BVW-20 and BVW-25 Betacam V,TR's.-;" Walsh and Edward De Lorrain's _ Hitachi Computacams on I " , 3/4 ' \& -~ , D'eSigned by editors who know what clients e xpecr, HYou Love This Planet in Betacam formats ;;'''0 One-twenty Parliament features: - Sony BVW- I 0, -'\ 5 & 40 series Betacam, 1983; and Cynthia Scott and Multi-camera Prodljction: , BVU-82,G 314"' and BVH-2000 I" VTR 's Adam Symansky's Flamenco _ "PROMO"', Toronto EFP's unique land based 23 - NtC System 10 DVE at 5:15 in 1984, mobile vehicle that's' completely air-shippable - Conve rgence 205 edi t contro l - Grass Valle y mo del 100 switcher The announcement of the _ Total global.access with pre-wired flight case componencs - Chyro n graphiCS two nominations, meanwhile, _ Full prodUction control of up to 8 cameras - Sio-motion & 'freeze (rame directly from all tape is itself notable for the differing formats ' , - Nagra T interlo cking ATR '& digital audio reactions to the news, Condie, " \~h~her its equipment J,entals or full productio n Wit" frews. trust T oronfo 'EFP to deliver .video excellence' admitting to being both cam­ All this tec.hno1ogy is complim ented by award wi nni ng ::(1 "'" ,: era-and print-shy, feels «over­ \,dirors wt,o always capture the program concept and let I creativ ity thrive exposed" by the response being accorded The Big Snit. One-twenty Parli ament re fl ects Toronto EFP 's The result is that the modest, commlttment to offe r a premium (~cl l ity pri ced so you ";"~,, are not faced With the task of creative budgeting, tongue-tied Condie "just wants Toronco ,'F:P, """~'E to run away," 36 Lisburn Cr ", Editing as It should be Aware that the Academy was Toronco, Ontario, Canada considering his film, Condie is M2J 2ZS content with the regard shown 120 Parliament. TQ r.? nro, Ontario, Canada, MSA lY8 (416) 863-1322 by the nomination ("I'm glad (416) 494-1695

March 1986 - Cinema Canada/51