"Visibly Canadian is certainly no longer the rallying cry at Telefilm." — Canadian film producer Kevin Tierney
Tierney listed Brooklyn and Room in an op-ed in the Montréal Gazette as examples of Canadian films that didn't have a visible Canadian presence.
Brooklyn was shot in Montréal. The film was a co-production of 3 countries. Tierney said the the director of photography and the production designer are Québécois. He mentions Jessica Paré has a "featured role." As much as we love Paré, she is cast in films all over. Besides Paré is listed 21st in the credits, according to IMDb.
Room was shot in Toronto. An Ireland-Canada co-production, the film is from a novel by a Irish-Canadian author Emma Donahue. Jacob Tremblay, from British Columbia, is in a more than featured role.
"Actors smoking American cigarettes. U.S. licence plates. U.S. money. That kind of stuff, all set somewhere in vague North America. Americans don’t like movies set in foreign lands."
I am watching a movie now (soon to be reviewed) that deals in American money. Realistic American money. You also see that realistic American money in Mean Dreams, which Tierney mentions.
"The charming young Québécoise actress Sophie Nelisse sounds like her daddy must have found her in a bush by a brook but she sure as hell ain’t never eaten grits."
The accents in the film don't put it in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where the film was shot. Bill Paxton is definitely rocking a Southern accent.
I would absolutely split Mean Dreams away from the other films. Mean Dreams is written by Canadians and directed by a Canadian. Half of the 4 leads are Canadian. American actors, especially ones as good as Bill Paxton, are always welcome. But if visibly Canadian is your goal, this film falls short, too.
Breaking down 2016 WIFF Canadian films
Something tangible, perhaps subtle can show Americans and Canadians and others a Canadian presence in what is supposed to be a Canadian film. Remember that Porky's is still Canada's most successful film and there is nothing visibly Canadian in that film.
This is a well above-average film but you are left wondering where the Quebecois and Canada is in these films and will Dolan return back to that world. This is Canada's entry to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film but has no visible presence outside Dolan's fingerprints.
This is what I said about the new Xavier Dolan film. The next film is shot in English in New York and London. And this is Canada's best filmmaker right now.
If you want an example, or 3 samples, for how to go overboard on Visibly Canadian, look (or don't look) at American Kevin Smith's True North Trilogy: Tusk, Yoga Hosers, and Moose Jaws. Tusk wasn't even shot in Canada but is full of Canadian stereotypes and is "set" in Winnipeg.
Trying to find the quintessential Canadian film
A Britbox will be working its way into the U.S. market in early 2017. The BritBox streams British shows and comes from the BBC and ITV with a Netflix-style TV stream.
The focus is on TV shows from the UK, but the idea could be adapted to have a Canadian version with TV shows and films. The major complaint is that Canadian films and TV shows can't get distribution deals; a Canadian version of Britbox could sidestep that concern.
There will also be a classics TV section on the BritBox.
The British do have an advantage in the market over Canadian content due to familiarity. A Canadian version of a BritBox would help reach an audience that may be interested once they know this programming exists.
Could a BeaverBox be far behind? A CanBox?
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Amy Jo Johnson is an American actress with a long-track record, most notably in the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, Felicity, and Flashpoint.
For the last decade, Amy Jo Johnson has been living in Canada. She worked in a few roles in Canada over the years. After working on a TV movie in Montréal, she decided to pursue permanent Canadian residency.
J.J. Abrams, a co-creator of Felicity, wrote a letter of recommendation for her immigration application. Flashpoint, was shot in Toronto, cemented Johnson's Canada presence.
Now Johnson is a Canadian director with the new film The Space Between. "I'm happy, I'm really happy here. I actually feel like I've become a nicer person, becoming Canadian," Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter while attending the Whistler Film Festival.
We see many filmmakers come to Canada from other countries, but not too many from the United States. Johnson seems to have the hang of being Canadian.
Getting to Canada is easier if you have more pull.
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The Canadian Screen Awards will have its fourth host for the 5th annual awards show. Howie Mandel will host the 5th Canadian Screen Awards on March 12 on CBC.
Norm Macdonald hosted last year. Andrea Martin was the 2014 host while her fellow SCTV alum Martin Short was the host for the first 2 years.
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photo credit: Nathan Denette/Canadian Press
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