CINEMA CAN A D A •

Which way to the future? BY BOB VERRALL

In December, Cinema Canada asked Bob now co ntracted out to freelancers. Six of 29 Verrall to report on the NFB as it begall the distribution offices have been closed to date and, post-Macerola era (Film Commissioner although 16mm libraries have been maintained, the videocassette is on its way to being the Frall90is Macerola left the board 011 Dec. 1) alld entered its 50th year. principal component of the library sys tem . Origil1ally hired by Normall McLaren , Mr. In return fo r this reduction in infrastructure the D. O. C. had promised that the money freed Verrallwa s an employee of the board for 40 up, estimated at SID million per yea r, would be years durillg which time his positiolls illcluded kept by the NFB and reallocated to new Head of the Allimatioll Departmmt, Director programmes. And, although the Board would of Ellglish Production alld Head of Studio B. receive no increases, the budget wou ld be Healso served for atime as president of the protected from cuts at constant '84 dollars. S. C. C. T. -NFB, (Unioll of Filmmakers and This promise has not been kept. Not only ha ve Techn icia I1s). th ere been cuts to the annual appropriation but supplementary funding expected to cover expensive initiatives of the Commissioner's t the time I left the NFB, in the winter office - ego the cost for an application to licence of '86: I was hopeful about the future: ~ / a specialty youth chan nel - TV Canada ; Drama the Board's recent performance had I j lab; Saskatchewan Film Development; - has not given the lie to the Applebaum-Hebert ,--' , bee n forthcoming. And inflation has been Report, which had deemed the NFB allowed to reduce what was left of any savings to A"irrelevant ", by producing some of its best and zero. most innova tive films, - Filial Offer; Canada's The Board now find s itseU much smaller and Sweetheart ; 90 Days; The Big Snit; Feeling Yes, poorer in the bargain : programmes are on hold Feeling No; Incident at Restigollche ; DenlOcracy 011 if not cancelled in every production centre across Trial : The Morgen taler Affair; If YOII Love This the country and freelancers, who had expected Planet ;the War series; tonamea few . The Board contracts, are cooling their heels or giving up on was being acclaimed in the press and celebrated the Board . The Lab, still the best in the country, at festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Cannes and soldiers on trying to cope with the demands of Hollywood as the place where some of the most the PAFPS programme (professional assistance gifted Canadian filmmakers were working. to filmmakers in the private sector - see" Getting There was also, at th at time, a dark side: The aired : the 'right' spin " Cinema Cal/ada , Dec. '88), Film &Video Policy introduced by Francis Foxin Bob Verrall the heavy demands of feature co-productions, the spring of '84, while apparently refuting the The rhetoric of reaffirmation in the Policy was By the winter of '86 the Five Year Operational and what remains of the Board's own recommendations of Applebaum-Hebert by not able to disguise an inherent contradiction : if Plan was into its second year with its defenders programme, with virtually a skeleton staff. Next reaffirming the Board's role as public producer the objective ofthe Policy and the Five Yea r Plan insisting that the Policy would ha ve been worse year more of the same is expected if not worse and distributor of film and video, nevertheless was to ensure that the Board would continue as but fo r the Commissioner's vigorous in terven­ wi th rumours of further budget cuts. called for a diminution of this role and a radical a "world centre of excellence ", how would this tions at D. O. C. There were elements of the In the midst of this turmoil the Film overhaul of its operation. be possible if the policy proposals were carried plan which made sense, fo r exa mple, Commissioner has said goodbye, leaving last The Board was instructed to prepare a Five out in full? recognition of the growing importance of video December to work for Prodevio Lavalin Inc. as Year Operational Plan which would, among "In the interests of channelling more public delivery systems. And, of course, noone argued Executive Director of operations of a film and other things, transfer control, production and resources into private production, the Policy against reasonable reduction in the cost of television production centre in downtown revenue of government-sponsored films to the proposed to dismantle the infrastructure­ administration : the NFB would be leaner and Montreal. private sector; increase the use of freelancers physical and intellectual- which has permitted healthier, with more money freed up for In a final statement made at the time of his through a major reduction of staff; streamline the NFB its stature. Both the collaborative production. leaving, Franr;ois Macerola said concerning his the distribution network by closing a number of creative production teams, and the fully Briefl ys tated tha t, as I recall, was the situation legacy, "\ don't want to do a postmortem, \ film libraries ; favour electronic packaging over integrated facility within which they have back then . would rather imagine something new than 16mm distribution; contract out technical worked, would disappear as the volume of What abou t now? remember my time at the NFB . " services and sell technical facilities not needed in-house production shrunk forCing yet more Clearly the NFBh as tried to make the best of People at the Boa rd are not surprised that he for training and research ; and channel more reductions in the NFB's creative personnel, things and keep its end of the bargain: staff has would choose to forget what theyse e as a time of resources into R&D for the benefit of the technicians and services. " (Setting the Record been reduced from LOOO to 700, or approxi­ further disintegration of an organization that industry. Straight August, 1985). mately 30 %. Roughly 70 %of the program is lVas supposed to be renewed .

CINEMA CANADA PAGE 9 CINEMA CAN A D A •

It is believed that his regime encouraged a governed by imperatives of the marketplace­ drama s. Begun as training for producers, telecasts. The provincial educational channels larger involvement in co-production with the pressures which will distort, if not corrupt, its directors, writers and crew, working with and new independent stations, which together private sector of expensive feature films than is central purpose of public service. actors, two series ha ve been completed so far, comprise an ad hoc network, have become an healthy, given that the Board's role in this is What, then, is at stake? Consider some of the first dealing with BiD Ethics (in demand important window for NFB films. The Reckonillg mainly that of dispensor of funds and puveyor of what the Board has produced these past few worldwide by medical schools) and Wednesday's series, refused by the (BC because it did not goods and services, with the little or no creative years: Beverly Shaffer's To ASafer Place ; the Oi/dren - ca uses of teenage crime. In the conform to the corporation's notion of balance input or control. Oscar-nominated George and Rosemary; Gil Multi-Media studio, Julie Stanfel has launched and fairness - read blandness - was shown There are few or no complaints about support Cardinal's Foster Child; Alanis Obomsawin's Perspectives in Science, a pilot series of" interac­ across Canada via this network and carried as for films like Unfinished Bllsiness ; Anile Trister, Le POllndmaker's Lodge, AHealing Place, and No tive" videos which tackle moral issues in well on P. B. S. border stations. So the TV Dec/in de I'Empire AmeriCllin ; Un Zoo la Nil it. And Address; Jacques Godbout's Will/ames; Michel science, technology and the environment. audience is numbered in the millions and it has been gratifying to see the Board thanked Regnier's Silcre Nair; Patricia Watson's The judging from the above, the idealism which growing. for helping such films as My American COllsin; I Legacy Of Mary McKewan; Bonnie Klein's Mile infected the NFB during the days of Grierson Numerous polls, including a most recent Hear The Mermaids Singillg; Life Classes; and Zero; Dorothy Henault's Flrewords; Les Drew's remains intact. Consider the subject matter of survey commissioned by the NFB, confirm that Fallstlls Bidgood; help that ranged from the Every Dog's Gil ide To Home Safety. And some this partial list : incest, aging, Metis women; audiences want more thoughtful and provoca­ modest - an office, phone and photocopier - to major series : Norma Bailey's four-part Dallghters foster care; alchohol & drug abuse; the homeless; tive documentaries on their TV screens in some post-production. Of The COllntry; Defence Of Canada, sequel to the disarmament; North-South dialogue; poets and addition to News and 'The Journal'. The Task But the extent of the present and projected acclaimed War series featuring Gwyn Dyer; At authors; road safety; safety in the home ; social Force on Broadcasting Policy, 1986, stated: "We claim of the co-production of features on the The IA'heel, judged the best yet on driver safety; history; political history; economics; racism; are persuaded that the Board has a significant diminished resources of the place, at a time Don Brittain's King Chronicles; Don Winkler's medical ethics ; teenage crime; the environment. contribution to make to Canadian television ... when Telefilm's budget has increased and the and Alan Handel's additions to the Canadian The Board's bashers, mainly people obsessed in its proven fields of excellent social issue Board's has been cut, makes no sense. Allthors Series (Irving Layton, Mordecai Richler, with expanding Hollywood North, and claiming documentaries and educational films. In other words, the NFB has lost a large Brian Moore); Reckon ing - The Political Economy every available tax dollar to do it, habitually "We would be disappointed if its participation measure of the independence it once enjoyed. Of Canada featuring James Laxer. And some complain that no one sees NFB films. The truth in the broadcasting system proved to be at the Based on an integrated system, publicly features - john Smith's Sitting III Limbo and the is otherwise. price of watering down its advocacy role. " financed, it was accountable only to Parliament superb Train of Dreams, both made with low Although NFB films are not as regular a part of But the largest and most valued audience for and the people of Canada for its performance. budgets the NFB could afford. And there is WoU the CBC schedule as they deserve to be, manyof Board films is to be found in the schools of the Increasingly, it is influenced by initiatives Koenig's progamme of shorts - 15 minute- the series mentioned have had national nation - all levels - and with those groups

NFB celebrates golden 50th in style

MONTREAL - An honorary Oscar for the Sauve will be the honorary chairperson of the acquired for the coming season The New North an environmental symposium in Ottawa National Film Board (NFB) of Canada at the 61st celebrations. with Farley Mowat, an NFB co-production with comprised of several dozen high school annual Academy Awards is just asing le voice in She also announced that the Canadian Post Noralpha Productions. TVOntario has already students. a international chorus of praise for the NFB on its Office will issue a commemorative stamp in devoted its entire jan. 14 four-hour program 50th anniversary in 1989. September. It was also learned that the Sntllrday Night at the Movies. Documentary salute The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and operation headquarters of the NFB in Montreal The NFB presence on French-language Salute to the Documental)', a celebration of the Sciences will present an Oscar to the NFB in will be named after the late Norman McLaren. television will include programming on documentary film by the NFB in cooperation recognition of artistic, creative and technological In a vote of confidence for the NFB and its Radio-Quebec, Radio-Canada, TVOntario, with other partners in the film industry, will excellence over the past 50 years. future, Pennefather said the anniversary will Radio-Canada Atlantique. have a three part format : the international Five ma jor NFB retrospectives have already allow Canadians to become more familiar with Symposium in Montreal (June 18 to 23), the been planned outside of Canada. Le Centre the NFB. She said it is gratifying that the NFB is New films International Documentary Film Week in culturel canadien de Paris will present a so widely recognized abroad. The NFB has also announced a number of 50th Montreal (starting June 16) and the National two-week retrospective beginning April 1 at ''It is an honor that in this country we have an special anniversary films. These include Dimension - a Canadian tour (summer/fall 1989 Cinema I'Entrepot. institution called a public producer to create a L'm1lliversnire, a French computer animation and winter 1990). In Los Angeles, the American Film Institute dialogue between Canadians and, at the same short for lmax ; Cherchez la femme, a one-hour film will pay homage with six two-hour lectures, time, expand the frontiers of the art of film ... by Anne-Claire Poirier focussing on NFB films April 14 to 27, presented by filmmakers on "we are open to change and to new ideas, reflecting the image of women ; The Creati/le coproductions and partnerships all in keeping For Fifty Years various topics related to the NFB. Process, a film on the works of Norman McLaren. Sharing Our Vision The Museum of Modern Art will present five with our public mandate," she said. Amajor highlight of the year will be the 21-hour programs, May 4 to 8, highlighting a premiere (June 28) of Qin Shillllallg, The First Depuis cinquante ans Television programming Du cinema diiferent decade of filmmaking. Emperor, a $7 million Canada/China Imax a notre image The Swedish Film Institute and the British The golden anniversary of the NFB will be production at the opening of the Museum of Film Institute are planning events. celebrated by various means throughout the Civilization in Ottawa. International film festivals that ha ve already - year in Canada. But most Canadians will organized a tribute include Berlin, Melbourne, participate in the celebration via television Open house Chicago and Nyon. where the NFB will ha ve a high profile. During April and May,the NFB headquarters in UNIATEC The CBC has pledged substantial air time Montreal and its regional offices across Canada For the first time since its inception in 1957, Launching which began jan. 26 with the first film in the will open their doors to the general public. UNIATEC' 5 (International Union of Technical At the recent launching of anniversary series called NFB Thursday Night MOl'ic. Studio 0, the women's filmmaking studio, will Cinematograph Associations) international celebrations Acting Government Film Vision TV began a weekly series of NFB films also be honored on its 15th anniversary. An congress will be held on the North American Commissioner jan Pennefather announced that in january. First Choice has reserved a slot each introduction of a new program created by the continent and hosted by the National Film Board Her Excellency the Right Honorable jeanne month throughout the year and the CTV has NFB to promote the studyof science will feature of Canada in Montreal from Oct 14 to 18.

CINEMA CANADA PAGE 10 FEBRUARY • MARCH 19.9 CINEMA CAN A D A • 17TH UNIATEC CONGRESS MONTREAL 89 MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES RERESENTED CALL FOR PAPERS

Theme:

concerned about the urgent issues of the day . worked. It was the lifetime co mmitment of the The 1990's - The Challenge 01 Change This has been the important and underceleb­ likes of Tom Daly, Norman Mc Laren and at rated constituency served by the Board since the Jacques Bobet which pro\~ded the stability, International Civil Aviation Organization daysofthe itinerant projectionist and the church continuity and magnetism that wou ld attract Assembly Hall basement - union hall circuit established during over the years brilliant teams of both staff and Montreal, Quebec, Canada the war. freelancer, and put Canadian documentary and October 14-18, 1989 Although the 160101 library system has been ani mation on the map . Plan now to submit an original paper. This congress will identify key reduced, it has not been shut down. There are But Tom Daly, Norman McLaren and Jacques technology trends and applications for the 1990's. Subjects include: still people ready to come to a church or school Bobet are no longer there: and many of those auditorium to see a film. (The house was packed they recruited, and trained, have left or are .. Large format Cinema: The optimum experience at Concordia University la st month to see Bonnie about to. • Three-D Cinema: Without screen or glasses? Klein's Mile Zero. ) Those who would save the Board know it is • Cinema Sound - Advancing the creative and But the videocassette is becoming the urgent that th e best talents in the country be Breaking the Sound Barrier: technological art preferred instrument for classroom use: it is recruited and given the time to prove their wo rth • Improved Presentation Steady, bright, sharp and cheap and easy to use. The NFB is establishing and commitment for the long haul into the next Quality: durable collections of videocassettes in public libraries in decade. • High Quality Video Home every province, creating a phenomenal increase "In 1939, the NFB was set up as a public Theater in access for teachers, group teachers and information producer. During the 1940s, it • Creative Opportunities from individuals alike. School boards, with tight became a producer of propaganda film s as part Technology Changes budgets, are more able to extend their own of the Allied war effort. During the 1950s, the • Computers in All Aspects - Creating images and sound libraries. The home VCR market is growing as NFB focussed on documenting the physical and of Film, Video and Sound - Speeding up manipulation Production: - Reducing human interface people discover that for the price of a VHS or social reality of the country. By the 1960s, the - Skill training Beta cassette they can own the work of Norman Board expanded into French production and • Production tools of McLaren, Don Brittain, Claude jutra, Beverly developed Challenge for Change/Societe the 1990's Shaffer or whomever, from a growing catalogue. Nouvelle as the Bi and Bi Commission and the • Increasing Access to Inexpensive subtitling and So all of this - good product and growing Just Society dominated the political agenda. the Film Experience: dubbing techniques; self-pow­ audiences - is now at risk for lack of money: the During the 1970s, Regional Production Centres ered projectors ; video vending place is being starved. As money runs out, and the women's Studio 0 were established as machines; database systems; programmes are delayed or cancelled. The feminism and regionalization were in videotext at home. freelance component which was supposed to be ascendency. In the next decade Canada's • New Packaging and Uses Digitization; data compression; part and parcel of a revigorated NFB can't be psychic sovereignty will take on increased for Film: compact discs; high speed transfer; interactive video in recruited in force. Competition for a piece of a significance as the possibility of economic training and commerce. sma ll ~r and smaller pie between regional centres sovereignty declines. " (Setting The Record • Motion Picture Handling Transports, quality assurance ; and h,eadquarterscalls into question the Board's Straight) Efficiency: simulation of tasks. ability to sustain the existing structure and is The Board during its 50th yea r deserves • Trends, Tools and Special effects, backgrounds ; forcing a narrower focus on an organization something better than an occasion to celebrate Techniques to Generate, colored and modified images which has thrived on pluralism. an illustrious past. This unique organization, Animate and Create: and sound. Initiatives which should be taken to laun ch headquartered in Montreal, wit h six regional • Duplicating and Archiving Life expectancy and suitability of new films or follow up on the progress of older centres of production across the country, Imaging Media: technologies; physical storage ones can't happen because there is simply not producing in two official languages, maintaining conditions interchangeability; the money to hire the hands to cover the phones, a distribution nehvork linked to every formats. conduct the workshops, put out the publicity or neighbourhood in the land, reaching audiences • Health and Safety: Improving the quality of work life around the world through offices, embassies in motion picture and television carry out the myriad tasks necessary to exploit in industries. an orderly way the potential of the distribution and consulates abroad - all this for $3 a year or system. thereabouts from each of us - is a resource that Official languages of the Congress are : English, French, German and But most disturbing is the lack of new blood: surely the government will agree deserves to be Russian . Please send a double-spaced 250-500 word summary by The creative core is not being renewed. The renewed and strengthened . April 16, 1989, to: youngest members of staff, hired in the '70s, are The Prime Minister will be makin g, in the next Ed H_ Zwaneveld past 40 1 months, many appointments to high office. Two Program Chairman The debate over permanent staff versus of those appointments will be persons who will UNIATEC-MONTREAL 89 freelance is as old as the institution. The original take charge of programmes essential to the National Film Board of Canada team hired by Grierson didn't know whether it "psychic sovereign ty" of the country - a P_O_ Box 6100, Station A Telephone: (514) 283-9143 would be fo r a month or a lifetime and weren't President for the CBC and a Government Film Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 3H5 Fax : (514) 496-1895 encouraged to even think about it. They were Commissioner. Notification of Acceptan,ce, together with an author's kit. will be sent by May 3, 1989, and expected to get on with the job at hand. For The Film Board deserves someone who will camera-ready manuscripts must be received by July 31 , 1989. some, it wou ld become a lifetime task ; for others love the place, who will understand its strengths it would be an interval- preparation for and see its great potential, who will beli eve in somewhere else. the continuing importance of its original mission Grierson was enamoured of the idea of the to "interpret Canada to Canadians and to other artist as civil servant, with a commitment to all nations," to 'imaginate' the country (create it in the duties to the public implied by the term. He the imagination of its people) and bring it alive n~f"'~ also understood the need for the restless talents to itself as a distinct entity within North who would come and go. It would be a America. " SUBSCRIBE TODAY balancing act, then, between the "lifers " and the And the government must provide this new (Use enclosed post card to order) transients. For the most part the balance has Commissioner with the financial means to do it. .

CINEMA CANADA FEBRUARY· MARCH 1989 PAGE 11 A survey of Canadian feminist video art - will be on view in the Video Gallery from 14 February to 21 May 1989

The National Gallery of Canada presents The Video and Film by Artist Series An ongoing program of screenings, installations, lectures and special events in the media arts. The series combines one-artist. group and sur­ vey shows with talks by visiting artists, curators and critics.

Elizabeth Vander Zaag Still from video, I Hot Chicks on TV, 1986 National Gallery Musee des beaux-arts of Canada du Canada Canada

BC FILM IS NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS from British Columb ia resident filmmakers . The winner(s) will receive: • An Honorarium • Winn ing fi lms will be blown up to 35 mm • Multiple pri nts wi ll be packaged with fe ature fi lms for Province-wide exhibition

Deadline: April 15th , 1989 Competition

For more information and applica tion forms contact Christine Moffat at:

Suite 1200- 11 85 West Georgia Street Vancouver, B.C. V6 E 4E6 Telep hone (604) 684-3323 B.C. FILM Fax (604) 684-9004

CINEMA CANADA PAGE 1V FEBRUARY • MARCH 1989