Money Makes it Good.
Do we need a quota system? Well, maybe. But with out a solid marketing base, it will simply hurt the companies and individuals who operate film theaters.
Maybe instead of increasing funding for film production, or imposing a screening quota in Canada, the government needs to fund the marketing of the the films that are produced.
Most commercial films produced south of the boarder spend more on the marketing than on production. Maybe Canadian films need the same treatment. I certainly think so.
t
1 comment:
Government subsidization of film marketing is an interesting option, but there is no guarantee it would actually work. Mind you, it makes little sense to me that Telefilm gives funding to a film without a solid marketing plan in place.
Still, perhaps a British style lottery system would allow for the equivalent budget in marketing, so that if a producer does raise x amount of money, it could be matched dollar for dollar in marketing costs. I think though, as part of a broadcasters license, the CRTC should demand that trailers and film spots for Canadian releases be shown during primetime.
While we may not want to regulate the film industry, it wasn't until CANCON regulations were put in place in the 70s that the music industry was able to create a viable environment for it's entertainers. The 800 pound gorilla next door is just too big an obstacle to conquerer without quotas.
It's something that has to be at least seriously studied, along with perhaps relaxing tax shelter laws, but not to the point where we end up with American film directors, making American studio films, paid for by the Canadian public. The same strict CAVCO points system should be in place, although vastly simplified (it's 89 pages long).
Although, I found this oddity under ineligible productions:
5l) production for which public financial support would, in the opinion of the
Minister of Canadian Heritage, be contrary to public policy.
Scary.
cs
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