Your humble narrator doesn't want to write about %$#%$ tariffs from the petulant toddler. The "fentanyl czar" is a joke but a pacifying moment (perhaps).
Part of the twisted "fun" by said petulant toddler is the anxiety and uncertainty. Given the regular anxiety and uncertainty in the Canadian film and TV industries, this adds unnecessary pain and suffering, regardless of the tariffs.
Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud has the segment in the above video. The Hollywood Reporter is concerned. The Toronto Star weighs in on the matter. British Columbia has its own concerns, tariffs or not. The Montréal Gazette gives the perspective from Quebec TV and film.
Barry Hertz and J. Kelly Nestruck, screen critics at The Globe and Mail, weigh in on whether Canadians should focus more on homegrown Canadian film and television. More Crave and CBC Gem and less Netflix and Prime Video.
The integration Canadian film and TV industries with the United States likely runs second behind the auto industry. While we write about Canadian films that are actual Canadian films, the Canadian film industry and TV industry includes a number of Canadians who work on U.S. projects in Canada. In fact, during down time working on actual Canadian productions, these hard-working Canadians subsidize their income on U.S. projects shooting in Canada.
The low Canadian dollar plus significant tax credits make shooting in Canada quite viable for cost-conscious U.S. projects. Let's give a current example of this world.
Doc is definitely not a Canadian TV show (Fox, also Global in Canada), though Molly Parker is the lead and the show is shot in Ontario. This has led to an intriguing dynamic where a U.S. show (based off an Italian show) has a lot of Canadian guest stars.
We saw Daniel Maslany and Rebecca Liddiard play a married couple in the series premiere. We've seen Jim Watson and Gord Rand, doctors from another medical series — Transplant (CTV/NBC) — in different episodes.
Of course, these are obvious Canadians, so there are likely more Canadian guest stars. This doesn't include Krista Bridges, whose voice appeared in the series premiere. Her character may be visible on screen in a future episode.
We've seen Fox and Global combine for Murder in a Small Town, which is shot in Canada with mostly Canadian actors. Countless Christmas movies and regular U.S. movies are shot in Canada. Julianne Moore had lovely words to say about Canada, how she feels practically Canadian.
This is the spirit the 2 countries should be fostering. Harmony and working together. People creating film and TV magic and being able to pay their bills.
The financial reality is that Canada and the United States both have a lot to lose with tariffs and acrimony for television and film. The U.S. film and TV industries are a financial boost to Canadian film and TV industries, at a financial gain to those in the United States. Hurting Canada also hurts the United States.
From The Hollywood Report story:
Paula Fletcher, a longtime city councillor for Toronto-Danforth at the municipal level, agreed the Ontario industry's longstanding strong relationships with Hollywood and a reputation for labor and tax credit stability will mitigate any negative impacts from Trump's aggressive protectionist posture.
Fletcher added the film industry is a service-based and a people business possibly insulated from Trump's 25 percent tariffs threat and any retaliatory tariffs Canada would impose on the U.S. should the 30-day pause for negotiations fall apart without a cross-border agreement.
"(The film industry) is not an automotive site, it's not minerals, it's not potash, it's not wood. So I'm hoping it can float above everything that's happening and all those relationships can be maintained and a healthy film industry won't fall under the impact of the tariffs," she argued.
Canadian TV and film, homegrown and helping out a (normally) good neighbour: definitely not potash.
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
CanadianCrossing.com Canadian TV coverage
CanadianCrossing.com television coverage
‘Let’s get angry’: Are the tariffs the push Canada needs to finally embrace homegrown film and television? https://t.co/9iASJG2Yxr
— Barry Hertz (@HertzBarry) February 5, 2025
Buy Canadian forcing Canadians to consider homegrown products in the wake of tariffs
2025 Canadian politics preview
CanadianCrossing.com trade coverage
CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage
The Canadian TV and film industries don't need another proverbial earthquake, especially one that is so unnecessary. This relationship between the 2 countries is beneficial on multiple levels.
video credit: Commotion/CBC Radio
photo credit: FB/Murdoch Mysteries
Twitter capture: @HertzBarry
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