Steering towards hope

SINK OR SWIM. ALL HANDS ON DECK. STEM THE TIDE. The nautical phrases were plentiful and unavoidable as we assessed the state of the industry and mulled over the theme of this issue.

Between producers’ input on issues such as inflation for our 2023 Indie List survey (pg. 19), and industry executives’ thoughts on the newly passed Bill C-11 (pg. 26) to update the Broadcasting Act, it’s clear we’re in for some major waves.

Our choice of ‘Tide Over’ for the cover represents an industry that is making do with what it has (the 2023 federal budget tabled in March had no additional funding for Telefilm Canada, the Indigenous Screen Office or CBC/Radio-Canada) and floating with the tide until the next big wind comes to fill its sails.

Will the Online Streaming Act provide that wind?

The Department of Canadian Heritage has estimated the legislation will generate $1 billion annually for Canada’s creative sector by making streaming services contribute to the system. But, as our C-11 feature outlines, just how the money will be disbursed is yet to be determined.

Such matters will be addressed in the policy direction Canadian Heritage will send to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission following its public consultation, which has a big task ahead of it as it holds its own public proceedings on the Act.

Adding to industry uncertainty is the Writers Guild of America strike, which was into its second week as of press time for this magazine. As with C-11, the streaming world is one of the key points in the labour unrest, with the guild saying streaming has driven the growth for the U.S. industry revenue base over the past decade yet screenwriter pay has stagnated and declined.

On this side of the border, producers have told Playback that the strike has slowed down production and the buying marketplace but also presents an opportunity for acquisition of strike-proof Canadian projects by U.S. networks and streamers.

In related labour rights action, ACTRA turns 80 this year and we used our Tribute feature to take a deep dive into its history (pg. 31) and future. Meanwhile, we’re thrilled to present our second 2023 Hall of Fame inductee: actor, producer and former member of Parliament Tina Keeper (pg. 35).

While Canadian producers are bracing for an unpredictable economy, our Indie List shows some are also looking to grow their companies within the next year, with coproductions and coventures offering the biggest opportunities. More hope can be found in the Canadian Media Producers Association’s newly released Profile 2022 report, showing Canada’s total production volume hit an all-time high of $11.7 billion in 2021-22.

So, are you looking at our cover and thinking you need to strap in for a storm? Or does it make you feel optimistic – that there’s a life preserver out there to help? Or maybe it’s both?

I’m going with the latter. As I’ve heard time and again from producers, the marketplace is constantly changing and always has been; that’s just the nature of the business. But it seems the ship is steering toward the hope of more money coming into the system to help films and series that are uniquely Canadian thrive on home soil.

Victoria Ahearn Editor, Playback

vp, publisher - playback executive director, banff world media festival Jenn Kuzmyk jkuzmyk@brunico.com editor, playback Victoria Ahearn vahearn@brunico.com news editor Kelly Townsend ktownsend@brunico.com senior reporter

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