2002 in Review Quebec made films have grossed over $15 million in the past year - up 50% from 2001. The biggest success of the year has been Séraphin: Un homme et son péché which has become the all time top grossing Quebec made film - accounting for over $7.5 million since its release Nov. 29th. As a result it won the Billet d'or award at the Jutras.
In December, Telefilm Canada announced that it wanted Quebec films to capture 12% of the over all French language box office in Canada, Presently they account for 9%. In contrast, Canadian English language films for less then 1%. Due to recent developments, this goal has been achieved. As 4 other Quebec films grossed over $1 million each during the year - another Quebec first.
Foreign production in 2002, didn't take off as expected, but that didn't stop two major players from giving Mel's Cité du Cinéma and Studio St. Hubert a little competition - What is being called the "world's largest" studio - is in the planning stage for South Shore Candiac. WonderWorks Montreal Construction on the $40 million dollar project started in October and is targeted by be finished by May 2003 - It never happened?
Another studio project being proposed was by Télécinéma Taurus. It wants to build 10 studios at a cost of $75 million dollars in Point St. Charles. Last year, the former Hyundai car plant in Bromont was being touted as a Studio site, but the funding failed to materialize. Looks like this may turn out the same. Meanwhile, Mel's is also expanding it's studios at the techno park.
This being said, where will all these productions come from? American film-industry workers are lobbying to tax "Runway movies" - films developed and copyrighted in the U.S., but shot outside the country due to the loss of work. Canada's attraction include a cheap dollar and a 11% wage tax credit offered by the Canadian government to attract foreign film makers.
In a bid to encourage more foreign production to Canada, the recent Federal budget increased the tax credit for outside productions to 16%. A small amount, but encouraging none the less. The downside of the budget was cutting $25 million from the yearly budget of the Canadian Television fund. A two year commitment equal to $150 million isn't that shabby, but it's a disappointment to Canadian TV producers who will have to seek out more private funding, or cut their already modest budgets. I suspect it will also It will also encourage more co-productions and product placements. Producer Rock Demers who was honored at the recent Jutra and gave a very impassioned speech regarding the cut, citing how money was being diverted to a war Canadians didn't want as opposed to a local film industry which they embraced.
My personal rants include the recent price hikes at the downtown Famous Players Paramount - which has eliminated it's $7.50 Tuesday and Wednesdays; and now charges $9.95 for all showings. The AMC Forum also raised it's afternoon weekday showings to $8.00 a while back. No wonder people opt for cable tv, or wait for the video/DVD release.
Another issue... the lack of more Canadian films on our local screens. If U.S. films shown here were all subtitled, instead of dubbed into French:) it would free up more screens for more independent and local films - Hey guess what! - Nether Daredevil or Ben Afflick have a reason to speak Parisian French in New York City. I wouldn't dare see THE CRIME OF FATHER AMARO, if not in it's original version - with subtitles, be it in French or English.
Thanks for your time:)
MENTALBLOCK - TV series for YTV. The misadventures of a 13yr.old boy and what goes on in his "head space". Shooting from Sept. 3rd - Nov. 29th in Longueuil. Starring Erik Knudsen, Stefano Faustini, Alexina Cowan, Brittany Drisdelle, Jodie Lynn Resther, and Justin Bradley. RUDY'S WARS - MOW based on NYC Mayor Rudoloph Giuliani and the events of 9/11. Directed by Robert Domhelm. Starring James Woods. and Penelope Miller. Shot from Nov. 7th to December 9th.
CHOICE - MOW based on Dr. Henry Morgentaler. Directed by John L'Ecuyer. Shot from Nov. 11th to December 7th.
DEADLY BETRAYAL - MOW. A thriller Directed by Jason Hreno. Starring Nicolette Sheridan and Andrew Jackson. Shooting from Nov. 25th to December 19th. Budget: $3.5 million.
LES INVASIONS BARBARES - Denys Arcand's follow up feature sequel to Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain. A French co-production. Starring Rémy Girard, Marie-Josée Croze, Dominique Michel, Piere Curzi, Yves Jacques, Louise Portal, Dorthée Berrryman, Stéphane Rousseau, Mitsou Gélinas. and Sophie Lorain. Shooting from Sept. 8th - November 14th. Budget: $6 million
LA GRANDE SEDUCTION - Dramatic feature directed by Jean-François Pouliot. Shot from Sept. 9th - Oct. 25th.
LES IMMORTELS - Feature written and directed by Paul Thinel. Shot from Sept. 5th - Oct. 4th.
FORTIER IV - Fourth season of the Quebec police drama series with Sophie Laurin and Francois Papineau. Shot from June 25th - October 3rd.
LE DEBUT DE LA FIN - Feature directed by Louis (POST MORTEM) Belanger. A family drama set in a rural Quebec gas station. Starring Serge Thériault, Gilles Renaud, Fanny Mallette, Sébastien Delorme and Danny Gilmore. Shot from Aug. 26th - Oct. 5th. Budget: $3.2 million
100% BIO - Feature directed by Claude Fortin. Shot from Sept. 9th - Oct. 9th in Quebec.
SUR LE SEUIL - Paranormal drama based on the Quebec novel by Patrick Sénécal. Directed by Eric Tessier and starring Michel Cote. Shot from August 26 - Oct. 4th. Budget: $3.3 million
LAST CHAPTER II - 2nd season of Dramatic mini series for CBC to directed by Richard (Café Olé) Roy about rival Quebec - Ontario biker gangs. Starring Roy Dupuis, Michael Ironside and Marina Orsini. Written by Luc (OMERTA) Dionne. June 10th until Sept. 29th.
TRIBU.COM III - TV Series. The last season. shooting June 17th - Sept. 20th.
SHATTERED GLASS - Dramatic feature written and directed by Bily Ray. Starring Hayden (STAR WARS) Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloe Sevigny,, Hank Azaria and Steve Zahn.. Shot from Aug.12th to Sept. 22nd.
MAMBO ITALIANO - Feature directed by Emile (NUIT DE NOCES) Gaudrealt, based on the play by Steve Galluccio. Starring Luke Kirby, Peter Miller, Mary Walsh, Paul Sorvino, Ginette Reno, Sophie Lorain and Pierrette Robitaille. Shot from July 8th - August 30th.
TIMELINE - Feature directed by Richard Donner, based on a screenplay by Michael Crichton. Starring Gerard Butler, Paul Walker and Mara Walsh. Shot April 8th - July 30th.
OBSESSED - Dramatic MOW directed by John (WAR GAMES) Badham and starring Jenna Elfman.
MUSIC HALL II - Quebec Mini series directed by Alain Desrochers. Produced by Fabienne (Scoop, Urgence) Larouche. Shot from July 2nd - Sept. 15th.
GLEASON - MOW based on the career of comedian Jackie Gleason. Directed by Howard Deuth. Starring Brad Garrett, Saul Rubinek, Vlasta Vrana and Amy Sloan. Shot July 3rd - August 1st.
LES DANGEREUX - Feature directed by Louis (LES BOYS III) Saia. Shot from May 13th - June 30th.
LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES - French feature directed by Josée Dayan. Starring Catherine Denuve and Leelee Sobieski. Shot June 5th - 28th. Also shot in England and France.
LES SECRETS DES GRANDS COURS D'EAU - Shot from May 5th - June 29th. Directed by Stefan Pleszynski.
MARIPOSA AZUL - New Feature from Director Lea (Lost and Delirious) Pool. Based on a true story about a terminally ill boy who's last wish is to catch the most beautiful butterfly in the world. Starring William Hurt and Pascale Bussieres. Shot in Costa Rica and Montreal.
THE DOGWALKER - MOW directed by Steven Schachter. Starring Jane Krakowski and George Eads. Shot from May 5 to 31st.
GALIDOR: DEFENDERS OF THE OUTER DIMENSION - Sci-fi children's series for Fox and YTV that mixes live action with animation. Starring Marie M. Sabongui and Matthew Ewald. Shooting ended in May.
WICKED MINDS - MOW dramatic thriller directed by Jason Hreno. Starring Andrew Walker and Angie Everhart. Shot April 16th - May 10th.
20H17, RUE DARLING - Feature drama directed by Bernard (LA FEMME QUI BOIT) Emond. Starring Luc (SAVAGE MESSIAH) Picard. Shooting until May 9th.
THE HUMAN STAIN - Dramatic period feature directed by Robert Benton. Starring Nicole Kidman and Anthony Hopkins. Shot from the 19th of March, through till May 29th.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - Feature drama based on memoirs of Frank Abagnale, famous con artist in the sixities, and the youngest person to make the FBI's Most Wanted List. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen and Jennifer Garner. Shot from May 1st - 4th in Montreal and Quebec City. The film has already shot scenes in New York and LA.
LES SEPT JOURS DE SIMON LABROSSE - 90min. TeleTheatre based on the stage play. Shot in April. Directed by Jean Bourbonnais. Starring Sophie Vajda, Daniel Parent and Philippe Cousineau. Shot in Digital.
LE PIEGE D'ISSOUDUN - Feature directed by Micheline Lanctot and starring Sylvie (15 FEVIER 1839) Drapeau. Shooting ended March 24th.
LEVITY - Dramatic feature directed and written by Ed Solomon. Starring Billy Bob Thorton, Morgan Freeman, Holly Hunter and Kristin Dunst. Shot from January 22nd - March 9th.
BEYOND BORDERS - Feature tale of a romance between a medical student turned international relief worker and a philanthropist socialite. Directed by Martin Campbell and starring Angelina Jolie. Written by Oliver Stone. Shot in Montreal from Dec. - Feb.
CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND - Feature drama based on the book by Chuck Barris. To star Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts and George Clooney, who will also direct. This production pulled the plug due to financing problems earlier last year, but came back. Shot from Jan. 15th - March 23rd.
THE BOOK OF EVE - Feature co-production with the U.K. directed by Claude Fournier. Starring Claire Bloom, Daniel Lavoie, Susannah York, Angele Coutu and Marie-Jo Thério. Based on the novel by Constance Beresford. - Shooting Nov. 19th - Jan. 16th. Budget: $6.3 million
UN HOMME ET SON PECHE - Period feature set in the 1890's based on the novel by Claude-Henri Grinin. Directed by Charles Biamé and starring Roy Dupuis, Pierre Lebeau, Karine Vanasse, Remy Girard, Celine Bonnier and Marie Tifo. Shooting from Sept. 10th to Nov. 9th and one week in January 2002. Budget: 5.7 million.
BILAN
Shot in Montreal
A film by Ziad Touma
Stephen Dorff and Natasha Henstridge
Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain
Directed by French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou has became the top-grossing French language movie of all time in Quebec in 2002 - Since it's release on Sept. 7th, the film has earned more than $2.4 million at the box office. The film has earned over $42 million in France and has been selected to represent it's country at the Oscars. It won the people's choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival. It is also one of my personal favorites.
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