Canadian Movies Can't Stand On Their Own Feet....

Over the last few years there has been substantial government cuts to arts funding in Canada. Organizations, artists and companies have has to downsize, adjust and seek other forms of funding to continue creating or else they may cease to exist. This situation should encourage people to think about why they are being funded and if it actually supports their objective. It's a slippery slope with non-profit arts orgs as, traditionally, their objective has been to generate engaging content, foster the creative process and help grow domestic talent in Canada. For-profit orgs, which have a business model built on subsidies, are in danger of crumbling if funding is pulled and this is truly concerning and lacks good business sense. It causes me to wonder who within the arts community has been affected and who stands to be affected if Canada cuts ALL arts funding. Being in content (Film, TV and New Media), I started thinking of commercially successful TV shows, films etc. I found this list with some highlights:

CRAZY Jean-Marc Vallée

TRAILER PARK BOYS Mike Clattenburg

BON COP/BAD COP Erik Canuel

EASTERN PROMISES David Chronenberg

LES 3 P'TITS COCHONS Patrick Huard

VIDEODROME David Cronenberg

THE SWEET HEREAFTER Adam Egoyan

WATER Deepa Mehta

LAST NIGHT Don McKella

I'VE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING Patricia Rozema

TALES FROM THE GIMLI HOSPITAL Guy Maddin

Mon Oncle Antoine Claude Jutra

AWAY FROM HER Sarah Polley

KISSED Lynne Stopkewich

THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE Denys Arcand

BARBARIAN INVASIONS Barbarian Invasions (2003)

ONE of the problems with the Canadian System.

JUNO Jason Reitman Although it was written and directed by a Canadian, filmed in Vancouver and two of it's main cast members were Canadian, JUNO was funded by an American production company, which means that it is classified as an American Film. WHAAATT?

PORKY'S Bob Clark Although it was written and directed by an American and was filmed in Miami, Florida, Porky's was funded by a Canadian production company, which means that it is classified as a Canadian film. So NONE of the talent came from Canada, but the money did so it's Canadian. Boooo...

Does anyone see the obvious above? Most Canadian OR American would NOT recognize the names above. And two of the them that we do, are backwards in their thinking...It is basically saying the most important part of the equation is money...Well, that has really been a great success to us up until now, hasn't it...We can't take American money and call something Canadian in any way. So we can't leverage the largest entertainment superpower to help promote our little country. Promote it and there by bringing it into the masses forefront and increasing overall awareness that will help producers get more money to make more stories and content that people will hopefully go see because they recognize the names, faces, etc. This is not brain surgery people...Gosh...If I was to research ALL the films above I bet @ least 45% of the financing is government. Which means if the gov stops giving all art funding, Canada (English Canada) will just stop making movies? Really? We need to look at the rules of engagement and find a way to strike a balance between the artistic process and generating revenue so we can build a robust industry that can stand on its own two legs...Next, I will look at Canadian Music...Which ACTUALLY makes a lot of money and is an amazing export we are all proud of. Is there a fundamental difference between how we engage the music business process against the Film or TV process? Thoughts? Will throw more down later.