Boxoffice-May.21.1979

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World Film Festival Called
Injurious to Filmmaking
MONTREAL—A leading association ol
:^uebec filmmakers has attacked the third
nnual World Film Festival scheduled to
n here in late August.
^e Association des Reajisateurs de Films
'Quebec called the festival a useless and
enterprise that served "as an instruof
propaganda" that further contrib-
;o the loss of culture of Quebecers.
The World Film Festival, headed by
ierge Losique, shows top new international
ilms, some of them world premieres, and in
he past two years has attracted big-name
crecn stars to the two-week event.
Calling for an end to government support
'f the festival, the filmmakers accused the
esti\'al of contributing to the already prearious
economic condition of the Quebec
\4anager Trainees for TOI
Jndergo Seminar Sessions
BOZtMAN. MONT.—A junior
ilm industry.
The association proposed the creation of
new festival that would show Quebec
ilnis in addition to those from other coun-
e.xecuive
training seminar was recently held here
,ir manager trainees with Theatre Operators
nc.
The intensive two-day session covered all
spects of theatre management and acuainted
participants with general office per-
Dnnel and operating procedures.
The seminar was under the direction of
)an Klusmann. marketing director, who was
ssisted by Stephen Moser, company comtroller
and treasurer, and Ron Reid. city
lanager for TOI in Bozeman. Also particiating
were Doug Williams, president, and
im Warner of Warner Marketing Assolates
and a vice president in TOI.
Those attending were Dave Simpson.
shn Carpenter and Cathy Hamilton from
illings. Mont. Simpson manages the Rimock
4 while Hamilton is at the Crossroads
win. Carpenter is slated to manage the
ig Sky Drive-In under city manager Lanny
/agner.
Attending from Miles City was Jim Mcihatton.
presently managing the Park there.
IcElhatton will be in charge of the Sunset
'rive-In in Miles City. Attending from Hena
were Wayne Knudsvig. manager of the
aslight Cinemas: Joel Overton of the Skyigh
Drive-In and Steve McCauley, man-
:er of the Sunset Drive-In there.
The current assistant manager at the
laza Twin in Butte. Clay Brown, attended
did Sam Schmerbauch. manager of the
'orid Theatre in Missoula. Mont.
Attending from Bozeman were Larry
ones of the Campus Cinemas: Jerry Payne
the Rialto; and Tim Highfill of the Star-
!ht Drive-In. Also in attendance was a
anager-trainee. Karen Hewitt.
It is anticipated that the training seminar
ill become an annua] event.
Claude Binyon Jr. has been set as producm
manager for "Oil" and "River Horse."
Boom in
Canadian Film Production
Spurs Optimism From CFDC Head
.MONTREAL— Feature film production
in Canada, which reached record levels last
year, will continue to boom in 1979, Michael
McCabe, executive director of the Canadian
Film Development Corporation, said
recently.
The CFDC invested S6.3 million in 30
films produced last year— 18 English. 12
French—with combined budgets totaling
S50 million, a whopping increase from the
investments of SI. 6 million in 20 productions
with total budgets of S5.5 million in
1977.
Reviewing the corporation's just-concluded
1978-79 fiscal year, McCabe said the
CFDC also invested S900.000 in 56 projects
at the pre-production or development stages.
This also repiesents a dramatic increase
from the previous year when $400,000 was
invested in
40 projects.
In all. the CFDC last year invested S7.2
million in 86 projects, compared with only
S2 million invested in 60 projects in 1977.
"Many of the projects in the development
stage have now come to fruition and. while
the new production season is just getting
underway, we've already made tentative
commitments to invest some S7 million in
a wide variety of films." McCabe said.
"Of course, some films will fall by Ihc
wayside and other features will be added,
but I'm sure we'll have an even greater
volume of activity in 1979-80 than last year,
both in total budgets and number of productions.
"Tremendous growth of the industry
stems from many factors, not the least of
which are the CFDC's new investment, development
and promotion activities.
'Other factors include the emergence of
a group of strong, creative producers, the
development of new sources of financing
through public offerings by recognized
brokerage firms, lax incentives and the coproduction
treaties Canada has with Britain.
France, Italy. West German and Israel.
"Our new investment policies, are aimed
at stimulating production through investments
at the moment of greatest risk for
participate in more films each year.
"While our yearly investment budget is
only 54 million, much of this money was
returned to us quickly so that we virtually
doubled our investments during the past
year. We expect to do even better in the
new year."
The films in which the CFDC invested
last year ranged from high adventure to tender
love stories and comedy, and there was
even a disaster epic.
The emphasis, McCabe said, is on international
appeal.
"It is no longer feasible to make films
that will only be seen by a handful of
people," he said. "If it takes stories with
wide appeal and international stars to reach
screens around the world, then that's what
we'll invest in.
"This doesn't mean these films are less
Canadian. I believe that genuinely Canadian
themes have a future in the international
market.
"And where production budgets match Ihc
potential Canadian market, films can be
made that allow for local cultural expression
and give new talent the opportunity to
work and develop."
Although Canadian productions have attracted
international stars, they are also
helping to propel Canadians to
international
attention. "They have also brought home internationally
known Canadians Susan Clark
Donald Sutherland. Genevieve Bujold and
Christopher Plummer.
"The boom has given Canadian directors
living abroad, among them Steven Stern
and Alvin Rakoff. the opportunity to again
work in Canada," McCabe said.
"In addition, hundreds of technicians and
f)eople behind-the-scenes—set carpenters,
script assistants, makeup artists, costume designers,
grips, camera and sound crews and
the many people in the labs— -have been
busy this past year as a result of all the
film
activity.
""In fact, many technicians have enjoyed
the luxury, for the first time, of being able
to pick and choose jobs."
Circuit Awarded Right
To Exclude Revenue
'°MiLWAUKEE— In a ruling following a
lawsuit, a Wisconsin theatre circuit has won
the right to exclude student discount revenue
from grosses reponed to distributors.
TTie circuit. Marcus Theatres in Milwau-
the producer-— the initial stages of a project. kee, was held free of accountability for income
admissions from student discount
"The CFDC loans money for the development
of a project or to provide interim financing
so that the producers can proceed failed to sustain the claim in the suit filed
cards. Paramount and other distributors
with their films while awaiting funds from by them in Milwaukee County circuit court.
investors.
No ruling was handed down on the right
"These are short term, relatively modes! of distributors to include student discount
loans in comparison with the total budgets. card revenue in grosses. The decision rested
In return, we expect a profit and a quicker on a finding that the contracts with Marcus
turn-around of CFDC funds, allowing us to did not specifically provide for inclusion
of student discount admissions.
The court held that .Marcus never agreed
to include student card discounts, and that
distributor contract forms were ambiguous.
The suit was predicated upon an audit of
1965-70 grosses, resulting in a September
1971 charge that student discount receipu
should have been subject to payment by
Marcus.
Marcus began charging a fee for student
cards in 1970.
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XOmCE :: Mav 21, 1979
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