tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post115876211675841065..comments2024-03-24T16:25:05.751-04:00Comments on Mayerson on Animation: Woe CanadaMark Mayersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00065971589878678848noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post-1160587836560370972006-10-11T13:30:00.000-04:002006-10-11T13:30:00.000-04:00Mark, I woudl love to get your perspectiveon the g...Mark, I woudl love to get your perspectiveon the guys at House of Cool, who are struggling mightily with their own vision of a Canadian studio. I mention them on my blog (www.venturelaw.blogspot.com)Suzanne Dingwall Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04259034870397202270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post-1159881453426726662006-10-03T09:17:00.000-04:002006-10-03T09:17:00.000-04:00It's the same everywhere else as well though.Comme...It's the same everywhere else as well though.<BR/>Commercial success versus quality is probably an interesting issue here.<BR/>Would you rather have Candadian box office hits that follow the formulas of earlier successes(which is probably the only way to get them funded), or fantastic shorts made with a unique and original vision(that, granted, are very tough to get hold of)?<BR/><BR/>I think canada is still very much on the map when it comes to animation(independent productions), and I'm sure a lot of its makers aren't even interested in making features that break box office records.Boris Hiestandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899648137868635425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post-1158971361158153582006-09-22T20:29:00.000-04:002006-09-22T20:29:00.000-04:00I did not want to imply that OSMOSIS JONES was cra...I did not want to imply that OSMOSIS JONES was crap. It was an excellent animated film surrounded by wretched live action.<BR/>The animators got blamed for the failure of the live sections; the TV show corrected the live bits and did far better. The animators did not get any credit for the latter success.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03559138404570089435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post-1158971253171379432006-09-22T20:27:00.000-04:002006-09-22T20:27:00.000-04:00I'm puzzled, Mark. Canadian SHORT FILMS made at th...I'm puzzled, Mark. Canadian SHORT FILMS made at the National Film Board have taken many American Oscars. Why have none of the people involved used this notoriety to obtain backing for feature prodcutions in their own style? Canadian animation studios that expect a dud like EVERYBODY'S HERO or THE WILD to revive Canadian production are only whistling in the dark. They are not going anywhere with poor stories and poor productions sponsored by the USA, France, or anywhere else.<BR/>And the Canadians are in a situation is no different from that of most American animators.--work on big budget crap and get blamed for the failure of the live-action sections (OSMOSIS JONES, WARNER BROTHERS BACK IN ACTION.) The computer makes it easy to produce your own films. If a film wins a prize, like Sylvain Chomet's OLD LADY AND THE PIGEONS, then there may be backing for a genuine Canadian feature. But it is pointless to expect coins from silk purses that never materialize from pigs' ears.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03559138404570089435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post-1158786746951268542006-09-20T17:12:00.000-04:002006-09-20T17:12:00.000-04:00"I fail to understand why the Canadian taxpayer ha..."I fail to understand why the Canadian taxpayer has to protect Canadian culture when the (as you claim) 97% of foreign product which is thwarting our culture isn't contributing a blasted thing financially to our film industry."<BR/><BR/>Because it's what Canadians want to see. We like mass market Hollywood entertainment - not the typical "It's Canadian - it's GOOD for you" pablum that we're spoon-fed.Steve Schnierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01766696319640794064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post-1158781816889916922006-09-20T15:50:00.000-04:002006-09-20T15:50:00.000-04:00Canada should take a page from post-war Italy. 84...Canada should take a page from post-war Italy. 84 days a year per screen were devoted to Italian product. Any foreign films coming into the country were taxed. The money collected from the taxes was used to produce those Italian films. The Italian government didn't have to pay a cent for film production. I fail to understand why the Canadian taxpayer has to protect Canadian culture when the (as you claim) 97% of foreign product which is thwarting our culture isn't contributing a blasted thing financially to our film industry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post-1158776547601871182006-09-20T14:22:00.000-04:002006-09-20T14:22:00.000-04:00The situation is not limited to animation. This is...The situation is not limited to animation. This is the case for Canadian live action as well. We're well known as service providers to the U.S. film industry - look at the ongoing ruckus over "runaway production". <BR/><BR/>There are many problems with Canadian productions, economics for one. Canada has a very small population base compared to that of the U.S. We can't support our film industry on boxoffice dollars alone. <BR/><BR/>As a result there are government quotas and subsidies - but this assistance KEEPS GOING TO THE SAME PEOPLE. The one's who have proven time and again, that they can't deliver a product that people want to see. <BR/><BR/>And it's not their fault - the government funding agencies keep handing them money, so naturally they keep taking it. <BR/><BR/>What the powers that be should do is - look beyond the "usual suspects". Seek out new and talented creators. Give them three strikes (I'm being generous) - then move on and find someone new. There are lots of talented people in this country. But our funding organizations only support a very priviledged few.Steve Schnierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01766696319640794064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post-1158771520840846602006-09-20T12:58:00.000-04:002006-09-20T12:58:00.000-04:00There's no question that American films dominate t...There's no question that American films dominate the world market. However, many countries have quota systems to protect local industries and other countries or locales just do better at getting local content on the screen. In Quebec, for instance, 15% of screen time goes to Canadian films, so they're doing far better than the rest of Canada.<BR/><BR/>I would bet that in India, Bollywood films are far higher than 3% of the available films.Mark Mayersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00065971589878678848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27501132.post-1158767515217796482006-09-20T11:51:00.000-04:002006-09-20T11:51:00.000-04:00"Imagine how odd it would be to have 97% of the mo..."Imagine how odd it would be to have 97% of the movies available to you come from a foreign country. That's Canada."<BR/><BR/>I don't se how that's odd. I'd wager it's the case in most countries around the world.Benjamin De Schrijverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04113326323094548928noreply@blogger.com