The #wantCancon Twitter Discussion

The #wantCancon Twitter discussion was prompted by a recent announcement by Telefilm Canada and the CMF (Canada Media Fund) that they were launching an national initiative in April to enhance visibility and expand audiences for Canadian content. Check out the press release HERE.

"The goal is to establish dynamic public-private partnerships, to generate innovative ideas and locally tailored solutions to improve the visibility of, and demand for all Canadian content: feature film, television and interactive digital media."

This initiative was no doubt inspired by the lack of success of the infamous 5% solution - a Telefilm devised measuring stick of Canadian film performance via box office returns - thus causing a need to reevaluate the ruler and 'move the goalposts' as it were...outlined HERE. But since I've seen a lot of studies get commissioned and reports get reported and initiatives get initiated over the years - which usually meant waiting a year or so for a bound pretty printed document to be released that would, after a lot of meetings and consultations and lobbying and hearings, explain the 'state of the industry' and a list of 'ways to fix or improve it'...but wouldn't really, or at least wouldn't seem to go far enough because nobody wants to upset the applecart too much or something. So I figured: Hey I know a lot of smart industry people with good ideas about how to increase visibility and demand of Canadian content....why wait...let's start talking now, on Twitter.

I've posted the transcript mostly just to have a record of this valuable and informative discussion, but also to demonstrate how difficult achieving any new initiatives will be. The problems with visibility and demand for our Canadian Film & Television & New Media industry have been the same problems for a long long time. For example, read this piece by John Harkness entitled "3 Modest Proposals for the Canadian Film Industry" written over 15 years ago HERE. And then read this article summarizing a Canadian Film Industry policy review written more than 5 years ago HERE. It's shocking how many of the problems in our business still exist today and sobering how many of the suggested proposals or changes could work but still haven't been implemented or tried even. Because the changes would be radical. And no one likes radical change.

The following is a transcript of the hundreds of tweets contributed by dozens of generous tweeters. I also know of several dozen sidebar discussions about same subject that went on at the same time but didn't use the #wantCancon hashtag. I know it is kinda hard to follow because of the Twitter 140 character restriction, but if you read with attention it more or less tracks. A lot of really great suggestions were made and, yes, radical ideas for change were presented...thanks to all who played for playing.



Transcript from March 12, 2011 to March 17, 2011


March 12, 2011

6:49 pm wcdixon: Read the Telefilm/CMF release http://bit.ly/eHxgZ9 and let's start listing strategies to increase demand/visibilty at #wantCancon

6:51 pm wcdixon: Seriously, why wait for a report released a year from now? List strategies for increasing demand and visibility of Cancon at #wantCancon

8:41 pm DecencyLegion: Start by replacing anybody at Telefilm with more than 5 years seniority. Why keep rewarding failure at mapping the future. #wantCancon

8:42 pm DecencyLegion: They do it with a losing hockey or baseball team and it works. #wantCancon

9:04 pm wcdixon: @DecencyLegion Well if you're gonna follow that path you should replace the development & production execs at most of the TV networks. #wantCancon

9:05 pm wcdixon: @DecencyLegion And in feature film land replace most of the decision makers at most of the Canadian distribution companies. #wantCancon

9:13 pm wcdixon: I actually wasn't going to go to the 'just make good shows' place as strategy to increase demand/visibility for Canadian content... #wantCancon

9:15 pm wcdixon: 'Good shows' is very subjective...better shot at success taking aim at gatekeepers - movie exhibitors, TV networks, and ISP's. #wantCancon

9:18 pm wcdixon: More Cancon on more movie screens/TV channels/websites all being better promoted will go long way to increase demand/visibility #wantCancon

9:21 pm wcdixon: And I DON'T believe the answer is to do more US/Canada movie or TV co-productions or relax funding rules to allow Hollywood types in #wantCancon

9:23 pm JasonChesworth: RT @wcdixon: I DON'T believe the answer is to do more US/Canada movie or TV co-productions or relax funding rules to allow Hollywood types in #wantCancon

9:33 pm lol_tori: Interesting discussion on this hashtag #wantCancon

9:56 pm ZaNiaCmedic: As @heywriterboy said, CanCon shouldn't mean more beavers on screen. Anything written by a Cdn will have CanCon perspective. #WantCanCon

10:03 pm wcdixon: RT @madpulpbastard Remove simulcasting. It has undercut you... Don't try to be "Hollywood North"...be different to be noticed. #wantCancon

10:28 pm DecencyLegion: Agree w/ @heywriterboy & @madpulpbastard Much good Cancon never passes gatekeepers if there's no Beavers or US copycatting (1/2) #wantCancon

10:30 pm DecencyLegion: Canadian Gatekeepers need to be directed to serve Canadian audiences and artists first. The latter come from the former. (2/2) #wantCancon

10:58 pm prairiecunning: RT @DecencyLegion: Canadian Gatekeepers need to be directed to serve Canadian audiences and artists first. The latter come from the former. (2/2) #wantCancon
11:13 pm madpulpbastard: @DecencyLegion @wcdixon - the important thing is the CON not necessarily the CAN. #wantcancon #anyconthatsgood


March 13, 2011

12:33 am debnathan: What would happen if bcasters had to pay the full shot for CanCon. No govt handouts or subsidies. #wantCancon

1:39 am carolinegodin: Marketing money. Give producers access to marketing $$ to promote shows at home since most networks won't do it. #wantcancon

1:40 am carolinegodin: Also reinstate federal export marketing fund that got killed about 3 years ago. #wantcancon

1:41 am carolinegodin: Change rules so channels can't count shows as Cancon in logs if the producer pays for the airtime. It's double dipping. #wantcancon

1:42 am jill380: RT @carolinegodin: Marketing money. Give producers access to marketing $$ to promote shows at home since most networks won't do it. #wantcancon

1:44 am carolinegodin: Add sliding scale so shows lose % value in logs after 5 yrs. Flashpoint & Littlest Hobo count for same % of Cancon for CTV. #wantcancon

1:46 am jill380: @carolinegodin great ideas. everyone of them #wantcancon

2:00 am RobboMills: RT @carolinegodin: Marketing money. Give producers access to marketing $$ to promote shows at home since most networks won't do it. #wantcancon

2:01 am RobboMills: RT @ZaNiaCmedic: As @heywriterboy said, CanCon shouldn't mean more beavers on screen. Anything written by a Cdn will have CanCon perspective. #WantCanCon

2:54 am wcdixon: RT @carolinegodin: Change rules so channels can't count shows as Cancon in logs if the producer pays for the airtime. It's double dipping. #wantcancon

2:54 am wcdixon: RT @carolinegodin: Marketing money. Give producers access to marketing $$ to promote shows at home since most networks won't do it. #wantcancon

2:54 am wcdixon: RT @carolinegodin: Add sliding scale so shows lose % value in logs after 5 yrs. Flashpoint & Littlest Hobo count for same % of Cancon for CTV. #wantcancon

2:58 am wcdixon: Keep Japan in our thoughts, but also keep listing suggestions and strategies for increasing demand/visibility of Cancon at #wantCancon

3:00 am wcdixon: RT @debnathan What would happen if broadcasters had to pay the full shot for their Canadian content. No government handouts or subsidies. #wantCancon

4:19 am DecencyLegion: Like Caroline's take on marketing and logs. Removing stale dated product would offer more new content options. Then market them! #wantCancon

4:40 am wilzmak: Howzabout we realize culture can't be mandated, monitored, graded, cajoled, imposed, stimulated, compelled, or tallied. #wantCancon

4:44 am wilzmak: Let's STOP talking about "culture." Let's not fall into that trap anymore. That quicksand. That straw man. #wantCancon

4:44 am heywriterboy: @wilzmak AGREE. Let Culture Take Care of Itself! #wantCancon

4:49 am garryoakgirl: @wilzmak okay, so we do what with Canada Council, CMF, arts councils, etc? #wantCancon

4:55 am wilzmak: There is no such thing as Canadian CONTENT... #wantCancon

4:56 am wilzmak: When cooking, would you say "butter" is French content? Nope... #wantCancon

4:58 am wilzmak: I repeat. There is no Canadian content, only Canadian EXECUTION. And that should be promoted, celebrated, & encouraged. #wantCancon

5:00 am wilzmak: Be rid of them - @garryoakgirl: okay, so we do what with Canada Council, CMF, arts councils etc? #wantCancon

5:01 am garryoakgirl: @wilzmak NO Cdn content? Repeat yet again. We have no stories, no traditions...? #wantCancon

5:06 am wilzmak: @garryoakgirl Traditions & stories we have. Plenty of them. They shouldn't become mandates. #wantCancon

5:23 am SCCreativeDev: RT @wcdixon: More Cancon on more movie screens/TV channels/websites all being better promoted will go long way to increase demand/visibility #wantCancon

5:29 am heywriterboy: .@wilzmak THORNE a total CRACKER show. Sandra Oh shows up with ridiculous Brit accent. Quebec, Can tax credits, CMF money. WTF? #wantcancon

5:30 am heywriterboy: Countries love to partner with Canada cuz we sellout our writers for a few editing & VFX jobs. #wantCancon means Canadians above line, period.

5:32 am wilzmak: Try it this way: Gov. should not promote Canadian stories, themes, content, etc. They should promote *Canadians.* Full stop. #wantcancon

5:36 am Gharv: +1 - RT @wilzmak: : Gov. should not promote Canadian stories, themes, content, etc. They should promote *Canadians.* Full stop. #wantcancon

5:38 am MediaObsessed: RT @heywriterboy: Countries love to partner with Canada cuz we sellout our writers for a few editing & VFX jobs. #wantCancon means Canadians above line, period.

5:43 am joebodolai: RT @heywriterboy: Countries love to partner with Canada cuz we sellout our writers for a few editing & VFX jobs. #wantCancon means Canadians above line, period.

6:13 am carolinegodin: @heywriterboy @wilzmak Agree re: Thorne. Terrible. IMHO, CMF as is should be nixed. Change solely to tax credit system. #wantcancon

6:22 am carolinegodin: @heywriterboy @wilzmak I'm not against co-pros if they're done right. Murdoch Mysteries good example of right way. #wantcancon

6:22 am heywriterboy: I no longer think the #CMF or the #wantCancon system can be fixed. Govt. & Networks don't want it, bureaucrats serve selves, public doesn't care.

6:24 am RobboMills: RT @carolinegodin: @heywriterboy @wilzmak Agree re: Thorne. Terrible. IMHO, CMF as is should be nixed. Change solely to tax credit system. #wantcancon

6:26 am carolinegodin: Other peeve re #CMF is versioning fund. If you didn't get CMF but make a language sale, you don't qualify. Adds insult to injury. #wantcancon

6:27 am RobboMills: Only reason gov funding agencies exist is cuz of over reaction to 70's loophole abuse & US lobby pressure. #wantcancon

6:28 am RobboMills: Simple & effective tax incentives to invest will solve it. Good luck dismantling status quo bureaucracy & defying US media lobby #wantcancon

6:29 am RobboMills: Treat it like a true "industry" & give a reason for banks & other deep pockets to play for profit. Otherwise - fuck off. #wantcancon

6:30 am carolinegodin: Also think that simulcast as is is antiquated. Either grant to any channel regardless of tier or eliminate entirely. #wantcancon

6:32 am RobboMills: All other arcane endeavours & subsidies are doomed to a self imposed structure of failure. Let it make money. #wantcancon

6:33 am RobboMills: @carolinegodin Regional production lies outside of core funding issues. Let overall industry exist in profit making structure first. #wantcancon

6:34 am RobboMills: @carolinegodin Incentives to regions should not form the basis for an entire industry structure. That is gravy. #wantcancon

6:35 am RobboMills: @carolinegodin Make it all work as a business. Make it worthwhile to attract private investment. Then incentivise regions. #wantcancon

6:36 am RobboMills: @carolinegodin US lobby in the '70's (and beyond) pushed for unmanagable bureacratic fund. Stifles true market competition. #wantcancon

6:38 am RobboMills: @carolinegodin Manage the tax issues more effectively to create environment for private & corporate investment. Kill the funds. #wantcancon

6:39 am RobboMills: But how likely is any of that to happen once it's all become so well entrenched? #wantcancon #nobodyreadthereportbyfrancisfoxdidthey

6:40 am RobboMills: We are expected to behave like a "business" but we're not allowed or encouraged to be funded like a "business". #wantcancon

6:41 am juepucta: RT @RobboMills: We are expected to behave like a "business" but we're not allowed or encouraged to be funded like a "business". #wantcancon

6:41 am RobboMills: Canadian Content will assert itself & find a world wide audience when the creation of it is treated like a legitimate business. #wantcancon

6:41 am RobboMills: And not like a pathetic cottage industry. #wantcancon

6:44 am rachlanger: Reading through the #wantcancon tweets and getting marginally depressed.
7:20 am jennicaharper: Fund movies & series with a strong genre. Full-on comedy, rom-com, action, sci-fi. Not the apologetic versions of same. #wantcancon

8:18 am madpulpbastard: RT @wilzmak: I repeat. There is no Canadian content, only Canadian EXECUTION. And that should be promoted, celebrated, & encouraged. #wantCancon

9:13 am DecencyLegion: RT @wilzmak: Govt. should not promote Canadian stories, themes, content. They should promote *Canadians.* #wantcancon >> Wilz nails it!

2:54 pm rossmckie: RT @Gharv: +1 - RT @wilzmak: : Gov. should not promote Canadian stories, themes, content, etc. They should promote *Canadians.* Full stop. #wantcancon

3:23 pm wcdixon: RT @carolinegodin Also think simulcast as is is antiquated. Either grant to any channel regardless of tier or eliminate. #wantcancon

3:23 pm wcdixon: RT @RobboMills Treat it like a true "industry" & give a reason for banks & other deep pockets to play for profit. #wantcancon

3:27 pm wcdixon: RT @RobboMills Cdn Content will find a world wide audience when the creation of it is treated like a legitimate business. #wantCancon

3:28 pm wcdixon: RT @jennicaharper Fund movies & series with strong genre. Full-on comedy, rom-com, action, sci-fi. Not the apologetic versions. #wantCancon

3:31 pm wcdixon: Keep listing suggestions/strategies for increasing demand/visibility of Canadian content at #wantCancon - while keeping Japan in thoughts.

3:36 pm wcdixon: RT @BrentPiaskoski If showrunners ran TV not people who fill out the tax credit forms there'd be more shows Cdns want to watch. #wantCancon

3:43 pm Gharv: +1 - RT @wcdixon:RT @RobboMills Treat it like a true industry & give a reason for banks & other deep pockets to play for profit. #wantcancon

3:56 pm filipterlecki: Dear #wantCancon - Create more opportunities for emerging writers + young content creators. Creative Incubators, mentorships etc

3:58 pm filipterlecki: Think globally not small town locally #wantCancon

4:10 pm inkcanada: catching up with bemusement on #wantcancon thread. A discussion about Canadian Content - spirit, policy & reality. By CanCon creators.

4:10 pm RobboMills: @inkcanada Yeah - we're baring a teeth a little - which is good. :) #wantcancon

4:12 pm garryoakgirl: @Gharv @wcdixon @RobboMills Ok then - let the privates compete (except kids & news), no minimum Cancon, but pay for privilege 1/2 #wantcancon

4:13 pm inkcanada: @RobboMills I'm most impressed by the ubiquitous, subtextual (??) bash of the Cultural agenda. The *other* source of CanCon. #wantCanCon

4:13 pm garryoakgirl: @Gharv @wcdixon @RobboMills No funds, but $ goes to CBC for a Ch4-like outlet with separate operation outside of T.O. - 24/7 Cdn. #wantcancon

4:15 pm inkcanada: and because I find the topic late, I wonder if you've already baldly, honestly addressed Concept - protectionism, #wantcancon creators?

4:17 pm garryoakgirl: @wilzmak Mandated by whom - Govt? B'casters? Much depends on who is doing that. Where do you see barrier? #wantCancon

4:18 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon Whatever alternative is created it needs to be sustainable & not play role of gatekeeper. #wantcancon

4:19 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon Investment incentives will draw funding from sources interested in profit. #wantcancon

4:19 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon Not subsidized pseudo profit. #wantcancon

4:19 pm rossmckie: RT @Gharv: +1 - RT @wcdixon:RT @RobboMills Treat it like a true industry & give a reason for banks & other deep pockets to play for profit. #wantcancon

4:20 pm garryoakgirl: @RobboMills @Gharv @wcdixon Fewer than 6% of Hollywood productionss ever make a profit. Want to play in that pool? #wantcancon

4:21 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon Added incentives for content "deemed Canadian" sounds good but impossible to meaningfully quantify. #wantcancon

4:22 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon Yeah! It's a risky fucking business. #wantcancon

4:22 pm garryoakgirl: @RobboMills @Gharv @wcdixon There will always be some kind of gatekeeper. #wantcancon

4:23 pm NilsSorensen: Sounds good on paper, but creative that must "speak to Canadians" doesn't always equal business/critical success. #wantCancon

4:24 pm RobboMills: @inkcanada @klashton27 @garryoakgirl I keep referring back to report Francis Fox wrote before birth of Telefilm. No one remembers it. #wantcancon

4:25 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon Yes - but make gatekeepers about business - not deciding if MY content is Canadian. #wantcancon

4:26 pm NilsSorensen: If series/movie is creatively accessible and enjoyable when compared to US creative, it will speak to Canadians by default. #wantCancon

4:26 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon If gatekeepers of $$ operate from a "fund" there is immediately limited resources. #wantcancon

4:27 pm garryoakgirl: @RobboMills @Gharv @wcdixon Problem is that if NOT "cultural", biz could come under NAFTA, and then we're screwed #wantcancon

4:27 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon Changing investment rules to encourage private $ opens up larger sums for greater quantity & quality #wantcancon

4:27 pm garryoakgirl: @RobboMills @Gharv @wcdixon And every govt wants to stamp its philosophy on "culture" and creates policy to reflect that. #wantcancon

4:28 pm fatone: @inkcanada Interesting thread. If I were on my desktop Twitter client, I'd chime in. (Mobile is too restrictive.) #wantcancon

4:28 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon We're already screwed! We've been screwed for the past 30 years. #wantcancon

4:29 pm RobboMills: @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon This should NOT be a vehicle for Government Posing. Treat it like a business! #wantcancon

4:30 pm RobboMills: I need more coffee. Or maybe some laudanum. #wantcancon

4:31 pm klashton27: Most frustrating part of about #wantCanCon convo! RT @inkcanada: @debnathan @klashton27 Bloody 140 characters, right? lol

4:33 pm inkcanada: @klashton27 we'll do an email one (starting to video them as well) so I'll send Q's well in advance - u get to as you can, deal? #wantcancon

4:33 pm RobboMills: You want govt policy that'll have true impact on growing an audience for CanCon? Regulate distribs like radio. Good luck on that. #wantcancon

4:36 pm inkcanada: @RobboMills lol and perhaps change fed funding thereof #wantcancon

4:40 pm inkcanada: @klashton27 (stoked, we're over due for you, thank you thank you et merci) #writers #wantcancon #cdnfilm #cdntv #cdndigital

4:48 pm RobboMills: @inkcanada I dunno. It worked for the music industry - but theatrical distribs here are so in the pocket of US studios. #wantcancon

4:48 pm RobboMills: @inkcanada And the broadcast environment is in meltdown like the music industry as it absorbs into the net. #wantcancon

4:50 pm RobboMills: @inkcanada Any insistence on an agency =-run funding process is going to hold us back as new online distrib channels open. #wantcancon

4:52 pm inkcanada: @RobboMills I feel that's a good thing. every crisis is an opp #wantcancon

4:54 pm inkcanada: @RobboMills perhaps, but only if creators & producers continue to rely on ineffective systems. Creative biz models also flawed #wantcancon

5:02 pm inkcanada: @RobboMills 'deemed Canadian' agree whose definition? Postal code politics vs mass appeal. @garryoakgirl @Gharv @wcdixon #wantcancon

5:08 pm RobboMills: @inkcanada Agreed - creative biz models need to work as business not cultural handouts - encourage investment - money follows #wantcancon

5:09 pm wcdixon: Love the input, a complicated issue, but keep in mind #wantCancon discussion trying to focus on increasing demand and visibility of Canadian content.

5:09 pm RobboMills: @inkcanada And there IS a pantload of opportunity in these current crises. :) #wantcancon

5:12 pm debnathan: ?@DecencyLegion: RT @wilzmak: Gov. should not promote Canadian stories, themes, content. They should promote *Canadians.* #wantcancon >> Yes

5:15 pm debnathan: ?RT @RobboMills Cdn Content will find a world wide audience when the creation of it is treated like a legitimate business. #wantCancon?

5:20 pm wcdixon: Its always a debate between culture & policy & business, which ties to demand and visibility. #wantCancon

5:20 pm ZaNiaCmedic: For anyone interested, I have created a Yahoo! Group for #wantcancon at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wantcancon/ . Not ltd to 140 ch.

5:29 pm heywriterboy: Odd thing abt #wantCancon thread is I feel I have little to chime in that's new. I kinda ranted abt this for 5 yrs. I'm tired.

5:29 pm HowDoWeFeel: RT @heywriterboy Odd thing abt #wantCancon thread is I feel I have little to chime in that's new. I kinda ranted abt this for 5 yrs.

5:31 pm heywriterboy: But if I was advising CMF & Telefilm on #WantCancon, I'd say, "Go to L.A. & ask CDN expats to talk about contempt they experienced before they left."

5:34 pm heywriterboy: Convos I had in L.A. with expat writers should shame any CDN culturecrat. We hate creatives, drive them out, & then ask,"Why no success?" #WantCancon

5:57 pm ZaNiaCmedic: RT @wilzmak: Gov. should not promote Canadian stories, themes, content. They should promote *Canadians.* #wantcancon

5:57 pm prairiecunning: RT @heywriterboy: Convos I had in L.A. w. writers should shame any CDN culturecrat. We hate creatives, drive them out, & then ask,"why no success?" #WantCancon

6:08 pm DecencyLegion: One #wantCancon snag is that people with indexed pensions are managing the lives of artists who will never earn enough to retire (1/2)

6:10 pm DecencyLegion: System needs to feed those who create content not they who would define it or see it as an onerous cost of doing business. #wantCancon (2/2)

6:14 pm prairiecunning: RT @DecencyLegion: System needs to feed those who create content not they who would define it or see it as an onerous cost of doing business. #wantCancon (2/2)

6:47 pm seetsirbas: RT @heywriterboy: Convos I had in L.A. w. writers should shame any CDN culturecrat. We hate creatives, drive them out, & then ask,"why no success?" #WantCancon

7:00 pm seetsirbas: RT @RobboMills: Canadian Content will assert itself & find a world wide audience when the creation of it is treated like a legitimate business. #wantcancon

7:00 pm seetsirbas: RT @RobboMills: And not like a pathetic cottage industry. #wantcancon

8:33 pm debnathan: @garryoakgirl Isn't this #wantCanCon discussion about radical change?

8:47 pm wcdixon: RT @NilsSorensen: Sounds good on paper, but creative that must "speak to Canadians" doesn't always equal business/critical success. #wantCancon

9:20 pm wilzmak: Wanna buy a bridge in Brooklyn? RT @garryoakgirl: Fewer than 6% of Hollywood prods ever make a profit. Want to play in that pool? #wantcancon

9:37 pm wcdixon: On Friday Telefilm/CMF announced initiative to increase Cancon demand/visibility http://bit.ly/eHxgZ9 - we're discussing it here #wantCancon

9:42 pm wcdixon: Lots of great ideas and input on increasing demand and visibiity of Canadian content for film/TV/web ...keep chiming in at #wantCancon

9:44 pm garryoakgirl: @debnathan Trust me, I am all for radical change, but folks need to understand exactly what it will mean. #wantCanCon

9:49 pm wcdixon: Want to increase visibiity of Canadian content? Easy answer but make more of it, then promote it, then show/screen more often in more places. #wantCancon

9:51 pm wcdixon: Want to increase demand for Canadian content? Make more of it, show/screen more often, and promote shit out of it - SAY it's 'must see'. #wantCancon

10:34 pm wcdixon: .@debnathan So if not enough TV timeslots available or movie screens available, is it a policy or a business problem? #wantCancon

10:39 pm wcdixon: .@heywriterboy Even tho you blogged the #wantCancon topic to death you should still chime in. Blog can = soapbox. Twitter a group exchange?


March 14, 2011

12:22 am wcdixon: Get in on this discussion @HartHanson - they'll listen to you talking up #wantCancon

12:26 am weinmanj: @wcdixon re #WantCanCon is it reminds me of what cable networks in the US went through. They didn't just, zap, start making watchable shows

12:50 am wcdixon: As per @weinmanj are we too unrealistic (our shows should be as popular as US hits)? Or too pessimistic (we'll never be as good)? #wantCancon

12:52 am wcdixon: RT @HartHanson I want credit for screaming bout this stuff a decade ago. On the other hand so was everyone else, so, forget it. #wantCancon

12:52 am heywriterboy: CDN writers I've met who've gone to L.A. aren't more talented. They aren't always more successful. But they are more at peace. #wantcancon

12:57 am wcdixon: Let me try another tact - if you could implement ONE change to our industry in order to increase demand & visibility what would that be? #wantCancon

1:05 am daeganf: @wcdixon Let me tell a good story, regardless of where it's set and who it is about. #wantCancon

1:18 am wcdixon: RT @macFaddo star. system. RT @JasonChesworth what @macFaddo said. #wantCancon re: one change to increase demand/visibility of Cdn content.

1:20 am wcdixon: RT @debnathan Solution is networks pay for PNI without govt handouts/subsidies. Ratings/ad revenue become important, so better quality. #wantCancon

1:58 am wcdixon: RT @weinmanj It seems a business incentive will produce better programming than a 'keep your license' incentive... #wantCancon

2:00 am wcdixon: RT @weinmanj Compare how better kids programming was produced for business reasons than to comply w/ educational requirements. #wantCancon

4:37 am garnerhaines: RT @heywriterboy: CDN writers I've met who've gone to L.A. aren't more talented. They aren't always more successful. But they are more at peace. #wantcancon

4:37 am garnerhaines: RT @wcdixon: RT @HartHanson I want credit for screaming bout this stuff a decade ago. On the other hand so was everyone else, so, forget it. #wantCancon

6:44 am monagrenier: Government funding somehow based on viewership, not just on $ spent or "Canadianness" #wantCancon

1:33 pm srk_to: Excellent! RT @wcdixon: ..great ideas & input on increasing demand & visibiity of Cdn content for film/TV/web...keep chiming in at #wantCancon

1:42 pm cartoondutchie: I think where I'm confused is what Telefilm/CMF is trying to accomplish - promotion to B2B market or B2C market? #wantCancon

1:43 pm cartoondutchie: is the identified need awareness to get companies to buy our content, or get consumers to buy our content? #wantCancon

1:50 pm srk_to: @klashton27 The #wantCancon conversation is a good example of the follow-up needed -producers, etc. on how best to promote their own content

1:52 pm klashton27: @srk_to you may want to note that most of those in the #wantCanCon (and the originator of the hashtag) are creators rather than producers

1:58 pm srk_to: Thnx - stand corrcted! RT @klashton27: @srk_to ..most of those in #wantCanCon (& the originator of hashtag) are creators rather than producers

2:05 pm wcdixon: @klashton27 @cartoondutchie All questions will be answered in April! But we can still try to answer now...no? #wantCancon

2:11 pm cartoondutchie: @srk_to @klashton27 to be honest, I'm not sure how many Producers are even on twitter personally (other than IDM/gaming) #wantCanCon

2:11 pm wcdixon: Telefilm/CMF announcing initiative to increase Cancon demand and visibility - http://bit.ly/eHxgZ9 - we're discussing it here #wantCancon

2:12 pm wcdixon: Lots of good ideas/suggestions for increasing demand and visibiity of Canadian content for film/TV/web ...keep chiming in at #wantCancon

2:14 pm EmilyClaireAfan: RT @wcdixon: Lots of good ideas/suggestions for increasing demand and visibiity of Canadian content for film/TV/web ...keep chiming in at #wantCancon

2:15 pm motionpix: I think one must first understand the cancon 'brand' & what it inadvertantly represents to the public #wantCancon

2:16 pm wcdixon: RT @monagrenier Government funding somehow based on viewership, not just on $ spent or "Canadianness". #wantCancon

2:17 pm jill380: RT @wcdixon: Telefilm/CMF announcing initiative to increase Cancon demand and visibility - http://bit.ly/eHxgZ9 - we're discussing it here #wantCancon

2:19 pm amber_dowling: RT @wcdixon: Lots of good ideas/suggestions for increasing demand and visibiity of Canadian content for film/TV/web ...keep chiming in at #wantCancon

2:21 pm motionpix: RT @DecencyLegion: One #wantCancon snag is that people with indexed pensions are managing the lives of artists who will never earn enough to retire (1/2)

2:24 pm wcdixon: An aside re: at #wantCancon - most of the 'ways to increase demand/visibility of Cancon' tweets coming from writer/creators, not producers.

2:30 pm wcdixon: I also asked this question at #wantCancon: if you could implement ONE change to our industry to help increase demand/visibility what would that be?

2:31 pm klashton27: @wcdixon Get rid of simulcast so Cdn broadcasters are dependent on Cdn programming and have incentives to make it profitable #wantCancon

2:32 pm klashton27: @wcdixon ...at least in theory - what makes sense to us doesn't always make sense to Cdn broadcasters. #wantCancon

2:44 pm heywriterboy: @wcdixon When was last time you heard of a CDN Producer forced to go south cuz of lack of opportunity? Not being glib. Really wonder. #wantcancon

2:47 pm rossmckie: RT @wcdixon: Telefilm/CMF announcing initiative to increase Cancon demand and visibility - http://bit.ly/eHxgZ9 - we're discussing it here #wantCancon

2:50 pm debnathan: @klashton27 @wcdixon Thought simulcast tied to ad revenue. #wantCanCon

2:50 pm rossmckie: I actually had a #wantCancon dream last night. The hashtag called me on my cell. I said, "Well, I'm always her? (cont) http://deck.ly/~vfYS7

2:51 pm debnathan: @heywriterboy @wcdixon Don't get me started DMc. #wantCanCon

3:00 pm allthethinks: Aside from Film Centre- VERY few places for new writers to break in and gain experience, even when samples show promise. #wantCancon

3:04 pm allthethinks: 1st development internship in '05, I read scripts that hadn't seen eyes in 2 yrs. When it ended, next unpaid student brought in. #wantCancon

3:07 pm heywriterboy: .@carolinegodin Yet it's producers who often lead the charge toward the "bring back U.S. based CDN talent" & push 8/10 reductions... #wantcancon

3:09 pm allthethinks: How much did it actually cost to produce Kids in the Hall? I'm curious. #wantCancon

3:11 pm wcdixon: RT @carolinegodin Networks offering deals now making it impossible to break even let alone profit. No $$ for development anymore. #wantCancon

3:14 pm Gharv: So much time talking about fixing a system that is truly terminal? Rethink. Envelopes for webcasters run by content creators? #wantcancon

3:16 pm Gharv: +1 RT@carolinegodin Networks offering deals now making it impossible to break even let alone profit. No $ for development anymore. #wantCancon

3:19 pm allthethinks: With @Gharv I only watch traditional cable 2X a year when I visit my parents. The rest- online. Everything is in flux. #wantCancon

3:23 pm timstubinski: As a writer/creator who listens to the trials and tribulations producers deal with here to get things made, enjoying the subject #wantCancon

3:32 pm klashton27: @cartoondutchie @heywriterboy @srk_to That explains FB which is more push than convo - they're afraid of the convo (?) #wantCancon

3:34 pm wcdixon: A #wantCancon fix - remove value in logs for nets airing old Canadian TV shows/movies (Littlest Hobo gets same % credit for CTV as Hiccups).

3:34 pm wcdixon: This constant rerunning of old Cdn TV shows only reinforces negative 'Cancon' brand to general public...kills demand for more. #wantCancon

3:34 pm NormBolen: #wantcancon It is a great idea to make Canadians more aware of all the great shows and movies made by Canadian producers.

3:39 pm NormBolen: #wantCancon There is nothing wrong with rerunning Canadian shows. Sometimes reruns larger audience than original. A viewer is a viewer.

3:39 pm wcdixon: @NormBolen The #wantCancon thread isn't about making Canadians more aware of our shows but discussing 'how' to increase visibility/demand.

3:40 pm jasonjkee: In my view, any solution that focuses on Cdn b'casters or BDUs is at best a short-term solution... #wantcancon

3:41 pm jasonjkee: Rather, focus should be on leveraging global economy, promoting Cdn content to global market over domestic markets. #wantcancon

3:45 pm carolinegodin: @NormBolen I think running super old shows diminishes demand for newer ones, especially if they count same same in logs for way less $ #wantcancon

3:46 pm carolinegodin: @jasonjkee Jason, agree re: global but unless doing a treaty co-pro, you need to finance out of Canada/US to get shows made today. #wantcancon

3:48 pm wcdixon: @NormBolen Visibility can lead to awareness which can lead to demand....agreed. So listing ways at #wantCancon to achieve more visibility.

3:49 pm carolinegodin: @wcdixon Tax credits were orignally meant to build prodco infrastructure, foster development, bonus to not part of show budget. #wantcancon

3:50 pm HoboLittlest: .@wcdixon Solution clearly Hobo/Hiccups crossover. Ready to work. Still house trained; can Paul Gross say same? Woof. #WantCancon

3:51 pm carolinegodin: @wcdixon We're facing same situation UK prodcos did few years back, broadcasters essentially getting shows/dist rights for free. #wantcancon

3:53 pm srk_to: The sequel! RT @HoboLittlest: Solution .. Hobo/Hiccups crossover-Ready to work-Still house trained-can Paul Gross say same? Woof #WantCancon

3:54 pm cartoondutchie: @NormBolen Not the digital media products? :( #wantcancon

3:56 pm HoboLittlest: @carolinegodin @flashpoint_tv Hobo have no problem double dipping. Take multivitamin every day. Coat shiny; teeth strong. Woof. #wantCancon

3:59 pm EmilyClaireAfan: Great discussion happening over at the #wantCancon thread in response to Telefilm and #CMF's latest initiative: http://ow.ly/4e64q

4:14 pm cartoondutchie: IDM/gaming peeps: @jasonjkee and I seem to be the only ones commenting in #wantCancon in response to http://bit.ly/gOYzSc please participate!

4:14 pm EmilyClaireAfan: RT @cartoondutchie: IDM/gaming peeps: @jasonjkee and I seem to be the only ones commenting in #wantCancon in response to http://bit.ly/gOYzSc plz participate!

4:20 pm motionpix: How to raise demand #wantCancon comes down to hard work: positioning, build relationship w audience, marketing, promotion. No secret.

4:30 pm klashton27: Having a mother/daughter shopping March Break vacay day - way more fun than trying to solve #wantCancon

4:31 pm EgoAnt: IDM/gaming peeps: @jasonjkee & @cartoondutchie seem to be the only ones responding to http://bit.ly/gOYzSc plz participate! #wantCancon

4:45 pm frasermills: Call me callous, but if international demand was greater than domestic, that's ok. As long as industry is healthy, well funded. #WantCancon

4:51 pm wcdixon: RT @NormBolen Increasing visibility is another way of saying make Canadians more aware. Awareness leads to demand. #wantCancon

4:51 pm realjdwoodward: RT @wcdixon: RT @NormBolen Increasing visibility is another way of saying make Canadians more aware. Awareness leads to demand. #wantCancon

4:52 pm wcdixon: RT @frasermills If international demand was greater than domestic, that's okay. As long as industry is healthy, well funded. #wantCancon

4:52 pm jill380: RT @jaybushman i was just saying last night that for next year, instead of another #SXStarwars we should do #SXDegrassi. #wantcancon

4:53 pm srk_to: @garryoakgirl About time you put your 2 cents into #wantCancon

4:56 pm carolinegodin: @Gharv Not sure I agree. Our stories as currently defined by CM, no. But broaden the idea of what Canadian is and yes, they do. #wantcancon

5:01 pm wcdixon: Contrary to popular opinion Cancon brand NOT improved by 6 point shows like The Tudors. General public say: That's not Canadian. #wantCancon

5:03 pm carolinegodin: @wcdixon I don't think most civilians even know The Tudors is technically Canadian #wantcancon

5:03 pm Gharv: Ok listen to Patti Smith's 'Ain't it Strange' from Radio Ethiopia. For no other reason than it's good to dig it up! But still #wantCancon

5:04 pm frasermills: @wcdixon 6-point system is a good way to limit the amount of Cancon in our Cancon. Broadcasters benefit more than anyone else. #wantCancon

5:08 pm frasermills: @carolinegodin True, but lack of domestic demand for Cancon makes it harder to fuel private interest, int'l demand would help. #wantCancon

5:14 pm wcdixon: @frasermills Exactly. B'casters/producers/funders say 6 point shows increase visibility/demand but public don't perceive as Cdn. #wantCancon

5:23 pm garryoakgirl: @srk_to Hey! I'm on holiday... ;) #wantCancon

5:25 pm frasermills: @carolinegodin Very true. Hopefully #CMF announcement is step in right direction towards building stronger domestic industry. #wantCancon

5:46 pm wcdixon: RT @gregobr Cdn broadcasters need their own original content. Renting others' shows won't work as a business for much longer. #wantCancon

5:46 pm MrBobKerr: RT @wcdixon: RT @gregobr Cdn broadcasters need their own original content. Renting others' shows won't work as a business for much longer. #wantCancon

6:31 pm wcdixon: I 'get' this article & understand problem but stealing is still stealing...there's no honour among thieves. http://bit.ly/fuxJyM #wantCancon

6:37 pm carolaparnell: RT @EgoAnt: IDM/gaming peeps: @jasonjkee & @cartoondutchie seem to be the only ones responding to http://bit.ly/gOYzSc plz participate! #wantCancon

7:23 pm russellmcormond: @klashton27 Do you know if someone has blogged origins of #wantCancon ? Is it about CRTC/etc CanCon rules, or creation/access to CanCon?

7:28 pm russellmcormond: @jasonjkee We agree. Many of us want to move away from BDU's to alternatives for distribution, but still #wantcancon to be available!

7:28 pm russellmcormond: RT @jasonjkee: In my view, any solution that focuses on Cdn b'casters or BDUs is at best a short-term solution... #wantcancon

7:28 pm russellmcormond: RT @jasonjkee: Rather, focus should be on leveraging global economy, promoting Cdn content to global market over domestic #wantcancon

7:29 pm wcdixon: @russellmcormond #wantCancon started with me as response to Telefilm/CMF initiative to increase demand/visibility - http://bit.ly/eHxgZ9

7:32 pm wcdixon: @russellmcormond #wantCancon was about looking for ways to increase Cancon visibility/demand but has expanded to include creation & rules.

7:47 pm klashton27: @russellmcormond #wantCancon was started by @wcdixon in response to a particularly vague Telefilm/CMF release on Friday re promoting CanCon

7:48 pm russellmcormond: RT @wcdixon: @russellmcormond #wantCancon started with me as response to Telefilm/CMF initiative to increase demand/visibility - http://bit.ly/eHxgZ9

7:49 pm russellmcormond: RT @wcdixon: @russellmcormond #wantCancon started off looking for ways to increase Cancon visibility/demand but has expanded to include creation & rules.

8:14 pm wilzmak: #wantCancon on the film side, Telefilm could get out of prod financing & into P&A deals with distribs, based on guaranteed bookings = visibility

8:21 pm wcdixon: RT @prairiecunning Telefilm gets out of features and puts $ toward P&A/Marketing/Events and new platforms other than theatrical. #wantCancon

8:24 pm russellmcormond: .@klashton27 @wcdixon Curious what you think about the comments at http://ur1.ca/3imw9 @DecencyLegion @tv_eh #wantCancon #WantToPay4Cancon

8:29 pm russellmcormond: @wcdixon (Not stealing http://BillC32.ca/Jefferson_debate ) Is it helpful to complain ppl not paying when content not for sale? #wantCancon

8:35 pm prairiecunning: RT @wilzmak: #wantCancon on the film side, TF could get out of prod financing & into P&A deals with distribs, based on guaranteed bookings = visibility.

8:57 pm srk_to: #wantCancon Excellent level of discussion - your points will be pondered.

9:03 pm wilzmak: #wantCancon Question 1: how many US programs would bcasters buy if there were no sim-sub?

9:04 pm wilzmak: #wantCancon question 2: how would they attract eyeballs without it?

9:14 pm camdocorg: Popping the bubble( thinking outside the canconcastle in the air) is one of the few ways we can make people #wantcancon. Talk to people!!

9:15 pm wcdixon: The #wantCancon discussion should begin with questioning legal definition of a 'Canadian program', including 6pt system http://bit.ly/ij5wdk

9:22 pm wcdixon: @wilzmak No idea how many they'd buy if no sim-sub but guess it'd resemble CBC model, a few US shows lead into more Cdn shows? #wantCancon

9:27 pm wilzmak: @wcdixon they would buy more cable shows (FX, Comedy Cent, etc) and they would be competing with US bcast, just like cable... #wantCancon

9:27 pm frasermills: Fraser Institute, eh? They sound reputable! RT @wcdixon #wantCancon discussion should begin w/ questioning legal def'n of 'Canadian program'

9:28 pm wilzmak: @wcdixon ad rates would go down, but Flashpoint's 1.5 million viewers would become meaningful rather than an afterthought. #wantCancon

9:33 pm magelly: @wcdixon I wouldn't get involved in semantics, except where it pertains to funding. Reminds me of those jurisdictional debates. #wantcancon

9:40 pm wilzmak: Numbers: b-casters spent $846mil on foreign content. $75mil on #wantCancon. Less than 20% of their drama schedule is Canadian.

9:44 pm katiewolfgang: RT @wilzmak: Numbers: b-casters spent $846mil on foreign content. $75mil on #wantCancon. Less than 20% of their drama schedule is Canadian.

9:50 pm wcdixon: @katiewolfgang @wilzmak B'casters can spend that $846mil per year on foreign cuz small Cdn. spend fulfills license conditions. #wantCancon

9:52 pm prairiecunning: RT @wilzmak: Numbers: b-casters spent $846mil on foreign content. $75mil on #wantCancon. Less than 20% of their drama sched is Canadian.

9:52 pm wcdixon: @katiewolfgang @wilzmak And b'casters WILL spend that much on foreign content cuz of sim-sub benefit...& cuz they can afford it. #wantCancon

10:29 pm jasonjkee: @wcdixon @katiewolfgang @wilzmak Seems one of key Qs to consider is how to make bcasters WANT to increase Cdn spend #WantCancon

11:27 pm debnathan: @wcdixon @carolinegodin #wantCanCon They will never change by choice.

11:35 pm motionpix: Agreed @camdocorg Re: Talk to people (audience). Sometimes I get the feeling audience is forgotten in industry debates. #wantCancon

11:54 pm wcdixon: RT @EmilyClaireAfan: Great discussion happening over at the #wantCancon thread in response to Telefilm and #CMF's latest initiative: http://ow.ly/4e64q


March 15, 2011

1:01 am heavy_early: RT @wcdixon: RT @gregobr Cdn broadcasters need their own original content. Renting others' shows won't work as a business for much longer. #wantCancon

1:52 am lifeonqueen: RT @wcdixon: The #wantCancon discussion should begin with questioning legal definition of a 'Canadian program', including 6pt system http://bit.ly/ij5wdk

1:52 am lifeonqueen: RT @wcdixon: What technically counts as Cdn content vs. what general viewing public thinks or perceives is Cancon are two different things. #wantCancon

3:55 am klashton27: Great evening spent with Endgame and Out With Dad, problem with #WantCancon is clearly not the creativity!

4:08 am wcdixon: Endgame. New series. Showcase. Tonight. #wantCancon

4:37 am EndgameSeries: RT @wcdixon: Endgame. New series. Showcase. Tonight. #wantCancon

1:49 pm wcdixon: #wantCancon "Whose hashtag is this?" "It's a thread" "Whose thread?" "Thread's dead, baby. Thread's dead." #wantCancon

1:51 pm hipchic99: RT @wcdixon: Why wait until April? Why wait for a report to be released a year from now? List strategies for increasing demand visibility at #wantCancon

1:52 pm hipchic99: RT @wcdixon: Seriously, read Telefilm/CMF release http://bit.ly/eHxgZ9 and let's start listing strategies to increase demand/visibilty at #wantCancon

2:14 pm hipchic99: RT @inkcanada: catching up with bemusement on #wantcancon thread. A discussion about Canadian Content - spirit, policy & reality. By CanCon creators.

2:49 pm VittoriaCafolla: RT @wcdixon: #wantCancon "Whose hashtag is this?" "It's a thread" "Whose thread?" "Thread's dead, baby. Thread's dead." #wantCancon

6:03 pm DecencyLegion: If "Endgame" is what you get when you #wantCancon that's Beaver and Mountie free, I'm in. Great first show, Endgame guys.

6:25 pm PressPlus1: Want more CanCon? Find out more in our Canadian Film Section on Press+1: http://www.pressplus1.com/canadian-film.html #wantCancon

6:56 pm wilzmak: #wantcancon Just in case you thought Canadians were the only ones boohooing about taxes and content: http://t.co/88EKcnH

8:02 pm ZaNiaCmedic: @DecencyLegion I'm the opposite. If that's #wantCancon at its finest, I'm disappointed. I did not like #Endgame at all.

10:34 pm katiewolfgang: The Listener was CTV's highest-rated show last Tuesday, 1.1million RT @tv_eh: Ratings: Week of March 7 http://bit.ly/hRittA #WantCancon

10:34 pm ShaftesburyTV: The Listener was CTV's highest-rated show last Tuesday, 1.1million RT @tv_eh: Ratings: Week of March 7 http://bit.ly/hRittA #WantCancon

10:35 pm tv_eh: RT @ShaftesburyTV: The Listener was CTV's highest-rated show last Tuesday, 1.1million RT @tv_eh: Ratings: Week of March 7 http://bit.ly/hRittA #WantCancon

10:35 pm ennisesmer: RT @listenertv: The Listener was CTV's highest-rated show last Tuesday, 1.1million RT @tv_eh: Ratings: Week of March 7 http://bit.ly/hRittA #WantCancon

10:43 pm TSpencerNairn: RT @listenertv: The Listener was CTV's highest-rated show last Tuesday, 1.1million RT @tv_eh: Ratings: Week of March 7 http://bit.ly/hRittA #WantCancon

10:46 pm _Kiefer: RT @listenertv: The Listener was CTV's highest-rated show last Tuesday, 1.1million RT @tv_eh: Ratings: Week of March 7 http://bit.ly/hRittA #WantCancon

11:11 pm wilzmak: @wcdixon Streaming opens the door to Netflix competitors (output deals with studios) and they know exclusive content is needed. #wantCancon

11:17 pm wcdixon: @madpulpbastard @wilzmak But why do THEY already know exclusive content is needed and b'casters here in Canada STILL don't know! #wantCancon

11:21 pm madpulpbastard: @wcdixon @wilzmak - because they don't NEED to be original when they have simulcasting. They can use someone else's original. #wantcancon

11:55 pm wcdixon: @zaniacmedic @DecencyLegion One could nitpick at some of the setup and logic, but I thought Endgame held a lot of promise. #wantCancon

11:56 pm wcdixon: Hmmm...I wonder if Netflix Canada is going to #wantCancon of the original variety next? http://bit.ly/hvoG0n


March 16, 2011

1:38 am CaperWheelLady: RT @listenertv: The Listener was CTV's highest-rated show last Tuesday, 1.1million RT @tv_eh: Ratings: Week of March 7 http://bit.ly/hRittA #WantCancon

2:52 am RobboMills: RT @wcdixon: Hmmm...I wonder if Netflix Canada is going to #wantCancon of the original variety next? http://bit.ly/hvoG0n

3:24 am RainbowFrancks: RT @listenertv: The Listener was CTV's highest-rated show last Tuesday, 1.1million RT @tv_eh: Ratings: Week of March 7 http://bit.ly/hRittA #WantCancon

3:44 am _creeboy: @wcdixon Sarandos' comments about audience recommendations --> social marketing. relevant to your recent conversation. #WantCanCon

March 17, 2011
2:49 pm wcdixon: Written 15 years ago John Harness' "3 Modest Proposals for the Canadian Film Industry" STILL applies today. http://bit.ly/gKmNch #wantCancon

3:47 pm weinmanj: RT @wcdixon: Written 15 years ago John Harness' "3 Modest Proposals for the Canadian Film Industry" STILL applies today. http://bit.ly/gKmNch #wantCancon

3:49 pm lenmac1: RT @wcdixon: Written 15 years ago John Harness' "3 Modest Proposals for the Canadian Film Industry" STILL applies today. http://bit.ly/gKmNch #wantCancon

4:16 pm billybuck: When I get down on being in entertainment I perk myself up with a reminder that I'm not in the airline industry. #wantcancon

8:40 pm wcdixon: Last word for now on #wantCancon thread - 6 year old article sadly summarizes govt. review of Canadian Film Industry. http://bit.ly/dVIdfq


This is just scratching the surface to be sure - I know a lot more industry people who have ideas or suggestions but didn't see hashtag. And the shortness of tweets makes getting across ones point difficult, but it also keeps things moving and not bogging down in one person hogging the floor as it were.

Finally - this wasn't meant to be an attack on or indictment of the agencies or funds or the Canadian film/TV/web content making system in general, just spurring conversation and dialogue about a subject that means a lot to a lot of us. I hope it can be read with that in mind and taken for what it is...people talking and expressing themselves on Twitter... and that it *all* leads to a successful initiative.


EDIT: Jim Henshaw continues the Telefilm and #wantCancon discussion in a slightly more frustrated and critical (albeit justified) way over HERE...go read, comment, and let's keep talking.

To be continued...






!

Food For Thought

Watch this video (yes it's a Hellmann's ad, but stick with me here...it's worth it) and every time you hear the words fruits or vegetables or produce, try replacing with the words 'American films' or 'American TV shows'.

And then think about our anemic English language feature film biz and woefully small scripted TV show output when they talk about us in Canada losing our ability to produce the foods we eat.




"Are cheap imports really worth it?"

Kinda makes you think, don't it.

Choose Canadian. But you have to look for it. You have to ask for it. You have to want it, and start filling your bag with it.


H/T Stephen Hall

The Trotsky Baby!

I've never met Jay Baruchel, star of The Trotsky, but he did have a small role in an Are You Afraid of the Dark? episode I wrote way back when...so I feel we are connected in a six degrees kinda way. I also really like what he has to say and how he says it.

From NOW magazine.

And while his own star keeps rising, Baruchel is pleased at the attention he’s bringing to Canadian movies like The Trotsky. An outspoken patriot, he consistently returns home to lend his name to local films.

In fact, he finds it appalling that most other Canadian celebrities don’t do the same (ahem… Michael Cera, where you at?) or that when they do it’s usually because they’ve failed to make a dent stateside.

“I think that’s a shitty lesson, a shitty moral and a shitty truth,” Baruchel fumes. “To tell Canadian kids that the only time Canadians want to be working here is when they can’t get work in the States, that’s fucked. I will always have a career in both countries as best I can.”

Nice.




And I only just met Jacob Tierney, writer and director of The Trotsky, for the first time in Toronto last month...and found him to be funny, smart, and exceedingly passionate about filmmaking and Canadian films and television in particular. He's an entertaining fellow.




Tierney also had a reoccurring role ages ago as a child actor on Are You Afraid of the Dark?...take from that what you will.


I haven't seen The Trotsky, but it opens tomorrow in theatres here in Canada and I hope a lot of people check it out...I know I will.

We Only Spend What We Have To or See Rule #2

Welcome to Canadian TV Network Club.

The first rule of Canadian TV Network Club: You only spend what you have to on Cancon or homegrown programming.

The second rule of Canadian TV Network Club: You don't talk about Rule #1.


As reported in The G&M and Hollywood Reporter, the CRTC recently released HERE the 2009 financial results for Canadian Specialty, Pay, Pay Per View, and Video on Demand (VOD) channels and services. And much like when financial results for conventional Canadian broadcasters were released in March HERE, there was a lot of hullabaloo on the Internets and the Twitter with people wondering why spending on foreign (primarily US) was up so much while spending on Canadian programming stayed pretty much the same (and in the case of drama on the conventional networks spending actually dropped).

From the CRTC Conventional Nets report:

The acquisition and production of programs represented 75.2% of all expenses, which came down from $2.1 billion in 2008 to $2 billion in 2009. Private broadcasters invested 3.3% less on Canadian programming last year, or $599.4 million compared to $619 million. In 2009, broadcasters paid $176.2 million to independent producers to acquire programming, which amounted to an increase of $30.2 million in one year.

Meanwhile, spending on foreign programming reached its highest level yet at 59% of all programming expenses, or $846.3 million. This total represented a 9.2% increase over the $775.2 million that was spent in 2008.

And from the CRTC Specialty/Pay Nets report:

In 2009, these services spent $1.08 billion on Canadian programming, which was roughly the same amount as the previous year. Of the overall programming expenditures, $357.1 million was paid to independent producers to acquire Canadian programs.

Although investments in Canadian programming were essentially at the same level, these services directed $521.8 million to foreign programming. This represented an increase of 36.7% from the $381.6 million reported in 2008.

So to recap...Canadian programming spend in both reports: flat or same as year before. Foreign programming spend, mostly U.S.: an increase from almost 10% to a whopping 37%!

And people were asking Why? How? WTF??

It's kind of simple really, and I assumed more people already knew this...the Canadian networks don't spend anymore on homegrown programming because they don't have to.

You see, there are these things called conditions of license. They are rules, or conditions, that are placed on a broadcaster when the CRTC grants them the permission and privilege of owning and operating the license of a television channel. And one of those rules, or conditions, include minimum Canadian content spend requirements. And I will make a huge, or not so huge, leap here and say the amounts spent by Canadian broadcasters each year on Canadian content = their minimum Cancon spend requirement, and probably not one penny more.

The truth is once they've doled out that minimum spend they're pretty much done in the Cancon department for that year. Of course, you won't hear it phrased like that exactly - more likely you'll hear: "We have something like this already." or, "We're not looking for new programs at this time." or even, "We've run out of money for development or program licenses for this year." But as the above reports reveal, they may have spent their minimum for Cancon, but they certainly haven't run out of money to spend.

And here is the kicker: you may walk in with the coolest slickest most totally accessible massively entertaining sure-fire winner concept for a movie or TV series ever...but if they've already spent their Cancon minimum required spend as per their conditions of license, they ain't buying. Believe it...I've asked why and have been told (I'm paraphrasing): "If it's 100% Canadian, there's nothing you could bring us, no matter how good, that could make us more money and do more for us as a network than buying an American show or movie can."

So there you go.

This is why I was a big fan of the "dollar for dollar spend" proposal put forward by many of the Canuck artist and craftspeople guilds and unions last year during the TV policy hearings - as in, requesting that for every dollar a broadcaster spent on foreign or US programming they had to spend the same amount on homegrown Canadian programming.

Not surprisingly the broadcasters lobbied against that, and won.

This is a problem...because no matter how many ways you try to spin it, Cancon always ends up being a loss leader of sorts - the necessary evil cost of doing the business of operating a television network in Canada. But maybe we're not supposed to be talking about this 'club'.

In many ways the problems of our indigenous TV industry mirror many of the problems facing our English language feature film biz (as outlined recently in a very even-keeled and informative post by Uncle Jim at The Legion of Decency HERE), or at least a reoccurring theme seems to be emerging, which is....we have a system set up in Canada that handsomely rewards a chosen few in some select clubs, but they're rewarded for doing the bare minimum required with little or no expectation of return.

And that's kinda screwy.



(PS - you don't wanna know what Rule #3 is...)

Killing Us Softly With Your Prolong(ing)

In Canadian Televisionville, the big stories of past couple weeks have been a new TV policy report from the CRTC and the release of the new CMF (Canada Media Fund) guidelines. But in my opinion, there is an even bigger story out there that hasn't been getting the press it deserves...though it was recently touched on by Karen Mazurkewich in the National Post Financial section (You can read the article HERE)

Canuck content providers are getting killed.

Arnie Gelbart has survived the cyclical waves of the Canadian broadcast industry before. But there is no way to sugarcoat this recession. "It's been a tough year," says the president of Montreal-based Galafilm Productions Inc.

"Canadian broadcasters ordered very little new material compared to other years," says Mr. Gelbart, who admits to laying off some of his staff last year.

Mr. Gelbart's fears-- and the overall production blues of the industry -- were lost in the cacophony around the CRTC hearings last November to determine whether or not cable operators should compensate over-the-air broadcasters for carrying their signals.

As the rhetoric flew in Ottawa, production houses wobbled.

You see, this past year has been a sort of 'wait and see' limbo for most TV and Film creatives and producers and craftspeople in Canada. Wait and see what the old CTF new CMF is going to look like. Wait and see if tax credit rebates in various provinces are going to go up or stay the same or be reduced. And most importantly, wait and see if our broadcasters will or won't receive some sort of value for signal or fee for carriage from the BDU's/cable/satelite providers (aka you the consumer) so everyone can get on the with business of MAKING CONTENT AGAIN!

But even though the CRTC granted broadcasters the right to negotiate value for signal, it still has to clear the Canadian courts and then and only THEN can the Broadcasters and BDU's get on with business of negotiating.

Wait and see.

"The way the issue had been framed, misdirected the discussion entirely," says Michael Prupas, president and chief executive of Muse Entertainment Enterprises. It devolved into a battle over the survival of local television versus a so-called television tax, he says. But it should really have been about the survival of Canadian production and whether or not cable and satellite would lift a hand.

--------------------------

How the industry reshapes itself going forward depends on how the CRTC will handle television licence renewals in 2011 and how much cash there will be for producers within the revamped Canadian Media Fund (CMF) now new media players and broadcasters can dip into it for some in-house production.

Also at stake is whether or not Canadian producers will be able to monetize their shows online, and increase sales in overseas markets. While international sales rose to $2-billion in 2008-09, they have not returned to the heights of 2002-03.

Yep, you read that right. It's the 2011 television licence renewals that are so important apparently, as in next year. And EVERYONE is still trying to figure out how to monetize online programming, not just Canadian content producers.

Wait and see.

Everywhere I look or turn, companies are laying off personnel or even closing down...very little new work is being commissioned...writers and producers are giving up....craftspeople and technicians are packing it in and finding another line of work. It's BRUTAL.

We're dying out here CRTC and Broadcasters and Cable Providers of Canada...you're killing us softly but surely with your song of indecision and indifference.

Do you even care?

We're The King Of The World!

Local news story opens with:

The Canadian filmmakers behind two of this season's most buzzed about films landed Oscar nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, with James Cameron's 3-D blockbuster Avatar and Jason Reitman's downsizing comedy-drama Up in the Air among nominees for best picture. Kapuskasing, Ont.-born Cameron and Montreal-born Reitman are among the 10 contenders for the top Oscar category.

Does the fact that they've spent most of their lives in Los Angeles and made their films there not matter? Are we so lame a film industry or country even that we get jazzed about this and think where they were born has had something to do with these 'Canadian' filmmakers success?

Oh we do? Oh. Okay. Nevermind.

The Bitterest Pill Can Be Easy To Swallow

The Bitter Script Reader comes from the perspective of a Hollywood script reader who's tired of seeing screenwriters make the same mistakes over and over. It's a fun yet quite informative blog. This is from a recent post entitled: What Makes You See A Movie?:

A writer trying to sell his screenplay is often asked "Who's the target audience for this?" Now, it's easy to hear that question and fly into a rage over how horribly commercialized Hollywood is, with films not seen as art, but commodities designed to sell stale popcorn and salty pretzels. However, all the statement means is, "Who will see this? Who will want to see this? What viewer will this film reach?"

Check out the comments...you'll be surprised by some of the reasons given.

I tend to divide theatrical releases into two categories: movies and films. 'Movies' should be experienced at the local cinema, whereas 'films' can be enjoyed at the local Cineplex OR in the comfort of my own home. And speaking personally, I'll be swayed by films brought to us by certain writers, directors, and/or filmmakers...stars, not so much anymore (you burned me one too many times DeNiro!), and movies that demand being seen on the big, or a bigger at least, screen. Thus I've stood in line to watch Transformers or Wanted as opposed to The Reader or Revolutionary Road, even though I know darn well the latter two will be much better "films". And as for commercials and trailers, they've become more of a turnoff than a draw for me of late due to their tendency to expose pretty much the entire plot. A clever poster can actually be more seductive and enticing.



Anyway, having a sense of who will want to watch your film and why is really important to know when you're writing your screenplay. Duh. But it's a question a lot of screenwriters never seem to get around to answering until it's too late, especially up here in Canada.

What makes you see a movie?

Superhero? Super Channel? Or Super Depressing...

Can good taste alone sustain a nation?

Good question...and the answer is, probably not.

A few years ago, Canadian filmmaker Michael Sparaga and director Blake Van de Graaf made Sidekick, a low budget but fun and clever take on the mythos of the superhero. But faced with the distribution and exhibition issues we all have to deal with here in Canada, Sparaga took his feature on the road, trying to drum up some grassroots interest. The result of that road trip is the documentary Maple Flavour Films.

Kate Taylor reviewed the doc in todays Globe & Mail.

Sparaga has tidily summarized the embarrassing plight of the Canadian film here and, as one of his subjects comments, it is now time for those in the industry to stop talking and start reviewing the possible solutions and either reject or implement them. There are lots of people in this doc ready to say they don't like Canadian movies, but my reaction is always: How would you know you don't like them if you can't ever find them at your local theatre?

Of course, this being the Canadian film industry, Sparaga's story does not have a fairy-tale ending. The point of his tour was to get enough word of mouth going that Sidekick would get a further theatrical release; it didn't. And now his doc is airing on a financially struggling pay channel that is largely eclipsed by its competitors. Oh well, you can also download Maple Flavour Films at iTunes Canada, and it will show up on free TV eventually. You want to be a Canadian superhero, you have to be long on patience.

MFM airs tonight at 8pm on Super Channel, you know, the other movie network you can't easily find on your local dial because of indifferent or biased cable providers. Maple Flavour Films might not be the feel good Canada Day movie you want to see today, but it's certainly worth watching.

Canada's Top Ten....but WTF Is A Pontypool?

Today marks the beginning of a week of screenings and panels in Toronto under the banner of Canada's Top Ten. Organized by the Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFFG), Canada’s Top Ten highlight their picks of the top Canadian feature and short films for 2008. It's held from January 30 to February 7 at Cinematheque Ontario.

This is the eighth year for the event, and kudos to the group for trying to celebrate and raise awareness of Canadian features and shorts...though it is kind of hard to be really jazzed about it all since like almost half of the films haven't even been released in theatres yet. People's Choice Awards this is not. And there doesn't appear to be an awards ceremony...I guess they're all winners.

Here's a list of the selected features:

Adoration – Atom Egoyan (Entertainment One/Seville Pictures, May 2009)
Before Tomorrow – Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu (Alliance Films, February 2009)
Ce qu’il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life) – Benoit Pilon (Entertainment One/Seville Pictures)
C'est pas moi, je le jure! (It’s Not Me, I Swear!) – Philippe Falardeau (Entertainment One/Seville Pictures)
Fifty Dead Men Walking – Kari Skogland (TVA Films, Spring 2009)
Heaven on Earth – Deepa Mehta (Mongrel Media)
Lost Song – Rodrigue Jean
Maman est chez le coiffeur (Mommy Is at the Hairdresser’s) – Léa Pool (Equinoxe Films)
La Mémoire des anges (The Memories of Angels) – Luc Bourdon (National Film Board of Canada)
Pontypool – Bruce McDonald (Maple Pictures, March 2009)


Congrats to everyone being recognized...it's better than nothing I suppose.

Now...a few thoughts about the last film on the list which, for the record, I haven't seen...and it may be AWESOME, but...

I know I'm a broken record about the importance of the name of your film, but watch the trailer below for Pontypool, and then someone tell me how its depiction of Night of the Living Dead meets Talk Radio relates in any way, shape, or form to the title? Pontypool??



The movie's based on a book, "Pontypool Changes Everything" by Ontario author Tony Burgess (ECW Press, 1998) - a title that suggests 'Pontypool' is a thing or a person. But it turns out to be the name of the town where this virus that turns people into zombies takes hold.

Huh?

As you already know, I'm a big believer in the title giving you your first real good taste of whatever it is you're going to be viewing...that's just how I roll. And I get nothing from Pontypool.

Not to mention it's from a book I've never heard of, and I fear most everyone else hasn't heard of it either. So if that's why they kept that title, to 'build' on the supposed built-in brand or fan base of the novel...then I think they're going to be sorely disappointed by the number of 'book fans' who show up to see the film at a movie theater.

Okay...rant over. Go to the Cinematheque Ontario this week...support your local filmmaking industry...you know the drill.

When A Canadian Movie Is Wrapped...As A Gift

Denis McGrath put up a long post today that's a definite must-read...go NOW. It's an overview of the CRTC's (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) mandate, followed by the big guy questioning whether Vice Chair Michel Arpin has our best interests in mind when he publicly states in an interview that he's "...not that interested in televised fiction or even feature films. I would prefer to read a novel."

Hmmm.

But always the helpful one, Denis goes on to suggest we send him copies of quality Canadian TV shows and movies we like with a plan to forward one of each per month to Mr. Arpin's office with the hope of educating the commissioner about what we make, so to speak.

I'm pretty sure we'll have the TV shows and series covered pretty well, but what about Canadian feature films? When I was starting out in this biz, Un Zoo la Nuit (Night Zoo), I've Heard The Mermaids Singing, and Jesus of Montreal were the movies held up high as the bar to strive for. Personally, I enjoyed "Night Zoo" the most.

So what are the feature films held up high today?

For a long time, I didn't pay a lot of attention to our indigenous theatrical releases because...well, not very many peaked my interest, and I was working in TV. But over the past year or so, as I've been more involved in the development of long form drama, I've made best effort to see more Canadian features...so as to be conversant, you know. Here's some of the ones I've screened:

Bon Cop Bad Cop
The Tracy Fragments
Emotional Arithmetic
Away From Her
Beowulf and Grendel
Fido
Monkey Warfare
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie
Eastern Promises
The Rocket
C.R.A.Z.Y.

*It's All Gone Pete Tong

Sadly, very few of these I actually saw in a cinema and had to catch them on Super Channel or Movie Central. And of the list above, C.R.A.Z.Y. was easily the film I enjoyed the most... entertaining well-made Canadian English language flicks have always seemed fewer and farther between. Those darn French...they make better films and have a different word for everything.

At any rate, you can discuss or suggest HERE at InkCanada or chime away in the comments, but sticking to more recent Canadian feature films, what titles would you recommend sending to CRTC Vice Chair Michel Arpin?



(Here are two compilations on Wikipedia...Cinema of Canada...and...Canadian Films of the 2000's... but I acknowledge that neither is a complete list)

* added after post written

Everyone's A (Proven) Winner, Baby?

Frak it's gotten cold out here in the west...so cold it almost makes one want to curl up with a cup of Hot Chocolate and not think too hard about the Canadian TV/movie industry.

Almost.

Yesterday it was this interesting essay HERE at Mediafest's TV Board that got me thinking about "audiences"...and a couple of days ago it was THIS POST that had me thinking about the stigma in this country of being labelled a "Canadian" production.

Today I was thinking about how we measure success.

Lately, on a number of fronts, I've been involved with the analysis and assessment of a lot of Canadian TV and movie projects seeking development money. And I kept hearing a particular 'phrase of praise' heaped upon applying producers or filmmakers in order to evaluate the merit of their project.

"They're a proven winner."

Me (as always, being the curious one), asked "Why?"

Why?

"Yeah...why is this particular filmmaker or producer a proven winner?"

I wasn't challenging or disputing...I was genuinely interested.

Well, it was explained to me...their last film got accepted at TIFF or the Whistler Film Festival; or the CTF or Telefilm supported their last series or movie; or they got nominated for a Gemini or Genie; or even, their last film got a great review in the Globe or the Star or NOW Magazine!!

This is what we use to determine proven winners in film/TV in Canada? WTF?

I proceeded to be difficult and kept asking questions: "But how many actual viewers (aka eyeballs) did their last TV series or television movie get? Or what was the actual box office take for the last feature film of said producer/filmmaker?"

Colleagues looked at me like I was nuts. Much whispering and headshaking. Well, I was told... we can't really use things like that to measure success here in Canada. We have to judge our successes 'differently'.

There's that freakin' word again.

But I guess it kinda makes sense...since almost EVERYONE (media, journalists, Joe 'Average Viewer' Public) treats Canadian TV and movies as 'different', and nobody really expects any of our shows/movies to actually 'hit'...it only follows that the system that finances them has to have a different set of criteria for whether to fund or back them.

I know its kinda always been that way, but all of a sudden it struck me as pretty messed up. And further discussion with my colleagues uncovered a real desire to have more substantial criteria in place in order to determine our 'proven winners', but these days, that would mean excluding almost everyone. And that's no good.

Which isn't to say there isn't great stuff out there...it just might not be particularily popular or accessible. Or if it happened to be popular and accessible, it wasn't necessarily that good. Sigh.

Of course, we do have exceptions to the rule. Recently, Brett Butt got the greenlight for a new series...that made sense. And some of the key creatives behind Corner Gas and Little Mosque and This Hour Has 22 Minutes also got the greenlight on a pilot...that also made sense. And I'm not trying to downplay the 'success' of shows like Flashpoint, but I'm trying to focus just on programs that are all around homegrown and not riding the thoroughbred that is the US/Hollywood machine right out of the gate. And I really don't want our only 'legitimate' success stories to be just U.S. network co-productions...

And I'm not stupid or naive...I know how things work up here. Many smarter than I have written about the problems and ways to make it all better. I know how hard it is to get any sort of decent marketing or promotional campaign in Canada; or any good 'primetime' slot for your homegrown TV series or TV movie; or a wide release or even screens in movie theatres for your indigenous feature. And I know these are all huge factors necessary to a decent shot at a hit or even an "audience", but still...c'mon. Should filling out a form properly for a funding agency, or getting accepted to a film festival, or receiving a positive review or an award nomination really be our most commonly used measures of 'success'?

I dunno....the bar needs to be higher.

"That's the truth. And that's no lie."

But who should be responsible for raising that bar....and why.


Stay warm.

It's All About The Rules And The Money, Juno?

Culture. Cancon. Gemini's. Genie's. Entertainment?

Swinging a little late on the pitch here, but the fact that Juno, the sharp delightful little dramedy that's all the buzz right now, wasn't eligible for Genie nominations is still nagging at me. As the Toronto Star's Peter Howell points out in this article...it was shot in Canada, it was directed by a Canadian (Jason Reitman), and the two main leads (Ellen Page and Michael Cera) are Canadian. Yet because it was financed by Fox Searchlight out of the U.S., it didn't qualify. It wasn't Canadian enough.

More from Howell:

So why don't I just let the matter drop? The reason is that year after year, the Canadian movie industry moans about the lack of support for homegrown talent.

The Genies inspire so little passion in the frozen populace, only people directly involved care about who wins what prize. The viewing audience for the Genies' telecast is so low, our national taxpayer-funded broadcaster no longer carries it.

Then a movie comes along, directed by and starring Canadians and made in Canada, that people actually want to see. And what do we all do? We declare it can't possibly be Canuck.

Here's how weird it gets. U.S. actor Viggo Mortensen is nominated for a Genie for his strong acting in Eastern Promises, which was filmed in London. Julie Christie, a Briton, is nominated for her deeply moving performance in Away From Her. Yet Michael Cera, who actually is Canadian, isn't nominated for his sweetly innocent turn as the baby dad in Juno.

This does happen every year (last go around it was Cronenberg's A History of Violence), and I understand that the rules are in place to try to ensure homegrown indiginous projects get to be 'most' eligible...still...

It comes down to the money...and the rules. Money as in where the money came from - and rules as in the citizenship and residency of the producer(s) who manage that money to make the film. Is that the way it should work? If Juno had been actually set in the sleepy little town of White Rock, B.C., I still don't think it would've been eligible. Yet London-set Eastern Promises was. It's wacky.

Wacky like the culture/commercial entertainment debate going on at the CRTC hearings over the Canadian Television Fund....different arena, but it also comes down to rules and money (though in this case it's how much the Canadian broadcasters and cablers are earning because of 'the rules'). McGrath swings just right and hits a home run today with his monster post on the topic.

EDIT: And Henshaw wants to marry Jim Shaw...well, maybe not marry anymore, but he likes a lot of what Shaw's people had to say to the CRTC. About Canadian content.

Still I sigh. So much of what we make or try to make tv/film-wise (music seems to have worked out okay though) in this country is dictated by the well-intended objective but ultimately detrimental impact of the requirements to achieve that goal...Cancon.

It shouldn't be a dirty word, but Juno...