Remember photos? I just did...
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
THANKS, CHURCHY
As if the film industry isn't difficult enough, some jerk decided to help make it more difficult. The facebook group which stands in opposition to this puts it all together more thoroughly than I would, so I've copied and pasted the relevant info below - along with a recent letter to all the members. One thing I like about the group is that it provides email address for contacting the involved politicians, so that the group might actually affect something.
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Canada's Tory government is using clauses hidden away in Bill C10, an omnibus piece of legislation tweaking the Income Tax Act, to set itself up as the arbiter of which films and TV programs made in Canada are offensive, or not in the public interest. If C10 passes, the Heritage Minister will develop guidelines to deny tax credits (a key part of film and TV financing in Canada) to shows that step over the line--and it's anyone's guess how the Tories will define 'decency', 'obscenity', or 'contrary to public policy'.
Will films subversive of Christianity be funded (Jesus of Montreal)? Films with teen violence (New Waterford Girl)? Films with incest (The Sweet Hereafter)? Films with explicit sex (Crash)? Films with -- gasp -- gay themes (The Hanging Garden, etc., etc.)? Films with necrophilia (Kissed)? Films with threesomes (Where the Truth Lies)? Once the Tories pass this legislation, it'll be their administrative decision.
The Tories' evangelical base is celebrating the new legislation as a victory: the Globe and Mail reports that "Charles McVety, president of the Canada Family Action Coalition, said his lobbying efforts included discussions with Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, and 'numerous' meetings with officials in the Prime Minister's Office. 'We're thankful that someone's finally listening,' he said yesterday. 'It's fitting with conservative values, and I think that's why Canadians voted for a Conservative government.' 'There are a number of Conservative backbench members that do a lot of this work behind the scenes,' he said."
Right.
What's more, most films and TV programs apply for tax credits late in the game, after scripts have been written and principal photography completed. They use the predictability of tax credits to apply for federal subsidies, loans, and Telefilm Canada grants. With the proposed new guidelines, films and TV programs with even a whiff of controversy will become risky for funders, and artists will be under strong pressure to self-censor.
Please join this group, encourage people you know to join, and WRITE LETTERS to Senators, MPs, party leaders, the Minister of Heritage, and others. You'll find contact info and sample letters below.
It would also be great if you would share your own letters on the Discussion Board, post links to relevant articles under Posted Items, and use the Wall to state your views (no flame wars, please).
Bill C10 is currently in Third Reading, which is to say that there's little time to mobilize on this. Please do what you can.
For more info, see:
Canada tax credits: strings attached (The Hollywood Reporter): http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/international/news/e3i0055cabe5256398a723f2462ae029b3c
Evangelist takes credit for film crackdown (Globe and Mail): http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080229.wculture29/BNStory/National/home
Tories plan to withhold funding for 'offensive' productions (Globe and Mail): http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080228.wheritage28/BNStory/robColumnsBlogs/
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Hi there,
More than 1000 people have joined this Facebook group in opposition to Bill C-10 in its first day! Please check back for news, refer your friends and networks to this Group, and keep the ball rolling.
Most importantly, though, please fire off letters, even very brief ones, expressing your opposition. Addressees could include:
* The Prime Minister: pm@pm.gc.ca
* Leaders of opposition parties:
Stephane Dion: DionS@parl.gc.ca
Jack Layton: Layton.J@parl.gc.ca
Gilles Duceppe: Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca
* Your local MP: http://canada.gc.ca/directories-repertoires/direct-eng.html
* The Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO): cavco_bcpac@pch.gc.ca
* Letters to the Editor of national and local newspapers; TV and radio newsrooms; etc.
Thank you.
-------------
-----------
Canada's Tory government is using clauses hidden away in Bill C10, an omnibus piece of legislation tweaking the Income Tax Act, to set itself up as the arbiter of which films and TV programs made in Canada are offensive, or not in the public interest. If C10 passes, the Heritage Minister will develop guidelines to deny tax credits (a key part of film and TV financing in Canada) to shows that step over the line--and it's anyone's guess how the Tories will define 'decency', 'obscenity', or 'contrary to public policy'.
Will films subversive of Christianity be funded (Jesus of Montreal)? Films with teen violence (New Waterford Girl)? Films with incest (The Sweet Hereafter)? Films with explicit sex (Crash)? Films with -- gasp -- gay themes (The Hanging Garden, etc., etc.)? Films with necrophilia (Kissed)? Films with threesomes (Where the Truth Lies)? Once the Tories pass this legislation, it'll be their administrative decision.
The Tories' evangelical base is celebrating the new legislation as a victory: the Globe and Mail reports that "Charles McVety, president of the Canada Family Action Coalition, said his lobbying efforts included discussions with Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, and 'numerous' meetings with officials in the Prime Minister's Office. 'We're thankful that someone's finally listening,' he said yesterday. 'It's fitting with conservative values, and I think that's why Canadians voted for a Conservative government.' 'There are a number of Conservative backbench members that do a lot of this work behind the scenes,' he said."
Right.
What's more, most films and TV programs apply for tax credits late in the game, after scripts have been written and principal photography completed. They use the predictability of tax credits to apply for federal subsidies, loans, and Telefilm Canada grants. With the proposed new guidelines, films and TV programs with even a whiff of controversy will become risky for funders, and artists will be under strong pressure to self-censor.
Please join this group, encourage people you know to join, and WRITE LETTERS to Senators, MPs, party leaders, the Minister of Heritage, and others. You'll find contact info and sample letters below.
It would also be great if you would share your own letters on the Discussion Board, post links to relevant articles under Posted Items, and use the Wall to state your views (no flame wars, please).
Bill C10 is currently in Third Reading, which is to say that there's little time to mobilize on this. Please do what you can.
For more info, see:
Canada tax credits: strings attached (The Hollywood Reporter): http://www.hollywoodreport
Evangelist takes credit for film crackdown (Globe and Mail): http://www.theglobeandmail
Tories plan to withhold funding for 'offensive' productions (Globe and Mail): http://www.theglobeandmail
------------
Hi there,
More than 1000 people have joined this Facebook group in opposition to Bill C-10 in its first day! Please check back for news, refer your friends and networks to this Group, and keep the ball rolling.
Most importantly, though, please fire off letters, even very brief ones, expressing your opposition. Addressees could include:
* The Prime Minister: pm@pm.gc.ca
* Leaders of opposition parties:
Stephane Dion: DionS@parl.gc.ca
Jack Layton: Layton.J@parl.gc.ca
Gilles Duceppe: Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca
* Your local MP: http://canada.gc.ca/direct
* The Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO): cavco_bcpac@pch.gc.ca
* Letters to the Editor of national and local newspapers; TV and radio newsrooms; etc.
Thank you.
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Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
In case anybody actually still has any doubts...
...as to whether or not L. Ron Hubbard was a money-grubbing madman....here is an authentic picture of him auditing a Tomato.
They have past lives, you know.
They have past lives, you know.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Phew! Right then...
....it took a little longer than I expected, but I finished the first draft of the show bible for the web series I'm working on. This consisted of...
- The basic treatment (outline of the premise)
- Character Guide
- Episode Guide
- The first episode
I look forward to re-reading through it tomorrow and seeing how the assembly of all my disparate notes from the past six weeks or so looks after taking a break from squinting at all the connecting joints I was busy fashioning.
MEANWHILE
Oh ho ho ho...
- The basic treatment (outline of the premise)
- Character Guide
- Episode Guide
- The first episode
I look forward to re-reading through it tomorrow and seeing how the assembly of all my disparate notes from the past six weeks or so looks after taking a break from squinting at all the connecting joints I was busy fashioning.
MEANWHILE
Oh ho ho ho...
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sorry for a quiet spell folks
I am currently in another script fugue! But once it's over, this means you can count on another Script-Writin' Fancy-Like entry. This particular fugue has been almost continuously accompanied by the incredible melodies from Goldfrapp's new album, which they've been nice enough to upload in it's entirety to their MySpace page. Christ knows, I just might request that "Clowns" be played at my funeral.
Uh
See you soon!
Uh
See you soon!
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