The Filmmakers — the 2 seasons of examining Canadian film and the people behind them — is done. Meet the Filmmakers captures some of that spirit from the TV show.
Johanna Schneller is back as the host. The first interview was with Andrew Cividino, the Emmy-winning director from Schitt’s Creek.
The format of the old show was 3 segments in a half-hour on TV with commercials. This debut has an almost 1-hour interview format online where they aren't in the same room.
Cividino is a filmmaker yet Schneller spends most of the time focused on his TV work on Schitt's Creek. Directing TV is similar but not the same as directing film. This is especially true with Canadian filmmakers who also write, such as Cividino on Sleeping Giant.
The 2015 Toronto International Film Festival major Canadian film awards went to Sleeping Giant for Best Canadian First Feature Film and Closet Monster from Stephen Dunn for Best Canadian Feature Film. Cividino and Dunn both made their directorial debut with those films.
2020 TIFF wrapup
The argument at the time in Canadian film was to give those up-and-coming directors a chance to make that follow-up film after initial success. Cividino has worked on Schitt's Creek while Dunn has worked on the Web series Pop-Up Porno. Neither has had a follow-up film since those debut films.
There may be extenuating circumstances. Cividino and Dunn aren't the only young Canadian filmmakers in this dilemma. There are more storytelling options nowadays. Maybe their success in other formats might lead them back to the film genre. Maybe that won't happen.
Looking back at the impact of The Filmmakers on CBC
The Filmmakers shows what Canadian female directors go through to make a film (2018)
Season 2 of The Filmmakers showcases female Canadian film creators (2018)
The Filmmakers on CBC helps the audience to appreciate Canadian film (2017)
The Filmmakers to run before Canadian films this summer on CBC (2017)
Last month, during the historical #schittssweep, Andrew Cividino (@AndrewCividino) won an Emmy for @SchittsCreek w/ co-Director @danjlevy.
— DGC Ontario (@OntarioDGC) October 23, 2020
Watch Andrew recount that magical night on #MeetTheFilmmakers - our digi series w/ @CBCArts & host @JoSchneller https://t.co/0SDFyPBnOJ
Arts coverage, specifically Canadian arts coverage, is where CBC should shine. The arts coverage on CTV, Global, and Citytv leans heavily American. CBC is a public broadcaster. We've seen more and more new Canadian films heading to CBC Gem. CBC should have plenty of Canadian arts coverage on television and online.
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage
We don't know how many episodes there will be or whether this placement is random. A long interview segment with Andrew Cividino is manna with fewer Canadian films in 2020 in the middle of a pandemic. Let's hope to meet more Canadian filmmakers.
video and photo credit: CBC Arts
Twitter capture: @OntarioDGC
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