While I would love to see more Canadian films on Netflix, the streaming service has been good with Canadian television. Both seasons of Kim's Convenience were added this summer. I had seen parts of Kim's Convenience shows but seeing whole episodes broadens the perspective of how great this show is.
The writing is so sharp that a slight slip-up in the words and delivery could make the difference between success and failure. Mr. Kim can sound racist but the way he explores racism is more funny than offensive. An American version might lose than subtlety.
There is a bit of back and forth but a lot of love between family members. The dynamic between Mr. Kim and Janet is intriguing since you see their differences with depth from their similarities.
Kim's Convenience is about the Korean experience, the immigrant experience, and a multi-cultural city in regular everyday motion. It's also a funny show.
You may have also spotted the 2nd season of Anne with an E also on Netflix. Season 1 first aired on CBC and then went international. The Season 2 debut on CBC will be September 23 as the show will run for 10 episodes Sunday nights at 7 pm local time.
Creative Canada sounds promising but so much is still unknown
The Netflix deal would also supposed to be creating new Canadian content, such as Alias Grace and Anne with an E. Showing Canadian shows to a wider audience through Netflix is a nice advantage, whether part of the official deal.
Film review: Adventures in Public School
Adventures in Public School is a new Canadian entry to the Netflix queue as of August 15. The title was originally under Public Schooled during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. The film stars Judy Greer as a single parent who home-schooled her son (Daniel Doheny). He is about to graduate but falls for a girl with one leg. The film is cute on some levels but handles the certain awkwardness between mother and son with surprising maturity. Look for nice cameos from Russell Peters, Andrea Bang, and Grace Park.
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The Academy Awards will undergo a few changes. The idea of an Oscar for a popular film that isn't otherwise worthy cheapens the experience of trying to win a "real" Oscar. We are also concerned that some Canadian nominees will be relegated to categories given out during commercial breaks. Do we have to stream the Best Animated Film or Best Foreign Language Film winners?
Good news did come in the form of new members to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The 928 new members include some prominent Canadians including actress Alison Pill and filmmaker Guy Maddin. Other Canadians new to the academy include actress Tantoo Cardinal, filmmakers Ann Marie Fleming (Window Horses) and Anita Doron (The Breadwinner), and Toronto producer J. Miles Dale, who won an Oscar earlier this year for The Shape of Water.
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
CanadianCrossing.com TV coverage
CBC News had a nice obituary for the Nova Scotia film tax credit. The tax credit started in the 1995 budget. "The Film Industry Incentive Program will provide a refundable credit for local firms equal to 30% of their eligible Nova Scotia salaries, to a maximum of 15% of their total production budget," said then Finance Minister Bernie Boudreau under the Liberal government of John Savage.
The Progressive Conservative government of Rodney MacDonald in 2007 raised the credit to 60% of allowable costs if a production was shot in a rural community.
Liberal Premier Stephen McNeil switched from a tax credit to an incentive fund. The province spends less but gets a lot fewer films shot in Nova Scotia. The folks who filmed Maudie, a literal Nova Scotia story, filmed in Newfoundland.
"We're not seeing as many big, Hollywood films coming, that's for certain," said Screen Nova Scotia executive director Laura Mackenzie. "And that is really just because our tax credit or our incentive, either one is just not as competitive across Canada.
Mackenzie noted the significant loss in Nova Scotia film jobs. "We've lost many, many, many jobs. We've lost many young people here in Nova Scotia that are now out working in Toronto and Vancouver."
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Season 3 of X Company returns tonight on Ovation in the United States. Season 2 was rather intense and Season 3 doesn't seem like the speed will slow down. This is the final season of the show and will run for 10 episodes.
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If documentaries (even short ones) are more your speed, a friend sent this YouTube collection from CBC of small Canadian stories.
photo credit: Kim's Convenience/CBC
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