C I" E MAti • TRADE NEWS • Telefilm explains policies CRTC adopts Canadian definition MONTREAL - Telefilm Canada, listen, and to make the best of OTTAWA - [n the final piece of though at least the director or responsible for the administra­ in a series of new initiatives, is the situation." a review of Canadian content writer and at least one leading tion of the Canadian element reaching out to explain its The same initiative was definition which began in performer must be Canadian; of the production. Application policies concerning the Broad­ taking place in Los Angeles December 1979, the Canadian and ·at least 75% of renumera­ for Canadian recognition must cast Program Development when the director of the Fund Radio-television and Telecom­ tion paid to individuals other be made by the Canadian pro­ Fund to concerned producers Peter Pearson visited the Ame­ munications Commission than producer, key creative duction company and sup­ both in Canada and abroad. l'ican studios, accompanied by (C RTC) has issued revised pro­ personnel or for post-produc­ ported by signed agreements In Vancouver on Feb. 19, Toronto office head Bob Lin­ posed criteria for the recogni­ tion, must be paid to Cana­ between the co-venture part­ Telefilm executive director nell in early February. They tion of Canadian programs. dians; and at least 75% of pro­ ners. Andre Lamy and a team of staf­ introduced the new measures The 16-page public notice, cessing and final preparation A co-venture with a co-pro­ fers IBob Linnell, Claude Dai­ being taken at Telefilm Canada dated Mar. 2, concludes a con­ costs must also be paid for ser­ ducer from a Commonwealth gneault, Karen Laurence, Donna to promote television produc­ sultative process undertaken vices provided in Canada. or French-language country, or Wong-Juliani) met with some tion, and prepared the ground since spring '83 in conjunc­ While there are exemptions, a country with which Canada 40 independent producers to for a visit by Andre Lamy with tion with the industry and puts productions in which non­ has a film or television treaty, explain the new possibilities studio heads. the finishing touches to sum­ Canadians are the only leading will qualify for special recogni­ which the _fund opens to them. During the American Film mer '83 proposed definitions performers will not be accept­ tion if it attains five pOints and Repeating the procedure on Market (Mar. 8-16), Lamy, some­ for the recognition of a Cana­ ed as Canadian, and the addi­ at least 50% of the total renu­ Mar. 8 in Montreal, Lamy and times accompanied by Telefilm dian program. Pending final tion of Canadians in minor meration paid to individuals, Daigneault met with 54 mem­ president Ed Prevost, met with determination by the Commis­ roles will not be sufficient for a other than producer and key bers of the Association des Pro­ the heads of various companies sion, the criteria will become production to qualify. Exemp­ creative personnel, or for post­ ducteurs de Films du Quebec to explain the application of effective Apr. 15, 1984. tions, however, will be con­ production work, services, (APFQ) in an open-ended meet­ the fund, the new Canadian Focussing primarily on "the sidered "for non-Canadians to final preparation costs and ing which APFQ president content regulations, and to two observable aspects of any receive credits for produced­ processing costs are paid for Daniele Suissa termed "just invite participation in the Fund. program: performance and related functions as described services provided by Cana­ fantastic." According to Daigneault, Lamy production," the Commission in the CFVCO certification pro­ dians. However, the director or welcomed American partici­ has adopted as the basis for its cess booklet." And upon appli­ writer and at least one of the "The milieu has matured a pation, but made it clear that recognition of a Canadian pro­ cation, the CRTC may recognize two leading performers must lot over the last year becoming Telefilm was in the business of gram the requirements of the as a Canadian program, a pro­ be Canadian. All other con­ very coherent," Daigneault producing Canadian films, that point system and cost criteria duction in which either the siderations for recognition as a commented to Cinema Canada. the Americans should visit Ca­ currently used for feature film director and writer positions Canadian program apply to "There's none of the petty nada and get in touch with production by the Canadian or those of both leading per­ such a co-venture, and any squabbling or little irritations Canadian producers and begin Film and Videotape Certifica­ formers are filled by non-Cana­ other co-venture will be re­ there used to be. Especially in to think of sharing, not domi­ tion Office of the Department dians as long as all other key quired to meet the same points Quebec, where there's the pro­ nating, their" domestic" market. of Communications. Upon creative positions are filled by and expenditure requirements mise of a lot of money, both "One of the objectives of request, the Commission will Canadians. as a domestic production. from us, and from the Societe such a visit, of course, is to turn issue and advance ruling, pre­ This basic definition Ipro­ The Commission recognizes Gtmerale, the mood is one of the page - to put the experience liminary or final recognition, ducer - 6 points - 75% expen­ two other categories that could 'let's not blow it this time.' of the tax-shelter period be­ or special recognition to any diture) will apply to domestic fall below the minimum re­ People are ready to talk and to hind us. Canadians still suffer pay-TV licensee, producer or programs and to co-ventures or quirements of the point system. from the reputation made property rights holder, where international coproductions A "series", or two or more pro­ them. Mr. Lamy feels that his the program satisfies Cana­ with producers from countries grams produced by the same CFOe name change visit in L.A. has been most suc­ dian program requirements_ with which Canada does not production company having a MONTREAL - Telefilm Canada cessful, and that production is Application for advanced ruling have a film or television co­ common theme, situation or is the new name adopted by ready to begin again from a or preliminary recognition is at production treaty. However, set of characters and comple­ the Canadian Film Develop­ solid, clear understanding with the discretion of the applica­ "special recognition" qualifies ted with a 12-month period, ment Corporation/Societe de the Americans about our aims," tion. such co-ventures for 100% may have some individual Developpement de l'Industrie commented Daigneault. In its basic definition, the Canadian program credit episodes that fall beneath Cinematographiqu~ Cana­ In most cases, Lamy's meet­ Commission will recognize as when broadcast or otherwise minimum requirements. A dienne. Chairman Ed Prevost ings were attended by the pre­ a Canadian program, a live, distributed by a licensee of the licensee will only be entitled to made the announcement in sidents, financial officers, videotape or film production of CRTC, even though some pro­ claim Canadian program Vancouver on Feb. 22, and the lawyers and producers of the any length for which the pro­ ducer functions are perform­ recognition for such episodes CFDC introduced its usage the companies visited. By Mar. ducer is Canadian ; on which ed by non-Canadians where in a series "when at least the immediately. 15, he had seen United Artists, the production has earned a the Canadian production same number of offsetting epi­ OriginaJIy reported in Cine­ Universal, Orion, 20th Century minimum six points Idirector- company has no less than sodes which exceed such cri­ ma Canada to be the name to Fox, MGM, Embassy and still 2 ; writer - 2 ; leading perform­ equal measure of decision­ teria are broadcast or other­ cover the promotional/market­ had five meetings to go before er-I ; 2nd lead performer-l ; making responsibility with wise distributed at equitable ing activities at the CFDC, the heading back to Montreal. head art dept. - 1 ; d.o.p. - 1 ; other co-venture partners on times." new name encompasses all The American initiative is music compo - 1; editor - 1) all creative elements, and is Production packages or two activities of the corporation. just part of a world-wide cam­ or more co-productions or co­ Negociations are, however, on­ paign, launched by Telefilm. ventures undertaken by a going with the Film Festivals As co-production treaties are Canadian production com­ Bureau to integrate its services readied in a great variety of Minister Richard calls on Majors in L. A. pany together with one or into Telefilm Canada. countries, Lamy and, Pearson more non-Canadian produc­ New nominations at Telefilm travel about, talking to produ­ MONTREAL - During the Mon­ flown to Los Angeles for five tion companies may qualify as Canada include Bill Litwack as cers and government people to treal Film Festival in August days of talks. ''I'm really under Canadian where a qualifying Director of Policy and Planning, facilitate the internationaliza­ '83 , Quebec cultural affairs no obligation to tell you what production with minor foreign replacing Judith McCann who tion of Canadian production. minister Clement Richard, fresh the agenda of the discussions involvement is matched with a recently resigned. Two new Visits were made earlier this from the triumph of Quebec's is," Richard's Cultural Affairs foreign production with minor posts have been added to winter to England, and the co­ cinema law, had resisted the policy advisor Andre Steenhaut Canadian involvement. Where streamline services to pro­ production treaty with Belgium offer of the U.S.