C IN E MAti ie TRADE NEWS e Little changed despite Majors INew structures to revitalize Quebec I. undertakings and bidding system work," explained Boisvert as MONTREAL - "The invasion of broadcasters' participation in OTTAWA - The Major American tern of first-run motion pic­ she and Dansereau met with the Hollywood system on tele­ Quebecois film production distributors have not respect­ tures. Between 72% and 100% of the press and members of the vision screens and in cinemas and increased airtime for Que­ ed the undertakings made be­ the first runs of the distributors film milieu in an information is getting stronger and stronger. bec films, and to encourage fore the Director of Investiga­ were awarded to the exhibitors session Apr. 10. Quebecois cinema's only research and development in tion and Research, responsible who would have a right of first On Feb. 20, under the author­ chance of survival is its vitality. cinema. for the application of the Com­ refusal under the alleged allign­ ity of the new Cinema Law, the We have to become promoters, For its part, the IQC is now bines Investigations Act, and a ment in the opportunities for Socie te generale du cinema we have to get competitive, we defined as "the privileged ad­ case still remains against them. exhibitors to obtain subsequent (SGC) took over the rights and have to compete for the atten­ visor to the minister of cultural This is the thrust of the interim or moveover runs more quick­ tion of the consumer if we obligations of the old Institut affairs in matters of cinema." report, prepared by the director, ly." Otherwise, it concludes, quebecois du cinema, thus be­ want to reconquer the Quebec The IQC has a 12-member Lawson Hunter, and made "there has been little improve­ public. The overall alignment coming the principal adminis­ board, eight of whom represent public in March. It is the first ment in the ability of the inde­ must be to bring the economic trator of the funds the govern­ specific sectors of the film report since proceedings were pendent exhibitors to obtain ment has allocated for private laws of artistic life back into industry (e.g., directors, screen­ initiated in May, 1983, to force first-run product." our institutions." sector film production, in con­ writers, actors, producers, dis­ the Majors to deal fairly with The 44-page goes on to state "Wouldn't you as Quebecois formity with the assistance tributors), and four from the Cineplex Corporation by that the undertakings do not like to become winners ?" plan and programs approved public at large. The eight board making first-run films avail­ appear " to have been effective These two statements - the by the (new) Institut quebecois members from the industry, as able to the exhibitor. in stimulating meaningful or first by the recently-appointed du cinema (lQCI. well as IQC chairman Danse­ The action concerning Cine­ significant competition be­ chairman of the new Institut With an '84-85 budget of $10 reau, are appointed by the plex was applied to all other tween Famous Players and quebecois du cinema (lCQ) Fel'­ million, the SGC, whose 5- government upon the recom­ exhibitors, and a bidding sys­ Odeon for first-run motion pic­ nand Dansereau, the second by member board is appointed by reau, are appointed by the tem was instigated in an effort tures." the CEO of the Societe generale the government, has been government upon the recom­ to interrupt the privileged The report includes a list of du cinema Nicole Boisvert - re­ charged with promoting and mendations of recognized pro­ relationships which were unanswered questions which flet something of the reorienta­ assisting cinematographic fessional associations. alleged to exist between the arise from the analysis and per­ tion currently underway in Que­ creation, the production ,of The Institut advises the min­ two exhibition chains, Famous tain to the motivation of award­ bec's publicly funded film Quebecois films, the distribu­ ister on the elaboration and Players and Canadian Odeon, ing certain licenses, the pos­ structures in the wake of last tion and exhibition of films in application of film policy, and and the six Major distributors : sibility of discrimination summer's passage of the new Quebec, and the developme nt determines the orientations of Columbia Pictures, Paramount, against certain exhibitors, the Cinema Law. of technical industries. In addi­ the SGC and its financial aid Universal, Warner Bros., United suspicion that the right of first­ tion, the SGC has a mandatteo plan. The IQC also detennines Artists and 20th Century-Fox. refusal persists, etc. "In less than three months, promote Quebecois films a d Astral Films was also named in As a result of the Report's we've accomplished a year's film culture, to encour ge (cant. on p. 29) the original case as it represents analysis, and the questions it I Coluq1bia and 20th Century­ raises, further action is indi­ Fox, but discussions are under­ cated, Hunter concludes. A way to terminate the case new assessment of the bidding Specialty pay licenses awarded by CRTC against Astral as it acts in situation will be made on June accordance with the under­ 30, 1984 and, if no significant OTTAWA - The Canadian Ra­ expect initial losses - CHUM's agement authority to resume takings of the Majors it repre­ improvement is made in the dio-television and Telecommu­ Muchmusic service predicts Star Channel's pay-TV opera­ sents. situation by then, the Majors nications Commission (C RTC ) losses of over $10 million for tions and at the time asked for In the original undertaking, will be brought back before a has approved applications by the first five years while Labatt's a report on Star Channel's plans. the Majors agreed to put aU hearing of the Restrictive Trade CHUM Ltd. of Toronto, John expects profitability within That report now proposes a first-run fi'lms into a bidding Practices Commission. Labatt Ltd. of London, Ont. and three years - the linkage with new 8-hour-per-day service for system, picture-by-picture and · 17 U.S. companies to offer spe­ U.S. imports should improve Quebec as well as the Maritimes theatre-by-theatre, stating the cialized pay-TV programming. marketing for both the special­ as part of a new service prOVid­ conditions they wished for the In a decisipn early in April ty services and general-interest ed by a new wholly owned sub­ distribution of a film (how Four in spotlight some of whose elements still pay-TV. sidiary of Star Channel. many screens, in which loca­ await further rulings or hear­ The commission has still to As changes in ownership, tions, etc.I. The film was then at Cannes festival ings, the Commission establish­ ru1e on which offive Canadian mode of operation, or territory to be awarded to the highest MONTREAL - Canadian films ed a framework for the new ethnic services will be granted requires the regulator's appro­ bidder who met the condi­ at Cannes this year (May 11-13 ) services which will include a specialty license. The com­ val, such proposals are expect­ tions. If no bidder me t the COIl­ comprise two · features - the two Canadian services- CHUM's mission plans to issue a call for ed to be h eard in greater detail ditions, the distributor could latest Lefebvre and the latest rock music videos and Labatt's proposals for a children's ser­ at the Halifax hearing. negotiate conditions with a n Labrecque- and two animated sports - as part of a package vice, and has delayed the intro­ exhibitor. As stated in Hunter's short films in competition. with U.S. entries in fields other duction of two U.S. specialty report, one of the objectives of Canada's most prolific and than sports or rock music (e.g., health services until Sept. 1 In preparation• for the broad- the bidding system was to afford best-known director, Jean­ news, arts, finance, country to give one Canadian applicant .casting license renewal hear­ the distributor "the best oppor­ Pierre Lefebvre will h ave his music, weather and education!. time to refonnulate its financial ings this fall of the major Cana­ tunity to realize the fullest eco­ 19th feature film, Le Jour S, Cable companies will be proposal. dian television network licen­ nomic benefit." By all reports, screened at Cannes as part of able to offer the new services ses, CRTC chairman Andre the Majors have increased the the Un Certain Regard cate­ in combination packages of up • Bureau has proposed informal amounts of their film rentals gory. This will be Lefebvre's to five channels of speciality The CRTC announced Apr. 24 consultations between broad­ since the system began in lOth time at Cannes. imports with one or other that a public hearing would casters and the commission " to Summer '83. "Lefebvre is the Canadian Canadian pay channels, Super­ begin May 28 in Halifax to con­ discuss the whole question of In the description of the filmmaker who's been to channel or First Choice, and sider two applications by Super­ . Canadian content in an atmos­ undertakings contained in the Cannes most often:· Le Jour S one or two channels of imports channel Ontario for authority phere free of procedure and on report, negotiations can be producer Yves Rivard told with the Labatt and Chum spe­ to amend its general interest an uncommitted basis." Bureau made with an exhibitor "pro­ Cinema Canada. "He's become cialty channels. No U.S. service pay-television network licence made the proposal in the con­ vided that in so doing [the dis­ known as one of the leading can be offered without a pack­ byextending its service area to text of a speech to broadcast tributor) shall not discriminate directors of world cinemato­ age that includes some Cana­ include the Atlantic Provinces executives in Toronto Mar.