News and AnnouncementsDGC Ontario News & Announcements ARCHIVES
Rally in support of Canadian television
DGC Ontario believes that to maintain or increase work opportunities for its Members, broadcasters must increase their commitment to airing Canadian television and dramatic programmes.
As Global TV announces its fall schedule tomorrow in a press conference at the Hazelton Hotel, members of the film and television community are staging a rally outside the hotel to bring focus to this important issue.
DATE: Tuesday, June 1, 2010
TIME: 2:15 p.m.
PLACE: Hazelton Hotel (118 Yorkville Avenue)
Come out and make some noise on behalf of your industry and your art!
Memorial Service for Andrew Hull
DGC Ontario Member Andrew Hull died suddenly and tragically in London, England, last week. A respected and talented Member of the Art Department, Andrew will be missed by his friends and colleagues at the Guild.
A memorial service to celebrate Andrew's life is planned for Friday, May 21st at the Ward's Island Association Clubhouse starting at 4 p.m. and ending with the last ferry. Everyone is invited to join in this remembrance, memorial and celebration.
For more details about the memorial, click here and for a map to the ferry docks and Ward's Island, click here.
ANDREW MCKENZIE HULL AUGUST 15, 1963 - MAY 8, 2010DGC Ontario Member Astra Burka Premieres Short Film
DGC Ontario Member Astra Burka is pleased to announce that she is premiering her first short film, Painting Daddy, at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. The premier is at noon.
For ticket information, please visit the Toronto Jewish Film Festival site (click here). First Weekend Club Hosts Genies TalkBack 2010: A Film Artist Salon
First Weekend Club (FWC) is hosting TalkBack: A Film Artist Salon again this year one day before the Genie Awards. Join FWC for an afternoon of conversations with some amazing Canadian filmmakers.
The panel consists of Genie-nominated guests including Director and DGC Ontario Member Kari Skogland (Fifty Dead Men Walking), Director and DGC Ontario Member Charles Officer (Nurse.Fighter.Boy) and Director Brett Gaylor (RIP: A Remix Manifesto). With Canada AM's Richard Crouse as moderator, everyone participating can look forward to an interesting and provocative event. Reception to follow.
WHEN: Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Drake Underground (1150 Queen St. W.)
COST: $15 through PayPal. Tickets are available online at First Weekend Club. Just click on the link or contact Mars Horodyski (mars@firstweekendclub.ca) for more information.
Canadian Cineman Editors/Ryerson Continuing Education Opportunities
The Canadian Cinema Editors have teamed up with the Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University to offer a series of workshops designed for film editing professionals. Registration begins Monday, March 15, 2010, and spaces are limited.
All of the workshops relate to the postproduction process. The first workshops are "Film Editor's Assistant", "Everything to do with Codecs" and "Colour Correction".
The courses are open to the public and registration is on a first come, first serve basis. C.C.E. Members will receive a $50 reimbursement following successful completion of each course.
Visit http://www.ryerson.ca/ce/filmediting for more information and to register now!
rasta: a soul's journey rasta: a soul's journey tells the story of Donisha Prendergast, Bob and Rita Marley's grandaughter, as she embarks on an epic journey though eight countries to explore Rastafari culture around the world. Along the way, she discovers the cultural and historical links between Rastafari and other peoples.
Donisha has traveled through the United States, Isreal, Ethiopia and South Africa thus far, and the film is still very much a work in progress. If you would like to see clips of her journey, visit http://www.rastaonline.ca. You can view video, read testimonials, explore the gallery of beautiful photographs and learn how to donate to support the making of this unique film dedicated to Rastafarian culture worldwide.
FINAL DRAFT V9 Needs Input
FINAL DRAFT is working towards the development of FINAL DRAFT V9, which will use the XML file format and offer solutions for individual writers and those working with others.
The company is asking for users of their program to help in the development process. There are three ways that you can be involved:
(1) FOCUS GROUP: Individuals must be part of a writing team with credits for scripted tv series, pilots or feature films produced after 2000 and reside in the Los Angeles area. The web form is available by clicking here.
(2) PRODUCT USABILITY TEAM: Individuals will assess the usefulness and functionality of the software and give feedback on the product. Detailed questions will be asked about changes and improvements. Visit this link.
(3) BETA TESTING TEAM: Individuals will test early versions and provide feedback about adverse or unexpected application bahviours. Visit this link.
Help Haiti: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is!
Colin Brunton and his colleagues on the crew of Connor Undercover have come up with a creative way to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. By giving up craft service on their show for just one day, they expect to raise over $1000 to donate to the cause.
Connor Undercover is challenging other productions to put down their coffees and croissants and take up the cause. Beat their fundraising total by giving up cheese trays for a day and do something that makes a huge difference. Visit Colin's Facebook page "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" by clicking here.
I.A.T.S.E. Local 873 Members Ratify Studio Term Agreement
Members of I.A.T.S.E. Local 873 voted in favour of ratifying the 2009-2012 Hollywood Studio Term Agreement on November 1st, 2009. Support for the Agreement was substantial and the ratification sends a strong message to L.A.-based productions that Toronto is absolutely open for business.
DGC Ontario Support Preserves Absolute's Digital Locations Archive
Thanks to DGC Ontario a crucial part of Ontario's film and television industry infrastructure will remain in operation for at least another year.
CEO and Executive Director Ron Haney has announced that the Digital Locations Archive which has been run by Absolute Support Services Inc. for more than 12 years will remain operational for at least one year thanks to financing provided by DGC Ontario. The archive, which includes about 7,000 locations files that may be searched by productions seeking shooting locations, has been in danger of closure for months and would have been out of operations this month had DGC Ontario not stepped up to the plate.
As part of the arrangements DGC Ontario has made with Absolute, Guild Members working on Standard Agreement Productions will be entitled to free access to the library in- house at 185 Eastern Avenue (on -line access will still require payment).
Read DGC Ontario's press release here.I.A.T.S.E. Local 873 Members Fail to Ratify Studio Term Agreement
The results of the Local 873's ratification vote on its recently-negotiated Studio Term Agreement are now public.
They are as follows:
Total Number of Ballots Received - 789
Spoiled Ballots - Not Conforming to Instructions for Voting - 85
Total Number of Valid Ballots Cast - 704
Number of YES votes - 322
Number of NO votes - 382
Therefore, the contract was not ratified.
DGC Ontario's CEO and Executive Director Ron Haney has expressed the opinion that this ratification result will have a serious negative impact on American service production and is extremely bad news for everyone who works in the Toronto film and television industry.
Ministry of Finance Offers Details on Expanded Tax Credit
On September 10th the Ontario Ministry of Finance released details on the Ontario Production Service Tax Credit enhancement announced June 29th. Please see the e-mail link below.
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/publications/bulletins/2009_09_10_filmtax.html 629 Eastern No Longer Under Consideration for LRV Yard
We have recently learned from the City of Toronto that 629 Eastern Avenue will not be recommended to City Council as the site of a proposed Light Rail Vehicle Yard. The recommended location will be the Ashbridge's Bay site.
Many thanks to all the DGC Ontario Members who wrote letters protesting the consideration of 629 Eastern Avenue and to the Toronto Film Board and the FilmOntario Board for their lobby efforts with the TTC Commissioner and senior staff.
Once again, we have all helped demonstrate that making our voices heard on issues of importance to our industry does make a difference.
New Edition of Film and Television Safety Guidelines Available
The fifth and most recent edition of the Safety Guidelines for the Film and Television Industry in Ontario were recently released. The Ministry website is currently undergoing a major overhaul so they haven't yet been posted there but you can view them by clicking below:
Green Screen Toronto Wants to Green Your Set!
Green Screen Toronto is currently launching a pilot project offering FREE consultation to productions interested in greening their operations.
Productions of all sizes and types are welcome to be part of this project, the intent of which is to provide a comprehensive free service that will be accessible to all productions working in Toronto.
For more information, please click hereOntario Government Announces Production Services Tax Credit Expansion!
Industry efforts to lobby the provincial government for an enhanced Ontario Production Services Tax Credit paid off with the June 30th announcement that the credit may now be claimed on all eligible production expenses, not just labour.
This brings Ontario's tax credit in line with the one in Quebec which was similarly enhanced June 12th.
Read more details about the announcement in DGC Ontario's press release.Whites Announces New Web Site Feature
William F. White International Inc. is pleased to announce a brand new feature on its website called “Whites Request a Quote.”
This application will offer a new level of convenience to existing and new customers, without compromising any of the excellent customer care that Whites' clients have come to expect. Production managers, coordinators and crew members can save valuable time by selecting items from our lists at a time convenient to them and submit them online. These requests will be forwarded to Customer Service Representatives (CSRs), at the location of your choice, who will then quote out your list and contact you.
Currently this application is restricted to Expendables Sales only, but Whites may add more departments at a later date.
You can visit Whites website at www.whites.com (under the Equipment drop down tab) to request a quote now!
Quebec Ups Film, TV Tax Credit
The Quebec government has increased its film and TV tax credit from 25% of labor expenses to 25% of the overall budget of films and TV shows shot in the Canadian province, it was announced Friday.
This effectively doubles the tax credit, since the rule of thumb is that labor accounts for around half of the budget for most films and TV productions.
The increase gives Quebec the most competitive tax credit in Canada and puts pressure on the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia -- the other main film centers -- to hike their tax credits. Both currently have credits in line with Quebec's old 25% of labor expenses
For more details about Quebec's tax credit increase, please click here.
DGC Ontario CEO and Executive Director Ron Haney has written to Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan asking his government to match Quebec's tax credits. Click here to read that letter.
Rezoning of Toronto Film Studios Rejected by OMB
Plans for a $220 million retail "power centre'' south of Eastern Ave. in Leslieville have been turned down by the Ontario Municipal Board.
"This is a total victory for the city of Toronto," city lawyer Brendan O'Callaghan said yesterday. The city wanted the land set aside for "creative industry" jobs like those in film or media. SmartCentres argued the redevelopment would bring about 2,000 permanent retail jobs.
Please click here for the full story.
Television production stalls out in NYC
The state's tax credit for filming in the Big Apple has become a victim of its own success; the state is out of money and a lack of pilots is threatening jobs. See this link for the whole story.
National Film Board Puts Movies On-line
The National Film Board of Canada is putting hundreds of its celebrated documentaries, animation and fiction work online, allowing movie fans around the world to catch them for free
The initiative is just one of the ways the NFB will mark its 70th anniversary this year and signals the board is embracing revolutionary changes that have been taking over the film industry, says NFB chair Tom Perlmutter. More than 700 films, clips and trailers are available on the film board's website at www.nfb.ca.
Professional Discounts for DGC Ontario Members! Final Draft, Inc. maintains professional relationships with international studios, industry professionals and production companies. As a result, special discounts on the latest software tools have been extended to guild members and other industry professionals. As a DGC Ontario Member, you are eligible for professional pricing on Final Draft 7, Final Draft AV 2.5, Final Draft Scriptwriter's Suite , and Script Magazine, among other Final Draft products and services! Click this link to download the Special Discount Order Form, or click the title above for further details.
The Actors' Fund Charity Challenge 2008 The Most Generous Production Crew Wins! It could be you!
Beginning in Spring 2008 cast, crew and producers of TV series shooting in
Canada will challenge each other to raise money for a cause that benefits
the entire film & television community: The Actors' Fund of Canada. Building
on the success of "The Eleventh Hour Challenge" and the "Wonderland
Challenge" of previous years, the 2008 Canadian TV Charity Challenge will
pit productions against each other in a good-natured rivalry to raise money
through auctions, karaoke nights, pool tournaments and many other fun
activities, each vying for bragging rights as the production that can have
the most fun while raising the most money for the Actors' Fund.
Canadian Celebrities Gather For Cake Cutting Ceremony In Celebration Of The Actors' Fund Of Canada's 50th Anniversary
Exactly 50 years to the date of its establishment in 1958, the Actors’ Fund of Canada celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 27th, 2008 at Toronto’s Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre. Members of the Fund's current and former Boards of Directors including Vanessa Harwood, Sandy Webster, Araby Lockhart, Ken Wickes and Bruce Clayton were joined by some of Canada's most notable celebrities for a special cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion. Participating in the ceremonies were Dinah Christie, Atom Egoyan, Sturla Gunnarsson, Karen Kain, Tom McCamus, Gordon Pinsent, Sonja Smits, R.H. Thomson, Gordon Sim and Kristin Booth. Click the link above to view photos and video of the event!
The DRCC is Looking for Directors - There Could Be Money Waiting For You!
Directors Rights Collective of Canada (DRCC) is holding residual payments for several directors. Please click this link for a list of names or contact Hans Engel at the DRCC office or call 416.482.6640.
Do you work in Digital Media?
We are looking for any members who may be working on digital projects in hopes of pinpointing what types of training and support you may need. If you are working in new/ digital media please email Laurie Januska. Thank you!
Health and Welfare
By now you should have received a package from the National office that contains important information regarding your Health and Welfare Plan. Please open it and read carefully to make note of any changes from last year's Plan Summary. If you have any questions, please email Suzanne Maunder, or contact our office.
Enhancements to the Film & Television Tax Credits
The enhancements to the film and television tax credits announced in the Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review of December 13, 2007 and the Provincial Budget of March 25, 2008, have now passed into law. The enhancements affect the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) and the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC). Click the link above for further details.
Did you know that the Actors’ Fund is for more than just actors?
ADs, GMs, Directors, Administrators, Technicians, Playwrights, Designers, Musicians, in fact just about anyone
who earns his or her primary income from the entertainment industry may apply for emergency financial relief
from the Fund.
Each of us knows someone in the business who’s got talent, but has fallen on hard times and deserves better. And
no-one. Click the link above for further details.
DGC Ontario Goes Green
DGC Ontario is proud to announce that it is one of the founding partners of Green Screen Toronto - an initiative to establish best-practice protocols and produce a green resource guide for the film and television industry. As active participants in the green initiative, we are not only working with partners to help make set-work greener but we have also made many efforts in our office to go green.
We greatly reduced the amount of paper used in printing the 2006 - 2009 DGC/CFTPA Standard Agreement by distributing it in CD format, contained in a simple white cardboard envelope.
Our photocopy paper is ordered from Cascades Fine Papers Group. This paper contains 30% post-industrial fibre and is manufactured in Canada using biogas energy.
We recycle all paper, printer toner containers, plastic, and aluminium products, and are currently collaborating with building management in developing a composting program.
Thank you to all of our members who have made the effort to go green on set!
Bill C-10 Update
All of the latest information and letter writing details on Bill C-10. Please also check our News & Newsletters page for full media coverage of Bill C-10.
Members Advantage Program - Spring 2008
Important information about YOUR member perks. Don't miss the savings - click the link above to download your copy NOW!
Canadianfilmmaker.com receiving great reviews!
DGC Ontario and WIFT-T partnered to develop a website that would act as the be-all and end-all of filmmaking. This website contains information ranging from script development and legal issues to funding sources to distribution to marketing. If you are thinking about developing a project or need information during any step of your production then get a leg up by checking out this website. See the link above.
On-Line WHMIS Training is FREE for DGC Ontario Members
At DGC Ontario, health and safety of our Members is a primary concern. As such, we understand the value of WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) training.
If you are a DGC Ontario Member, or a Member of one of the DGC Ontario's Apprentice Programs, you can get your on-line WHMIS training free of charge. See the link above for more details.
Television Animation Conference Set for Ottawa
The deadline to get in the Television Animation Conference Delegate Guide is this week. This popular side event to the Ottawa International Animation Fesitval runs September 17-18 and offers a great line-up of speakers, panels and networking events. Get your pass today. Click on the link above to get more information.
FINAL Call to Artists of IATSE and the DGC -
Off Camera/Art at Filmport
We are working toward staging an art show to run concurrent with the grand opening gala of Filmport and TIFF. This is our chance to show in one of the awesome new spaces in which we will later earn our livings.
Let's celebrate the artistic talent of our respective unions and the construction of the world's largest swing stage. We'll illustrate to the highly-competitive film world at large, the depth of talent and skill Toronto has to offer. We have already had two successful exhibitions involving 50 members and every indicator points to this being the biggest show yet! Click the link above for further details.
WIFT-T Program Reminder - Goodmans Presents: Meet the Film Buyers
A great panel for professionals in film seeking to sell, or to gain assistance getting their independent films into the next phase of development. Scheduled for August 18th, and FREE to all WIFT-T members, this panel will cover everything from pitching script ideas at a festival, to current trends on the international film production scene, as well as, the creative and financial resources necessary for moving a film into the next stage of development. Click the link above for further details.
DEADLINE REMINDER - OMDC Launches $2 Million Screen-based Content Initiative
Eligible Ontario companies can apply for up to $100,000! This Initiative will provide eligible Ontario screen-based content creation companies - including film and television producers, interactive digital media content producers and video game developers - with funding for early-stage development activities that are required to bring projects closer to the production-ready stage and to help create a package appropriate to attract production financing. Information sessions will take place on July 9th, and the application deadline is August 25, 2008. Contact Kim Gibson at 416-642-6651 for questions relating to new media applications, or Shari Cohen at 416-645-8521 for questions relating to film and television applications. Click the link above for further details.
Nearly FREE Film Props! The Octopus Works is greening the entertainment industry one show at a time by selling film props, equipment, costumes, and scenery recycled from wrapped productions. There are currently five office desks available for pick up at the Theatre Passe Murialle located at 24 Ryerson Avenue. For further information call 416-516-5899 and speak with Peter, or click the link above to view The Octopus Works website.
2008 Toronto International Film Festival - Premium Tickets on Sale August 20th
Premium Tickets are available for gala screenings at Roy Thomson Hall and Visa Screening Room events at the Elgin Theatre. Regular Festival tickets go on sale September 3rd. Call 416-968-FILM or click the link above for further details.
First Weekend Club Presents: A Special Q&A and Reception with the filmmakers of Amal
Directed by Richie Mehta, Amal is scheduled to open in Toronto on Friday, August 8th.
Filmed on location in New Delhi, the film takes a close look at contemporary India and its culture through an unlikely character. Amal also challenges the perception of "wealth" and the value of material things in our lives. As the film's tagline states: "Sometimes the poorest of men are the riches." Click the link above for further details.
New Funding for Docs Hot Docs and Canwest have partnered in the creation of the Canwest-Hot Docs Documentary Funds. These Funds consist of a $3-million completion fund and a $1-million development fund. Click the link above for further details.
The Tracey Fragments - First Weekend Club's Newest DVD Club Pick
This month’s DVD Club section is all about unique storytelling and talented performances. In The Tracey Fragments, director Bruce McDonald (Hard Core Logo, Highway 61) takes us on a highly stylistic, fragmented and unique cinematic journey into the world of 15-year-old Tracey Berkowitz (Academy Award nominee Ellen Page), just a normal girl who hates herself. The Tracey Fragments is out on DVD July 8th. Watch the film then join us online to discuss the film with other cinema-lovers. Special guests TBA. Click the link above for further details.
DGC Ontario announces new Communications Director
Ron Haney and Ann Marie Sluga are pleased to announce that Kelly Graham-Scherer will be starting as our new Communications Director effective Monday July 28th.
Kelly comes to us with a sound knowledge and experience in the film and television industry. She has worked at I.A.T.S.E. 873 for the past 12 years in various capacities that included responsibility for communications and public relations activities. Her background also includes positions as a reporter and freelance writer for several Ontario newspapers including the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, the Ottawa Citizen and the Hamilton Spectator.
Kelly holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from Carleton University. Within the last year she established and turned a personal parenting blog Don Mills Diva into a profitable and very popular web site. Kelly also worked closely with DGC Ontario on the Ontario Film Industry Queen's Park Rally in December 2005.
We look forward to welcoming Kelly to the DGC Ontario team as well as the DGC family.
Press Release - Creative Community Backs Independent Producers in Talks with Television Networks DGC Ontario supports the Producers in their negotiations with the Broadcasters. The Producers' successful negotiations for increases in Broadcast Licensing Fees, will result in greater funds from the Broadcasters for production purposes. This means more money available for each production, and a greater ability for members to negotiate above scale. Click the link above to read the full release.
WIFT-T 2008 Kodak New Vision Mentorship Award - DEADLINE REMINDER The Kodak New Vision Mentorship is a national initiative which provides one exceptional Canadian female director with the invaluable opportunity to prepare for the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival (September 2008) through intensive industry coaching by senior executive Laurie May, Co-President of Maple Pictures Corp. and a TIFF bursary, followed by a two-month creative mentorship with an established director! The application deadline is Tuesday, August 5th. Click the link above for further details.
DGC Ontario is a proud supporter of WIFT-T.
DGC Ontario Office Closure
The DGC Ontario office will be closed Monday, August 4th and will re-open on Tuesday, August 5th at 9am. If you need to contact us while the office is closed, please call our Senior Business Agent, Mimi Wolch at 416.805.6220.
The annual Summer 48 Film Challenge kicks off July 4th!
The annual summer 48-hour Toronto Film Challenge is back for its fourth year. Enter the largest film competition in the country and be eligible to win over $15,000 in prizes, custom made TFC trophies, and have your film screened publically in front of 500+ people at the Bloor Cinema, and online to thousands. Each team will receive a different Challenge Pack containing five elements that must be incorporated into their film. Our celebrity judges will select the winners in eight categories including Best Picture and Audience Choice. Previous DGC members have cleaned up in this competition proving that no matter how tight the deadline is, experience in your craft is paramount to your success. If you'd like to enter, team tickets are on sale! Click the link above for all the details.
Call for Applications - OMDC Export Film Fund
OMDC has launched a call for applications for the OMDC Export Fund - Film and Television. This program will provide eligible Ontario companies with funding to participate in export development activities that correspond to a strategy for company growth. These activities must produce measurable business development results (sales, pre-sales, financing, licensing and or publishing deals, etc.) for the participating company. The proposed export development plan must support the company's content creation and exploitation activities. Primary activities supported are market event attendance and targeted sales trips that support the strategy. The deadline for applications is July 18, 2008 by 5:00 pm. Click the link above for further details.
Do you know a young burgeoning filmmaker?
A Summer filmmaking workshop teaches the basics of filmmaking from story idea to finished film. Click the link above for more information.
Call for Jury Members - OMDC Film Fund
OMDC is seeking applications from qualified industry professionals for a jury pool for the OMDC Film Fund program. The program is adjudicated by three jurors comprised of two industry experts and one OMDC representative. The application deadline is Friday, July 4th. Click the link above for further details.
Call for Canadian Producer Applications - International Financing Forum
OMDC is announcing its call for submissions for its 3rd annual International Financing Forum (IFF) at the Toronto International Film Festival set for September 7th and 8th, 2008. This one & a half-day co-financing forum will provide selected experienced Canadian and international feature film producers developing English language projects, with the opportunity to establish relationships with potential financing and co-producing partners. NEW in 2008 are a limited number of spaces for Ontario and international emerging producers to participate at selected IFF events. The application deadline for Canadian Producers is Monday, July 7th by 5pm. Click the link above for further details.
Didn't make it out to FILMPORT's open house on June 5th? Sneek a peek at some pics of the massive space here!
Although the June 5th planned ceremonial opening for FILMPORT had been postponed due to a conflict with Mayor Miller’s appearance before an important Senate Committee hearing on controversial Bill C-10, there were still guided walking tours of the production offices and sound stages. TEDCO and FILMPORT are working with the Mayor’s office to arrange an alternative date for the ceremony. DGC Ontario will report once a date has been confirmed.
DGC Ontario Office Closure - Happy Birthday Canada!
The DGC Ontario office will be closed Monday, June 30th, and will re-open on Wednesday, July 2nd at 9am. If you need to contact us while the office is closed, please call our CEO and Executive Director, Ron Haney at 416.580.6220.
The National dues deadline of June 30th is fast approaching!
As you are aware, the dues deadline of June 30th is fast approaching. If you have already paid your invoice for 2008, you needn't read any further. But if you haven't, and if you're not sure that you can, please read on ...
Due to the amount and nature of the inquiries we've been receiving about membership status, we thought that it would be a good idea to remind you about the Honourable Withdrawal (HW) option for membership. Even though we'd love it if all of you remained in Active Good Standing, we at DGC Ontario wanted you to know how the HW option might work for you in these challenging times.
In short, HW is a membership status that allows you to be "inactive", but still in good standing. You pay ¼ of your annual dues, but you don't have access to the Health Plan anymore (which might be a deciding factor for some of you). While on HW, you are no longer listed as "available for work" and you don't appear on our website.
If you are thinking of pursuing other interests, going back to school, or just taking a break, HW could be a good option for you. Should you find yourself with a work opportunity, you can be "re-activated" almost immediately with a simple written request (and payment of the pro-rated invoice for the remainder of the year).
To request Honourable Withdrawal status, all you need to do is send in a written request to the National office - an email will suffice. Address it to Justin Wagar, Membership Manager.
If you have any other questions or concerns about your membership status, please don't hesitate to contact Laurie Jauska, she'll be glad to help!
It's All Gone Pete Tong - First Weekend Club's Newest DVD Club Pick
Michael Dowse, director of the award winning film It's All Gone Pete Tong and cult classic Fubar, has just confirmed that he will join First Weekend Club members online to answer questions about the making of It’s All Gone Pete Tong and the journey of his career. Also joining us on line is the film's producer Elizabeth Yake.
Deadline Reminder - The Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund Round 3
The Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund is a 3-year program of the Ministry of Culture and is co-administered by the Ontario Media Development Corporation. Program funds allocated for this, the third round, amount to over $3.0M. The pre-qualification deadline is Friday, June 13th at 5pm and the final application deadline is Friday, June 27th at 5pm. Click the link above for complete details.
Meet with a Film and Television Tax Credit Expert
The Tax Credits and Financing Department at OMDC is offering a workshop and tutorial for new producers and anyone wishing to learn about the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit (OFTTC). They are offering a workshop on the OFTTC on Wednesday, June 25 from 2 to 4 pm at the OMDC. The workshop will offer an intimate and engaged forum for participants who seek guidance on issues that arise on their productions or aid those with more general questions about OFTTC requirements.
For further information or to register for the workshops, call Barbara Hingley at 416-642- 6639 or email at bhingley@omdc.on.ca. Sessions will be limited to 12 people, so register early!
TIFF Talent Lab Now Accepting Applications Talent Lab is an intensive four-day workshop held during TIFF. The lab is led by renowned directors, producers, craftsmen and artists. The application deadline is Thursday, June 26th at 5pm. Click the link above for further details.
A Tragic Passing - Trent Hurry
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of DGC Ontario member Trent Hurry (1st Assistant Director). Trent died of natural causes in his sleep on Thursday June 12, 2008. Trent was 44.
The funeral will be held at the MacLean Funeral Home in Charlottetown, P.E.I., his hometown. We will post further information as it becomes available. Friends wishing to sign the electronic guestbook may do so by following this link: click Guestbook, then select N. Trent Hurry from the dropdown menu and leave your personal message.
Our thoughts are with Trent's family, friends and colleagues.
WIFT-T 2008 Feature Film Writing Program and Women Writers Workshop - Register NOW!
The Feature Film Writing Program is a two module program. Beginning June 17th, the first module will provide an introduction to the major elements of Feature Film Screenwriting, including the development stages of a screenplay. The second module will provide an in-depth analysis of the major elements of feature film screenwriting. The workshop includes a complete breakdown and analysis of a single film. Both modules can be taken individually. Click the link above for further details.
Canadian Comedy Awards
CONGRATULATIONS to the following DGC Ontario Director members for their Canadian Comedy Awards nominations!
In the category of Direction: Series
Michael Kennedy - Little Mosque On The Prarie
Don McCutcheon - Corner Gas
Henry Sarwer-Foner - Rick Mercer Report
In the category of Direction: Special or Episode
Don McCutcheon - Corner Gas (The J-Word)
Samir Rehem - Cock'd Guns (Episodes 8, 4)
Jim Allodi - Rent-A-Goalie (Burlington)
The film that sparked a national debate opens everywhere June 13th!
The Pillow Talk event will be a public discussion and panel about the movie, the impending Bill C-10 and the social implications it imposes should it be passed. Speak your mind. What do you think about Bill C-10 or otherwise known as the "Bill of Censorship"? What happens if we allow our art, any art, to be censored by the government?
Hear what our panel has to say about Young People Fucking and their take on the Bill. Ask them questions, argue your point of view, cheer, boo, clap. Get engaged.
Date - Saturday June 14th
Location - Scotiaband Theatre (Richmond & John Street)
Time - Following the 5pm screening
Panelists - Martin Gero (YPF director), Aaron Abrams (YPF co-writer/producer/star), Brad Pelman (YPF distributor), Richard Crouse (moderator), with additional guests to join panel.
Tickets - Purchase tickets at the Scotiabank Theatre for the 5pm screening
Big Box Event Update - a Fundraiser and Public Sessions at the OMB 2-day 'Kick Butt' Fundraiser
Supporting the East Toronto Community Coalition's (ETCC) case at the Ontario Municipal Board at Dora Keogh's Irish Pub on Friday, June 13th at 8pm, and Saturday, June 14th from 2 - 6pm. There will be music by Club Django, Steve Briggs and the Bebop Cowhands with special guests, Burning Boyz, Metis Fiddlers and Gordon's Acoustic Living Room, in addition to special guest speakers, raffles and a silent auction.
Public Sessions for community deputations at the Ontario Municipal Board
The public sessions will take place on Thursday, June 12th - Morning Session, 10am - 1pm; Afternoon Session, 2:30 - 5:30pm, andMonday, June 16th - Evening Session, 5pm - 8pm.
All sessions will take place at the OMB's offices, 655 Bay St,Toronto, 16th floor.
Ron Haney Awarded the 2008 CFC Payback Award!
On Monday, June 2nd, DGC Ontario CEO and Executive Director, Ron Haney received the CFC Payback Award for outstanding contributions to building the Canadian industry and supporting indigenous production. Click this link for further details and to view pictures from the event!
Filmaka.com launches its world-wide short script competition!
The theme for this competition is "because life is what you pour into it". Submit your scripts for short films that celebrate life before the application deadline of June 11th. The writers of the 15 chosen best scripts will be awarded $1,500 USD each to make their short film! Click the link above to view the full contest details.
CTF Stakeholders' Meeting
Join Valerie Creighton, President, and Douglas Barrett, Chair of the Board, as The Canadian Television Fund (CTF), Canada's largest direct funder of television production, presents its program results and business activities for fiscal 2007-2008. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 10th from 4 to 5pm at the Van Horne A, Banff Springs Conference Centre.
Would you like to put a face to that name?
We were finally able to get your 2008 - 2010 DGC Ontario Executive Board to stand still long enough for a photo. Click the link to take a look!
Media Release - Directors Guild of Canada National Office Renews Support for Actors' Fund of Canada
It was with words of praise for the organization's role in assisting entertainment industry members in distress that Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) National Executive Director and CEO Brian Anthony today announced a $15,000 contribution to the Actors' Fund of Canada. Click the link above to read the full release.
Check your mailbox... NEW Dispensation Policy and Updated Exemption List!
The changes that we are encountering on productions in post (webisodes, docudramas, lifestyle, reality and smaller budget productions) have lead us to clarify the DGC Ontario Dispensation Policy to keep up with the times:
Jack Duffy: An Icon of Canadian Television
We regret to report that Canadian actor Jack Duffy died of natural causes on May 19th at the age of 83. DGC Ontario Director Caucus Representative, Michael Kennedy shared this recent fond memory of working with Jack:
"We needed a memorable elderly gentleman to perform a couple of scenes in an episode of "G Spot" during its second season. Jack Duffy came to mind and we were lucky to have him agree to take the part. Jack Duffy and G Spot... why not?
He came to the set very prepared and eager to please, despite health problems. The scenes went smoothly, except the crew broke into laughter on a take or two so we had to go again... a pleasant problem to have. When we finished the sequence, Jack got a spontaneous ovation of applause - appreciation and respect from the cast and crew, both for his charming work on the day and for an admirable lifetime contribution to Canadian film and television. We will miss him."
Click the link above to view Jack Duffy's profile on IMDB and for a listing of his extensive credits.
VIP Studio Tour
On April 25th, DGC Ontario, along with the city of Toronto and the province of Ontario, co-hosted an industry reception welcoming key production executives from 14 Hollywood studios, networks and major independent companies.
The VIPs were in Toronto attending a tour of Toronto motion picture facilities. The tour was timed to co-ordinate with the opening of FilmPort to showcase our new state-of-the-art production facility.
Mimi Wolch, Senior Business Agent at DGC Ontario, helped organize the event and took the opportunity to remind the executives about the well-established professional talent and infrastructure that Toronto offers every production. The VIPs agreed completely, most of them have done productions in Toronto and are looking forward to returning.
DGC Ontario was happy to welcome these visitors and looks forward to working with them in the future.
Right - Mimi welcoming Key Execs to the Studio Tour.
Grand Opening @ FILMPORT has been POSTPONED - but walking tours still available June 5th!
The June 5th planned ceremonial opening for FILMPORT has been postponed due to a conflict with Mayor Miller’s appearance before an important Senate Committee hearing on controversial Bill C-10. However June 5th will still serve as an open house at FILMPORT with walking tours of the Production Offices and Stages leaving every 15 minutes between 3 and 6pm.
TEDCO and FILMPORT are working with the Mayor’s office to arrange an alternative date for the ceremony. DGC Ontario will report once a date has been confirmed. Click the link above for further details.
OMDC Film Fund - Application Deadline June 2nd
OMDC has launched a call for applications for the OMDC Film Fund. This fund is intended to increase the level of indigenous feature film production in Ontario. This program provides support to Ontario producers for feature film projects in the final stages of development and production financing. There will be an information session held on Tuesday, April 29th - registration is required. The application deadline is Monday, June 2nd by 5pm. Click the link above for full details.
OMDC Digital Library Announcement
The Digital Library will not be accessible from Friday May 30, 8pm to Saturday May 31st, 8pm due to a building-wide power shut down for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
- OMDC Library Staff
Planet In Focus - Call for Applications Planet In Focus - International Environmental Film and Video Festival is Canada’s most acclaimed international environmental film and video festival, showcasing outstanding and compelling films and videos covering a broad range of environmental themes by Canadian and international filmmakers. The festival will be held in Toronto, Canada from October 22nd to 26th, 2008. Please see the link above for complete information and the entry form.
Early deadline: May 23rd, 2008 / Final deadline: June 20th, 2008
DGC National updates on Election Reform, Production Coordinators and Environmental Issues -
Click this link to read about what happened at the National Annual General Meeting.
WIFT-T - Register NOW for Media Career Management Skills
Held on Saturdays, May 24th, 31st & June 7th, this course will provide students with the skills and strategies to develop their personal marketing package (which could include a website, demo reel, resume, short bio or a portfolio), and use these materials to launch or re-launch your career or your small business. Participants will learn about resume trends and expectations, and how effective marketing tools can help them succeed in the application and interview processes. Additionally, students will learn to evaluate the changing marketplace; how to recognize and respond for potential growth and opportunity in their careers and/or small to medium sized businesses. This course is perfect for anyone in transition or looking to better market themselves on a day-to-day basis. Click the link above for further details.
Eastern Avenue Updates and Events -
This week marks the beginning of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing on the Smart Centre application to redevelop Eastern Ave. To protest against the Smart Centre application, the East Toronto Community Coalition will be holding events on May 21st and 22nd outside of the OMB offices at 655 Bay Street starting at 9am. Everyone is invited to lend support.
You can get the latest news on the Eastern Avenue application from the News & Newsletters section of this website.
Film @ 11, Lunch at 12 - May 22nd Invitation from Kodak
This session, Let There be Light, will feature cinematographer Chris Hart, as he shares his unique blend of technical knowledge and creative ability in a short presentation on Latitude and Lighting. Click the link above for further details.
Canadian Television Fund Adds $12M to Production Funding
The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) today announced that an additional $12 million in funding has been made available for productions applying for funding during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. This additional investment in Canadian production is a result of final calculations of 2007-2008 project commitments at the close of the fiscal year on March 31, 2008.
The amount will be split between English, French and Aboriginal language productions. As a result, the CTF is recalculating envelopes for each broadcaster. Broadcasters will receive new allocation letters to reflect their adjusted envelopes. Click the link above for more information.
For those of you who saw 'Fringe' on the Rumour List and wondered what happened to it...
We tried very hard to secure this production but lost out to New York because of their tax credit increases - for more details read this article.
Our lobbying efforts were successful with the Ontario Liberal government and they recently increased tax credits to the Ontario film and television industry. They raised the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit from 30 to 35% and increased the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit from 18 to 25%. But, in some cases, these increases far outweigh our consistently high dollar.
We will keep you posted in our efforts to increase film and television creation in Ontario.
DGC Ontario Holiday Office Closure
Happy Victoria Day! The office will be closed Friday, May 16th at 3pm and will re-open on Tuesday, May 20th at 9am. If you need to contact us while the office is closed, please call our CEO and Executive Director, Ron Haney at 416.580.6220.
DGC Ontario Members' short film 'Tools of the Trade' awarded 2nd Place at the Spring 24-hour Challenge
Out of the films submitted by the 21 teams, the Infinite Monkeys/Geriatric Film Club won 2nd place for their film 'Tools of the Trade'. CONGRATULATIONS to DGC Ontario members Derby Crewe, Siluck Saysanasy and Nick Edwards for their achievements as part of this stellar team! Click the link above to view this short film about assasins in training as they apply the tools of their trade.
RUFF 2008 - The 5th Annual Ryerson University Film Festival - Starts TOMORROW!
The Ryerson University Film Festival is proud to announce its 5th annual showcase.
The festival boasts a wide variety of fictional shorts ranging from sci-fi, historical, drama, horror and comedy, to documentary and experimental. This 3-day event showcases over 30 films produced by Ryerson University's graduating class. RUFF 2008 runs from Thursday, May 8th to Saturday, May 10th at the Royal Cinema.
Among the participants in RUFF 2008 are DGC Ontario GAP members Andy Tsang (Trainee Assistant Art Director) and Nick Wong (Trainee Assistant Editor). Click the link above for a complete credit listing and further event details.
DGC Ontario is a proud supporter of RUFF.
Tarragon Theatre Presents Cast of Alias Godot in
Actors' Fund Benefit Reading of Waiting for Godot
On Sunday, May 11th Tarragon Theatre and the cast of its production of Brendan Gall’s "Alias Godot" will offer audiences a rare chance to see the same cast in both the Beckett masterwork and Gall’s take on it as they
give a reading of Samuel Beckett’s "Waiting for Godot" to benefit the Actors’ Fund of Canada. The reading features cast members Paul Braunstein, David Ferry, Tony Nappo, and Geoffrey Pounsett, with playwright Brendan Gall reading the part of “Boy”. Admission is pay-what-you-can at the door, tickets on sale at 6:00 pm with the reading beginning at 7:00 pm.
Support for Actors' Fund of Canada Rolls Across Prairies as ACTRA Manitoba Climbs Abord 50th Anniversary Campaign
The Actors’ Fund of Canada’s 50th anniversary fundraising and awareness campaign picked up speed today as ACTRA Manitoba announced a $2,000 commitment to the Fund. ACTRA’s Manitoba branch joins the Alberta and Saskatchewan branches in contributing to the Fund this year, making for a solid expression of support for the Fund by ACTRA members across
Canada’s prairie provinces. Click the link above for further details.
Jeremy Podeswa's Fugitive Pieces in theatres May 2nd
Director Jeremy Podeswa's Fugitive Pieces tells the story of Jakob Beer (Stephen Dillane), a man whose life is haunted by his childhood experiences during the Second World War.
As a child in Poland, he is orphaned during wartime, witnessing his family's slaughter at the hands of the Nazis. He is saved by a compassionate Greek archeologist, Athos Roussos (Rade Sherbedgia), who risks his own life and smuggles him to Greece. Although Jakob is well cared for and protected by his loving adoptive parent, as a child he is tortured by his memories, which haunt him into his adulthood as he spends the rest of his life trying to come to terms with the losses he has endured.
Axium T-4s Update - April 25, 2008
Members affected by the Axium insolvency should now have received their T-4s in the mail. With the tax deadline looming, any affected members who haven't received their T-4s are reminded that tax returns may be filed without T-4s. According to Revenue Canada, an ROE can be used for tax purposes. If an ROE isn't available for whatever reason, pay stubs can be used to calculate the needed fields and an estimate can be sent in with copies of your paystubs and an explanation letter stating the reason for the estimate. In this case, the letter should state that the payroll company declared bankruptcy and that its receivers were unable to provide T-4s or ROEs.
Members are advised to contact us if they haven't received their T-4s from Axium. Please contact the office at 416-925-8200.
National Film Board Launches Images Website
The NFB is pleased to introduce NFB Images. NFB Images is a state-of-the-art website that will give producers, directors, editors and researchers from around the globe unprecedented access to stock footage and the ability to view, edit and share online footage from the NFB’s vast collection of award-winning content. The site will be launched as part of an industry event open to Hot Docs delegates and members of the Canadian filmmaking industry on April 23rd. The site will be available as of April 24th. Click the link above for further information.
The DVD Club presents - Snow Cake
First Weekend Club is excited to announce the first film selection for The DVD Club: Director Marc Evans' award-winning film, Snow Cake. Click the link above to view the trailer and for further details.
Increase in Minimum Wage
The Ontario minimum wage has increased to $8.75 effective March 31, 2008. Because of this increase, some of our minimum rates have increased as well. Click this link for further details.
21 Action/Adventures Films go to the Judges
With the challenge wrapping up on Sunday, 21 teams made it in under the 24-hour deadline with their finished films. The films have been sent to the judges for award selection. See the films this Friday, May 2nd at the Bloor Cinema. Screenings start at 7pm with awards for the top 3 films to follow. Everyone will receive an audience choice ballot to select their favourite of the competing group.
After the awards, celebrate with the winners and all competitors at the Central Restaurant (603 Markham St.). Amsterdam Brewery has provided draft beer at a discount price. There is NO COVER CHARGE and everyone is welcome! Click the link above for further details.
International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers - April 28th
April 28th is internationally recognized as International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers. The purpose of this commemoration day is to highlight the preventable nature of workplace accidents and ill health practices. Click the link above for more information.
Next Challenge - Next Week!
There are 8 spots still available for the Spring 24-hour Action/Adventure challenge happening NEXT weekend. Be one of the 30 teams competing for big prizes at the screening and awards party on May 2nd. The challenge kicks-off on Saturday, April 26th at 10am. Click the link above for important dates and details regarding this challenge.
National Annual General Meeting
The National Annual General Meeting is happening Saturday April 26, 2008 at the Delta Bow Valley Hotel in Calgary. If you are not able to attend, please be sure to assign a Proxy so that your voice from Ontario is heard. You can get all meeting information by clicking this link.
I.A.T.S.E. Local 667 & Arri Canada present a Super 16mm shootout at 2K,
followed by "Cinematographer Style"
Join Sebastien Laffoux from ARRI Canada Ltd. on Thursday, April 24th as he showcases the latest motion picture tool set: Kodak Vision 3 film stock, Zeiss lenses, ARRI 416 camera and ARRI film scanner. Portability, ease of use, outstanding dynamic range and resolution are among the topics that will be demonstrated. Click the link above for further event details and registration information.
Film @ 11, Lunch at 12 - April 25th Invitation from Kodak
This session features a screening of the Indie Feature "Scarce". Filmed in Collingwood during the coldest winter in thirty years, “Scarce” tells the tale of a trio of Snowboarders trying to survive the cannibalistic intents of a demented duo living in a rundown lodge in the backwoods of Pennsylvania. Click the link above for complete details and to RSVP.
First Weekend Club Launches DVD Club
It's like a book club, but for movies. Each month a new DVD will be selected and will be accompanied by an ongoing moderated forum discussion about the film. Participants will also be treated to "special guest appearances" by filmmakers, talent, film experts, etc. Click the above link for further details.
Kari Skogland's The Stone Angel to open in theatres across Canada May 9th
Feisty firecracker Hagar Shipley has lived an unconventional life. Her passionate heart has always ruled her head and her choices have put her at odds with family and friends. With her life nearly behind her, she sets out in search of a way to reconcile herself to her turbulent past. Through her reflections we come to know a passionate and rebellious young bride, her love for her two sons, the freedoms she claimed, and the joys she denied herself. Based on the best selling novel by Margaret Laurence.
The Stone Angel was featured as the opening gala presentation at the 2008 Female Eye Film Festival. Kari Skogland was this year’s recipient of the 2008 FeFF Honourary Director Award, and was nomminated for a WGC Award for her work on The Stone Angel. Click the link above for further information and to view the trailer for the movie.
Emotional Arithmetic to open in theatres across Canada April 18th
Triptych Media Inc. is proud to announce the upcoming theatrical release of the feature film Emotional Arithmetic, opening in theatres across Canada Friday, April 18th.
Emotional Arithmetic tells the story of three people who formed a bond in a concentration camp during World War II. The three are Jakob (Max von Sydow), Melanie (Susan Sarandon) and Christopher (Gabriel Byrne). When the three are separated during their housed days in the camp, emotional wounds conflict their lives in different ways. Click on the link above to view the trailer-extract for this film.
WIFT-T 2008 Quebecor Mentorship Award - Call for Applications
A visible minority male or female producer will be given the invaluable opportunity to prepare for the 2008 Banff World Television Festival through an intensive pre-festival mentorship with an industry executive and a festival bursary. The deadline for applications is Monday, April 21st. Click the link above for full details.
WIFT-T 2008 Astral Media Mentorship Award - Call for Applications
Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) is pleased to announce the Call for Application for the first annual Astral Media Mentorship Award program. This national competitive program will give one talented Canadian female or male producer of a visible minority, Aboriginal or disabled group, the invaluable opportunity to prepare for the 2008 Banff World Television Festival through an intensive five day pre-festival mentorship and festival bursary with industry experts, and Astral Media Executive. The Deadline for applications is Monday, April 21st. Click the link above for further information.
DGC Ontario Annual General Meeting - Annual Report
The contents of the Annual Report have been posted to the members’ section of our website. If you would like to see what your Chair, CEO and Executive Director or Caucus Rep had to say about the past year, please click the link above.
Announcing the 2nd Annual Toronto Film Race
When the clock strikes 10PM on Friday, April 11th, hundreds of filmmakers will flood the streets of Toronto attempting to create an original short film in just 24 hours. They will be taking part in the Toronto Film Race, part of the 2nd Annual Film Racing Tour that will be visiting 17 cities across North America in 2008. Click the link above for full details.
Full Industry Accreditations (SORRY - BOTH PASSES TAKEN): This pass provides full access to all HotDocs Creative and Professional Development programs including: International Co-Production Day, Industry Sessions, AND the following Micro Meetings: Coffee Talks, The Doc Summit, How to HotDocs, Kickstart, Rendezvous, The Doc Shop, Rogers Industry Centre, and the NFB Delegate Lounge. This pass normally sells for $600.
Kickstart PLUS (SORRY - ALL 20 PASSES TAKEN): A "nuts and bolts" information on the production, distribution, and promotion of independent documentary films geared towards emerging to mid-career documentary filmmakers PLUS a HotDocs Festival Pass including 10 single screening passes. This pass normally sells for $145.
The Doc Summit (SORRY - ALL 20 PASSES TAKEN): A key half-day forum for filmmakers, presented in association with the National Film Board, top lining state of the union issues and global concerns affecting the documentary film industry.
This pass normally sells for $100.
HotDocs Industry Conference (SORRY - ALL 25 PASSES TAKEN): Each day pass permits entry into all Industry Conference panels and sessions, all Market Services and screenings for that day.
If you are interested in securing one of these passes, please contact Lisa-Marie Melnychuk or by calling 416.925.8200 ext. 234. Passes are limited so the first people who contact Lisa-Marie will receive the pass. Please note - You must be a member in active good standing to qualify. One pass per member.
DGC Ontario is a proud sponsor of HotDocs.
Banff 2008 - Discounted Registration Fee for DGC Members
As a Directors Guild of Canada member you can save 10% off the Early-Bird Rate, giving you over $550 in savings off the regular registration rate. To take advantage of this offer email your membership number to Kerry Gardiner before Thursday, April 3rd. Register today to network, pitch and seal deals at the 29th annual Banff World Television Festival, June 8 - 11th, 2008. Click the link above for more information.
Media Release - Canadian Stage's "The Clean House" Cleans up for the Actors' Fund of Canada
Audiences responded generously to an appeal for the Actors' Fund of Canada made by cast members of the Canadian Stage Company's production of The Clean House, donating over $9,300 to the charity at performances from February 21 to 23. Click the link above to read the full release.
OMDC Locations Library - Possible Database Disruption
It may be necessary for the Digital Database to be shut down from April 4th at 8pm until April 5th at 8am due to unforseen building-related issues. The staff of the OMDC Locations Library apologizes for any inconvenience caused.
Scrabble® with the Stars 2008
On Monday, April 7th participants in this fundraiser supporting Performing Arts Lodges, Toronto will enjoy dinner, wine, a silent auction, and a fun game of Scrabble® with Michael Burgess, Jennifer Dale, Jayne Eastwood, Peter Kent, Gordon Pinsent, Jackie Richardson, R.H.Thomson, or one of the many other celebrities. Click the link above for further details.
DGC Ontario is a proud sponsor of Scrabble® with the Stars.
WIFT - Toronto Announces 2008 NBC Universal Development Incubator Winners
Congratulations to DGC Ontario member Deborah Day! Deborah will be co-producing "A Perfect Hormony" as a member of one of the 5 writer/producer teams chosen to develop their feature-length scripts and create marketing packages with a U.K. story editor and development executive. This national initiative is designed to develop market-driven feature films and support the next generation of Canadian feature filmmakers. Click the above link for the full list of winners.
Set/Reset-Online is now The Octopus Works
Same company different name. Set/Reset-Online is now The Octopus Works/Ready, Set, Recycle. Click the link above for further details.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Sound Editor member Kathy Choi and her husband Peter Gibson welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world on the morning of Thursday, March 6th! She weighed in at a healthy 6 lbs, 2 oz. Congratulations to all!
LAST WEEK FOR 2008 DGC Awards Call for Submissions!
The DGC National Office is now accepting submissions for the 2008 DGC Awards. The official entry form and rules booklet can be downloaded in either English or French by clicking on this link.
If you would prefer a copy of the documents sent to you by fax or by Canada Post, please call the DGC National Office at (416) 482-6640 or toll free 1-888-972-0098. You can also request the documents by sending an email to awards@dgc.ca.
Only Full members in good standing are eligible to submit entries. DGC signed or dispensated productions completed (including post production) between January 1, 2007 & December 31, 2007 are eligible for submission. You are encouraged to send in submissions for productions you worked on, however you can also submit entries for DGC productions that, even though you weren’t involved in them, you believe are award worthy.
Submissions can be made directly to the national office in person or by post. If a viewing copy is to be forwarded at a later date, submission forms can also be faxed or e-mailed. Deadline to submit entries is March 31st, 2008.
Entries should be sent to the DGC National Office: DGC National Office, DGC Awards, 111 Peter Street, Suite 402, Toronto, ON M5V 2H1
2008 DGC Awards Call for Jurors - FREE Dues for 1 Lucky Jury Member
Full members are invited to join the jury for the 7th annual DGC Awards. The Nominating and Voting Juries are composed of full members in good standing representing ALL DEPARTMENTS and all regions of the country. Jury members screen nominations in specific categories and, based on a rating system, make recommendations for the final ballot. Jury members also screen and vote on the final DGC Awards. A jury member’s vote is weighted at 70% of the final tally for each award.
Everyone who joins and completes jury service for the 2008 DGC Awards will be eligible
to WIN their 2009 Membership Dues. All current 2008 jury members will have their name entered once they have completed their service. The WINNER will be announced after the completion of this year’s Awards.
Jury members are the heart of the DGC Awards process and as the number of submissions continues to grow we need more volunteers. By volunteering you have the opportunity to screen some of the finest work that your colleagues created over the past year. You can take great satisfaction in knowing that you have contributed to the integrity and growth of these important industry awards. Also as a jury member you can receive a substantial discount on the cost of tickets to the DGC Awards gala. To submit your name for consideration as a jury member, contact Deryck at awards@dgc.ca or call 416-482-6640 x 228. The deadline to join the jury is April 4, 2008.
Female Eye Presents Kari Skogland with Honourary Director Award
The Female Eye Film Festival is proud to announce that this year’s recipient of the 2008 Honourary Director Award is Kari Skogland. The award will be presented by award-winning filmmaker Gail Harvey and the Director’s Guild of Canada – Ontario. Kari Skogland’s film The Stone Angel will kick-off the festival as the opening gala presentation at the Cumberland Cinemas - 159 Cumberland Street, on March 27th, 2008 at 7pm. Click the above link for further details and a list of new films announced to the FeFF program.
The Festival is also proud to announce three innovative panel discussions involving some of the entertainment biz' key players. Panel discussions are $5.00 and will take place at the Canada Square Cinemas, 2190 Yonge Street, March 27th - 30th..
FREE Admission - Enterprise Toronto in partnership with CCCO present Small Business Art Forum
The City of Toronto, Economic Development, Culture, and Tourism Department is hosting its first Small Business Arts Forum on Wednesday, March 26th at the North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is FREE! Click the link above for further details.
DGC Ontario Holiday Office Closure
The office will be closed from 3pm March 20th and will re-open on March 25th at 9am. If you need to contact us while the office is closed, please call our CEO and Executive Director, Ron Haney at 416.580.6220.
Canadian Television Fund Releases 2008-2009 Guidelines for Producers and Broadcasters
The Guidelines introduced for 2007-2008 reflected the CTF’s funding stream model and were the first step in rationalizing and updating the funding Guidelines in order to reflect the CTF’s current governance structure and funding programs. This consisted of a complete rewrite of the Guidelines to present them in a clearer and simpler form, with all information pertaining to each of the CTF’s funding streams included within a single document. See the link above for the new Guidelines.
The New Standard Agreement - Have you received your copy?
The DVD copies of the 2006 - 2009 DGC/ CFTPA Standard Agreement should have landed in your mailbox by now. If you have not received a copy yet or you have any questions, please let us know by calling the office at 416.925.8200.
New Website Showcases Successful Canadian Television Fund Productions
The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) launched its new website today - a dynamic resource celebrating the best in Canadian TV. Visitors to www.ctf-fct.ca can get updates on great dramas, documentaries, kids' shows and variety and performing arts programs, along with detailed information on CTF funding activities and governance. Click the link above for further information.
Interactive Ontario opens Early Bird Registration for ICE 2008
ICE: Interactive Content Exchange, an interactive media event(TM), returns to The Carlu in Toronto March 26 - 28 for two days of intense talk and trade with top interactive media industry producers, executives and entrepreneurs from around the world. See the link above for full details.
CTF Funding Results Update
The latest round of 2007-2008 CTF Funding Results for the Broadcaster Performance Envelope stream are now available at the link above. This update includes approved projects to date.
The New Hotlist! We are pleased to announce that DGC Ontario has unveiled a NEW Hotlist! A new and easier-to-read version of an old favourite, this hotlist will be updated daily. This new Hotlist is a work in progress - thank you for your valued feedback and patience as we work out the kinks!
Canadian Television Fund Releases More Funds to Producers Earlier in Delivery Schedule
The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) today announced a change to the standard drawdown schedule for production financing agreements. The new structure will increase funds allocated to a project from 20% to 30% in the middle phase of production. Click the link above to read the full release.
FREE PASSES to the 6th Annual Female Eye Film Festival - Featuring Kari Skogland's "The Stone Angel"
The Female Eye Film Festival has announced its 2008 Festival dates. Running from March 27th to the 30th, the Festival will screen a selection of eclectic short films, documentaries, and features by both emerging and established female directors. Kari Skogland's "The Stone Angel" has been scheduled as the opening night feature. The screenings will be held at the Canada Square Cinemas - 2190 Yonge Street and Alliance Cinemas' Cumberland 4 - 159 Cumberland Street in Toronto. Click the above link for furhter information.
FREE VIP All Access Double-Passes are available to the first 5 DGC Ontario members (in active good standing) to contact Lisa-Marie Melnychuk at the DCG Ontario office!
Congratulations to Our Genie Award Winners! Best Motion Picture - DGC Production Crew for AWAY FROM HER
Achievement in Directon - Sarah Polley for AWAY FROM HER
Achievement in Art Direction - Rob Gray and the Art Department Crew for FIDO
Achievement in Editing - Ronald Sanders and the Picture Editing Crew for EASTERN PROMISES
Achievement in Sound Editing - Wayne Griffin, Robert Bertola, Tony Currie, Michael O'Farrell for EASTERN PROMISES
Adapted Screenplay - Sarah Polley for AWAY FROM HER
See the link above for a complete list of nominations.
WIFT-T 3rd Annual Short Film Showcase -
Tickets Still Available
The Short Film Showcase features 8 award-winning international short films from female filmmakers, including one local selection. Click the link above for further details and a list of participating films.
Good News From the Ontario Government!
The Liberal government has made good on its election promise to increase tax credits to the Ontario film and television industry.
On September 23rd the Liberals promised to invest $50 million annually to increase film and television tax credits. Yesterday they came through with the money by -
- increasing the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit from 30 to 35% and
- increasing the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit from 18 to 25%.
This boost in the tax credit will provide the $50 million increase in 2008/09.
DGC Ontario has been working with our industry partners at FilmOntario to make sure that the current government not only understands the challenges facing our industry but also to make sure that something is done to help us compete against other jurisdictions with competitive tax credits despite our high dollar.
The McGuinty government also promised that they would be advancing the tax credit to the start of the production - meaning more money shows up on the screen. We will be working to make sure that the Liberals have all the information they need to keep that promise as well. This announcement shows that our lobbying efforts are being heard and accepted.
Our thanks go to Premier McGuinty, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, and our former Finance Minister Greg Sorbara MPP, who was one of the architects of the Liberal commitment to our sector.
See the link above to read the full coverage of the Minister's Statement to the House.
CTF 2006-2007 Annual Report
The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) has released its 2006-2007 Annual Report. The publication includes detailed analysis about CTF funding streams and the projects they support, success stories of CTF-funded productions, and audience measurement reporting unique to the CTF. See the link above to read the report.
Highlights from the 2006-2007 Annual Report include the following:
- CTF revenues increased by 5%, totalling $288 million;
- 509 productions were funded;
- $240 million was allocated to 66 Canadian broadcasters via Broadcaster Performance Envelopes;
- $9.6 million was provided in development funding to 361 projects in English, French and Aboriginal languages;
- $10.5 million was provided to French-language production outside of Quebec (31 productions in five provinces);
- $2.8 million was provided to Aboriginal-language production (a total of 15 productions).
Doc Summit Call For Submissions
The National Film Board and Hot Docs are pleased to partner on bringing together key industry stakeholders for the fifth edition of The Doc Summit, which takes place this year on Friday, April 25, during the Hot Docs Festival, April 17-27. Producers, directors, distributors and broadcasters are invited to share ideas and advance progress or consensus around burning issues relevant to the sector. All statements will be taken into consideration and 3 to 4 key visions will form the basis of the debate at this year's Summit. Click the link above for further details.
Writers Strike in US - Updated February 12, 2008
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). This agreement is set to be ratified shortly. DGC Ontario is carefully monitoring the situation and will continue to keep you updated. For full coverage please see the News Section of our website. If you have any questions please call the office.
OMDC Call for Submissions: Lindalee Tracey Award
The deadline for submissions for The Lindalee Tracey Award is Friday, February 29th. A $5,000 award will be granted to emerging Canadian filmmakers who work in the spirit of Lindalee: with passion, humour, a strong sense of social justice and a personal point of view, champion to those who are often ignored, underestimated and forgotten, celebrating those who rise above disadvantage! Click this link for a list of guidelines. Or for further information contact Lee at lee@whitepinepictures.com
FREE Passes to the First Weekend Club Presents Talkback 2008 - A Film Artist Salon
First Weekend Club is proud to present TalkBack: A Film Artist Salon for its 3rd year. This year's TalkBack will be held on Sunday, March 2nd, 3pm at the Drake Hotel and involves an afternoon of intimate conversation with some of Canada's finest filmmaking talent. Featured guests this year include Vic Sarin (Partition) and Rob Stewart (Sharkwater). Tickets cost $15 but the first 10 DGC Ontario members to RSVP to Kelsey at the First Weekend Club will receive FREE ENTRY to this event! Click the link above for further details.
Digital Library off-line on Saturday March 1, 2008
This Saturday, March 1st the OMDC's Digital Database will be inaccessible from approximately 7 AM until 7 PM. The shutdown is necessary to protect the database during the installation of a new A/C unit in their server room.
Axium Update - March 4, 2008
Axium is receiving a stay for one month in order for them to administer and distribute T4s and ROEs.
The trustee who is taking over Axium has not yet been named; we will update you as soon as we have more details.
If you have worked for Orphan Productions and have an Axium cheque that was returned NSF (non sufficient funds), then Orphan will reissue the cheque as long as you have either your printed bank statement or the returned NSF cheque. Please note that you are responsible for any bank fees incurred.
If you have further questions, please call the office at 416.925.8200.
OMDC Call for Submissions: TELUS Innovation Fund
The application deadline for the TELUS Innovation Fund is Monday, February 25th. This fund invests in new forms of high-quality, original Canadian content that explore new ways of approaching entertainment and storytelling. This fund supports projects in the form of a recoupable contribution toward the production of innovative
film, television, new media or cross-platform content projects. The TELUS Innovation Fund supports three
projects per year with funding up to $100,000 per project. For further information please contact Gillian Stanton at gstanton@cfccreates.com or call 416-445-1446 ext. 301.
WIFT-T Emerging Technologies Course - Few Spaces Remaining
There are only a few spots left for the third course in the WIFT-T Emerging Level Certificate Program course: Emerging Technologies. Designed for working professionals looking to accelerate their careers, Emerging Technologies explores the best mix of traditional and convergent media and examines digital film/television production, including high definition. Register and gain an understanding of changing media and its effect on audiences and the industry as a whole. The course runs Saturdays, February 16, 23 & March 8, 2008. Clink the link above for more information.
Call For Entries - 2008 Banff World Television Awards
The Banff World Television Awards attract nearly 1,000 entries from 35-40 countries and territories. New program categories at this year’s Rockie Awards include Environmental Programs and Social & Humanitarian Programs to address the larger social and humanitarian issues in the world today. Early bird entries submitted by Thursday, January 31 are subject to a discounted entry fee. The final deadline for entries is Thursday, February 14. See the link above for full details.
Call for Applications - WIFT-T 2008 NBC Universal Development Incubator
This national initiative is designed to develop market-driven feature films and support the next generation of Canadian feature filmmakers. Emerging to intermediate producer and writer teams, with feature-length dramatic projects in development, are encouraged to apply now. Five teams will be chosen to work with international consultants and select industry advisors in a series of small group sessions. Each team will develop a script and prepare preliminary marketing packages. The successful candidates will be selected by a jury of industry representatives. Applicants must be WIFT-T members. The deadline for submissions is Monday, February 18, 2008. See the link above for complete details.
Media Releases - Actors' Fund Benefit Performances Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People presents a pay-what-you-can performance of Michael Miller’s new play "Touch the Sky" as a benefit for the Actors’ Fund of Canada on Monday, February 18th at 2:00 pm. The performance is open to the public. Tickets are available on a cash only basis at the Box Office from 9:00 am on the day of performance. There is a restriction of six tickets per person. LKTYP is located at 165 Front St. East, Toronto. Click this link to read the full media release.
-and-
Kitchener's Theatre & Company presents a performance of Kristen Thomson’s play "I, Claudia" as a benefit for the Actors’ Fund of Canada on Wednesday, February 20th at 7:30 pm. The performance is open to the public. Tickets are available at regular prices through the Theatre & Company box office at (519) 571-0928 or online at www.theatreandcompany.org. Click this link to read the full media release.
New Statutory Holiday
The Ontario government has created an additional stat holiday known as Family Day to be observed on the 3rd Monday of February. The holiday will fall on February 18th this year.
If you are working under a DGC Ontario Agreement on Family Day, you are entitled to premium pay as outlined in Article ON 4.02.
If you have any questions about how this will affect you, please call the office and ask for Mimi - 416.925.8200.
CinequipWhite Toronto's Annual February Freeze
CinequipWhite Toronto is hosting its annual February Freeze event at 1040 Islington Avenue from 3-9pm on Tuesday, February 12th. Take this opportunity to see the latest in the entertainment industry's equipment innovations and talk to popular suppliers. See the link above for full details.
9th Annual Toronto Documnetary Forum - April 23 - 24, 2008
During Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival April 17 - 27, 2008
A two-day, limited-seating event, the TDF is focused around a slate of up to 38 pre-selected international project presentations showcased in either the public Forum Room or in private meetings. The TDF’s intimate and intense format has proven extremely successful in building international partnerships and raising additional financing for both presenting and observing producers, as well as providing a preeminent source of up-to-the-minute market intelligence. This spring the TDF's 500 delegates will include 130+ key commissioning editors and programming executives, as well as leading producers, distributors and sales agents from around the globe. See the link above for complete details.
Doc Lab at Hot Docs - Call for Applications
This master class program gives early to mid-career doc writers and directors a chance to connect with leading creative professionals from the documentary world through a series of curated intimate and focused discussions pertinent to their craft and projects. Hot Docs runs April 17-27. Please find attached an application form and more information on the program. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 8. See the link above for complete information.
Axium Update - January 31, 2008
The latest information we have regarding the status of the Axium default and the issuing of T-4s is that Deloitte & Touche LLP has been appointed as a temporary receiver and is currently overseeing the Axium insolvency. In the meantime, up to six former Axium employees were retained in Toronto to facilitate the completion of T-4s. ROEs are not part of this process. There were problems in completing that task due to troubles with their internet provider however we understand that has been corrected and the T-4s will be printed over the next couple of days. EP Canada has volunteered to place the 26,000 T-4s in envelopes and there is work being done now to arrange for the payment of postage.
The deadline for Employers to issue T-4s is February 29th. Given the limited personnel assigned to this task however, it is unlikely that Axium T-4s will be issued by this deadline.
In all likelihood, the Axium T-4s will be distributed in advance of the April 30th tax filing deadline. We ask all our affected members to be patient and allow the employers to chart their way through the logistics.
We have asked the CFTPA and Canadian Affiliates of the AMPTP to reinforce with the Employers to keep our members updated on their progress.
Alternatively, tax returns may be filed without T-4s. According to Revenue Canada, an ROE can be used for tax purposes. If an ROE isn't available for whatever reason, pay stubs can be used to calculate the needed fields and an estimate can be sent in with copies of your paystubs and an explanation letter stating the reason for the estimate. In this case, the letter should state that the payroll company declared bankruptcy and that its receivers were unable to provide T-4s or ROEs. It is recommended that this option only be exercised if you haven't received your Axium T-4 by mid-April.
We are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide further details as they become available. If you have further questions, please call the office at 416.925.8200.
Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund - Round Two Recipients
The Partnerships Fund is designed to help Ontario's entertainment and creative industries grow and move into new markets by promoting new content development, innovative marketing and distribution, and skills training. The industries include film and television production, interactive digital media, music recording, commercial theatre, and magazine and book publishing. See the link above for a list of the winners of the Creative Cluster Partnership funds. See also, the accompanying news release - Ontario Government invests $1.7 million in Ontario’s cultural media industries.
Film @ 11, Lunch at 12 - February Session Invitation from Kodak
This session features the encore presentation of the launch of Kodak's VISION 3 5219/7219. This film stock was originally launched in November and since then has become one of their most popular film stocks. See the link above for complete details and to RSVP.
Project Presentation Submission Deadline - Monday, January 28, 2008
The Toronto Documentary Forum (TDF) is North America's premier market event for the international documentary industry working in the social, cultural and political genres and, new in 2008, will be opening its Regular Program to a broader genre spectrum of non-fiction projects in series and mini-series formats.
OMDC Call for Submissions: From Page to Screen
This event has been created to promote the adaptation of Canadian fiction, non-fiction and children’s literature published by Ontario publishers to the big and small screens. It will provide a forum for Canadian film and television producers to meet with the publishers in one-on-one scheduled meetings. There is also an opportunity for the publishers to attend a workshop seminar in the morning with sessions on the Canadian film and TV business environment, and contract considerations when licensing film/TV rights. The application deadline is 5pm on Thursday, January 31, 2008. See the link above for further information.
Writers Strike in US
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is continuing strike action against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)although as of Wednesday, January 16th talks have broke down. The most contentious issue dividing the two guilds are residuals for TV series and movies shown on computers and new-media devices. Right now, DGC Ontario has nothing shooting that will be affected by the strike but the strike could potentially have an effect on future production. We are carefully monitoring the situation and will continue to keep you updated. For full coverage please see the News Section of our website. If you have any questions please call the office.
Important Announcement from the Actors' Fund
Please click on the graphic from the Actors' Fund for an important announcement on the American Writers' strike and how it could affect the people in our industry. The Fund anticipates that they will receive a flood of financial aid requests this year. If you have room in your budget to give, we highly recommend the Actors' Fund. The money goes to all members of the entertainment industry (not specifically to actors as the name might suggest). DGC Ontario supports the Fund every year.
Introducing Mimi!
Ron Haney and the entire staff of DGC Ontario are delighted to introduce you to our new Senior Business Agent - Mimi Wolch.
You have probably seen Mimi on your set at some time over the past 9 years in her role as Business Agent for IATSE 873 or you might have worked directly with her since she has been an IATSE member herself since 1975.
Members of staff at DGC Ontario have been working along side Mimi on important lobbying groups such as the Toronto Film Board and FilmOntario. During our work together it became obvious that her history in the business, her worldwide contacts, especially in LA, and her reputation made her a trusted and effective voice in the community.
She has proven herself to be a fierce advocate for production in Ontario - not only by bringing foreign production here but also helping to grow a stable and independent Canadian industry. She has worked tirelessly to promote our city and our province as a world-class filming destination.
Mimi's Business Agent experience at IATSE, along with her experience on both their Local and International Executive Boards highlights her staying power in a position that demands difficult negotiations in an increasingly complex production environment.
We are thrilled to introduce Mimi to you since a large part of her mandate will be to help increase work opportunities for our members. Please join us in welcoming her to DGC Ontario by introducing yourself when she shows up on your set. Open the attachment for a picture of Mimi - she starts on January 8th so you'll be seeing her soon!
She is looking forward to meeting and representing you!
Sim Video Open House - Invitation
Sim Video invites DGC Ontario to a showcase of the latest high definition production equipment. Please see the link above for complete details.
Theatre Ontario Actor Showcase - You're Invited
Theatre Ontario would like to invite you to their 14th year of presenting the graduates of theatre training programs - two days of talent - January 20th and 21st - with over 200 grads. Please see the link above for complete details.
The Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada - Call for Submissions
PresserVision is seeking English and French article submissions for the 13th edition of their newsletter. They are looking for newsworthy and unique stories about archival projects -
- Industry Shorts, point form (100-150 words in length)
- "Festival Footnotes" point form, (ie: Festivals, Important dates)
- Projects being undertaken or completed
- Special Features
- Interest Pieces
- Editorials
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday February 13, 2008.See the link above for full details for your submission.
Save the Date - Music Makes It
North by Northeast Music & Film Festival and Conference (NXNE) and the OMDC are presenting a reception and band showcase for the music, film, TV, games, and interactive digital media industries.
Date - Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
Time - 5.30 - 7.30
Where - The Mod Club
Space is limited so please RSVP to musicmakesit@omdc.on.ca
"How She Move" - 2 Double Passes Available From the First Weekend Club
FWC has offered DGC Ontario members 2 double passes to the advance screening of "How She Move". The film opens on January 25th, the advance tickets are for a screening on January 17th (7pm) at the Scotia Bank Theatre. The film was a Sun Dance hit by Ian Iqbal Rashid. You can find a brief synopsis of the film is on their website by clicking the link above. The first two people to call the office claim the passes.
WIFT-T Announces Winner of 2007 DGC Ontario Emerging Television Director Award
Congratulations to emerging Canadian filmmaker Alison Reid! Alison will receive a two-month creative mentorship with an established DGC Ontario director member and intensive industry coaching with a leading business and/or legal representative to assist her in achieving her professional goals. The award will be presented to Reid at the 2007 Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon on Monday, December 3, 2007 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. See the link above for complete details.
The TIFF Group Announces Canada's Top Ten of 2007
Congratulations to all the people who worked on "Eastern Promises", "Fugitive Pieces", "A Promise to the Dead: the Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman", "The Tracey Fragments" and "Young People F*cking". See the link above for the complete list and more about these movies.
TFC Announces the Fall Challenge Winners
November 30th marked the end of the fall 24-hour film challenge and three teams came out on top to take home over $10,000 in prizes. Congratulations to all the participants. See the link above for more details and to view the winning films. DGC Ontario is a proud supporter of the TFC.
DGC Ontario Holiday Office Closure
The office will be closed from 3pm December 21st to January 2nd. If you need to contact us while the office is closed, please call our CEO and Executive Director, Ron Haney at 416.580.6220.
We wish you a wonderful hiatus and a fantastic 2008!
Join First Weekend Club on Saturday, December 15th at The Royal (608 College Street) for the 4pm screening of "Poor Boy’s Game". Then sit back for Talkback - a Film Artist Salon following the film for your chance to get up close and personal with renowned Toronto filmmaker Clement Virgo and star Tonya Lee Williams as Eye Weekly film critic Adam Nayman leads an intimate discussion on the making of this great film.
Keep your ticket stub, to get into a private party for Poor Boy’s Game at the Drake Hotel and trade it in for a complimentary beverage – consider it an early Christmas present from First Weekend Club. DGC Ontario proudly supports FWC - see the link above for more information on "Poor Boy's Game" and to sign up for a free membership.
The Actors' Fund Celebrates 50 Years in 2008
The Actors' Fund of Canada celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008 and will take its place among the most connected, respected and supported charities serving members of Canada's entertainment industry with a year-long awareness and fundraising campaign.
The Actors' Fund provides emergency financial aid to professionals performing or working behind the scenes in theatre, film & television, music or dance. Founded by six members of Toronto's theatre community in 1958, the organization has since expanded its mandate and served over 10,000 clients across Canada in a wide variety of entertainment industry disciplines.
To read the entire release, please see the link above.
CTF Funding Results Update
The first round of 2007-08 CTF Funding Results for the Broadcaster Performance Envelope stream are now available at the link above. This update includes approved projects to date.
WIFT-T and DGC Ontario Announce the 2007 Directors Weekend
On December 8th and 9th, DGC Ontario members are invited to join film professionals for an intensive two-day workshop on the essentials of directing. Through a combination of instruction, workshop and case study, participants will gain an understanding of the styles, structures and team work necessary in filmmaking. The fee for both days is $75 incl. GST for DGC Ontario members. See the link above for complete information.
Thank you from Peter Bray's Family
NEW INFORMATION
If you would like to make a donation of any sort, you may do so through the following address:
Erin S. Bray
P.O. Box 109
Mooers, NY 12958
The children and family of Peter Bray would like to express their gratitude and thankfulness to the television and film industry for all of their support and gifts at this tragic time of loss. The terrible loss of our Father, Son, Brother, and Beloved Friend is hard for all of us to bare. The "Industry" has lost a great man with many titles. He will be greatly missed by us all.
Sincerely,
The Bray Family
Good News For Our Industry!
DGC Ontario in partnership with the Toronto Film Board, developed a plan to boost screen-based industry in Toronto. It was presented to the Mayor and his Executive Committee and it was unanimously accepted! Finance is now investigating how the city can help us make Toronto the centre of excellence. See the link above for the full study and stay tuned for updates.
WIFT-T Announces 2007 Winner of CBC Business Broadcasting Mentorship Award
Congratulations to Jennifer Liao! As an emerging Canadian female filmmaker, Jennifer has been awarded the opportunity to participate in a week-long workshop at a designated CBC location where she will be able to establish business and mentoring relationships with CBC Drama staff as she is guided through the various production and broadcast components of short film. The award will be presented to Liao at the 2007 Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon on Monday, December 3, 2007 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. See the link above for complete details.
WIFT-T 2007 Crystal Award Winners Announced
Since the inception of these coveted awards, more than 85 of Canada's most accomplished women and men working in film, television and new media have been honoured. Please see the link above for more details.
WIFT-T Announces Call for Applications: Senior Level Business Management for Media Professionals Program
Specifically designed for managers, professionals and entrepreneurs working in the industry, this six-session, 13-day executive program will help participants gain a thorough understanding of how the film and television industry operates within Canada and globally. Themes include technological change, multiplatform delivery of content, globalization of the marketplace, and the challenges of leadership in times of great change. With an emphasis on business skills, BMMP is designed to help participants sharpen their industry knowledge and advance their careers. See the link above for complete details.
WGC - International Day of Solidarity
Members of WGC and other unions and guilds will hold a public demonstration on Wednesday, November 28th, in support of their striking colleagues. Please see the link above for complete information.
Toronto Film Challenge - 24-hour Comedy Challenge
On Saturday morning, over 200 filmmakers filled the Berkeley event hall for the official kickoff of the Fall 24-hour Toronto Film Challenge. When the dust settled on Sunday morning, 26 teams beat the 24-hour deadline with their comedic submissions.
Next, the eligible films go to the judges for their critiques. The 3 judges this challenge are: -
Brad Pelman - Distribution Exec, (Maple Pictures)
Pat Kelly - Actor/Writer (Good Morning World)
Michael Kennedy, Director (Little Mosque...)
Screenings and Awards will happen at the Bloor Cinema on Friday November 30th at 7pm. See the above like for full details. DGC Ontario is a proud supporter of the Toronto Film Challenge.
First Weekend Club Announces: "Breakfast With Scot" in theatres November 16th!
This funny and heartwarming story explores what it truly means to be a family, hilariously contrasting familial stereotypes with the realities of family life and showing what it means to be a boy who doesn't quite fit into the role society has prepared for him. See the above link for further details. DGC Ontario is a proud supporter of the First Weekend Club.
Status of Ontario's Artists IMPORTANT -- The Status of Ontario's Artists Act - The first step in the right direction! Legislation has been introduced to Queen's Park that recognizes the contributions that artists make to Ontario's economy and quality of life. Click the link above for all the details.
OMDC Call for Applications - Film Fund
OMDC has launched a call for applications for the OMDC Film Fund. This fund is intended to increase the level of indigenous feature film production in Ontario. This program provides support to Ontario producers for feature film projects in the final stages of development and production financing. See the link above for complete information.
Toronto’s Film Production Industry Goes Green
A Green-Screen alliance of Toronto-based film industry associations and service providers today announced a bold initiative to make Toronto a leader in “greening” the film production industry. The Green-Screen initiative rationally identifies and endorses a set of environmentally sustainable standards and recommendations for all productions shooting in Toronto from small documentaries and independent films to mega budget blockbusters. DGC Ontario is a proud member of the Green-Screen initiative. See the link above for more information.
Important considerations -
1. The ACTRA contract supersedes these guidelines so always follow the ACTRA contract, especially when in the best interest of the child.
2. Guild members should not function as chaperone.
See the link above for the complete guidelines.
Get a Temporary On-street Parking Permit ONLINE!
Toronto City Council has taken steps to make it easier for residents and their guests to obtain a temporary on-street parking permit for their vehicles. Now, all you need is access to a computer, printer and a credit card. You simply need to fill out some basic information in order to complete the transaction.
The first thing to do is go to the web site at www.toronto.ca/transporatation. You can then find out if there is parking space available in the area where you wish to park and then follow the simple instructions to make the transaction. The cost for the permit is $15.38. (including GST). The permit is to be displayed on your dashboard for the duration of your stay.
Thank you to Councillor Fletcher for all her work on getting this up and running!
Crystal Awards - December 3rd
Since 1988, Women in Film and Television - Toronto has honoured the extraordinary achievements of women in screen-based media through its annual Crystal Awards. Since the inception of these coveted awards, more than 85 of Canada's most accomplished women and men working in film, television and new media have been honoured. Through their achievements, these outstanding professionals have played a key role in advancing Canadian female talent and helped bring issues of diversity to the forefront.
See this link to order ticket to the prestigious Crystal Awards.
Goodbye From Hillcrest Motel...
The Hillcrest and North American Motels have been host to more than 160 movies, commercials and television series shoots over the past 17 years. Their motels will be sold and closing their doors in mid-January 2008. To all the location scouts, set buyers and decorators; they would like to give back to the film industry in Toronto. They are offering many items that have been previously rented by the film industry, for sale at very reasonable prices.
"We will of course be hosting filming of all kinds until our last day of operation (January 22, 2008). Going out with a big action scene would be fun and we are always open to ideas." See the link above for a letter from David Gadzala and contact details.
WIFT-T Announces 2007 Winner of Alliance Atlantis Diversity in Broadcasting Internship
Congratulations to Emily Bellavy! This national program offers one entry-level visible minority or Aboriginal woman the opportunity to gain broadcasting industry skills through experience in the Public and Regulatory Affairs department at Alliance Atlantis. The award will be presented to Bellavy at the Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon on December 3, 2007 at the Fairmont Royal York. See the link above for complete details.
Rittenhouse Farm
This popular and iconic Toronto location was completely destroyed by fire in the early morning of November 4th. Click the link above for a photo slideshow of the former Rittenhouse Farm.
OMDC Call for Applications - Music Makes It
OMDC has launched a call for submissions for this one-day high-level event to bring together key industry companies to meet, network, and celebrate the rich pool of Ontario talent. Music Makes It will be a fun forum through which executives from the music, interactive digital media, advertising, feature film, documentary and television industries will find ways to merge their content together, to the creative and commercial benefit of each sector. The deadline to submit an application is November 26th by 5:00pm. See the link above for complete information.
DGC Ontario Messageboards - Production Manager Caucus Now Registered! Promote your work - sell a camera - share a joke or some news or a gripe…
The messageboards have now been rolled out to the entire membership. These are your boards, nothing here is restricted or monitored. When we say that a board is only viewable by your caucus or only by your category we mean it!
If you have any questions, requests or suggestions, or you need help getting onto the boards please email Tanya Chapman or call her at 416.925.8200.
Film@11, Lunch@12 by Kodak - Super 16 Filmmaking with "Hank and Mike"
Sign up now for the November 21st partial screening of "Hank and Mike" followed by a discussion with the Writers, Producers and Cinematographer of this low-budget 16 mm film. Click the above link for complete details.
Artscape's "Creative Convergence Project" Wants to Pick Your Brain!
Participate in a major collaborative research initiative that explores the unique characteristics of communities, neighbourhoods and districts in which talented artists, entrepreneurs, firms and organizations thrive. Help inform
public policy makers on how to better protect and promote these critical local habitats of infrastructure and services that sustain Toronto's cultural and creative sectors. Click the link above for further details.
New Media Boot Camp for Film and Television Professionals
A unique one-day session will be held in Toronto on November 22, 2007. A broad-based introduction to new media will look at the changing landscape of the media world, including mobile content and Internet-based content delivery. One intense day of explanations, insight, and myth-busting coupled with insights into where the ever-increasing technology- and consumer-driven changes are taking us. DGC members can participate in this session at a 25% discount off the $399 regular registration rate - that's $299 + GST to gain new understanding and insight into the evolutionary and revolutionary forces that are changing the media industries forever. Click the link above for full details.
This initiative provides one emerging Canadian female director with the invaluable opportunity to receive a two-month creative mentorship with an established television director and intensive industry coaching with a leading business and/or legal representative. The mentorship/coaching sessions will begin in January 2008. Please note that we are looking for strong candidates interested in directing television drama.
The award winner will receive the following:
· one-on-one, two-month mentorship with an established director member of DGC Ontario
· one-on-one, intensive industry coaching with a leading business and/or legal representative
· complimentary WIFT-T programming pass valued at $1,200.00
· award presentation and national promotion at the Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon on
December 3,2007
See the link above for more details. Deadline for applications is November 9, 2007 at 12 noon EST.
General Meeting - Saturday November 10, 2007 DGC Ontario General Membership Meeting - THIS SATURDAY!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Fairmont Royal York
100 Front Street West
MAP Territories Room
8:30am Registration
Meeting 9:00am - 1:00pm
Please RSVP to Elaine Salo 416.925.8200 or email ESalo@dgcodc.ca
Recycling for the Entertainment Industry - Set/Reset ONLINE
When a film or television show has finished shooting, all the scenery, costumes and props end up getting tossed into the dump. Set/Reset ONLINE provides an environmentally sound alternative. See the link above for more information.
Filmport on YouTube
Filmport has put together a short film outlining their new facility. Click the link above to see the video on YouTube.
Brian Anthony appointed CEO of the Directors Guild of Canada National Office
The national office of the Directors Guild of Canada presented its new National Executive Director and CEO, Brian Anthony, at its annual awards gala at the Carlu on Saturday. Anthony will assume the post on November 12, 2007. DGC Ontario is looking very forward to working with Brian. See the link above for complete details.
The Source Shop is Moving
The Source Shop will be closed October 29th and will reopen at their new location (119 Jefferson Avenue) on Friday, November 2nd. Their phone and fax numbers will remain the same. (T 416.588.6712/1.888.516.3333 F 416.588.6869)
They are having a moving sale from October 22nd to October 26th on desks, filing cabinets, equipment, studio carts etc.
OMDC Wins Top Award for its Digital Locations Library Database
The 2007 Public Service Quality Fair bestowed its top honour -- a Level III Award of Excellence -- on the Ontario Media Development Corporation for its innovative online Digital Locations Library Rebuild Project. Thank you to all DGC Ontario members who contributed to the database! See the link above for the news release.
WIFT-T Announces Deluxe Producers Internship and Call for Applications
The Producers Internship will provide one Canadian female producer with coveted hands-on experience and training by giving the producer the opportunity to join Deluxe as an intern to learn about production equipment planning and requirements and post-production video, film and sound. The successful applicant will spend a total of three weeks following an intensive training program. The internship will take place November 19 to December 7, 2007. See the link above for complete details.
First Weekend Club Presents a Talkback Session With Bruce McDonald!
DGC Ontario member Bruce McDonald will be appearing at a First Weekend Club Talkback event at The Royal on Saturday, November 3rd following the 4.00pm screening of "The Tracey Fragments". More details will be announced as they are confirmed. DGC Ontario is a proud supporter of the First Weekend Club.
An Important Announcement from the City of Toronto
On August 10, 2007 the City of Toronto announced cost-containment measures that require immediate service-level adjustments. These measures include the Monday closure of all community centers and indoor pools. Indoor arenas remain available on Mondays. The opening of outdoor rinks will also be delayed. Parks, Forestry and Recreation will make no exceptions for use of the centers including film uses. This will be in effect from Monday September 17 to December 31, 2007. See the link above for more information.
A Tragic Passing - Sue Klabunde
Dear Fellow DGC Members,
A member of our guild died tragically in Halifax last week and I feel compelled to put out a call for support. Sue Klabunde, an art department caucus member, died in childbirth and her baby lived. She had two teenage children and a husband who are obviously distraught and going through very sad times.
I know that this community of filmmakers are a compassionate bunch of people and that when asked for help give it wholeheartedly. If you can spare some money to set up a fund for this baby, please go to any CIBC with the following information:
Donations in her memory to assist the family may be made at the CIBC account name, In memory of Sue Klabunde Transit 00103 institution 010 account 5203317. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Yours truly,
Doug McCullough
DGC Art Department Caucus Rep.
See the link above for a beautiful memorial.
Film@11, Lunch@12 by Kodak - October 25th
Shooting Anything from Music Videos to Feature Films. Cinematographer Brendan Steacy talks about the different approaches he brings to shooting Television, Commercials, Music Videos, and Films. See the link above for complete information.
Congratulations to Jonathan and Claire!
Jonathan Matthews, DGC Ontario member and his wife Claire (nee Smith) An IATSE 411 member are thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter Gwen Dorothy. Gwen was born the morning of October 3rd and is already scouting locations!
First Weekend Club Brings You and the Filmmakers of "Weirdsville" Together in an Online Forum
They had such a great time with the writer, director and producer of "Weirdsville" in Toronto for our Talkback on opening weekend, that they decided to invite them back for an online discussion so film fans and inspiring filmmakers across the country can benefit from what these very talented people have to say about making their film and about the journey’s of their careers. So get inspired and get those creative juices flowing for an online VIP-style filmmaking forum! See the link above for complete details.
A Sad Passing - Peter Bray
With great sadness, family and friends mourn Peter's sudden passing on October 17th.
A gentle giant of a man, Peter spent over 30 years in the entertainment industry both behind and in front of the camera. He was greatly loved and respected by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing or working with him. Peter received both an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination for his outstanding mini-series "Joan of Arc" and the theatrical release "Interstate 60".
He is survived by his mother Gladys, his son Allan, his daughter Erin, his step-daughter Emily, his granddaughter Elah, and his ex-wife Lisa.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday October 24th, 2007 at 1:00pm
at Trull Funeral Home, 2704 Yonge Street (south of Lawrence). Their phone number is (416) 488-1101.
Financial donations to benefit the family during this trying time will be most appreciated and can be made at the Memorial Service.
2008 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - Deadline Approaching
The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, the premier venue for nonfiction film in the American West, is seeking submissions for its fifth annual event. See the link above for more information.
Regular Deadline - September 1, 2007
Final Deadline - October 20, 2007
Call for Registrations - Business Management for Media Professionals
Designed for working professionals who are looking to accelerate their careers, the Emerging Level Certificate Program, presented in partnership with Humber School of Media Studies and Information Technology, is offered through the Centre for Media Professionals (CMP), WIFT-T's training division for women and men. Event takes place October 20th.
Ideal for those looking to gain insider knowledge about the industry, the Emerging Level Certificate Program offers flexible courses in the management, financial and marketing sides of the film and television industry. See the link above for more information
The Actors' Fund - Volunteer Request
Are you in the Toronto area, do you have good computer data entry skills
and do you have a few volunteer hours to spare to help the Actors' Fund
with a small data entry project in the next week? The Fund is building a contact database for its 50th anniversary project and could use the help of a couple of skilled volunteers. Please respond by clicking the link above to email the Actors' Fund.
The Actors' Fund of Canada promotes artistic excellence for performers, creators, technicians and other members of creative and production teams in all entertainment industry sectors.
Eastern Avenue Update
Smart!Centres, the applicant for the rezoning of 629, 633 and 675 Eastern Ave will be hosting an open house on their proposed plans.
When - Wednesday, October 17, 2007 6.00 PM to 8.00 PM
Where - Morse Street Junior Public School 180 Carlaw Avenue
This will be an important opportunity for the community to come out and have Smart!Centres hear what the community thinks about this 700 000 sq ft 'Big Box' proposal.
CANCELLED - Junction Studio has Closed
They will be selling off standing sets, flats and props.
This is a one-day event, taking place on Sunday, October 21, 2007 between 1pm and 4pm.
The sale will be conducted on a fixed fee basis of $150 per vehicle, for as much material as you wish to take.
The studio is located at 417 Keele Street, just north of Dundas St. W. (in the old Cdn. Tire building) MAP.
If you plan on attending please call or text to 416-721-2692 to book your time.
WIFT-T calls for applications for the Alliance Atlantis Diversity in Broadcasting Internship Program
This national program offers one entry-level visible minority or Aboriginal woman the opportunity to advance her career in broadcasting through experience in the Public and Regulatory Affairs department at Alliance Atlantis. The award winner will take part in a comprehensive career development program. The deadline for applications is October 9, 2007, 12 noon EST.
Canadians Get 77 Nominations for the Emmy Awards and Won 19 Statuettes!
See the link above for a congratulatory advertisement that appeared in the Daily Variety compliments on the Canadian Consulate General in LA. Seeing the long list of Canadian names highlights the contributions Canadians make both in front of and behind the camera. It also points to the extraordinary infrastructure which exists in Canada which is one of the reasons why US producers decide to film their television miniseries there.
Work In Culture Wants to Hear From You
On behalf of Cultural Careers Council Ontario, also known as WorkinCulture, we would like to invite you to complete an online survey about professional development for artists in Ontario's cultural sector. The survey will improve understanding of professional development needs for artists. It is an important follow-up to the Ministry of Culture's 2006 Report on the Status of the Artist and a unique opportunity to influence funding for those needs.
Your participation in the survey is very important and greatly appreciated. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. We ask that you complete the survey as soon as possible. To complete the online survey, please click the link above.
Thank you.
Important Vote October 10th - Not What You Might Think!
Have you ever voted for someone because you didn't want the other candidate to take office? Or have you ever felt that you were "throwing your vote away" by voting for a candidate who you know has no chance of winning in your riding but who stands for everything you believe in? Now is your chance to change the way we vote in Ontario.
See the link above for an article from the Toronto Star that explains this important vote. MMP or mixed-member proportional representation is a political system where voters cast a two-part ballot, selecting both a preferred local candidate and a political party.
See the pamphlet from the Chief Electoral Officer.
Conservatives Pledge to Promote Arts and Culture in Ontario
The Conservatives agree that arts and culture essential to our society and our economy. "Experts agree that creativity is the single most important element of modern economic growth." Some key points of his election campaign that involve arts and culture are -
· Improve support for working artists by continuing to enhance funding for the Ontario Arts Council.
· Help artists deal with the cyclical and sporadic nature of their incomes by working with the federal government to adjust the tax system to enable income-averaging over time.
· Top up funding of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, which promotes our cultural events nationally and internationally.
· Make three-year funding commitments for arts institutions and major cultural attractions across Ontario.
· Establish a Premier’s Council on Arts, Culture and Creative Cities and Towns to create a stronger, more direct link between government and the creative community.
· Enable more private donations to the arts through the Ontario Arts and Culture Fund.
· Foster closer collaboration between arts organizations and schools throughout Ontario, to give young people early exposure to the arts – particularly in disadvantaged communities where inspiration is desperately needed.
See page 27 of the document above for their arts and culture platform.
Please note that we have only published the Liberal and Conservative platforms because the other parties have not yet released an arts-specific campaign platform.
Liberals Pledge Funding Boost for Arts in Ontario
Culture Minister Caroline DiCocco unveiled the Liberal platform on Saturday, September 23rd. The minister said part of the motivation for the platform was a conviction that investment in culture is good for communities, tourism and the economy.
Of special interest to DGC Ontario is the Liberal election promise to invest $50 million annually to increase the film and television tax credits and provide support for our producers at the start of a production. Please see the link above for complete information on the Liberal arts election platform - here are some key points to consider.
Highlights of the platform include
· The creation of a $40 million cultural capital fund for our provinces arts infrastructure to provide artists with space to do their work
· Increasing the film and tv tax credits by $50 million and advancing them to the start of the production
· Increasing and expanding the Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund by $12 million
· Increasing funding to the OAC by a further $5 million beginning in 2008-09 in addition to the 2007 budget commitment of $55 million by 2009-10
· Providing artists with business training seminars in all Small Business Enterprise Centres across the province
· Supporting organizations committed to municipal cultural planning through an annual investment of $5 million
· Several commitments to increase support to our libraries and museums
· Development of a new media content creation fund for mobile and online platforms
· Establishment of a $1 million per year ARTSPIRE fund to support evidence-based programs that are led by youth or focus on marginalized youth
You are cordially invited to come and honour the life and times of James Beveridge
James Beveridge was the founder of York University's Department of Film. Come connect with old friends, meet current faculty and students and celebrate the Toronto premiere of Nina Beveridge's award winning feature documentary. See the link above for complete details.
The First Weekend Club Presents Talkback: A film artist salon with Allan Moyle
Following a special presentation of Weirdsville get up close and personal with director Allan Moyle (Pump up the Volume, Empire Records), producer Nicholas Tabarrok (Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico) and writer Willem Wennekers (Night Class) as Eye Weekly film critic leads a discussion on the Making of a Comedy. Other themes to be explored include the director / actor relationship, finding the perfect cast and working with key creatives. See the link above for more information about First Weekend Club and how they are supporting Canadian films.
When - Saturday October 13th
Where - ScotiaBank Theatre (259 Richmond Street)
Screening Time - Following the first screening of the day, 1.15pm
Talkback Length - 1 hour (immediately following the screening)
Cost - Free with purchase of your movie ticket
Allan Moyle will also be in attendance for a quick Q&A following the 4:20 screening on Saturday Oct 13th and Sunday Oct 14th.
Advance Polls Open Now! Make Sure You Get Your Ballot In!
Returning Advance Polls are open from 9.00am to 9.00pm from September 22 to October 4.
Area Advance Polls are open from 12.00pm to 8.00pm September 25 to October 4.
Area Advance Polls in Satellite Offices are open 12.00pm to 8.00pm September 25 to October 4.
On Election and Referendum Day the polls will be open from 9.00am to 9.00pm October 10.
Every voter is entitled to have three consecutive hours during which the polls are open in order to vote. Employers whose employees have three consecutive hours of their own time available during polling hours need not allow additional time for voting. If, however, an employee does not have this time available, it is stressed that the amount of time required:
· must be requested by the employee,
· is at a time convenient to the employer, and once requested by the employee, must be allowed by the employer.
For more information on advance voting and where your voting station is - please see the link above.
DGC Ontario Office Closed Monday, October 8th for the Holiday
DGC Award Noms Announced
Congratulations to all of our nominees! See the link above for the complete list of nominations.
Women in Film and Television-Toronto Announces 2007 Telefilm Canada Executive Management Program and Call for Applications
This national initiative provides up to 10 MICRO and SME television production companies, with a maximum of two senior management representatives per company, the opportunity to develop their management team through an intensive five-day workshop, based on the successful Incubator model. The program continues with a six-month mentorship matching industry leaders with Incubator participants.
“This is an excellent opportunity for producers to sharpen their business skills so that they can succeed both financially and creatively in the global marketplace,” said Sue Sheridan, Executive Director of WIFT-T. “We are delighted to collaborate again this year with Telefilm Canada and all our partners who are committed to the growth and development of the Canadian entertainment industry.” See the link above for more information.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - H&W Deadline Approaching
Your current Health & Welfare Benefits plan terminated with Equitable Life on June 30th and started with Great-West Life on July 1st. If you have any claims from before July 1st, get them into Equitable Life before September 30th or THEY WILL NOT BE PAID.
Exploring the Art and Craft of Filmmaking with Award-winning Canadian Directors
Each year, the Directors Guild of Canada honours an impressive list of Canadian film and television directors at its annual DGC Awards.
To celebrate, the DGC brings to you a FREE evening of discussion on the art and craft of filmmaking with several of these nominated directors. This is a unique opportunity to catch a rare, inside glimpse into the filmmaking process and hear some of Canada's best directors. For more information see the link above.
TONIGHT Join Us September 26th - Make Sure Artists Are Heard!
DGC Ontario along with other local arts groups are calling for a major discussion of arts and culture during this election campaign. The Isabel Bader Theatre has been booked for the evening of Wednesday, September 26 to hold a debate to discuss arts and culture issues in the lead up to the provincial election on October 10. The leaders of the parties will be invited to attend. The debate starts at 7.30.
Please join us in ensuring that arts and culture in Ontario are a high priority for the next government.
Watch a FREE Screening and Have a Drink on The First Weekend Club!
On Thursday, September 27th First Weekend Club is inviting DGC Ontario members deep into the world of rock n' roll in Bruce McDonald's HARD CORE LOGO at the Underground in the Drake Hotel. In order to attend this event you must RSVP to events@firstweekendclub.ca by September 24th. This is a free event courtesy of First Weekend Club. See the link above for complete information.
Greening the Film Biz
UCLA conducted a two-year study on "Sustainability in the Motion Picture Industry". The study contains findings on the environmental impact of filming and a list of best practices to follow on set. See the link above for the document.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - Your H&W and RSP Changes
Your current Health & Welfare Benefits plan terminated with Equitable Life on June 30th and started with Great-West Life on July 1st. If you have any claims from before July 1st, get them into Equitable Life before September 30th or THEY WILL NOT BE PAID.
Your RSP is changing as well. There is a NEW CHARGE associated with this change. There is a $50 fee each time you withdraw money from your account. It is free to transfer money between accounts.
If you have any questions please see the links above and below or contact the National office at 416.482.6640
You should have received notices about these changes. If you have not, please contact the National office.
RSP Information H&W Information
ZOS has Gone Green
The Whizbang films production ZOS is hoping to inspire fellow crews to go green on set. They have almost no garbage on set and would love to see others
follow. Just a little extra work for a very good cause. See the link above for a picture from the set of ZOS.
DGC Awards
Ballots for the DGC Awards have been mailed out from the National Office, and you should be receiving them soon. Ontario office has DVD copies of all nominations for viewing! Each member can take out a maximum of 4 DVDs at a time, over a one week period. We have only one copy of each nomination, so call the office first to verify if the show you want is in. The deadline for voting is September 12. Contact the national office if you have any further questions - 416.482.6640.
Health & Welfare News
Drug & Wallet cards have been mailed out and should be in your mailbox shortly. If you do not receive your card by the end of this week, please contact the National office at 416.482.6640.
For the claim forms:
- We do not use a Division number
- Plan name is "DGC"
- Employee # is your DGC member number with zeros in front of it to equal a total of 10 digits (we are not using SIN numbers anymore)
- All claim forms can be found on the National site - link above.
It's Time for the 11th Annual BIG SWING!
The 11th Annual Big Swing Charity Golf Tournament is set for September 23. The tourney has raised over $300,000 to help entertainment industry workers in distress.
Date - Sunday, September 23, 2007 (Please register by September 7th)
Location - Wooden Sticks Golf Club, Uxbridge, Ontario
Tee-Off - 12:30 PM
Includes - 18 holes of Golf, Power Cart, Banquet Dinner, Magnificent Prize Table
Tickets - $165 per person
For more information please see the link above.
Courses at The Chang School of Continuing Education
There are two courses that might be of interest to the Art Department Caucus trainees and others - Drafting for Entertainment and Scenography for Production Design. See the link above for more details.
A Sad Passing
It is with tremendous sadness that we mourn the loss of NABET Grip department member Bill Heintz. Our thoughts are with his spouse, Wardrobe member Sara Moodie, and all their family.
There will be a funeral on Saturday, September 8th at 12:00 at the Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home, 467 Sherbourne Ave. 416.924-1408. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favourite charity.
WIFT-T and Kodak Canada announce winner of 2007 Kodak New Vision Fellowship
WIFT-T, in partnership with Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging, is pleased to announce Audrey Cummings as the winner of the 2007 Kodak New Vision Fellowship. Cummings will build on her creative and business skills in the coming months with acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Ruba Nadda (Sabah) and senior executive Laurie May, Co-President of Maple Pictures Corp.
John Ross
John Ross, Chairman of Film Finances Canada passed away early Sunday September 9th at the age of 77. John's health had been declining over the past while, and following heart surgery on August 3rd he developed complications. According to his wishes and those of his family, John did not want to stay on life support. He will be greatly missed by the thousands of people he touched throughout his life and his career.
Details for John's memorial are;
Friday, September 14
3.00pm
The York Club - 135 St. George St, Toronto
Nearest Intersection - St George and Bloor (map)
Eastern Avenue
In July, Toronto City Council passed a motion to refuse the rezoning application for 629, 633 and 675 Eastern Ave. including 19 acres of big box retail with almost 2000 parking spaces on Eastern Avenue. The application includes plans for 700 000 sq. ft. of big box retail.
Councillor Sandra Bussin, M.P.P Peter Tabuns, M.P. Jack Layton and Councillor Paula Fletcher want to invite you to a meeting to get an update on the status of this application and hear your opinions. They also want you to hear what local residents have already been doing.
Thursday, September 20th, 2007 6:30 PM
Riverdale Collegiate Institute (Corner of Gerrard and Jones)
SOFTWARE SYMPOSIUM - Digital Tools and the Modern Filmworker
You've seen the products and programs for rendering, animation, 3D creations and painting etc. out there, but what exactly do they do? How do they impact on you as a film worker? Which ones are the best for you?
Presented by Sean Moore (DGC Art Department member), our first-ever Software Symposium will show you the top-of-the-line programs from many (including competing!) companies so that YOU can see which ones best work for you.
Not just a "show and tell", this symposium is designed to help illustrate how these cutting-edge tools can be implemented to their greatest advantage in film and television production.
Emmy Nominations - "Broken Trail" - Congratulations!
Congratulations to the Sound Editing Team for their nomination for Outstanding Sound Editing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special.
DGC Ontario members include -
Kevin Howard M.P.S.E., Supervising Sound Editor
Robert Hegedus, Dialogue Editor
Richard Calistan, ADR Editor
Clive Turner, Sound Effects Editor
P. Jason MacNeill, Sound Editor
"Broken Trail" received 16 Nominations overall.
Call For Submissions - Possible Worlds, Australia's Canadian Film Festival
Possible Worlds is one of the only annual festivals dedicated solely to Canadian cinema outside Canada. Taking place November 29th - December 5th 2007, the second annual Possible Worlds Film Festival will run a week of Canadian film premieres, filmmaker Q&A's, workshops and parties in Sydney, Australia.
The Festival is now accepting submissions from filmmakers, producers and sales agents for new Canadian features. Deadline: September 16th 2007 - No Entry Fee. See the link above for more information.
Pitch Expo Toronto
Pitch Expo Toronto, the event that puts filmmakers face-to-face with international industry executives, is coming back for one day only on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007.
Sit down, one-on-one, with the producers, development executives, broadcasters, and agents who make the decisions and can help take great ideas from concept to screen. Dramas, comedies, lifestyle series, children’s shows, documentaries, and animation – they'll take pitches for them all!
Some of the companies confirmed to date include: Blueprint Entertainment, Belladonna Productions ("Transamerica"), Meridian Artists (Agent Glenn Cockburn), and Canamedia Productions. More are added daily.
Cost:
All-inclusive fee: $199; Early Bird fee (by August 15th): $175
Associate fee (for members of WGC, DGC, WIFT, ACCT, LIFT, Charles Street Video, Trinity Square Video): $175
Students (with ID): $150; Student Early Bird fee (by August 15th): $125
Labour Day Fest 2007
The Youth Union Movement would like to invite you to a fun afternoon of free performances by up-and-coming local artists, performers and entertainers celebrating; the Labour Movement, Youth Activism and the RESPECT campaign. See the link above for more information.
Christopher Bessette Makes Top 5 in International Short Film Competition
Christopher Bessette (writer/director DGC) made it to the Top 5 spot for his short film "Apples From Eden". Competition organizers are flying him out to Texas this coming weekend to tape the finals which will be webcast on August 4. Thanks to all DGC members who took the time to vote!
For more information, see the link above.
CTF Funding Results Update
The May 2007 CTF Funding Results Updates are now available for the following envelopes:
- Broadcaster Performance Envelope Stream
- Development Financing (English-language and SRC only)
- SRC French-Language Productions Outside Quebec (FLPOQ) Envelope
See link above for more information.
Call for ideas: Interactive Ontario is in search of the most innovative interactive and documentary projects in the world...
DOC Toronto and Interactive Ontario are currently investigating the feasibility of organizing a major interactive forum / workshop created specifically for documentary creators and distributors this fall.
They are offering an opportunity for you to showcase your own projects, or to help bring innovators you'd like to meet to Toronto.
Click the link above for a brief questionnaire... and have the chance to attend the forum for free.
Career Development for Cultural Workers
Cultural Careers Council Ontario (CCCO) is pleased to announce Career Development for Cultural Workers, a new multi-faceted project to measure professional development in the cultural sector and develop specific professional Development resources for cultural workers. See the link above for the complete press release.
TUFF - Toronto Urban Film Festival - Call for Submissions
Your film on the TTC! Open to local, national and international submissions by video artists, filmmakers, animators and urbanites with cameras or video capable mobile devices. TUFF will run in the TTC for 7 days while the city is engulfed in festival fever. See the link above for details.
Submission Deadline August 20th, 2007
OntarioArtist.ca - A New Website for Artists in Ontario
Find information and links to programs and services for artists. Learn how to:
• get grants
• market your work
• connect to learning opportunities
• manage your finances
• seek health care
• find legal assistance
The Ontario government is proud to recognize and support our artists and the vital contributions they make to our province’s economy and quality of life. See the link above for more information.
Status of the Artist Legislation
The Ontario Federation of Labour Executive Vice-President Terry Downey sent a letter to Peter Wilkinson, Chief of Staff in the Premier's Office regarding Status of the Artist legislation. The letter also urges consideration for the government to enshrine protections for child performers and implement tax measures that treat artists fairly.
Please see the link above for the letter.
Sent from the National Office - Canwest purchase of Alliance Atlantis
The National office sent the following note to all Director members. This is an important issue that will impact our industry. Please take a moment to read the following - thank you.
Hi everyone,
I thought it would be useful to get in touch with you about the Canwest purchase of Alliance Atlantis as some of you have been contacted about filing interventions in support of this transaction. For those of you who do not know me, I am Monique Lafontaine, General Counsel and Director of Regulatory Affairs at the DGC. I am handling the policy files at the National Office.
The DGC will be filing an intervention on its own and with the CCAU regarding this purchase by Friday August 10, 2007. While we do not generally oppose the notion of Canwest purchasing Alliance Atlantis, we are strongly opposing this application because it raises very serious foreign ownership issues. Goldman Sachs (a foreign company) will be the principle financier of this transaction, and will in our view end up with a significant level of control over the Canwest/Alliance Atlantis broadcasting services. This is contrary to Canada's foreign ownership rules.
The DGC has for many years opposed foreign control in broadcasting, and is therefore taking the position that we do not support this transaction on these grounds.
If you are contacted to file an intervention, please contact Alan Goluboff or myself before responding. If you would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact us. Alan may be reached at (416) 580-0367 and I may be reached at (416) 482-6640 ext. 225.
Best regards,
Monique Lafontaine
General Counsel & Director of Regulatory Affairs
Directors Guild of Canada
111 Peter Street, Suite 402
Toronto, ON M5V 2H1
Ph: (416) 482-6640 ext. 225
Fx: (416) 482-6639
mail: mlafontaine@dgc.ca
www.dgc.ca
Cinematographer Richard A. Stringer passes
All members who knew or worked with cinematographer Richard A. Stringer will be saddened to learn he succumbed to cancer on Friday, July, 27. Richard slipped away peacefully in Victoria, B.C. where he had recently moved with his wife, Carol and son, Matt.
Richard had been a valuable member of our film and television community for the past 30 years. He was a wonderful visual stylist who worked innovatively in 35mm, 16mm, HD, and MiniDV; to Richard it didn’t matter, he had ideas for every format.
Richard was the driving force behind the radical, pioneering MiniDV look of Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science (for which he won a Gemini). He was always zipping off to cinematography conventions to check out the latest gear, which he was often asked to test. He was Vice President and a full member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers as well as a member of IATSE 667, the Canadian Academy of Motion Picture and Television, and the Canadian Independent Camera Association.
For a fond look back at just some of what Richard achieved in his professional life, check out his website: www.stringercam.com
Harvey Crossland
DGC Director member
"Lovebites" is an Award Winner! Congratulations to All of our Members Who Worked on This Production
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Wins a Myers Media Innovation and Creativity Award for "Lovebites". See the link above for award information. TBS, along with Paul Reiser, JWT & Unilever, created the 1st ever micro-series with a partner that was supported with on-air, digital and in-store promotion. In partnership with Unilever and their agencies, they aired 65 original two and a half minute episodes following Sex and the City and throughout the TBS schedule as well as online.
See this link to watch "Lovebites"
Call for Applications - Quebecor Documentary Fellowship Programme
After its successful first year, Hot Docs and the Documentary Organisation of Canada (DOC) are pleased to announce the return of the Quebecor Documentary Fellowship Programme. The programme is designed for mid-level filmmakers from diverse communities intending to pursue documentary production as a viable, long-term career option. For more information, see the link above. Applications Due by Friday, August 17th.
Toronto Film Challenge - Results Are In!
The judges results are in, and Friday night (July 27) 10 films made in 48-hours will be honoured at the Toronto Film Challenge closing gala & awards. $20,000 in prizes and trophies will we awarded to the winners from our special guest host and speakers at the Berkeley Church - 315 Queen Street East
If you would like to attend and celebrate with the top 48-hour filmmakers in the city, you can get your gala ticket for $25 at the door at 6pm the night of the event. After the awards, the party will continue until 1am with a live DJ and cash bar. This evening requires semi-formal attire. Please visit the website for a listing of presenters, and the keynote guest-speaker - link above.
Craft Service
IATSE 411 is looking for more Craftservers. If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Rob Shea or Chandra at the IATSE 411 office at (416) 645-8025 or by email at businessagent@iatse411.com.
Watch Filmport Being Built
See the link above for the inside scoop on the progress of Filmport. They are webcasting from the construction site. Click on "Vision" and then "Progress" for the latest view.
Sharon Ruttan - The DGC Ontario Office Will Miss You!
After 45 years in the workforce, Sharon Ruttan has announced her decision to retire. Her last day at DGC Ontario will be Friday, June 29, 2007.
For the past 14 years, Sharon has worked with DGC Ontario as Bookkeeper/ Accountant. Under her watchful eye, the Guild has kept track of decades of complicated and complex financial records. Her attention to detail and her accuracy have been a great benefit to the organization. See the link above for more information.
OMDC Call for Applications - The Entertainment and Creative Partnerships Fund
The Fund assists Ontario's Entertainment and Creative Cluster by supporting strategic partnerships to develop fresh approaches and solutions for their priorities and needs. The Entertainment and Creative Cluster includes a broad range of creative content industries, including film and television production, interactive digital media, music recording, commercial theatre, magazine publishing and book publishing industries and organizations supporting the creators in each of these sectors. See the link above for complete details. Pre-qualification deadline is August 10th.
DGC Ontario - Staff Announcement
Ron Haney, CEO and Executive Director of DGC Ontario, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ildiko Maria Cimpean as Director of Finance as of July 16, 2007.
Ildiko brings over 20 years of experience in the accounting field. We are looking forward to having her join the DGC Ontario team. Sharon Ruttan has graciously postponed her retirement until end of July, to ensure a smooth transition.
We extend a warm welcome to Ildiko and invite you to join us in wishing her success in her new role.
Call for Applications - 2007 Quebecor Bursary Program Presented by WIFT-T
This provincial program is designed to assist underrepresented women and/or men in the film and television industry gain access to professional skills development and networking opportunities through WIFT-T’s Centre for Media Professionals. The Quebecor Bursary program will provide 50 visible minorities and/or Aboriginals with a WIFT-T Full Membership at no cost to the applicant. See the link above for complete information.
WIFT-T and SUN TV Pitch Contest - $10,000 in Development Money
The SUN TV Convergence Pitch, presented in partnership with SUN TV, will allow participants the chance to submit an email pitch for a television project to representatives of SUN TV. The most suitable concepts will be selected to pitch in person in front of an audience at the 2007 WIFT International Summit. Up to $10,000 will be awarded in development funds to a winning pitch. See the link above for more information.
FRAUD ALERT!
A company called Studio 1 Casting is saying that they are associated with a Lions Gate Entertainment production titled "Beyond The Tide". The ad states they are looking for extras for a scene filmed in Victoria, BC from August 8-14th.
They claim that they are willing to fly anyone to BC (they book flights and the victim pays for the fare up front and then gets it back later), put them up in a hotel with $100.00/day for per diem, and then will pay them $2300.00 for the week of work. They will make all reimbursments by August 30/07.
The perpetrators of this fraud will send a contract by fax and ask for the contract to be filled out and the funds sent to them.
Curtis Miller of Lionsgate Entertainment in Los Angeles has verified this ad is a scam and they are launching a criminal suite. Anyone who has information is encouraged to contact Kathleen Higgins IATSE local 891 kathleenh@iatse.com or 604-298-3456 (fax). They will forward all information to Curtis Miller.
WIFT-T Announces S-VOX Pitch Competition
Four producers will be selected to pitch their project in front of an audience at the S-VOX Pitch Session on Tuesday, July 17. The winning pitch will receive $5,000 in development funds. See the link above for complete contest details.
Benefit musical presentation for Craig Stewart who was injured and left homeless after a house fire. When - Sunday, July 15th, 3.00 to 10.00pm
Where - The famous Blue Goose Tavern - 1 Blue Goose Street (map) Who - The Pie Guys with special guest Laura Hubert
Craig's former employers, the film and television industries, Yamaha Canada Music and Steve's Music Store have donated instruments and items to help raise money for Craig. Let's get together and help Craig to recover from his injuries and from losing everything he owned.
FameCast is an online film competition with a grand prize to the winning film of $10,000.00 USD. The voting ends July 21 at 12PM EST. For more information, see the link above.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Art Department member Sean Moore, his wife Julia Streicher-Moore and big brother Finn Henry Moore welcomed their new addition to the family -- Killian Frank Michael Moore. Killian (7 lbs, 10 oz and 20.5 inches) arrived early this morning after a thankfully quick and trouble-free delivery. Congratulations to all!
Don Granbery Passes
We lost a very good man last Thursday, May 31st. See the link above for a beautiful memorial by Alan Simmonds.
Deadline Approaching - OMDC - Call For Applications
OMDC has launched a call for applications for the OMDC Film Fund. This fund is intended to increase the level of indigenous feature film production in Ontario. This program provides support to Ontario producers for feature film projects in the final stages of development and production financing. See the link above for eligibility criteria and program details.
New website for Fell-4-It Stunt Productions
If you have ever been on an shoot where there have been stunts then you have probably worked with Shelley Cook and Layton Morrison before. See the link above for their new website.
DGC Ontario Office Closed Monday, July 2nd for the Stat Holiday
The Film Racing 2007 Tour Coming to Toronto Saturday, July 7th
Filmmakers will be challenged to create an original short film in just 12 hours, from noon to midnight. All of the completed films will be screened a few days later and the teams will be competing for thousands in cash & prizes against filmmakers across the country. See the link above for details.
"Financial Survival 2007 a Direction To the Film and Television Industry" Sponsored by Fidelity
Caroline George has been a television and film decorator with IATSE 873 for twenty years. She would like to invite you to attend an informative evening.
Where - The Grand Hotel - 225 Jarvis Street (map) When - Tuesday, June 26th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Who - Speaker for the evening is Phyllis Krane an Investment Advisor at BMO Nesbitt Burns who has an understanding of our unique business.
Please RSVP as space is limited - Caroline George 416.365.6019
RSP News - Do You Like Money? Read This!
DGC National is offering a Webex RSP seminar Thursday June 21, 2007 at 7:00 pm ET.
This seminar will highlight:
- Investment Changes to your RSP plan
- Investments 101
- How to access your RSP account on-line
- Review of the STEPS retirement calculator
This is a good opportunity to find out more about the DGC RSP plan, and more importantly, your investments. Please see the link above for details on how to access the seminar.
A Night For Ned
Hello,
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Michael Copeman and I am an
actor who has worked in the Toronto area for over 30 years. I write to
you on behalf of a colleague, Ned Vukovic, who is living and struggling
with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease. On Sunday, June 24th at Theatre Passe
Muraille in downtown Toronto there will be tribute/benefit to honour Ned
and raise funds to help his family. In his 14 years in Toronto, Ned had
a deep impact on the theatre community. So many in our profession can
say "He coached me in...", "I worked with him on...", "He directed me
in..." We need to get the word out to all Ned's peers in any way possible. We the friends of Ned hope to see you all at Night for Ned. Please see the link above for more information.
STANDARD AGREEMENT RATIFIED
With an 90% vote in favour, the 2006 - 2009 Standard Agreement has been ratified.
See this link for more details.
Planet in Focus International Environmental Film & Video Festival Announces A Call For Submissions for Carbon Neutral Films
Film productions are contributors to climate change through the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide from electricity required for lights, cameras and audio to craft services to transportation to promotional services releases GHGs into our atmosphere. For the first time, Planet in Focus wishes to recognize films that have chosen to go carbon neutral, make significant strides by choosing suppliers that offer less energy intensive options or have offset some or all of its carbon emissions through purchased carbon credits from energy efficient projects.
Early-Bird Deadline - May 18, 2007
Final Deadline - June 15, 2007
See the link above for full details.
TalkBack: A Film Artist Salon is back at The Drake Hotel for an afternoon of intimate conversations with some of Toronto’s finest talent! In support of the award winning film Love is Work, FWC is proud to present a unique Talkback event with the filmmakers and stars of this much talked about film. Our featured guests include director Johnny Kalangis, producer Christopher Binney and actors Natalie Radford (Guy Terrifico), Scott McCord (The 11th Hour), Meredith Vuchnich (Jack & Jill) and Ryan Mcvittie (Blood and Straw).
Our host, Richard Crouse (Reel to Reel), will lead our featured guests into a discussion about the making of Love is Work while exploring the actor / director relationship. A la the popular Bravo! TV series Inside the Actors Studio, TalkBack is a groundbreaking series of live events that gets close and personal with our featured guests.
Admission is FREE with proof of purchase (movie ticket stub) from one of the opening weekend screenings of Love is Work, playing at Canada Square (check local listings for screening times). Without a movie ticket stub, door admission is $10.00. Seats are limited, so it is recommended to RSVP to anna@firstweekendclub.ca to guarantee your spot.
The event takes place at The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St.) on Sunday, June 10th 2007, 1:00 PM.
New Members and Upgrades - April 2007
DGC Ontario is pleased to welcome our new Members and congratulate our upgraded Members. Please see the link above for who has joined and upgraded this month.
Pamela Brand parts ways with the Directors Guild of Canada
Toronto, May 3, 2007 – The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) announced today that Pamela Brand has parted ways with the Guild. After nearly 20 years at the DGC, Pamela felt the need to take on new challenges and pursue new goals. DGC Ontario wishes her all the best in her new pursuits. See the link above for the press release.
Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts for 2008
See the link above for the news release regarding the call for nominations for the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts for 2008. Check out their website for more information at www.canadacouncil.ca.
6th Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF), October 11 - 14, 2007 - Open Call For Submissions
Extended Submission Deadlines: June 30th, 2007 (postmarked)
Female Eye Award Statues will be presented for Best Films, Best Screenplays and Best Poster.
Other FeFF Programs - December, 6th - Event In Memoriam of the Montreal Massacre International Women's Day, March 8th. See the link above for more details.
Women In Film and Television - Toronto (WIFT-T) Announce Fellowship
Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T), in partnership with Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging, is pleased to announce the 2007 Kodak New Vision Fellowship and Call for Applications. Click link above for details. Deadline for submissions is Friday, July 20, 2007.
Cinespace Studios - Marine Terminal 28
Many DGC Ontario members have expressed their dismay at the upcoming closure of Cinespace Studios' Marine Terminal 28. DGC Ontario sent a letter to Mayor David Miller asking that the City of Toronto and TEDCO to seek a lease extension. Unfortunately, even though many letters were sent and many people signed the online petition, the studio will still be closing. Please see the News & Newsletters section of this website for news coverage. See the links below for the letters.
A letter from your Executive Board Chair to Mayor David Miller. A letter from Mayor David Miller to the Toronto Film Community.
Congratulations to Doug McCullough and Sherry Wolfson!
Doug , DGC Ontario Art Department Rep. and Sherry, DGC Ontario Location Manager, were successful in their bid for seats on the National Executive Board. The National Board has a strong Ontario contingent which will ensure that our voice is heard on issues of national importance. Doug and Sherry are looking forward to serving the membership and would like to thank everyone who took the time to send in their proxies.
Film @ 11, Lunch at 12 - May Session Invitation from Kodak
This session features Director Jon Fauer, ASC visited with 110 cinematographers from 15 countries, who have worked in all sectors of the industry including feature films, television, documentaries, commercials and music videos, to get an inside look at what cinematographers do, why they do it, and how they get there. See the link above for complete details and to RSVP.
Toronto Reference Library - 789 Yonge St. - 416-393-7131
Fri., May 11, 6 pm - Director Reginald Harkema and Actor Tracy Wright on making Monkey Warfare. Host Geoff Pevere. Film clip & Q&A
BOB CLARK (1941 - 2007)
Noted film Director and international DGC member Bob Clark and his son were killed in a car accident overnight in Los Angeles. His resume includes the financially huge "Porky's", the creepy "Black Christmas" and the not-so-glitzy "Rhinestone", among many other pictures. But his most endearing film is the Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story".
National Annual General Meeting - PROXIES TO GO!
The DGC National AGM is being held this weekend in Vancouver, BC. If you are not making the trip, but still want your voice heard, be sure to fill out a proxy and submit it to us by fax at (416) 925-8400. Click here to download the
NATIONAL AGM PROXY FORM.
If you are unsure to whom to assign your Proxy, we can assure you that the following people are attending:
Ontario Executive Board Members:
Don McCutcheon (Ontario Chair)
Alan Erlich (Ontario 1st Vice Chair)
Byron Martin (Ontario 2nd Vice Chair)
Avi Federgreen (Production Manager Caucus Representative)
Doug McCullough (Art Department Caucus Representative)
Other members attending:
Graeme Campbell
Avrel Fisher
Jane Tattersall
Madeleine Wazana
Sherry Wolfson
If you are planning on attending, or know someone else who is, please let us know and we'll add the name to this listing. We want a strong Ontario voice!
The Toronto Film Challenge Screening - the First 24-hour challenge of 2007
Last weekend, 200 filmmakers set out to make a doc/mock film in only 24 hours. The results are hilarious, and will screen for one night only at the Bloor Cinema, Friday, April 13th at 7pm. Tickets are available for $10 at the box office before the screening begins. Awards will be presented to the top 3 films along with audience choice. DGC Ontario long time member Byron Martin will be part of the 3-person team deciding who the winners are. Join us to cast your vote, and support local independent film.
FREE HotDocs Passes
HotDocs is offering DGC Ontario members passes to some of this year's most exciting events -
Kickstart: SORRY, ALL PASSES TAKEN "nuts and bolts" information on the production, distribution, and promotion of independent documentary films geared towards emerging to mid-career documentary filmmakers. This pass also includes 10 single screening passes.
More information. This pass normally sells for $140.
The Doc Summit:SORRY, ALL PASSES TAKEN A key half-day forum for filmmakers, presented in association with the National Film Board, top lining state of the union issues and global concerns affecting the documentary film industry.
More information. This pass normally sells for $100.
DocAgora: An open conversation on new forms, new platforms and new ways of financing creative, authored and socially-engaging documentary content. DocAgora is a lively, participatory, now-media conference with keynotes, panels, case-studies and debate. Ensuring that documentary does not get left behind in the digital dust.
More information. This pass normally sells for - $80.
If you are interested in securing one of these passes, please contact reception at reception@dgcodc.ca or by calling 416.925.8200. Passes are limited so the first people who contact reception will receive the pass. Please note - You must be a member in active good standing to qualify. One pass per member.
Come to Ottawa to share in the Awakening!
The Writers’ Union of Canada is holding an Awakening in Ottawa, on April 16, and your voice is important. Come and help us “awaken” the Harper government to the cultural and economic contribution the arts make to Canada. See the link above for complete details.
Thank You for Attending the AGM and Congratulations to Our Door Prize Winners! - D.J. Carson - Overnight for two at the Old Mill Inn and Spa including a continental breakfast
James Bredin - HotDocs all access pass
Lillian Sarafinchan - HotDocs Opening night screening and reception
Hamish Buchanan - HotDocs Awards Ceremony
Mark Arcieri, Gillian Jones, Penny Carter - $50.00 gift certificate for dinner at Mirto Bruce Speyer - $50.00 gift certificate for dinner at Boom Shiva Chris Comrie - Movie trivia board game
John Pace, John Bradshaw - Jay's Tickets (first base line!)
Lisa Jensen - CD Player
Morten Dorrell - 6 month membership to the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
Charley arrived in the world bright and early on March 26 weighing
7lbs 11ozs. Adrienne is doing well, and I have adopted the film
motto "sleep is for beginners". What I wouldn't give to be a
beginner again.
See the link above for a picture of Charley.
Reel Canada 2007 Wrap Report
Please take a moment to read this report from this exciting new project. Reel Canada is a national initiative designed to bring Canadian films into Canadian classrooms, it is a traveling film festival - a day-long special event that moves from one school to another with a curated program of feature films, documentaries, animated programs and shorts.
Your Suggestions Please
Toronto Film Studios would like to plan for a memorial at Filmport for
film and television industry personnel who should be recognised and remembered by our
industry (David Ritchie, Set Dresser; Walter Nixon, Locations Manager; Rick Pyman, Producer and owner
of Pyman Studios; and Kevin Alanthwaite, Gaffer to mention some people who we have recently lost). We are seeking suggestions on how this can best be achieved. Please see the link above for complete information.
Email Misconduct
It has come to our attention that a former member has collected the email addresses from our website and used them for marketing purposes. Please be advised that DGC Ontario does not condone this practice or endorse this service in any way. We are taking all avenues of action to deter this behaviour, the vendor has already been contacted. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Status of the Artist Report
The Minister of Culture, Caroline Di Cocco has released the report from the Status of the Artist Sub-Committee. After almost two years of research, the report provides 23 recommendations that are based on the views and perspectives of thousands of individual artists, arts organizations, unions and supporters. Ron Haney, CEO and Executive Director of DGC Ontario was a Board member on the Status of the Artist Sub-Committee. Please see the link above for the complete report.
Film @ 11, Lunch at 12 - An Invitation from Kodak
This session features a graduate from the Canadian Film Centre's Directors Lab. He will be discussing his calling card 35mm film how and to get your film noticed on the international stage. See the link above for complete details and to RSVP.
Discover the Art of Scenography
The Chang School at Ryerson University is teaching a new course - "Discover the Art of Scenography: Explore
Imagination and Visual Communication" The course will be taught by DGC's Valérie Kaelin. Please see the link above for more information.
The Academy of Canadian Film and Cinema - Speaker Series
The Academy is hosting a speaker series that is of interest to film and television professionals. Some of the topics include - Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2006-2010, The Impact of New Technologies on the Entertainment and Media Industry, and Tax Credits and Other Production Financing. See the link above for more information.
Digital Location Database Launch - You're Invited
The OMDC would like to invite you to the official launch of the new digital location database. The launch will take place from 5 to 7pm on Wednesday, April 4th at the OMDC offices at 175 Bloor Street East. Please see the link above for full information.
Office Closure
The DGC Ontario office will be closed Friday, April 6th and Monday, April 9th for Good Friday and Easter Monday. If there is an emergency while the office is closed please contact our CEO, Executive Director at 416.580.6220. Thank you.
OMDC Film Fund - Production Funding Available
OMDC has launched a call for applications for the OMDC Film Fund. This program has been developed to provide eligible Ontario film producers with financial support for feature film projects in the final stages of development and production financing. See the link above for more details.
New Members and Upgrades - December 2006
DGC Ontario is pleased to welcome our new Members and congratulate our upgraded Members. Please see the link above for who has joined and upgraded recently.
Your DGC Ontario Office Awaits Your Decorating Talent!
We would like to decorate the currently bare walls in the main hallway and boardroom. We are thinking of something attractive and exciting that reflects who we are and what we do as guild members. Maybe it's a mural or installations or posters or other graphics. Maybe it's photographs of guild members at work. Maybe shadow boxes of some of the tools of the trade. Maybe even some interesting collections of stuff from a film that our members have worked on. We would love to hear your ideas! Please email Doug McCullough.
The Historic Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre
This National Historic Site and the last operating double-decker vaudeville era theatre in the world has selected periods of time available during the first part of the new year AND they're offering a special discount of 20% off regular rental rates during January, February and March. See the link above for more details.
Clairmont Camera Hosts Toronto Open House for the Arriflex D20
Open houses with Denny Clairmont and Mike Condon, soc. will be held on Tuesday, March 27th, 2007 - 3:30 to 7:00pm and Saturday, March 31st, 2007 - 11:00 to 3:00pm. See the link above for complete details.
Crypt Club Productions Inc. - Call for Submissions
Crypt Club Productions Inc. is looking for DGC members and friends who have made short horror and horror-related films. They have just launched the website for "AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits", a DVD collection of great independent short horror films and have an open call for film submissions. They offer filmmaker profit participation, a non-exclusive license agreement, and more... Next film submission deadline is Friday March 30, 2007. Spread the word. See the link above for more information.
CTF to Release 2007-08 BPE Calculations by March End
The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) will release Broadcaster Performance Envelope (BPE) calculations by the end of March 2007.
The recent events and the financial instability that ensued have compromised the ability for the CTF to calculate the 2007-08 envelopes by the anticipated date of March 1, 2007. The CTF is now completing 2007-08 BPE calculations.
For more information, please see the link above.
Our Condolences - Kevin Alanthwaite
We are saddened to inform you that Local 873 electric department member, Kevin Alanthwaite, passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2007.
The following notice was published in the Toronto Star:
"ALANTHWAITE, Kevin - On March 11, 2007. Survived by his wife Dana Lea Boyle, parents Richard and Marilyn Alanthwaite, brother Richard and sister Carole Green. Predeceased by sister Lori. Devoted father of Cory Lorne and Shannon Lea. Funeral Service will be held at the York Visitation, Chapel & Reception Centre, (160 Beecroft Rd., Toronto) 416-221-3404 on Friday March 16, 2007 at 11 o'clock. Donations to Leukemia Research would be appreciated by the family."
We extend our sincerest condolences to Kevin's family and friends.
A medieval adventure that tells the blood-soaked tale of a Norse warrior's battle against a great and murderous troll, Beowulf & Grendel strips away the mask of the hero-myth, leaving a raw and tangled tale that rings true through the centuries.
Admission: $8, $6 students, seniors, NFB Film Club members. See the link above for more information.
Come out to the AGM this year to have the chance to win these door prizes -
- Overnight for two at the Old Mill Inn and Spa including a continental breakfast
- HotDocs tickets
- $50.00 gift certificate for dinner at Mirto
- $50.00 gift certificate for dinner at Boom Shiva
- Movie trivia board game
- Jays Tickets (first base line!)
- CD Player
- 6 month membership to the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
DGC Ontario Annual General Meeting Announced - THIS WEEKEND Saturday, March 31st, 2007
9:00 am (registration begins at 8:00 am)
The Old Mill
21 Old Mill Road (map)
Toronto, Ontario
Meeting will be held in Brulé Room A
A continental breakfast and lunch will be served in the Guild Hall.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, please complete a proxy and return it to the DGC Ontario office either in person or by fax (416) 925-8400 by noon on March 30th. A signature is required.
Your vote is important!
A New Format for the CTF Guidelines
To improve clarity and support, the 2007-2008 Guidelines have been re-organized into a “stream” model that provides all application information in a single document. See the link above for complete details.
Hot Docs Accepting Applications for the 2007 Doc Lab Programme
After the overwhelming success of last year's inaugural Doc Lab, Hot Docs is again inviting 15 early to mid-career documentary writers and directors to participate in the intensive, five day master class programme, running April 22 - 27 during the 2007 Hot Docs Festival. See the link above for complete details.
Walter Nixon - A Celebration of Life
As some of you are aware our friend and former co-worker, Walter Nixon
passed away last week after a tragically short battle with cancer.
For those who wish to gather to remember Walter, an event is planned for the
near future. Here are the details:
March 16th, 2007 @ 5pm
Balmy Beach Club (foot of Beech Avenue, s. of Queen St. East in the Beaches)
For more details please contact Donna Weeks @ 416-429-8558. If you are in contact with anyone who
would wish to attend the event please pass this message on.
Congratulations to Peter Thillaye!
DGC Ontario member Peter Thillaye won a Golden Reel award for Best Sound
Editing in Special Venue at the MPSE Awards on Saturday night. Congratulations!
A message from Local 873 -
Local 873 is offering grief counselling / debriefing to those who have been shaken by this unexpected tragedy.
A professional counsellor will provide two group sessions on Thursday, March 15th at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Local 873 Union office.
You are encouraged to come out and find some solace in spending time with fellow brothers and sisters who are also trying to come to grips with Kevin's untimely death.
All friends and colleagues of Kevin are welcome.
Opportunity - Quebecor Banff Convergence Fellowship 2007
The 2007 Quebecor Banff Convergence Fellowship will bring six industry professionals to nextMEDIA and the Banff World Television Festival to support their role in creating culturally diverse cross-platform content.
All candidates must be Toronto-based intermediate or senior level industry professionals from Aboriginal or visible minority communities, with market-ready TV and interactive projects. See the link above for more information.
Register now and save 10% off the regular price of ICE 07, the Interactive Content Exchange, an annual international forum and market on the business of interactive digital media hosted by the NMBA at the Carlu in Toronto March 21st & 22nd 2007.
Fill in the coupon code at the top of the registration form :DGC77
Reel Canada Film Festival - February 13th to March 9th
Reel Canada rolls into Toronto’s High Schools with Canadian Films, Celebrity Directors and Actors - Atom Egoyan, Don McKellar, Tara Spencer-Nairn Among Guest Speakers Director Deepa Mehta will present Oscar nominated WATER. Please see the link above for more information on Reel Canada.
2007 Festival Press Release
DGC Ontario is proud to be the Founding Trade Sponsor of Reel Canada.
Free Tickets to FIDO from the First Weekend Club
FIDO - not your average zombie movie. What begins as a small town story about a boy and his best friend becomes a biting satire about our world and the rewards of risking love. Sometimes, it takes a dead man to teach us all what it means to be alive.
First Weekend Club is a FREE cross Canada film club that encourages members to support Canadian films during its critical first weekend theatrical release. Their goal is to sell out the theatres where great Canadian films are being released in their first weekend, to help Canadian films stay on big screens longer. Through grassroots initiatives such as special screenings, Q&As with talent, premiere parties and movie alerts, First Weekend Club builds strong audiences for Canadian film.
It is fun and FREE to join. See the link above for more information.
If you are a DGC member and you would like a free ticket to the opening of FIDO please email Kelsey at the First Weekend Club.
Development Money Available The Director Advisor Program was developed by the Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario and is administered by Cogeco. The objective of this program is to offer financial support for engaging a Director Advisor early in the production process, enabling them to work closely with the screenwriter on script development. Producers may apply for funding in the form of non-repayable grants, up to a maximum of $5,000, for a Director Advisor.
Deadlines - March 1, July 1, October 1
Criteria - Projects must have a development commitment from a Canadian broadcaster and intend to shoot their project in Ontario. Producers must be independent and Canadian, and the selected Director Advisor must be a Member, in good standing, of the Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario.
Eligible Projects - Dramatic TV series, MOWs, miniseries or theatrical feature films
WANTED - Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting
Does anyone have Movie Magic Scheduling 3.7 and/ or Movie Magic Budgeting 5.7? If so, could you please help a fellow Guild member suffering from a computer meltdown? Please contact Robert Appelbe at 905.880.0898 or email rapinc@sympatico.ca. Thank you!
ACTRA Strike Update - Posted Monday, January 8th, 2007
As of this morning, ACTRA is on strike.
Fortunately, most productions in Toronto have signed a continuation letter allowing them to continue shooting. Please see this link to the ACTRA website for a complete list of - productions that will be shooting during the strike
Your elected Executive Board is meeting tomorrow night to decide the position that DGC Ontario will take on the strike action. Unfortunately even though most productions are able to shoot during this labour disruption, the strike has deterred new productions from coming to Ontario.
We will post updates on our website throughout the ACTRA strike. If you have any other questions or concerns that we can help you with, please reply to this email or call the office at 416.925.8200.
See below for a reminder on what to do during the strike.
To All DGC Ontario Members - What to do during the ACTRA Strike
Please note - during the ACTRA strike, DGC Ontario Members ARE obligated to cross the picket line.
Every working DGC Ontario Member is bound by a Contract for Services (deal memo) and must fulfill their contractual obligation to the Producer. The only instance where Members are not obligated to cross the picket line is if personal safety becomes a factor.
Regardless of how adversely an ACTRA strike affects the film and television industry, we must respect the integrity of the picket line. A good practice when crossing any picket line is to speak with the strike captain. Explain that you are neither showing support nor making a comment on the strike; you are simply fulfilling your DGC contractual obligation.
DGC Ontario has informed the Producers that our Members are available and willing to work. This is not a force majeure (an act of God) situation according to the Standard Agreement. If Producers choose to halt production because of this labour dispute, Members must be terminated as per the Standard Agreement provisions.
ACTRA Strike Update - Posted January 15, 2007
All indications are that as current productions wrap, few, if any, will be replaced by new productions. The entire Ontario film and television community should prepare for a long strike and a financially devastating first half of 2007.
Many efforts have been made, and will continue to be made, to persuade ACTRA and the CFTPA to reach a quick, fair and reasonable settlement of all outstanding issues.
For news articles regarding the strike please see the news section of the DGC Ontario website.
Congratulations to all the DGC Members who worked on Deepa Mehta's WATER! We will be cheering for you on Oscar night!
Line Producer: CLAIRE WELLAND
Associate Producer: MAREK POSIVAL
Production Manager: GINA FOWLER
Production Accountant: JANICE FOWLIE
2nd Assistant Director: JACK BOEM
1st Assistant Film Editor: PAUL WHITEHEAD
Supervising Sound Editors MARK GINGRAS, JOHN LAING
Assistant Sound Editor JOHN L’ORANGER
Walter Nixon - Time for a Helping Hand
Amazing person and fellow Member Walter Nixon (Locations) has
recently been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing
treatment at a Toronto hospital. Walter wants all his friends in
the DGC to know that he's fighting hard and keeping his spirits up.
For information on Walter's condition or to lend a helping hand please
click on this link.
Or, call Dawna Weeks at 416-992-0372, or contact her by email at
dawnaweeks@rogers.com
Art Direction for Scenography
Offered through the Chang School of Continuing Education's Certificate in Design for Arts and Entertainment, Art Direction for Scenography will be team taught by Astra Burka, Production Designer and Art Director and Elizabeth Moran, Art Department Coordinator. See the link above for more information.
Congratulations to Our Genie Award Nominees! Achievement in Art Direction - Jasna Stefanovic for TIDELAND
Achievement in Sound Editing - Jane Tattersall, Barry Gilmore, David McCallum, Dave Rose for BEOWULF & GRENDEL
Best Live Action Short Drama - Teresa Hannigan, Charlotte Disher for SNAPSHOTS FOR HENRY
See the link above for a complete list of nominations.
MyMediaBiz Invites DGC Ontario to a Networking Event
MyMediaBiz.com, the online destination for people in the film and television industry, invites you to join in their Toronto Industry Networking Night. See the link above for more details.
Congratulations to the Sound Editors of "Broken Trail"!
The Sound Editors for "Broken Trail" have been nominated for a 2007 M.P.S.E. Golden Reel Award. DGC Editing Members include; Kevin Howard, Robert Hegedus, Richard Calistan, and Jason MacNeill.
See this link for the complete nomination list.
Also see the Promoting Our Own section of this website for information on their Golden Globe nominations!
You're Invited!
CinequipWhite Toronto is hosting its annual February Freeze event @ 1040 Islington from 2-9pm on February 13, 2007. See the link above for complete information.
Call for Entries - Banff World Television Festival Awards
The campaign for program competition entries at the 28th Banff World Television Festival (BWTVF) is officially underway with a couple of changes from previous years. See the link above for details.
Our Condolences - David Ritchie
DGC Ontario's thoughts are with the friends and family of IATSE 873 member David Ritchie who was killed in an on-set accident on January 25, 2007. From IA 873, "David was loved by all for his gentle spirit and sunny nature and our hearts break for him and his family - Charlotte Ritchie and their daughter Genevieve."
IASTE 873 will be accepting donations.
David Ritchie - A Celebration of Life
Please join the community in celebrating Dave Ritchie and supporting his family.
Friday, February 9th, 2007
6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
629 Eastern Ave., Stage 3
See the link above for complete details.
The First Weekend Club Invites DGC Ontario to TalkBack - Sunday, February 11th
TalkBack: A Film Artist Salon is back at The Drake Hotel for an afternoon of intimate conversations with some of Canada’s finest filmmaking talent! Our featured guests include Kevin Tierney (producer/co-writer of Bon Cop, Bad Cop), Michael Mosca (producer of A Sunday in Kigali) and Charles Binamé (director of The Rocket).
The First Weekend Club offers DGC members a $5 discount off the ticket price. When you RSVP just say that you are a member. See the link above for more information about the event.
Viewing:
Sunday, January 28th
2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Newbigging Murray E. Funeral Home
733 Mount Pleasant Rd.
Toronto, ON M4S 2N4
416-489-8811
Service:
Monday, January 29th
2 p.m.
Blessed Sacrament Church
24 Cheritan Ave. (Yonge and Lawrence)
Call for Entries - NSI
Set your sights on becoming the next Guy Maddin, Sarah Polley or Paul Haggis. The National Screen Institute's National Exposure Amateur Movie Contest 2007 challenges non-professional filmmakers to write, direct and even act in their own five-minute masterpiece which could premiere at the NSI FilmExchange Canadian Film Festival and earn filmmakers over $1,000 in prize money.
Standard Agreement Information Meeting
There will be a Standard Agreement Information Meeting to discuss the changes coming in the new Agreement:
Date - Saturday, January 20, 2007
Time - 9:00am - noon (registration begins at 8:30am)
Location -
One King Street West
(The Dominion Club) The King Gallery Room
Continental breakfast will be served.
Please RSVP to (416) 925-8200 or at reception@dgcodc.ca .
OMDC Film Fund Invests in 13 Ontario Feature Films
OMDC is pleased to announce the results of the first cycle of the OMDC Film Fund for 2006-07. Financing was awarded to 13 Ontario feature films. See the link above for more details.
Congratulations to Degrassi creator Linda Schuyler!
WIFT-T announced today that Linda Schuyler, co-creator and executive producer of Degrassi: The Next Generation and co-producer of the original Degrassi series, will be presented with the CTV International Achievement Award at the 2006 Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon on Monday, December 4, 2006 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. See the link above for more details.
Location Library - Once in a Lifetime Chance!
Lillian Sarafinchan, long time member of DGC Ontario and location scout since 1985, is offering her boxes of location files for free to anyone with an interest and a passion for adding to their location library. Please call Tanya Chapman at 416.925.8200 for more information.
To learn more about Lillian visit - www.sarafinchan.ca
Our Condolences - Don Hall
Don Hall, husband of Edyth Hall passed away on Friday, December 8th. Don owned and operated Cinequip for over 40 years. Many DGC Ontario members knew him as a rental house for 16mm documentaries and later cutting edge ENG gear. The funeral is Tuesday, December 12th at 2:30 at Trull Funeral Home on Yonge St South of Lawrence.
DGC Ontario Holiday Office Closure
The DGC Ontario office will be closed at 3pm on December 21 and will re-open on January 3rd, 2007. If there is an emergency and you need to speak with someone please call our CEO and Executive Director, Ron Haney at at 416-580-6220.
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Our Condolences - Dianne Judson
Dianne (Deanne) Judson died suddenly at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto on November 21, 2006. She died peacefully.
To discover more about Dianne and for information about the arrangements the please click here.
SHADES OF BLACK; The Conrad Black Story - Broadcast Date Confirmed
Shades of Black; The Conrad Black Story's television premiere will happen Monday December 4th, 2006 at 8:00pm-10:00pm.
Click HERE to see the trailer.
Click HERE to see the CTV Press Release.
First Weekend Club wants to send you to Whistler!
The grand prize packages include airfare, hotel accommodation, fine dinning experience, film festival passes and tickets to Gala receptions with some of Canada’s hottest filmmaking and acting talent. They also have a number of exciting secondary "great escape" prizes that will be drawn monthly. See the link above for more details.
First Weekend Club is a cross-Canada film club that celebrates and promotes the best of Canadian cinema.
Your Input Please - Mail-in Ballot
At the request of our membership, DGC Ontario's Executive Board will present a paper on the pros and cons of moving to a mail-in ballot at our 2007 Annual General Meeting. To assist us in this effort we are looking for two or three full members in active good standing from each caucus to participate in a discussion session on this issue.
The session would require approximately three hours of your time and will take place at the DGC Ontario office on a weekday evening sometime in November. If you are interested in participating please contact Joyce McPherson by Friday, November 15. Joyce can be reached at the DGC Ontario office either by phone 416.925.8200 or by e-mail Joyce McPherson.
23rd Annual Urban Charity Ball Invite from Annie Bradley!
It's time to get geared up for the season and what a better way to to it than by providing a gift for a woman or child in need this holiday. Please see the link above for your invitation.
Our Condolences - Syd Banks
Sydney Banks - was a world traveller, a pioneer in Canada's radio and television industries, a visionary in the Canadian music scene and a great lover and collector of art and interesting people. He was a founding member of the DGC and will be very much missed.
Funeral Information
Friday, November 17, 2006
10:30am (visitation starting at 9:30am)
R. S. Kane Funeral Home
6150 Yonge Street (at Goulding, S. of Steeles) Toronto
Internment at Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Variety Village (416.698.4017)
Condolences to - www.rskane.ca
First Weekend Club builds audiences for Canadian films and works collaboratively with distributors, exhibitors, filmmakers and publicists. Their mandate is to keep films in theatres longer by building awareness and strong box office for great Canadian cinema on opening weekends. See the link above to learn more about MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES and to join First Weekend Club.
On The Lot - Extended Application Date - February 16th
On The Lot is a new show brought to you by, Mark Burnett, and legendary producer and director, Steven Spielberg. 16 hopefuls will have the chance to prove their worth to some of the biggest players in entertainment. Over the season, the 16 filmmakers will produce short films in every genre every week and the viewers will vote on who gets eliminated. The winning filmmaker will take home a $1 Million development deal! Click the link above to find out more.
8 Perf Pictures - the company responsible for the freeze effects in The Matrix - is located in Toronto
8 Perf Pictures uses a modular array of 180+ cameras which can be shot in unison or consecutively to create frozen and full motion environments. The gear is available through William F. White's.
See this link for more information on 8 Perf Pictures and the effects services they have to offer.
Email Misconduct
It has come to our attention that a former member has collected the email addresses from our website and used them for marketing purposes. Please be advised that the DGC Ontario does not condone this practice or endorse this service in any way. We are taking all avenues of action to deter this behaviour, the matter has now been referred to our legal representatives.
Some of our members have opted to display select contact information on the public side of our website since it is often used by productions to find hires when crewing-up. If you would like your contact information removed or added to the public side of our site, or if you have any further questions, please call Alina D'Wonnik at 416-925-8200 or email her at Alina D'Wonnik
Industry Advisory 2006-2007 Canada Feature Film Fund New Information
Please take note that Telefilm Canada has created an Interpretation Bulletin that describes how Telefilm will interpret Section 3 (Eligible Projects) of Telefilm Canada's 2006-2007 Canada Feature Film Fund Guidelines, in the case of Official Treaty Co-Productions. See the link above for more deatils.
Municipal Voting - FOR YOUR INFORMATION
In addition to election day, there are ten advance voting opportunities available to electors. You do not need a reason to vote early! Click the link above for dates and details.
3rd AD and TAD NEEDED Animal 2 is looking for a 3AD and a TAD. If interested, please e-mail your resume to Sara MacDonald at WeaMac@aol.com or call the production office at 416-253-9300.
Volunteer Editors Needed for Innoversity Summit FORscene Workshop
Formidable Technologies is producing a 90-minute editing workshop at the Innoversity Summit to showcase the new web-based off-line FORscene platform. It is now possible to log, assembly edit, and review footage by simply having a web browser and a FORscene account. They are looking for 4 to 5 editors to help during the seminar as participants try out the innovative new technology. Please contact Jonathan Fieldhouse at Formidable Technologies if you are interested at 416-784-3509.
The workshop is on October 23rd at 4:30pm.
The regular day rate for Innoversity is over $300, but volunteers can sit in on the panel for free and the price for all DGC Ontario Members has been lowered for the workshop to $95.
FLATTAGE AVAILABLE
Lots of good flattage is available to anyone for the taking. It must be removed from storage by October 20th. Perhaps a low-budget show may be interested? If interested, please contact Marilyn Kiewiet at (416) 531-9426 (x226).
The four evening festival, running October 11, 13, 18 and 20th, showcases some of the hottest recent docs on social justice issues like globalization, poverty, conflict, health, and the environment. As always, the festival expands on these themes through presentations by renowned guest speakers, musical and performance acts, film-makers, local representatives from related NGOs. See the link above for more information.
Live! Ammunition!
Live Ammunition is an open mike pitch for writers, producers, directors, giving them 2 minutes to pitch their movie idea to a distinguished panel of film professionals.
The Second Canadian Live! Ammunition! pitch will include a musical performance by local artist Joshua Bartholomew, and panel discussion on what makes a great pitch moderated by Elliot Grove (including clips from panellists' films. The open mike live pitch has participants throwing $5 in a hat for a chance at 2 minutes to pitch the panellists, get feedback on their pitch, and be heard by industry executives in attendance. Previous attendees of this exciting Raindance event include Academy Award winner Gavin Hood, director of TOTSI.
Congratulations to DGC Ontario Emmy Winners - Jon Cassar and Geoff Raffan!
DGC Ontario member Jon Cassar wins an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. Jon won this award for his work on the hit series 24. And Geoff Raffan picked up his Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special. Geoff won for his work on the critically acclaimed A&E special Flight 93.
WIFT-Toronto Announces a New Internship - Call for Applicaions
This national program offers one entry-level visible minority or Aboriginal woman the opportunity to advance her career in broadcasting through experience in the Public and Regulatory Affairs department at Alliance Atlantis.
Women In the Director's Chair - Call For Applications
Develop your leadership and story-telling style. Take creative risks and test original material in a safe learning environment. This 10th Anniversary session of The Women In the Director's Chair Workshop will be led by the internationally acclaimed Lea Pool (The Blue Butterfly, Emporte-moi). See the link above for more information.
Applications are available on line at www.creativewomenworkshops.com
The First Weekend Club
The First Weekend Club is dedicated to promoting the best of Canadian Cinema through effective grassroots initiatives such as email distribution lists, special events, screenings, speakers' panels and news publicity. 90% of the films that they have supported through their special events have sold-out screenings and have generated longer theatrical runs. Now they are offering their members the chance to win a trip to the Whistler Film Festival or the Toronto International Film Festival. See the link above for more information and to become a member of the First Weekend Club.
DGC Ontario is a proud supporter of The First Weekend Club.
Mandarin Speaking 3rd AD Position Available
There is a position available for a 3rd Assistant Director who speaks fluent Mandarin. The candidate will be required to work in China for 8 weeks. If you are interested and are fluent in Mandarin please contact Reggie Robb at reginarobb@aol.com.
Development Money Available The Director Advisor Program was developed by the Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario and is administered by Cogeco. The objective of this program is to offer financial support for engaging a Director Advisor early in the production process, enabling them to work closely with the screenwriter on script development. Producers may apply for funding in the form of non-repayable grants, up to a maximum of $5,000, for a Director Advisor.
Deadlines - March 1, July 1, October 1
Criteria - Projects must have a development commitment from a Canadian broadcaster and intend to shoot their project in Ontario. Producers must be independent and Canadian, and the selected Director Advisor must be a Member, in good standing, of the Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario.
Eligible Projects - Dramatic TV series, MOWs, miniseries or theatrical feature films
See the link above for complete information.
See this link for a list of previously supported Director Advisors.
Meet the Directors
Exploring the art and craft of filmmaking with award-winning Canadian directors. Each year, the Directors Guild of Canada honours an impressive list of Canadian film and television directors at its annual DGC Awards.
When: 7:00 pm, Friday, October 13, 2006
This is a FREE session brought to you by the Directors Guild of Canada and the DGC Awards. See the link above for more information.
3rd Assistant Director Position Available
There is a 3rd AD position available on a low budget (Tier E) feature film. The applicant must have some floor or trailer experience. If interested, please contact Darrin Brown at the JACK AND JILL vs THE WORLD production office - 416.645.8278 or e-mail Darrin at brown_moose@yahoo.com.
New at Ryerson - Certificate in Design for Arts and Entertainment
Valérie C. Kaelin, a DGC Ontario Art Director, has designed a new certificate program - Certificate in Design for Arts and Entertainment. The certificate will be launched this September at Ryerson University through The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. The program offers enriched professional development options for both early and mid-career Art Department Members, including Drafting for Entertainment and the History of Arts and Scenography. For information about the full certificate program and the August 24th Information Night, click the link above.
10th Annual Big Swing Golf Tournament SOLD OUT
The Actors' Fund of Canada and Directors Guild of Canada-Ontario Present the Tenth Annual Big Swing Golf Tournament in support of the Actors' Fund. See the link above for more information.
Date - Sunday, September 24, 2006
Location - Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course), Markham Ontario
Time - Tee-Off 1:15 PM
New Appointment at The Chang School - Paola Ridolfi
Award-winning DGC Ontario Art Director, Production Designer and fine artist, Paola Ridolfi, has been appointed as the instructor for the new course, CDID 170 "Drafting for Entertainment", at Ryerson University's G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. See the link above for more information on this innovative course.
Congratulations to Everyone Who Worked on the Official TIFF Entries!
We have many Members who will be seeing their work in the Toronto International Film Festival this year. Congratulations!
Productions include -
Paul Fox - EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN
Reginald Harkema - MONKEY WARFARE
Allan King - EMPz 4 LIFE
Martin Lavut - REMEMBERING ARTHUR
Micheal Mabbott - CITIZEN DUANE
Sarah Polley - AWAY FROM HER
Patricia Rozema - SUSPECT
CCCO expands and enhances workinculture.ca website
Cultural Careers Council Ontario (CCCO) is delighted to launch its improved and expanded cultural human resources and career development website www.workinculture.ca. See the link above for more details.
Our Condolences - Ray Arsenault - Dec. 29 1929-Aug. 27 2006
Ray died on his 51st wedding anniversary to his dear Bette.
US marine, TV director and Canadian television pioneer, he worked for every network in Canada. He began his career in the fifties just as the industry was developing.
That meant Ray was a part of many of television's firsts. He shot the first videotaped commercial for Canada, produced the early Hockey Night in Canada programs, helped launch the first telecommunications satellite and was a founding member of the Directors Guild of Canada.
Ray's name and style were attached to programs from the King of Kensington, to The Trouble with Tracy, to specials with George Burns and Bob Hope. Live events, multi-camera shoots, sitcoms and dramas, these were his passions.
Ray was a good, funny and loveable troublemaker. He leaves his wife Bette, who met him when they were part of the team that started Canada's first private TV station CHCH in 1954. He also leaves daughter Adrienne who learned at his side and followed him into TV. A small service of celebration will be held Tuesday Sept. 5 at 3:00pm at Humphrey Funeral Home 1403 Bayview Ave.
For condolences: www.humphreymiles.com
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Hospital for Sick Children
Congratulations to Hartley Gorenstein and Marnie Mason!
Hartley and Marnie are proud to announce the arrival of their son Zev. He arrived at 7:21 Friday evening weighing 8 lbs, 4 ozs. The family is in good health and doing well!
You're Invited
Friendz is an online resource created to help entertainment industry professionals network with one another. Friendz is holding their First Annual Friendz Film Festival Soirée and have invited all DGC Ontario Members. Please see the friendz site for more information.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - 'Ice Planet'
Please note that no arrangements have been made with the Guild to permit Members to work on this production.
Labour Day Office Closure
Please note that the DGC Ontario office will be closed at 3pm on Friday September 1st and all day Monday, September 4th for Labour Day.
Recycling For the Film and Television Industry
SET/Reset - is a unique company specializing in buying and selling set items. This service is an excellent way to help keep costs down and useable items out of our landfills. Please see the link above for more information.
Call for Applications -
Hot Docs and Documentary Organization of Canada Quebecor Documentary Fellowship Program
Hot Docs and the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) are pleased to announce the creation of the Quebecor Documentary Fellowship Program. The program is designed for mid-level filmmakers from diverse communities intending to pursue documentary production as a viable, long-term career option. See the link above for more information.
The Actors' Fund of Canada - An Important Resource for DGC Members
The Actors' Fund of Canada promotes artistic excellence for performers, creators, technicians and other members of creative and production teams in all entertainment industry sectors. The Fund carries out this mission by providing encouragement and short-term financial aid to help entertainment industry workers maintain their health, housing and ability to work after an illness, injury or sudden unemployment.
For more information on the Actors' Fund see the link above.
Ontario Media Development Corporation Industry Initiatives - Film and Television Bulletin
OMDC has launched a call for applications for the International Financing Forum. This one-day co-finance event has been developed to provide 50 Canadian and international feature film producers with the opportunity to establish relationships with potential financing and co-production partners, sales agents, distributors and executive producers.
The deadline for applications is July 31, 2006 by 5:00 pm. Selected producers will be notified in early August.
Toronto Film Challenge Closing Gala & Awards Party
Two weeks ago, 57 teams competed to make a film in 48-hours. The judges have made their decisions and the Top 10 films will showcased at the TFC closing gala on Friday night. Over $30,000 in prizes will be given to winners in 9 categories, including ‘Best Director’ and ‘ Best Picture’. Guest speaker Bill Marshall (Co-founder of TIFF) will share his wisdom with the attendees, and numerous award presenters. After the winners are announced, celebrate with drinks and dancing until 2am. Come out and support independent film in Toronto and vote for your favourite film in our Audience choice award. It’s a night of celebration and recognition, and you’re invited. See the link above for more details.
Details:
Friday, July 7, 2006
York Event Theatre – 101 Eglinton E.
6:30p-2am
Semi formal, catered, cash bar
Advanced tickets $30 (more at the door)
Available online
Location Opportunity - Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre
The historic Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre - a National Historic Site and the last operating double-decker vaudeville era theatre in the world - has selected periods of time available for summer location filming. They are offering a special discount of 20% off regular rental rates during portions of June, July and August. See the link above for more details.
WARNING - Toronto Film Support
Please be aware that the Directors Guild of Canada is NOT AFFILIATED with Toronto Film Support, their services or their training. We DO NOT endorse their "certificate program" and have asked that any reference to the DGC be removed from their website.
Call for Volunteers - Through Our Eyes Film Club
Elia Middle School has launched a pilot program that offers students hands-on experience to learn about the filmmaking process and also make seven short films. On June 24th and 25th, between the hours of 10am-7pm, the students will be shooting their short films. They will need the following assistance to ensure a successful shoot:
- film crew volunteers
- minivans and cars for transportation (for whole day or to run errands)
- Adult supervisors
Please see the link above for more details.
Summer 48-Hour Toronto Film Challenge - Enter Now
Gather a team of 10 people and come out to Summer 48-Hour Toronto Film
Challenge, and make a film in just 48-hours. You'll receive a Challenge
Pack with a number of inspirational items such as a genre, location, prop,
& crisis which you'll need to work into your film. Your film will be
screened for hundreds of people and you'll have the chance to win the
prestigious Best Director award along with thousands of dollars in prizes.
Challenge Date: June 23-25
Public Screenings: June 27-July 6
Closing Gala & Awards: July 7
Thank You for Your Website Feedback!
We have had a great response to our website survey on the DGC Ontario website redevelopment project! Because of your comments, we will be focusing on making the site easier to navigate by putting all relevant links on the home page (Hotlist, Member sign-in). We will also be developing enhanced Member pages to allow you to input some of your own information. And forums were a very popular topic in the survey, so we will be developing some of those too.
We will keep you posted on new developments. In the meantime, if you have any more suggestions or comments please email
Tanya Chapman or call 416-925-8200. Your comments are always welcome. Thanks once again for all of your input!
Female Eye Film Festival - FREE ALL-ACCESS PASSES
Interested in attending the Female Eye Film Festival? Contact us for a free all-access pass. Click the link above for details. The festival runs June 15 - 18, 2006.
Ryerson Job Posting
Ryerson University's Chang School for Continuing Education is launching its new Certificate in Design for Arts and Entertainment in September 2006. There is a teaching position available for one of the courses in the program. Applications will be accepted from June 15 - 21, 2006.
Call For Submissions - Planet In Focus
Planet in Focus: International Environmental Film & Video Festival Toronto November 1 to November 5, 2006
Early deadline: April 15, 2006
Final deadline: June 1, 2006
See the link above for the entry form and more information
Call for Scripts - Female Eye Film Festival Development Program June 15 - 18, 2006
FeFF Script Development Program includes the Script Reading Workshop for writers hear their screenplay read by professional actors and receive feedback from the public and industry guests as well as the Good to Go, a by-invitation-only industry event for feature screenplay writers with polished scripts that are good to go into production. See the link above for more information
Open to male and female screenplay writers.
Extended Deadline: April 30th, 2006
Late Deadline: May 17th, 2006
WIFT Banff Mentorship Award Program - Call for Applications
This national competitive program gives one talented Canadian female or male producer, of a visible minority or Aboriginal group, the invaluable opportunity to prepare for attending the 2006 Banff World Television Festival through an intensive three-month Market Mentorship and Festival Bursary. See the link above for more details.
FINAL WEEK - Your Website Feedback
So far we have received many comments about our website redevelopment. Current trends indicate that most members check our site more than once a week in order to check the Hotlist and to get member information. We have also heard that you would like message boards, the ability to pay for courses online and enhanced public member pages.
Does this sound like you? Let us know what you think. There is still time to take the survey. The DGC Ontario website is YOUR business tool - please let us know what we can do to make this a valuable resource for you.
Please click here to take survey. Thank you!
You Belong Here
Click the link above to view the You Belong Here website developed by FilmOntario. Tune in for some interesting quotes from people who have filmed in Toronto and links to the OMDC, Toronto Film and Television Office and FilmOntario.
We Have An FCP Suite For Your Use
A reminder to all of our members that we have a Final Cut Pro suite (version 3) set up here in the Ontario office. We also have a Super VHS, Beta SP and 3/4 inch decks as well and an Agfa snapscan scanner.
Our Mac system is a PowerMac G4 867 mhz 512 ram and a super drive that burns CDs and DVDs.
All of this equipment is available for member use during regular office hours (9am to 5pm) at no charge. Please contact reception at 416-925-8200 or reception@dgcodc.ca to book the editing room.
DGC ONTARIO ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - ELECTION RESULTS
The AGM was held this past weekend, check this link to see the big changes on the Executive Board. Thank you to all of the Members who were able to attend the meeting for making the day a success! Please see the Members' Only section of this website for more details and the Annual Report.
Theatre Announcement - "Director's Cut"
Working with rock and roll rebel filmmaker Bruce McDonald (Hardcore Logo, Highway 61, Roadkill) Jim Millan has created a fictional story about an idealistic director (Bruce McDonald) making his first big Hollywood feature. This cautionary tale with typical Crow's edge and wit looks at the role that ambition and compromise play in a failed vision and how we can salvage our souls while working in the business we call show.
Please see the link above for more information.
Visit the Crow's Theatre Website.
REMINDER The Toronto Film Commissioner Requests Your Opinion
The Economic Development Division, City of Toronto, is working to prepare a strategic plan to ensure the sustainability and long-term growth of the film, television, and commercial production industry in Toronto. As part of the investigation and analysis, we are seeking input from all film and television industry members/stakeholders in Toronto through a very brief online survey.
To participate all one needs to do is go to www.toronto.filmpoll.com. There are only three questions. We would appreciate hearing from everyone by April 27, 2006.
Free Tickets to "The Limb Salesman" from The First Weekend Club The First Weekend Club builds audiences for Canadian films and works collaboratively with distributors, exhibitors, filmmakers and publicists. Their mandate is to keep films in theatres longer by building awareness and strong box office for great Canadian cinema on opening weekends.
See the link above for full information on the screening.
Visit The First Weekend Club to stay in the loop on Canadian releases. Membership is free.
Kickstart Tickets Available - Value $75 - 15 FREE passes for DGC Ontario Members
Kickstart is a popular half-day series originally developed for emerging filmmakers, but which is equally beneficial for those in mid-career. Its three panels are devoted to conveying fundamental information about producing and distributing documentary films and, in the past, have covered such topics as copyright clearances, musical scoring, new media components, and starting your own production company.
Please call Alina D'Wonnik at 416-925-8200 X 226. One pass per Member.
HotDocs Tickets Available
We have tickets available for -
HotDocs Awards Presentation and Reception - May 5 - Isabel Bader Theatre - GONE
These exclusive tickets are your chance to get out there and network. Please call Alina D'Wonnik at 416-925-8200 X 226. The first callers will get their preference. Please specify what event you would like to attend and if you require 1 or 2 tickets (maximum of 2 tickets per Member). You must come and pick up the tickets at the DGC Ontario office - 890 Yonge Street 9th Floor between 9am and 5pm.
Best of luck and have a great HotDocs festival!
Consultation - Federal Budget 2006 - Your input please
The Minister of Finance is holding online consultations on the 2006 budget. Questions focus on the issues of tax-cuts and government programs and asks you where you would like to see more funding. Please visit The Department of Finance Canada to let them know what you think.
Road Closures - Announcement
Please be aware that work in west Don Lands will require the closure of some roads.
Effective February 10, 2006 to June 2008, the following city streets will be closed:
- Bayview Avenue south of the River Street connection between the Queen and King Street overpass
- Front Street east of Cherry Street
- Eastern Avenue east of St. Lawrence Street
- Mill Street east of Cherry Street
- Overend Street
- Cypress Street
2006 Minimum Wage Increase The Rate Sheet now reflects the provincially mandated minimum wage increase of February 1st, 2006.
You can download the updated 2005 Rate Sheet here.
If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact Mary Juric, Contract Administrator, by phone at (416) 925-8200 x228 or send her an email.
We are currently in negotiations regarding the 2006 Standard Agreement. We will update this document when negotiations are complete.
A New Arrival for Laurance and Debbie Wiese
Laurance and Debbie are proud to announce the birth of their son Adam. Adam was born Wednesday, March 22nd weighing at 9 pounds 7 ounces. The whole family is happy and doing well. Congratulations!
Toronto Film Support
Please be aware that the Directors Guild of Canada is in no way affiliated with Toronto Film Support, their services or their training. We do not endorse their "certificate program" and have asked that any reference to the DGC be removed from their website.
Office Closure
Please note - the DGC Ontario offices will be closed on Friday, April 14th and Monday, April 17th. Ron Haney, CEO and ED, will be on call and can be reached at 416-580-6220.
November 2005 Real Time Exemption
Please see the link above for an important update from the CFPTA on the change in the number of hours employees are permitted to work in Ontario under the Employment Standards Act.
New Ticketing Information from the Ministry of Labour
The Ministry of Labour has released new information on Occupational Health and Safety Ticketing. Click on the link above for a backgrounder and fine information.
Women in Film and Television-Toronto Call for Applications
Applications are being called for - NBC Universal Development Incubator, Telefilm Canada Executive Management Program and the Kodak New Vision Fellowship.
Please see the link above for complete information.
Stacey Curtis
For updates on Stacey Curtis, please click on this link.
Last updated February 20, 2006.
Screening 24-Hour Toronto Film Challenge
30 Short Films Made in 24-hours.
This Friday, March 24th, 2006 at the Royal Cinema - 608 College St.
Screening starts at 7pm, Tickets $10 at the box office.
See the link above for more information on the Toronto Film Challenge.
Health & Safety Symposium 2006
Please see this link for your invitation to the Health & Safety Symposium 2006 being held at Metro Hall, Council Chambers on Wednesday, March 29, 2006.
DGC Awards Submissions
The DGC National Office is now accepting submissions for the 2006 DGC Awards. The official entry form and rules booklet can be downloaded from their site by clicking the link above.
First Steps Toward a Revitalized Website
Through a recent survey, we have found that more than 86% of DGC Ontario members have an active email address and regularly check our website. Those statistics, along with our increasing web traffic and the ever-present need for effective communication, have signalled to us that we need to revitalize the DGC Ontario website.
We have taken the first steps in this process by hiring Pneumatic to help us with the redesign. It is important that we understand what you would like to see in your DGC Ontario website, so we will be soliciting your feedback throughout the process regarding what we can do to improve our website and serve you better.
In the meantime, if you have any suggestions please email
Tanya Chapman or call 416-925-8200. Your comments are always welcome.
Growing Up XX
Growing Up XX is hosting the first international film festival for girls and young women and is looking for amazing women of all colours in the film industry! See the link above for more information.
Members' Reception - Celebrating Our Members
The pictures from the annual Members' Reception have been posted. Visit The DGC Ontario page on flickr
All images are download-able and of print quality. If you would like a higher resolution picture please email Tanya Chapman or call 416-925-8200.
The CinequipWhite February Freeze is on for 2006
February Freeze is a tradeshow event showcasing CinequipWhite's most popular suppliers. Click on the link above for the Flyer. You can also find more information here.
Notice - Filming in the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood
Due to the amount of filming in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood and the need for surface parking for the Saturday Farmer's Market, filming in the St. Lawrence area is strongly discouraged on Saturdays.
Please note that for the next ten weeks (beginning on September 26, 2005) there will be a moratorium on Saturday filming in the area due to road construction.
All filming requests will be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Location Managers should consult the staff of the Toronto Film and Television Office at 416-392-7570 before locking-in their location and parking.
Female Eye Film Festival - Call for Submissions
The 5th Annual Female Eye Film Festival, June 1- 4, 2006.
The film deadline is December 31st, 2005 (Early Deadline)
The screenplay deadline is February 28th, 2006 (Early Deadline)
See the link above for more information on the Female Eye Film Festival.
The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation
Announces a call for nominations for Canada's most prestigious prize for excellence in the performing arts: the 2006 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards for lifetime artistic achievement and the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the performing arts.
Awards cover page LifetimeArtistic Achievement Award Nomination Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award Nomination
Email Misconduct
It has come to our attention that a service provider has collected the email addresses on the public side of our website and used them for marketing purposes. Please be advised that the DGC Ontario does not condone this practice or endorse this service in any way.
Some of our Members have opted to display select contact information on the public side of our website since it is often used by productions to find hires when crewing-up. If you would like your contact information removed or added to the public side of our site, or if you have any further questions, please call Gerald at 416-925-8200 or email him at Gerald@dgcodc.ca
Reel Canada is a travelling film festival - a day-long special event that moves from one school to another with a program of feature films, documentaries, animated programs and shorts. Special guest speakers such as actors, directors, and other prominent personalities will present the films and take part in panels and workshops.
Crystal Award Announcement
Women in Film and Television - Toronto (WIFT-T) has announced the recipients of its 2005 Crystal Awards.
Read more about the Crystal Awards.
Festival de cinéma des 3 Amériques - Accepting Entries
Submissions are now open for the 7th edition of the Festival de cinéma des 3 Amériques. Submission deadline is December 3rd. See the links below for more information.
A message from the festival. The festival flyer.
Hotmail Issue
We have been having difficulty sending emails to hotmail accounts. We are looking into the issue and will keep you updated.
ANNOUNCEMENT Regarding Norstar Filmed Entertainment Inc. and "The Marsh"
Please be advised that the producers of "The Marsh" have made no arrangements with the Directors Guild of Canada-Ontario to engage Guild Members according to the terms and conditions of the Standard Agreement. Therefore, the Guild will not grant dispensation for members who work on the Norstar Filmed Entertainment Inc. production "The Marsh".
A Great Reception at the Cabbagetown Art & Craft Sale
Thank you to everyone who helped out with - and stopped by to say hello at - the Cabbagetown Art & Crafts Sale this year. Our much appreciated volunteers handed out free bottles of water and thanked the community of Cabbagetown for making Toronto a great location for film and television production.
We received very enthusiastic greetings from the residents of Cabbagetown. Many people stopped to tell us funny stories about films that have been shot on their streets and in their homes. Community outreach initiatives like this one will hopefully help to keep films and television sets welcomed in Cabbagetown for years to come.
Congratulations to all of our members who received a Gemini nomination!
You can find a complete list of DGC nominations on the National site.
NBC/Universal Feature Film Interim Financing Clinic
The NBC/Universal Feature Film Interim Financing Clinic, a three-evening course, has been designed to provide tailored financing guidance for intermediate feature film producers. This course will help producers navigate financial issues competently, build a bankable plan for their film projects and show producers how to fund cash flow to the production when most investors do not pay in full until delivery or later.
The Film Ontario Updates can be found in the News & Newsletters section of our website.
The Film Ontario Archives can be found in the News & Newsletters Archive section of our website.
ANNOUNCEMENT - General Meeting for DGC Ontario Members
A General Meeting has been called for November 12th. See the Members' Only section of this website for full details.
Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts - Accepting Entries
Mayworks Festival welcomes submissions from unions, union members, community groups/organizations, artists and collectives for the 2006 festival, April 29-May 8, 2006. For submission guidelines and application, please visit www.mayworks.ca or call 416-599-9096.
All submissions must be received by November 14, 2005.
WIFT-T Announces New CBC Canadian Reflections Award and Call for Applications
(WIFT-T), in partnership with CBC Television, is pleased to announce a call for applications for the new CBC Canadian Reflections Award. This exciting national competitive award will give one emerging Canadian female filmmaker the invaluable opportunity to receive creative support from CBC Television. See the link above for more details about the award.
Award Application
Join us in celebrating the work of DGC Ontario Members!
The Short List - will be held on November 12th at Innis Town Hall beginning at 7 pm. The screening is free of charge. There will be a reception following.
See the link above for The Short List programme and more details.
Employment Opportunities in Ottawa
Productions located in Ottawa have a continuing need for ALMs, PAs and 3rd ADs to work as locals.
Please call (416-925-8200) or email Gerald Dykstra at the DGC Ontario office if you are willing and able to work as a local in Ottawa.
Design Competition
The DGC Ontario office is looking for a new office space. This is an open call to ALL ART DEPARTMENT members. See the link above for details.
You are Most Cordially Invited...
After 18 triumphant months on the international film festival circuit The Crypt Club will screen one last time in Toronto before returning to the vault.
View Your Invitation
Reel Canada Rolls Out The Red Carpet Reel Canada is a new Canadian film festival that debuts in Toronto secondary schools. This October, this bold new initiative will begin introducing Canadian high school students to the world of Canadian film. See the link above for their press release and participating schools.
DGC Ontario is a Founding Sponsor of Reel Canada.
Nashville Film Festival - Call For Entries
Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) has announced its 37th international competition for features, shorts, documentaries, animation, experimental work, music videos and young filmmaker videos. The festival takes place April 20-26, 2006. Submission deadline is November 4th, 2005. See the link above for more information.
Robert Wise
Robert Wise, a prolific Hollywood director who helmed such classics as 1965's “The Sound of Music” and 1961's “West Side Story” has died. He succumbed to heart failure at a Los Angeles hospital on Wednesday.
For more information on his outstanding career, see this link
Work Report Line - the end of an era
We have been monitoring the calls coming into the DGC Ontario Work Report Line and have found that less than one percent of members are using the service. The Work Report Line was originally put into operation to allow members to update their availability at any time. With the advent of email and voicemail, it has become obsolete.
If you would like to change your availability please email Gerald Dykstra, Availabilities Administrator or call him at 416-925-8200, extension 232. You can also send an email to avails@dgcodc.ca
Remember, you do not need to call in or e-mail your availability unless it is changing. If you have any questions regarding this change please contact Gerald.
Welcome and Congratulations!
Open the link above for a complete list of new DGC Ontario members as well as a list of members who have achieved category additions and upgrades.
New Book Release, Walk The Talk
Your performance is measured, to some degree, by how well you can ‘Direct’ the money. Become familiar with the budgeting & cost reporting process – written for filmmakers of all stripes by a 20 year vet, John Gaskin.
Employment Opportunity
Are you interested in working in Ottawa as a local? There is an opportunity
to gain experience as an ALM on low budget DGC signatory productions.
Please email Ainslie S. Wiggs at aswiggs@rogers.com for more information.
This is Wonderland Charity Challenge - UPDATE
The cast of This is Wonderland has challenged the Canadian film and television community to raise money for the Actors' Fund - from October 17 to 24. There is still time to kick start your fundraising fun!
PRESS RELEASE
issued Wednesday October 19, 2005.
Da Vinci's City Hall, Godiva's and The Tournament face off in This Is Wonderland Charity Challenge.
Directors Guild of Canada-Ontario Staff Announcement
Ron Haney, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Directors Guild of Canada-Ontario (DGC Ontario), is pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine Middleton as Senior Business Agent effective Monday July 18, 2005.
In her new capacity, Ms. Middleton's primary responsibilities are to oversee the pursuit and collection of additional use fees for Directors, manage special projects related to production services and supervise the production department staff including the business agents. Ms. Middleton reports to Ann Marie Sluga, Chief Operating Officer.
No stranger to the television and film industry, Ms. Middleton formerly held the position of Senior Business Agent for DGC Alberta for seven years and prior to that was an Assistant Director member of the Guild. We are pleased to have Ms. Middleton join DGC Ontario and are confident that her industry knowledge and experience will greatly enhance our member services.
Congratulations Nadia and Paul!
Paul and Nadia Day would like to share the news of the arrival of their baby boy Spencer Andrew Day. Spencer was born on December 16th, 2004 and is a little brother to Cameron who was born in 2002. We wish you all the best of luck!
Congratulations Suzanne and Jon!
Jon Goulding and Suzanne Colvin-Goulding are proud and ecstatic to announce the birth of their son Ethan William Wallace. His long awaited entrance happened on July 7th at 8:47 am. He weighs 7 pounds 7 ounces and Jon swears that he already looks like him. Congratulations to all three of you!
Together with The Actors' Fund we raised a total of $52,985 to help entertainment industry professionals maintain their health, housing and ability to work after an illness, injury or other financial setback.
DGC Award Nominees Announced
Visit the DGC National site for the 2005 award nominees, press conference details and pictures.
Press coverage of this event can be found on the News and Newsletters section of this site.
Every DGC member in Active Good Standing will be receiving a package containing a voting ballot. Be sure to cast your vote for your favourite Canadian talent!
Meet the Directors
Each year the Directors Guild of Canada Awards presents an impressive list of nominated directors in both the feature film and television movie/mini-series categories.
Join session moderator and DGC director member Michael Kennedy, as he screens clips from each of these films and then guides a discussion with each director that will reveal their goals, challenges and directing philosophy.
See this link for more information.
Key Media Hiring Managers Join Innoversity Creative Summit Job Fair
Top media executives and Human Resources executives representing Canada's broadcast and newspaper industry will participate in the first ever Media Career Fair at this year’s Innoversity Creative Summit. See the link above for more information.
Call for Applications from Creative Women Workshops Association
CWWA is accepting applications for their annual Women in the Director's Chair Workshop. The workshop is a critically acclaimed program that takes the participant through all the components of a professional dramatic media production with professional actors and crews. See the link above for more information. The application date is September 30, 2005.
Innoversity Newsletter
See the new Innoversity Newsletter for all the news on the upcoming summit - September 29th and 30th.
Wanted to Rent
A 2 bedroom fully furnished condo in the downtown theatre district (walking distance or short cab ride away from this area is fine as well). Maid service must be available, even at an additional cost. Price preferably under $3700 Canadian. Rental needed from August 10 through September 5th. For Executive Producer type arriving from Edmonton, Alberta. Please contact Raymond Chandler if you know of a condo that is for rent and fits this description.
Wanted to Rent
A 2 bedroom fully furnished condo in the downtown theatre district (walking distance or short cab ride away from this area is fine as well). Maid service must be available, even at an additional cost. Price preferably under $3700 Canadian. Rental needed from August 10 through September 5th. For Executive Producer type arriving from Edmonton, Alberta. Please contact Raymond Chandler if you know of a condo that is for rent and fits this description.
Kodak New Vision Fellowship Call for Applications
Women In Film and Television - Toronto is currently accepting applications for the Kodak New Vision Fellowship, presented in partnership with Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging.
This national initiative provides one exceptional Canadian female director with the invaluable opportunity to prepare for the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival (September 8-17, 2005), through intensive industry coaching and a TIFF bursary, followed by a two-month creative mentorship with an established director. See the link above for more details.
Thanks to DGC Ontario a crucial part of Ontario's film and television industry infrastructure will remain in operation for at least another year.
CEO and Executive Director Ron Haney has announced that the Digital Locations Archive which has been run by Absolute Support Services Inc. for more than 12 years will remain operational for at least one year thanks to financing provided by DGC Ontario. The archive, which includes about 7,000 locations files that may be searched by productions seeking shooting locations, has been in danger of closure for months and would have been out of operations this month had DGC Ontario not stepped up to the plate.
As part of the arrangements DGC Ontario has made with Absolute, Guild Members working on Standard Agreement Productions will be entitled to free access to the library in- house at 185 Eastern Avenue (on -line access will still require payment).
Read DGC Ontario's press release here.
I.A.T.S.E. Local 873 Members Fail to Ratify Studio Term Agreement
The results of the Local 873's ratification vote on its recently-negotiated Studio Term Agreement are now public.
They are as follows:
Total Number of Ballots Received - 789
Spoiled Ballots - Not Conforming to Instructions for Voting - 85
Total Number of Valid Ballots Cast - 704
Number of YES votes - 322
Number of NO votes - 382
Therefore, the contract was not ratified.
DGC Ontario's CEO and Executive Director Ron Haney has expressed the opinion that this ratification result will have a serious negative impact on American service production and is extremely bad news for everyone who works in the Toronto film and television industry.
Ministry of Finance Offers Details on Expanded Tax Credit
On September 10th the Ontario Ministry of Finance released details on the Ontario Production Service Tax Credit enhancement announced June 29th. Please see the e-mail link below.
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/publications/bulletins/2009_09_10_filmtax.html
629 Eastern No Longer Under Consideration for LRV Yard
We have recently learned from the City of Toronto that 629 Eastern Avenue will not be recommended to City Council as the site of a proposed Light Rail Vehicle Yard. The recommended location will be the Ashbridge's Bay site.
Many thanks to all the DGC Ontario Members who wrote letters protesting the consideration of 629 Eastern Avenue and to the Toronto Film Board and the FilmOntario Board for their lobby efforts with the TTC Commissioner and senior staff.
Once again, we have all helped demonstrate that making our voices heard on issues of importance to our industry does make a difference.
New Edition of Film and Television Safety Guidelines Available
The fifth and most recent edition of the Safety Guidelines for the Film and Television Industry in Ontario were recently released. The Ministry website is currently undergoing a major overhaul so they haven't yet been posted there but you can view them by clicking below:
Green Screen Toronto is currently launching a pilot project offering FREE consultation to productions interested in greening their operations.
Productions of all sizes and types are welcome to be part of this project, the intent of which is to provide a comprehensive free service that will be accessible to all productions working in Toronto.
For more information, please click here
Ontario Government Announces Production Services Tax Credit Expansion!
Industry efforts to lobby the provincial government for an enhanced Ontario Production Services Tax Credit paid off with the June 30th announcement that the credit may now be claimed on all eligible production expenses, not just labour.
This brings Ontario's tax credit in line with the one in Quebec which was similarly enhanced June 12th.
Read more details about the announcement in DGC Ontario's press release.
Whites Announces New Web Site Feature
William F. White International Inc. is pleased to announce a brand new feature on its website called “Whites Request a Quote.”
This application will offer a new level of convenience to existing and new customers, without compromising any of the excellent customer care that Whites' clients have come to expect. Production managers, coordinators and crew members can save valuable time by selecting items from our lists at a time convenient to them and submit them online. These requests will be forwarded to Customer Service Representatives (CSRs), at the location of your choice, who will then quote out your list and contact you.
Currently this application is restricted to Expendables Sales only, but Whites may add more departments at a later date.
You can visit Whites website at www.whites.com (under the Equipment drop down tab) to request a quote now!
Quebec Ups Film, TV Tax Credit
The Quebec government has increased its film and TV tax credit from 25% of labor expenses to 25% of the overall budget of films and TV shows shot in the Canadian province, it was announced Friday.
This effectively doubles the tax credit, since the rule of thumb is that labor accounts for around half of the budget for most films and TV productions.
The increase gives Quebec the most competitive tax credit in Canada and puts pressure on the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia -- the other main film centers -- to hike their tax credits. Both currently have credits in line with Quebec's old 25% of labor expenses
For more details about Quebec's tax credit increase, please click here.
DGC Ontario CEO and Executive Director Ron Haney has written to Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan asking his government to match Quebec's tax credits. Click here to read that letter.
Rezoning of Toronto Film Studios Rejected by OMB
The National Film Board of Canada is putting hundreds of its celebrated documentaries, animation and fiction work online, allowing movie fans around the world to catch them for free
Professional Discounts for DGC Ontario Members!
The Actors' Fund Charity Challenge 2008
Canadian Celebrities Gather For Cake Cutting Ceremony In Celebration Of The Actors' Fund Of Canada's 50th Anniversary
The DRCC is Looking for Directors - There Could Be Money Waiting For You!
Enhancements to the Film & Television Tax Credits
Canadianfilmmaker.com receiving great reviews!
Television Animation Conference Set for Ottawa
FINAL Call to Artists of IATSE and the DGC -
Off Camera/Art at Filmport
2008 Toronto International Film Festival - Premium Tickets on Sale August 20th
First Weekend Club Presents: A Special Q&A and Reception with the filmmakers of Amal
The Tracey Fragments - First Weekend Club's Newest DVD Club Pick
DGC Ontario announces new Communications Director
The annual Summer 48 Film Challenge kicks off July 4th!
Didn't make it out to FILMPORT's open house on June 5th? Sneek a peek at some pics of the massive space here!
DGC Ontario Office Closure - Happy Birthday Canada!
TIFF Talent Lab Now Accepting Applications
Canadian Comedy Awards
CTF Stakeholders' Meeting
Check your mailbox... NEW Dispensation Policy and Updated Exemption List!
Grand Opening @ FILMPORT has been POSTPONED - but walking tours still available June 5th!
Film @ 11, Lunch at 12 - May 22nd Invitation from Kodak
DGC Ontario Members' short film 'Tools of the Trade' awarded 2nd Place at the Spring 24-hour Challenge
The Ryerson University Film Festival is proud to announce its 5th annual showcase.
The festival boasts a wide variety of fictional shorts ranging from sci-fi, historical, drama, horror and comedy, to documentary and experimental. This 3-day event showcases over 30 films produced by Ryerson University's graduating class. RUFF 2008 runs from Thursday, May 8th to Saturday, May 10th at the Royal Cinema.
Jeremy Podeswa's Fugitive Pieces in theatres May 2nd
Kari Skogland's The Stone Angel to open in theatres across Canada May 9th
Emotional Arithmetic to open in theatres across Canada April 18th
Announcing the 2nd Annual Toronto Film Race
FREE HotDocs Passes! SORRY - ALL PASSES HAVE BEEN TAKEN!
Banff 2008 - Discounted Registration Fee for DGC Members
Scrabble® with the Stars 2008
CONGRATULATIONS!
FREE Admission - Enterprise Toronto in partnership with CCCO present Small Business Art Forum
Interactive Ontario opens Early Bird Registration for ICE 2008
FREE PASSES to the 6th Annual Female Eye Film Festival - Featuring Kari Skogland's "The Stone Angel"
Congratulations to Our Genie Award Winners!
Good News From the Ontario Government!
Call For Entries - 2008 Banff World Television Awards
CinequipWhite Toronto's Annual February Freeze
9th Annual Toronto Documnetary Forum - April 23 - 24, 2008
The Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada - Call for Submissions
Save the Date - Music Makes It
The TIFF Group Announces Canada's Top Ten of 2007
First Weekend Club Announces: "Breakfast With Scot" in theatres November 16th!
The Source Shop is Moving
First Weekend Club Brings You and the Filmmakers of "Weirdsville" Together in an Online Forum
Canadians Get 77 Nominations for the Emmy Awards and Won 19 Statuettes!
SOFTWARE SYMPOSIUM - Digital Tools and the Modern Filmworker 
Call for ideas: Interactive Ontario is in search of the most innovative interactive and documentary projects in the world...
OntarioArtist.ca - A New Website for Artists in Ontario
A Night For Ned
Planet in Focus International Environmental Film & Video Festival Announces A Call For Submissions for Carbon Neutral Films
Toronto Public Library - Spring Film Series
Banff World Television Festival - Pitch contests now open
Reel Canada 2007 Wrap Report
Crypt Club Productions Inc. - Call for Submissions
NFB Presents: Nordic Nights - Hot Films from Chilly Climates With Special Guest Sturla Gunnarson
The New Media Business Alliance offers DGC Members 10% Off at ICE 2007
Free Tickets to FIDO from the First Weekend Club
MyMediaBiz Invites DGC Ontario to a Networking Event
Labour Day Office Closure
Female Eye Film Festival - FREE ALL-ACCESS PASSES
New Book Release, Walk The Talk
Thank you to everyone who came out to golf!
Key Media Hiring Managers Join Innoversity Creative Summit Job Fair