New CSC Members

Canadian Cinematographer

January 2013 Vol. 4, No.8

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Joan Hutton csc

EDITOR EMERITUS Donald Angus

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From The

PRE SIDENT

Joan Hutton csc

Happy New Year! I hope the holidays were peaceful and filled with cheer for everyone.

I’m very pleased to say that the start of 2013 comes with good news. Six cinematographers have been granted full membership status with the CSC, entitling them the “csc” accreditation after their name. For those who may not know, becoming a full CSC signifies a cinematographer has achieved a consistently high level of mastery over their craft both technically and artistically. My sincerest congratulation goes out to Jonathon Cliff csc, Mark Forester csc, Karim Hussain csc, Bob Mattigetz csc, Bobby Shore csc and Brendan Uegama csc for their contribution to the art of cinematography.

I just viewed a two-minute short newly posted on YouTube that everyone should look at. It’s a given that the film and television industry in Canada has its ups and downs. Interestingly, and unfortunately, that was played out all too graphically in 2012. On the up side there is Ontario. Although the final tally has yet to be made, it looks like Toronto in 2012 will at least match, and probably top, its 2011 banner year for production. So what spurred this Toronto bonanza that is attracting a good number of runaway productions from the States and elsewhere? Toronto does have modern sound stages, a top notch production talent pool and a burgeoning postproduction side to the industry that’s garnering interest worldwide. Yes, Toronto has a lot going for it, all of which counts. But most importantly, Ontario speaks the language of producers: it’s called incentive. The province with its aggressive 25 per cent tax credit perched alongside other government perks has made Ontario very production attractive, generating not only loads of business for Toronto, but also spawning productions in cities such as Sudbury, Hamilton and Sault Ste. Marie, while helping to build an industry that has created nearly 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.

On the down side, a myopic Saskatchewan government ended its film tax credit in 2012, effectively killing off the province’s once thriving film and television industry. Production companies have pulled up stakes, and skilled production personnel have moved to where the jobs are. Incentives work, and Ontario is proof of that. Did the Saskatchewan film and television industry need some fine-tuning to keep it moving forward? Perhaps, but we’ll never know since its government chose to throw out the baby with the bath water.

The short I mentioned earlier, which can be found on YouTube, is called Last One to Leave, and it is a poignant commentary on what was once the Saskatchewan film and television industry.

I’m sure that 2013 will be a terrific year for the Canadian film and television industry, and I wish everyone “good shooting.” Sadly, it just won’t be in Saskatchewan.