^ •«»S$Sdd««»»3a»»SSSd»», »»*»**9*.*»*»99»9a«S* THE WEATHER | I "It is impossible to « make money on a Ca- i nadian film where « distribution IS re- Snowing I stricted to Canada." I - CMPDA Brief I in Florida ft ^€e©«es«s«sfte*«e«s«'«** ** ieeesee** s««*ss«s«*«» 6« vol. 1, no. 3 February 1977 Hart have not yet been able to attend meetings. The objective of the Institute, agreed upon at the founding meeting, is "to better and more profitably serve the Canadian feature film-going public by im­ proving the quality of films and their presentation." "The initial activities of the Institute will include the organiz­ ation of a professional seminar for leading English and French- language directors and produc­ ers, and the establishment of a data bank for the collection and circulation of information relat­ ed to the production and financ­ ing of feature films in Canada," according to a press release. The MPIC contrasts sharply with the Council of Canadian Filmmakers, and marks the in­ creasing importance of lobbying groups in the Canadian context today. The MPIC is non-repre­ sentative and weighted toward the commercial aspects of fea­ ture film production, distribu­ tion and exhibition. The CCFM, Harry Gulkin, president of the new Motion Picture Institute of Canada on the other hand, represents and is accountable to its mem­ ber organizations. Whereas no associations concerned with dis­ Gulkin to Head Motion Picture tribution or exhibition are mem­ bers of the CCFM, neither are any technical or crsift people Institute of Canada members of the new MPIC. Harry Gulkin, Montreal pro­ the Canadian Motion Picture kin, Claude Heroux and James The latter will concern itself ducer, has been elected presi­ Distributors' Association, fol­ Margellos for production; Vic­ solely with features whereas dent of the Motion Picture Insti­ lowing a suggestion made at a tor Beattie, Michael Stevenson the CCFM's preoccupations are tute of Canada. The Institute joint meeting of the CMPDA and Daniel Weinzweig for dis­ more wide-ranging, including was founded on January 20, 1977 and the Motion Picture Theatres tribution; Jack Bernstein, Jac­ all aspects of film production in Toronto. It is a group of in­ Associations of Canada. One of ques Patry and Hector Ross for and, lately, pay-TV. dividuals coming from, though the motivating factors was to exhibition; and William Fruet Jacques Patry, the only French- not representative of, the fol­ counterbalance the nationalistic and Harvey Hart for direction. Canadian present at the meet­ lowing four sectors: production, lobby £md to eu-gue against quo­ Martin Bocker, who was at the ings, commented that it is too distribution, exhibition and film tas and levies. first organizational meeting, is early to judge whether or not direction. not listed as a member of the the group will have an impact in The initiative for the forma­ The 11 founding members Institute. Of the members, He­ Quebec. For the moment, the tion of the Institute was taken by of the Institute are Harry Gul­ roux, Margellos, Fruet and Quebecois professional groups 8 / Cinema Canada director of the CMPDA who served as chairman and sec­ retary for the first two meet­ ings, is not expected to maintain Shooting: this role in the future. are not aware of the creation of Other officers elected are the Institute. Vice-President Hector Ross, Secretary Daniel Weinzweig and Gulkin, the new president, is Co-productions Treasurer Michael Stevenson. optimistic about the Institute During the formative period, the and hopes that observers will Institute will use the offices of judge it according to its pro­ Danton Films in Toronto. jects and activities, rather than to stop at an analysis of its ori­ gins. Millard Roth, executive Connie Tadros APFQ-Unions Settle After nine months of conflict declaration which obliges him and negotiations, the producers to observe the terms of the and the technicians of Quebec agreement, he agrees to con­ have come to a negotiated tribute a sum equal to \% of the Francine Racette in The Disappearance agreement. On Dec. 29, the As­ salaries paid directly to the sociation des producteurs de APFQ. ^ Very few home-made Cana­ The Disappearance films du Quebec signed two These agreements mark the dian films are in the works - Another Canada-UK co-pro­ collective agreements, one maturation of the Quebec in­ a summary follows but it's ap­ duction, produced by David with the Syndicat national du dustry. Although special clauses parent that government favors Hemmings and Gerry Arbeid cinema and one with the Asso­ are tailored to the needs of and influence are in foreign co- (executive producers, Garth ciation des professionnels du documentaries and educational productions. The CFDC, hard- Drabinsky and James Mitchell), cinema du Quebec. films, it will be more difficult pressed to return some income directed by Stuart Cooper, writ­ These agreements define for (if not impossible) to produce on its investment while the ten by Paul Mayersberg from the first time mutually accept­ these films in the informal and government studies renewing its the novel Echoes of Celandine able work conditions, and mini­ oft-times improvised spirit of the charter, has grasped the out­ by Derek Marlowe, with Donald mum salary scales. They also past. The new conditions may stretched hands of foreign part­ Sutherland as star, John Alcott establish a classification system prove difficult for the econom­ ners in earnest - it looks like as DOP, and Anne Pritchard as for technicians and conditions ically marginal producer but 1969 all over again. Except that art director. Principal photo­ for promotion from one stage to will not have much effect on the now there is a little more soph­ graphy was recently completed another. The right to strike or majority of producers, most of istication, better tax breaks for in Montreal. lockout is relinquished, and the whom had usually signed indi­ investors, and less opportunity associations signing the agree­ vidual agreements with the for Canadian writers and direct­ ment recognize each other as the unions before shooting. King Solomon's Treasure ors to find work and Canadian sole negotiating partner. Fur­ The associations involved in Based on Rider Haggard's novel stars to be made than in 1969. thermore, the technicians re­ the negotiations will be stronger Allan Quartermain, this feature Producers, labs, some mem­ linquish the right to work for in the future, due to the direct is currently shooting in Swazi­ bers of crews, and some tech­ any producer who does not en­ financial contributions required. land (that's in Africa, not Alber­ nicians will have work, though; dorse the agreement. The contributions to the APFQ ta, gentle reader). It's about the a situation which, in govern­ search for a lost city, and stars Tied into the agreement is a are earmarked for future nego­ ment eyes, is better than no David McCallum, Terry-Tho­ mandatory contribution from the tiations and for other costs, work for all. Some current pro­ mas, John Colicos, Trevor Ho­ technician's salary to the union incurred because of the col­ jects : ward, Yvon Dufour, Veronique, of 1%, and a mandatory contri­ lective agreements. and Ken Gampu. Executive pro­ bution, both by the technician The present agreement is ducer is Harry Allan Towers, and by the producer, of 2% into a valid until Dec. 31,1978. producers are Alvin Rakoff (who union pension fund. Further­ Fvdl Circle also directs), Susan Lewis and more, as the producer signs the Connie Tadros A co-production between Classic Film Industries of Montreal and Canafox Films of Montreal. Aim^e Dank, president of the APFQ, on location Fetter Productions of Britain, this thriller stars Mia Farrow, Richard Hellman of Canafox Keir Dullea, Tom Conti and Jill and Prospec Films is readying Bennett. Director is Richard several other co-productions, Loncraine, producers are Peter including a tentative six-picture Fetterman and Alfred Psiriser, deal with Carlo Ponti, Titles executive producer is Julian include The Wolves, The Jumbo Melzack, and the screenplay is Murders, a remake of Captains by Dave Humphries from an Courageous, and possibly one adaptation by Harry Bromley called The St. Petersburg-Can­ Davenport of the novel Julia nes Express. Latter has also by Peter Straub. Principal film­ been ascribed to Twentieth Cen­ ing has been completed in Lon­ tury-Fox and Swiss interests. don. Stephen Chesley February 1977 / 9 Co-Pro Projects Canadian Wertmuller previously announced British co- production is now off the post­ Winners Lina Wertmuller, darling of poned list. Retitled Scot Free, the film world, will soon start it's a '50s-type British comedy shooting A Night Full of Rain set in Scotland and Nova Scotia. with Candace Bergen as star Haldane and Don Ginsburg from along with Giancarlo Giannini, the UK are co-producers, the in Italy. Since it's an official production company is Dondo- Italian-Canadian co-production, nald Productions, director is we can all say that Wertmuller Carry On veteran Gerald Tho­ The Old Box has directed a Canadian film, mas, and the stars include Susan The Street wins again Hampshire. Previous title was Haldane Caroline Leaf's animated short, The Street, won first prize in The Wee Back House. the animation category at the Chicago Film Festival in Novem­ Don Haldane, veteran Cana­ ber, Pic also won at Ottawa 76 and the Canadian Film Awards, dian producer/director, says his and was produced by the NFB. Almond and Kaczender Other NFB wins at Chicago were a Silver Hugo in Animation Two other co-productions, for Paul Driessen's The Old Box and a Silver Hugo in Documen­ Paul Almond's Solstice and tary for Los Canadienses by Albert Kish.