Telefilm Microbudget Deadlines Approach

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Michael Korican

In case you missed it in late June, Telefilm Canada has launched a Microbudget Production Program: “Telefilm will support eight to ten projects this year, through a non-repayable financial contribution of up to $120,000 per project to produce, distribute and promote a feature-length film that will be available to the general public through one or more distribution platforms, including digital.”

You must have either:

graduated from a film school in the last three years, or
joined a film coop in the last three years.

See Telefilm’s list of qualifying partners.

Be forewarned: each partner can only champion one project and their deadlines begin coming up later this month.

For instance, the NSI’s deadline is Monday, October 29, 2012.

Will the real Hollywood North please stand up?

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Michael Korican

Which city springs to mind as standing in for “Hollywood North”?

Vancouver, BC, or Toronto, Ontario?

Toronto cracked $1.13 billion in production spending in 2011.

BC topped $1.188 billion in 2011.

Stay tuned for this year’s stats next March.

In the meantime, Vancouver’s in the same time zone as Hollywood. And I live in BC, so I’m giving it to Vancouver. So there.

Crowdfunding in a Canadian Context

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Michael Korican

Nordicity and the Canadian Media Fund (CMF) have just released a new report entitled Crowdfunding in a Canadian Context: Exploring the Potential of Crowdfunding in the Creative Content Industries.

Although it concludes with these words:

Given the lack of clarity regarding legal, financial and policy issues related to crowdfunding and the relative novelty of the concept, producers exploring the potential opportunities offered by crowdfunding should adopt a philosophy of experimentation. In addition they should proceed with caution, ensuring they are aware of all the associated risks of engaging in this type financing activity before launching a campaign.

it’s one of the few documents I’ve seen that begins to wonder about the tax implications of crowdfunding in Canada.

NSI Aboriginal Documentary Deadline: November 2, 2012

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Michael Korican

Are you a Manitoban who is a North American Indian or a member of a First Nation, Métis or Inuit producer or director?

Would you like $16,000 to make a 10 minute documentary?

If so, you should apply to the NSI’s Aboriginal Documentary pilot program. You’ll need a partner and to fill out a lengthy application.

There is a $100 submission fee.

NSI Lifestyle Series Producer Deadline: October 5, 2012

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Michael Korican

Are you employed by a production company?

If so, they have until October 5 to nominate you for the NSI’s Lifestyle Series Producer course.

From the website: “This is an advanced training course which focuses on the specific skills required to produce a lifestyle series. The course includes a week-long training session followed by an eight-week practical apprenticeship on an existing lifestyle series which has been green-lit by one of our Program Partners: Shaw Media, Bell Media and Corus.

This course will empower the candidate to confidently take on the challenges and responsibilities of producing a lifestyle series.

Candidates will connect with top lifestyle series producers, network executives, production executives and other industry leaders to round out their knowledge base and industry contacts.”

Oh, and by the way, the cost is $25,000.

Rotterdam Lab 2013 Deadline: October 26, 2012

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Michael Korican

Telefilm Canada is sending three Canadian new or emerging producers to the Rotterdam Lab, January 27-30, 2013.

The three producers will receive accreditation to CineMart and the International Film Festival Rotterdam, as well as five night’s accommodation. You are responsible for your travel arrangements and all other costs.

Eligibility

The Rotterdam Lab is a programme for new and emerging producers. Writers and/or directors cannot take part in the Lab;
You must have produced more than one short film and not more than two (narrative) features in your career;
You must have a feature-length project (narrative) in development suitable for co-production;
You are a Canadian citizen or have landed immigrant status.

See the Call for Entries for more information.

Monetize Vimeo with ‘Tip this video’ Button

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Michael Korican

Vimeo has lunch a new Tip Jar feature.

When activated, it adds a ‘Tip this video‘ button below the video. Viewers so inclined can give between $1 and $500 via credit cards or PayPal.

To use this you must:

Have a verified PayPal account
Have a paid Vimeo account

There are some other restrictions so check out the FAQ. And recognize that Vimeo will deduct 15% off the top.

I would like Vimeo to allow users to customize the button. To me, ‘Tip this video’ sounds a little cheap. How about ‘I support this artist’, ‘Thank You $$$’ or ‘Become a Patron’?

Argo: Ben Affleck and Hollywood Diplomacy

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Michael Korican

The trailer for ‘Argo’ piqued my interest because I remember the drama of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis and the later revelation of the Canadian ambassador’s actions to smuggle out six Americans.

Kudos to Ben Affleck for stepping up and rewriting the closing postscript after complaints by Ken Taylor, as reported in Macleans. What do they say about history being written by the victors? Here’s a case of history being rewritten by Hollywood (and then corrected by the real actors).

Co-inventor of IMAX dies

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Michael Korican

The National Film Board of Canada reports that Roman Kroitor has died: Death of Roman Kroitor: Canada and the Film World Lose a Pioneer.

One of Mr. Kroitor’s many achievements was co-invenitng IMAX over 40 years ago. Something approaching a monopoly, IMAX pretty well cornered the large-format production and exhibition space, owning cameras, films and theatres. Its business model has diversified somewhat lately, expanding into 3D TV and laser lamps.

My favourite IMAX film is Van Gogh: Brush with Genius. I saw this in Victoria one early evening and, leaving the theatre, was rewarded with the magical orange light of the soon-to-set sun bathing the harbour. For the next half hour, it was as if I was continuing to see the world through Van Gogh’s eyes. Wonderful!

Thank you, Roman.

ACE MUNDUS Application Deadline: October 15, 2012

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Michael Korican

In 2009, the Ateliers du Cinéma Européen opened its doors to non-EU independent producers by launching a new training session that this year will take place from April 1-8, 2013 in Paris, France and in Finland.

Telefilm Canada will facilitate the participation of one English market and one French market producer, covering these costs: tuition, travel from Paris to Finland and back, accommodation and subsistence expenses in Europe. Your Canada/Paris round-trip airfare will be covered by ACE.

To qualify, you must be an experienced independent producer with a fiction feature film currently in development and must have produced, as the main producer, either:

A co-production (international or provincial) theatrically released fiction feature film, OR
Two Canadian fiction feature films that were theatrically released.

The deadline to communicate your interest in applying to ACE MUNDUS is October 15, 2012.

See the Call for Candidates for more information.

Michael Korican Thinks

Thoughts on Independent Filmmaking and the Emerging Economic System