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Over the past month a lot of attention has been paid in the Canadian news media to Bill C-10 — and rightfully so. The Bill includes more than a hundred amendments to the Income Tax Act, but one little clause about the film industry seems to be stirring all this controversy; a clause that allows the Heritage Minister to determine if “public financial support of the production would not be contrary to public policy.”
In plain English, this means that one man has the right to refuse tax credits and other incentives provided by the government to film and television productions that he doesn’t feel are in keeping with public policy. The problem? Nowhere does this amendment state what “contrary to public policy” actually means or what specific credits and incentives would be removed. Considering the number of jobs and dollars that float their way to “Hollywood North” every year, this could prove detrimental not only in determining what we watch but to a large segment of our economy.
A few great bits of reading on the subject;
- National Post: Controversial bill called “an attack on the Canadian film industry”
- Xtra.ca: Interview with David Cronenberg on Bill C-10
- CBC: Artists call Tory plan to vet films ‘censorship’
If you’re at all bothered by this, there are a number of petitions floating around out there in cyberspace you can sign (and even a Facebook group with a large support base), but nothing is ever more effective than contacting your local MP and telling them how you feel.
I went into this article attempting to offer a fair and balanced reporting of this situation, but the more I searched the less I found as far as support for this bill goes. The only backing I found was in a parlimentary press release: “Bill C-10 has nothing to do with censorship and everything to do with the integrity of the tax system. The goal is to ensure public trust in how tax dollars are spent.” If there was any truth to that, wouldn’t they just modify the offending clause that obviously has everything to do with censorship?
Where do you stand on the issue?
How is this censorship?? The filmmakers are welcome to produce any kind of movie they want. Heck, they could even make a pornographic movie. This is not censorhsip, but is responsible attention for HOW my tax dollars are being spent. Have you ever seen one decent Canadian-produced movie? A movie that MY tax dollars paid for?
Why don’t private investors pay for Canadian movies? Because the movies that Canada produces aren’t profitable, and nobody watches them. Do you think the US government pays for Hollywood movies? Of course not!
The government should not be in the business of producing unprofitable, expensive works of art. As for the jobs created, their salaries are paid for by the taxpayer.
David Cronenburg is hypocritical for labeling this bill a ‘catastrophe’. Does he produce Canadian films in Canada with Canadian actors? No! He gets paid millions to make films in the US, which is where any talented filmmaker goes.
If yuppy filmmakers want to make their art, don’t expect government handouts. Find another yuppy to pay for it. This culture of entitlement HAS to end in Canada.
Im on the fence, there are some great progams out there that use the canadian tax credit, that maybe might not be deemed appropriate to some.
For instand the show called g spot, kind of a knock off sex in the city. Its really not bad.
Theres a ton of kid shows I really like that are funded by the Government that I wouldnt want to be lost.
Then again theres some pretty crappy shows that i really could care less if there on tv, and id much rather see my tax dollars go to health care.
So really im undecided. Is it censorship? Sure but tv’s already censored, but then you hitting a really sensitive topic. For say this decision makes is anti abortion, and a womens rights group wanted to make a half hour show and wanted the government to fund it.
What if they got told no. Now would that warrant the decision makes are censoring them because he didnt believe in it?
Its a really fine line.
I love how they just throw magor tidbits casuaully into changes.
They should just leave it alone, because a lot of these tv shows are truly art, and you really cant censor art.
fwiw, the reason Hollywood is in Hollywood and not back in Manhattan where it started was for tax-break reasons (and because California Copyright laws were more lax — cf L.Lessig “Free Culture”)
The reason Canadian corporations don’t support films is because we have precious few Canadian corporations. Heck, Tim Hortons isn’t even Canadian anymore. A Reid survey back in 1985 found that of over a thousand corporations polled on “where do you spend your donation/investment money” something like 90% said, “We don’t, the international HQ (US or England) handle all that stuff” … which means your ‘Canadian’ businessmen are all off supporting US and Brit projects. It is in response to this that the Canadian state has taken up the classical role of patron to the arts, as did the royal houses of old, so there’s nothing odd or unprecidented there. As patrons, they do have the right to withold funding, and filmakers do retain the right to find funding elsewhere (eBay perhaps? 😉 HOWEVER the issue here is not that Parliament decides, or the Canada Council decides, but that an untrained politician has the sole discretion.
Of course, I remember the years when we had a pig farmer as our Culture Minister …
And as for US support of the films, you would do well to look into the origins of Madison Avenue. Tax breaks, payoffs, old-boys networks, probably some skull rings too, all in thanks for the propaganda during the glorious war years.
I don`t think the entertainment industry should be financed by public assistance…you make a movie, its good, people will pay for it, and the movie will make money on its own.
If you make a movie and its not good, then make good movies next time. If all movies are to be funded with public assistance then there will be no incentives for producers to work hard and make good stuff.
That`s the way I see it.
How many tax breaks are we going to give a money-losing industry? Is the Canadian art/film scene EVER going to establish itself? Are we really protecting our Canadian heritage? (Most of us watch American tv!)
Fine, we have precious few Canadian corporations. But do you think ANY corporation would be interested in funding the arts in Canada? No! because most of it is crap! (Restaurant makeover, KITH, and trailer Park Boys are exceptions, but even the ‘artistic integrity’ of these shows is debatable.)
I think that if any reasonable politician can look at the history of film in Canada, the question is: “Are we going to pay for this perverted, obscene nonsense, (Young people F*ckin) which costs millions and most likely will NOT make back the money invested?” Enough is enough. ‘Meatballs’ was 1 film that was actually profitable out of 100 other throwaway Canadian movies.
During the 1970s, Canada’s tax policy encouraged making films merely to obtain a significant tax credit. Many films were then produced merely for tax purposes, and quality became unimportant. For example, producers of Canadian films were allowed to take a fee out of the production costs, something that is not allowed in the US, where producers may only take a fee once the film earns back its production costs.
I stumbled across this blog while doing research for an essay I am writing about Bill C-10, I wasn’t planning on replying until I read the comments above and was blown away by the ignorance and uninformed opinions.
Marc…I’m curious to know how many Canadian produced movies you have seen, I assume it must be many since you allow yourself to suggest that there aren’t any decent Canadian-produced movies…maybe you should do a bit more research or extend your views on what is considered “decent”….I have seen many Canadian films that greatly surpass my opinion of mediocrity.
I also think you are misunderstanding government “paying” for Canadian films. Unfortunately the government is nowhere near providing mass amounts of funding to these films. The “funding” is more in terms of tax breaks or incentives, i.e. making filming a Canadian film cheaper, not handing over bushels of your tax dollars.
I don’t think that the government is “in the business” of producing what you call “unprofitable, expensive works of art”…and think about it, maybe if people like you payed a bit more attention to Canadian art (that according to you nobody watches) then Canada would have a more thriving film industry and wouldn’t be so dependent on Governmental support.
I also encourage you to look further into US tax breaks and incentives to American films, I assure you that they aren’t nonexistent.
You shouldn’t be so quick to judge filmmakers like David Cronenberg. Robert Lantos for Serendipity Point produced the film…he and his company are Canadian. Cronenberg is a huge supporter of Canadian film and I don’t really understand how you are accusing him of hypocrisy just because he has chosen to utilize the US market for more success, exactly what you are accusing other apparently unwatched Canadian films of not doing.
This is a touchy subject.
BUT..i dont agree that one man should decide for 35 million people what is decent and what is not.
I firmly and truely with all my heart believe in the concept of “freedon of speech”.
If there are no set guidr lines, then it is all decided on what one man thinks is moral or not.
I personally dont like most of the shows, etc. that MY tax dollars go to, but i am VERY glad they do go to these shows.
Some i find insulting and of poor taste, but that is just one mans opinion….mine.
listen…..i think that everyone should be allowed to get a little piece of that pie.
A really cool man once said…
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
As much as i would not like it, if a hard-core muslin group (of canadians)wants to get money to do shows on what they want, a would support them 100%.
Some as christians or “stoners” (trailer park boys)or whatever.
I may not like what is said, but as a canadian (FRIGGIN PROUD CANADIAN!!!) I dont think there should be a systen set up for the whims of man man to decide the morality of MY country.
anyway, just my 2 cents.
Bobby
“The “funding†is more in terms of tax breaks or incentives, i.e. making filming a Canadian film cheaper, not handing over bushels of your tax dollars.”
Those tax dollars could be better spent elsewhere. Heck, let’s pay David Cronenberg to produce some 100% Canadian films. Oh, I forgot… his commision is four million dollars, and he’s much interested in working with international actors OUTSIDE of Canada.
“Cronenberg is a huge supporter of Canadian film and I don’t really understand how you are accusing him of hypocrisy just because he has chosen to utilize the US market for more success, exactly what you are accusing other apparently unwatched Canadian films of not doing.”
My point is that most Canadian-filmed shows and movies will NOT be picked up by the US market because they’re crap! Any Canadian filmmaker would LOVE to have their film distributed to a wider market. Like the director of Juno, for example. He pretty much had it made before he started filming, however, seeing as Fox Searchlight paid for this movie. (On the condition that it were ‘Americanized’– filled with Amnerican actors, taking place in the US, even though it was filmed in Canada)
“I have seen many Canadian films that greatly surpass my opinion of mediocrity.”
that’s wonderful, but did any of them make money? Is ‘Kink’ on that list??
please don’t lecture me on my ‘knowledge’ of Canadian cimena. ‘A history of violence’ was produced with a 32 million dollar budget and distributed by new Line productions. Name some other CANADIAN-produced movies. Not just with a Canadian director, I’m talking completely Canadian, like ‘Bon cop bad Cop’. (Know anyone who actually saw this?)
“maybe if people like you payed a bit more attention to Canadian art (that according to you nobody watches) then Canada would have a more thriving film industry”
the Canadian tv viewer has been subjected to watching “Canadian Content”, which, although has the good intention of proliferating our Canadian heritage, is too often used to prop up weak or untalented artists. We have had Canadian movies crammed down our throats on Canadian tv, only to have a majority of viewers — in Canada and abroad— change the channel.
Marc,
you asked …”Name some other CANADIAN-produced movies. ”
here is a PARTIAL list…
Away From Her
Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner)
Black Christmas
Black Robe
Bon Cop, Bad Cop
Les Boys
The Company of Strangers
Le Confessionnal (The Confessional)
The Corporation
Crash (1996)
C.R.A.Z.Y.
Cube
Cypher
Dead Ringers
Le Déclin de l’empire américain (The Decline of the American Empire)
Duct Tape Forever
Eastern Promises
Exotica
FUBAR: The Movie
Ginger Snaps
Goin’ Down the Road
The Grey Fox
The Hanging Garden
Hard Core Logo
Highway 61
A History of Violence
I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing
Les Invasions barbares (The Barbarian Invasions)
Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal)
Johnny Mnemonic
Juno
Last Night
Léolo
Lilies
Mambo Italiano
Margaret’s Museum
Maria Chapdelaine
Meatballs
Men with Brooms
Mon oncle Antoine
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
New Waterford Girl
Neighbours
Porky’s
Prom Night
The Rocket
The Saddest Music in the World
Scanners
The Little Girl Who Lived Down The Lane
The Sweet Hereafter
The Take
Tales from the Gimli Hospital
Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould
Titanic
Touch of Pink
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie
Videodrome
Water
waydowntown
Wavelength
Whale Music’
Winter Kept Us Warm
Un Zoo la nuit (Night Zoo)
Some of these are classics…”black Christmas” is arguably one of the most influential films of that genre.
come on…these are some real good movies.
if anything, i think there should be more money and to make it easier to access.
maybe the canadian goverment shouold think about some sort of “CANCON” rule for movies in canada.
it worked great on tv and the radio in the 70’s.
BUT….it is not the money issue that is the problem, it is the fact that one man holds the TOTAL power to decide what productions get funding and which dont.
Bobby
Black Christmas? Never heard of it. Ask ten friends, I’m sure they’ll tell you the same. To tell the truth, I’ve never heard of MOST of the movies on this list! And where’s the Degrassi movie? Now THAT’S Canadian, AND good!
I’m sure that Canada produced many more films than this. But Titanic? Juno? Johnny Mneumonic? These movies are about as Canadian as the back bacon in a San Diego Mcmuffin.
“is the fact that one man holds the TOTAL power to decide what productions get funding and which dont.”
Actually, the Ministry of Canadian Heritage (Status of Women and Official Languages) gets to decide. This is more than one person.
“if anything, i think there should be more money and to make it easier to access.”
I’ve already explained why this doesn’t make sense. If you have a great idea for a movie, convince someone to invest the money needed to film it. Don’t EXPECT a handout.
I reiterate: Noone is being ‘censored’. We are keeping Canadian film and media on artificial life support. SHould we be? Or should we let the market decide? Is it possible to keep Canadian actors and ‘artists’ in Canada, or is the US market (which is 10x bigger than ours) too much to compete with, necessitating taxpayers to foot the bill!?
I think we should give legitimate ‘Canadian’ artists tax breaks, and throw out the crap we see on cbc!
WHAT????
Juno is not canadian?
Filmed in canada!
Starring canadians!
Directed by a canadian!
what is the guidelines to make a film canadian?
where it was made?
who wrote it?
who starred in it?
who directed it?
who produced it?
who paid for it?
it is easy to say that these are not canadian films, it would make it easy for me if i knew what you a consider canadian film………..
and never heard of Black Christmas?
at one time it was the highest international grossing canadian film ever. surpassed by the first Porky’s movie.
it won The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films “Golden Scroll Award”.
it won the Canadian Film & Etrog Awards.
it won the Edgar Allan Poe Award.
from your posts you stated very clearly “please don’t lecture me on my ‘knowledge’ of Canadian cimena.”
LOL
maybe someone should.
PS-Ellen Page from Juno is a relative. (1st cousins)
I have meet several of the people who were on the set of Juno. MARC….i would love to see you go to the hundreds of people who worked on Juno and tell them that there film was NOT canadian.
Buy a good pair of runners, cause thay will run you out of town!
Bobby
It may be unfair that some government guy will
decide who gets a budget and who doesn`t, I do
agree with that, but… this is discrimination
we`re talking about, not censorship.
Ah, so Ellen Page is your 1st cousin? I can now understand your bias.
Juno was funded by an American company with American dollars. (Big friggin’ surprise — it’s a GOOD movie!) Yes, it was filmed in Canada, (as are many American-funded movies, because it’s cheaper) but takes place in the US. Ellen Page and Michael Cera were born in Canada, while every other supporting actor is from the US. Juno was ineligible for the Genie Awards, Canada’s version of the oscars. (Although the head of the Genies claims the filmmakers simply didn’t apply)
Is there any Canadian music, or Canadian references in this flick? (like in Tralier Park boys, or Bob & Doug Mckenzie?) No! In fact, this movie TRIED to be as American as possible! There ARE numerous American slang, songs, and references throughout. This Movie was not targeted towards Canadians specifically, nor meant to reflect Canadian culture: It is as American as apple pie. ‘Fargo’ is more Canadian than this movie!
SCTV was Canadian. And Degrassi. And Due South. And Kids in the Hall. 90% of the other Canadian tv shows produced over the years have sucked, however, and my tax dollars paid for them. If YOU want to watch your precious ‘Canadian’ shows funded by ‘Canadian’ dollars, you should have to use Pay per view. Don’t cram ‘Canadian’ content down my throat so that we can celebrate our ‘Canadian’ heritage! I’m capable of deciding for myself what to watch.
So…because a film protrays that it is not canadain, that makes it non-canadian?
because it was funded by american money, that makes it NOT canadian?
it where the money comes from, that decides who “owns” it?
did you know that BOTH “behind the green door” and “debbie does dallas”
were both made using canadian funds.
(private funds, but the money came from canada)
it is nice to knopw that the 2 most famous adult films are now considered canadian.
LOL
too funny.
MARC…you said because the suporting actors were not canadian that makes film not canadian. does this mean if a canadian actor stars in it, it will be canadian?
WOW, That means every movie with mike myers, William Shatner, jim carey, Donald Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland, Matthew Perry, Neve Campbell, Keanu Reeves, etc is to be considered canadian?
and MARC, the bill reads that it is the MINISTER, not the ministry that decides. that means one person!
That is what is upsetting everyone.
you seem to have gotten a little off topic and on a bit of a rant.
B
Marc posted: “Have you ever seen one decent Canadian-produced movie?” and “…most Canadian-filmed shows and movies will NOT be picked up by the US market because they’re crap!”
Quality is not the issue: Canadian films have been recognized worldwide for their originality and fearless exploration of difficult subjects. The reason Canadian films don’t turn a profit is because Hollywood studios have a monopoly on distribution (at least theatrically) in our country.
Here is an example, with stats from IMDb:
Away From Her (nominated for 2 Oscars)
User Rating: 7.8
Number of Sites (maximum): 275
Box Office Gross (05.04.07-07.13.07): $15,830,046
Superhero Movie
User Rating: 3.5
Number of Sites (maximum): 2965
Box Office Gross (03.28.08-04.08.04): $17,523,465
If Bill C10 were to pass, American productions shooting in Canada would not be affected…
“If you have a great idea for a movie, convince someone to invest the money needed to film it. Don’t EXPECT a handout.” We don’t EXPECT anything, Marc. Funding a film in Canada is an arduous task.
I am a Canadian citizen, born and raised: just because you (and people like you) are ignorant and impervious does not mean I should have to leave my country to make a living.
I don’t think that this bill is censorship. We have the right to free speech, but I don’t remember hearing about our right to free money or tax breaks.
I can’t walk down the street without having homeless people ask me for change. The soup kitchens in my city are filled with people from all walks of life. Many people are struggling to get a leg up around here, and in many other cities.
I believe in funding our schools, hospitals, employment centres and work programs. Drug programs, parenting programs and business start up programs should be funded as well. I don’t want my tax dollars going to those movies.
No one is saying that those movies can’t be made, but they need to look for funding or provide it themselves with loans, savings, credit cards. It worked for Kevin Smith 🙂
I’ve contacted my MP to urge him to support this bill. There are just too many worthwile places for my money to go to, and I don’t believe it should go to a handout.
Also, I would consider Juno an American movie since it was written by an American if I’m correct.
I sure hope my tax dollars weren’t used to make those pornographic movies!
I consider a movie that is produced and distributed in Canada, and then exported, to be Canadian. Juno was distributed in America, and exported internationally, with all profits going to… the American companies! Oh, but the director and two actors also got their cut!
“does not mean I should have to leave my country to make a living.”
yes it does! Eskimos can’t sell igloos in Arizona! Just because you, a Canadian moviemaker, (a very small minority) hears the ‘calling’ to make movies, you expect to be able to do so out of the taxpayers’ pockets! Canada’s silly socialist life-control film industry has given talentless hacks an opportunity to produce all the crap we see on ctv and cbc, has wasted millions, and you nevertheless expect MORE!
Glad to see that most of us do not support the Bill….there is still some hope. The Heritage Minister, Josee Verner will be the one who decides which movies get their funds cut if “against public opinion”, it could be worse, apparently she is more liberal than Harper.
One of the reasons the film industry is concerned about this is because they REALLY depend on these funds to back their films, and not only that, the bill allows the government to remove funding for a film AFTER it has already started or even finished production! This shaky system of support for Canadian film doesn’t just affect that money coming from the government, it changes the whole structure of Canadian films- private investors will be very hesitant to invest money into a film that could have to stop production because its funding was yanked.
Many Canadian films have traditionally been edgy or controversial, this is a reason many Canadian films do well- they aren’t the kind of thing that has been produced in the US. With this bill in place, we will have an even tougher time competing with their industry.
I urge everyone to email their MP or a member of the Senate and let them know your thoughts.
p.s….if anyone wants to see a really great French Canadian film that would never have been made if this law was in place, check out C.R.A.Z.Y.
C.R.A.Z.Y. is an awesome movie!!!
Anyone who thinks the reason Canadian movies don’t make any money is due to the quality of the films is seriously ignorant. The reason Canadian films make no money is due to lack of publicity, marketing, and distribution, NOT quality of the films. “Away From Her” (Cost $4.5 million to make, and grossed at $15 million) is a perfect example of how Canadian films need the right exposure to be successful.
If bill C-10 were to be passed we would only be making it harder for great Canadian films to be made since we are handing the creative control of filmmakers over to the government. Filmmakers would be forced to work within extremely vague boundaries in terms of what is appropriate and what is not.
We should be encouraging and supporting the creative freedom Canadian filmmakers, not limiting funding to what is morally suitable.
“Filmmakers would be forced to work within extremely vague boundaries in terms of what is appropriate and what is not.”
Yes, if they expect the taxpayer to pay for it! Otherwise they can get financing from the private sector, and they’ll be free to make any darn movie they like!
“The reason Canadian films make no money is due to lack of publicity, marketing, and distribution.”
Or perhaps because the filmmakers lack creativity, and couldn’t make it in Hollywood. Or perhaps because these movies fail to make back their production costs at the box office.
Actually Marc, it’s harder for filmmakers to make whatever movie they want with private investors…most of the time they are really controlling to what is in the movie, and we don’t need government to be the same. Public funding allows for equal opportunities for filmmakers, so that not just big hollywood types have the funding, which brings some uniqueness to Canadian cinema.
And although this might be a totally foreign concept to you, perhaps the filmmakers are interested in staying true to their country and making a Canadian film. I don’t think that it’s that they have been rejected by their country, I think its loyalty, and the opportunity to make films that (thank goodness) don’t fit into your cookie cutter version of what’s good.
If you look at Canadian films, its amazing how much some of them have made considering how little money they are made for. Simon mentioned “Away from Her”, which is a great example of how Canadian films are developing and that this definitely isn’t the time to be censoring them.
Marc, you have just disqualified yourself from being taken seriously based on the asinine statement “…perhaps because the filmmakers lack creativity, and couldn’t make it in Hollywood.” If that is what you honestly think of Canadian talent, you should be ashamed.
“If that is what you honestly think of Canadian talent, you should be ashamed.”
It’s not what I think, it’s what Canadian moviegoers think. Admit it: Only a small percentage of Canadian movies are acclaimed, or even actually watched.
“Public funding allows for equal opportunities for filmmakers, so that not just big hollywood types have the funding, which brings some uniqueness to Canadian cinema.”
great; my tax dollars are paying for your crap Canadian movies, most of which lose money. Oh, except for ‘Away from her’.
“perhaps the filmmakers are interested in staying true to their country and making a Canadian film”
What, like Juno? If Ivan Reitman and Cronenberg are so proud of their Canadian heritage, I’d like to see them make a film about Canadian issues, with Canadian characters, that takes place in Canada!
marc…
its not what we as canadian film viewer think, it is what we are allowed to think.
now follow me here…
the film “Bon Cop, Bad Cop” was shown in a total of……wait for the drum roll……TWO theatres in the entire province of nova scotia.
(this movie was actually shown in more theatres in GERMANY of all places, than in all the theatres in canada. Boggles the mind)
maybe that is why canadian movies dont make money or are “acclaimed”.
we never had the chance to think about or judge this movie, cause most were not exposed to it.
(i downloaded it. technecally illegal, but that is what we as canadians have been reduced to.)
Bobby
“(i downloaded it. technecally illegal, but that is what we as canadians have been reduced to.)”
Why didn’t you buy it? You’ve been ‘reduced’ to what you really are… a thief. I guess you sort of paid for it… with your tax dollars.
http://www.amazon.ca/Bon-Cop-Bad-Eric-Canuel/dp/B000IY02TC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1207886858&sr=8-1
Marc:
To the best of my knowledge there are only two countries in the world which have film industries that do not receive public support – the U.S., India. Public support of film production is the norm is the rest of the world.
There are numerous sources of information on the web re: Canadian film/tv production, please do some research & check some of these sites out.
If you are going to pontificate on a subject it’s always good to have an informed opinion!
“To the best of my knowledge there are only two countries in the world which have film industries that do not receive public support”
That’s all fine and dandy; but the point I’m trying to make is that Canada produces some great stuff, but also a TON of CRAP. An appropriate filter is needed.
What you’re saying is:
“filmmakers want to make a movie? Let’s have the taxpayer pay for it! They want to make something grotesque and obscene? That’s okay, Canada will pay for it! They want to produce something sloppy and uninteresting? SOmething which time and time again has proven to be a money-losing venture? That’s okay, we have taxpayers who are willing to spend MILLIONS in the name of ‘art’ — The same ‘art’ that these artists can’t convince anyone to pay for! Thank goodness Canada pays for it! Why does Canada pay for it, you might ask? Because ‘Canada’ has decided that this art is good for us!”
It’s about time we looked into changing this legislation!
“How unwatched are Canadian films? So unwatched that when consulting the Friday listings, Canadians are twice as likely to see Bridget Jones XII or some subtitled art movie from the Czech Republic as any CanCon masterpiece… it’s not censorship to deny someone public funding… free money is not the same as free speech. Nobody is stopping any of these filmmakers from making their films; they’re simply stopping the cheque.”
http://www.macleans.ca/canada/opinions/article.jsp?content=20080312_5744_5744&page=1
Having stumbled across this page, and being an ardent supporter of the arts, and having an acute mind enough to choose for myself to discern good art from bad art (note: this is entirely a subjective call.), I found it imperative that I post.
Marc, I question what side you’re actually on, and whether or not you’re playing devil’s advocate by the sheer fact that you’re unable to keep your own role going. Allow me to illustrate:
On April 9th, and 11:36pm:
“I’m capable of deciding for myself what to watch.”
You wrote that, I did not. Look up if you don’t believe me. It’s right there. This is exactly the issue. The Canadian people, all 32+ million of us, are capable of deciding what to watch. “Young People Fucking” is, for the record, one of the least trivializing accounts in the true nature of love and romance. Sure, the title is controversial, but that’s the nature of its subject matter. I take it you didn’t see “Shortbus.” It might be too controversial for you.
From where does this repeated, and might I add, unsubstantiated claim of “crap” (or sometimes “CRAP”) stem? The sheer fact alone that you have “never heard of MOST of the movies on this list” abrogates any potential to judge Canadian film. Our documentaries are world-renowned, our animation: virtually unparalleled. I suggest you sit down and watch some of the Norman Maclaren animations produced by the NFB years ago. They are spectacular. (Of special note, Le Merle and Neighbours).
As for Canadian TV, it is people like you that are ultimately responsible for jPod, one of the CBC’s most cutting-edge AND most watched (if online viewership is counted) programs. They’re apparently too edgy, and ultimately, reinforce the reason why art afficionados and philistines are perpetually at war. Other CBC shows like The Border and Little Mosque on the Prairie have been phenomenal hits, with Little Mosque actually being made for syndication in France, and potentially in the US, among other countries. (All the information is online, should you choose to search for it.)
Box office performance is seldomly correlative to quality. The fact that Crossroads was a box office success alone underlines this point. In the United States, people make movies to make money; whereas, in Canada, films are significantly less commodified. They are a medium through which and artist can express themselves, and much like other artists in this country, need governmental support should we wish to actually continue to evolve.
“Only a small percentage of Canadian movies are acclaimed, or even actually watched.”
You haven’t heard of a little place called Quebec, have you? Or perhaps things like the Toronto International Film Festival, or the Shaw Festival in Banff, or even the Vancouver and Montreal Film Festivals? Maybe Cannes is even unfamiliar to you? How about the Oscars…those ring any bells?
Canadian films have featured prominently in every one of those venues. Quebecois films have done exceedingly well, especially recently, with Bon Cop Bad Cop, C.R.A.Z.Y., La Grande Seduction, Le declin de l’empire americain, and Les 3 p’tits cochons. Even Quebec-Montreal, which I despised, is worthy of some acclaim. Outside of Quebec, movies directed by Atom Egoyan have done Canada wonders on the international stage. Meena Nair is another brilliant Canadian film-maker. You need to expand your horizons from watching American Idol in your quaint suburban home, with the SUV in the garage. Sure, I’m painting a stereotypical picture, but you’ve done the same to Canadian art.
Shame on you, Marc.
To address the bill directly, a minister with control over whether or not something is contrary to “public policy” is extremely dangerous, and sets a precedent to go down a very slippery path. TeleFilm Canada already weeds out pornography prior to the grant process. Perhaps people need to consider doing some research before poking their anti-intellectual, anti-artistic noses into these important issues.
Very rarely do I have faith in unelected institutions, but I will place my faith in the senate that they do their job as our “sober second thought” and quash this bill.
PS – Marc, if you want to really be unnerved, take a look at what the National Gallery spends on art every year. It might cause your head to explode, but I guarantee you, it’s well worth it.
I asked everyone in my workplace if they’ve ever heard of Norman Maclaren, and you can guess the reaction. His wikipedia page lists dozens of awards and honors for various projects, none of which were seen by 99% of Canadians, regardless of those projects having no-doubt aired on Canadian TV countless times. But we all saw ‘Shrek’ though.
Thanks also for rattling off 20-or-so odd Canadian-made movies and movie-makers that I’ve never heard of.
“In the United States, people make movies to make money”
Right, and in Canada, TAXPAYERS make movies that mainly LOSE money. (ecept for the films listed above. I assume they were at least profitable?) Congratulations on your smug self-deservance that comes from living in a culture of entitlement. You congratulate yourself for making wonderful pieces of art that have won prizes at Cannes and the Academy awards, but you must realize that most Canadians aren’t interested. If they were, they’d buy more shortbus DVDs.
I agree with the need to proliferate Canadian content and culture in our media. We should be proud to be Canadian. We should be proud of our history, our hardworking friendly people, and our overseas peacekeeping.
We should NOT be proud, however, of sex & violence. Or nonsensical productions filmed under the guise of ‘Canadian Art’ so that the government can pay for it. You advocate filth, pat yourself on the back, while our grandmothers cringe.
I really don’t want this to be a flame war, and you people seem to be experts on Canadian film. I watch movies with my grandmother. We enjoyed ‘Ferris Buellers day off’, Shrek, and ‘home Alone’. Can you please recommend a Canadian movie, devoid of gross indecency? And by Canadian, I mean Canadian-acculterated that takes place in Canada. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I’ve been interested in taxes for longer then I care to admit, both on the personal side (all my working life story!!) and from a legal stand since passing the bar and following up on tax law. I’ve furnished a lot of advice and redressed a lot of wrongs, and I must say that what you’ve put up makes utter sense. Please uphold the good work – the more individuals know the better they’ll be equipped to deal with the tax man, and that’s what it’s all about.
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