Westmount Secondary School Think Tank Policy Proposal

Westmount Secondary School Think Tank Policy Proposal 2017-2018 Topic: in Film Authors: Lauren Adams Summary: With the constant exposure to American films in theatres around the country, various ways to promote and fund Canadian films instead of American culture are recommended. This is very important to Canada as a country, to establish a sense of who Canadians are through creative expression, such as film. 1

Introduction & Background After the first world war, Canadians started trying to figure out who they were as a country. American culture was constantly streaming in, and that s all anyone was exposed to. This heavily impacted the views of Canadians, and confused us with what made us different from other countries like America. As years went on organizations started to make programs to address these issues, and start to fund the production of Canadian content in attempt to eliminate American exposure. However, although many programs have been put in place, the issue of American culture dominated Canada is still a problem to this day. It is so important to address it because Canada s identity as a country is greatly influenced by film. For many people, film is one of the major ways Canadians get to know history, and important things that define who they are. Citizens should be concerned about this issue, because identity effects relationships with other people, and the world around us. There are ethical issues surrounding if it was right for America to push their culture onto us. Sure, we can t out all the blame on them, but we could ve worked together to take precautions regarding the constant flow of content into Canada. Statement of Problem The problem is American content dominates Canada s film industry. Foreign films account for 85% of the revenues from film distribution in Canada, and between 94-97% of screen time in Canadian theatres i. This is extremely concerning, considering only between 2-6% of films screened in Canada are Canadian produced. It is also concerning that the issue of Hollywoodtype films dominating Canadian theatres was addressed in the Massey Report, but nothing has been done in over 60 years to fix it ii. This affects populations and society because it impacts Canada s identity. Major causes of American dominance include financial reasons such benefits like the Film Production Services Tax Credit, which equals 16% of Canadian labor costs iii. However, there are requirements that the film must meet to qualify for those benefits. It is also caused by lack of awareness of identity causing dependence on American culture, and availability. There is also controversy and conflict between group surrounding the issue of trying to promote Canadian content to eliminate American dominance. These groups include the government, private funding programs, citizens, film workers, streaming service companies, and cinema companies. The government and citizens of Canada have conflict related to eliminating American dominance. When looking at the comments of numerous news articles talking about the funding of Canadian films, many complain about it. Taxpayers are mad because their money is going towards programs to fund content that they believe is garbage. Unfortunately, many of their opinions are not backed up with evidence, as many of them have never even sat down 2

and watched a true Canadian film. So, the government is trying to fund the creation of these films, but taxpayers are complaining about the quality of them, making the situation worse. Historical Context Over the years, there have been many programs implemented to support Canadian film upon the acknowledgement of American content and its significance in Canada. After the first world war, the publicity of American culture was at a high. Around this time, the government was trying to regulate broadcasting and film, but failed. It was seen in radio, film, and even in cars iv. This was mostly because there were no other options, Canadians hadn t established a sense of who they were. In 1928, the Royal Commission was created to advise Canadian broadcasting because Canadians were tuning into American radio stations more v. This caused the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, also known as the CRBC to be established in 1932, so Canadian broadcasting would be more supported vi. In 1939, the National Film Commission which is now called the National Film Board was created upon government proposal vii. The purpose was to make and distribute films to help Canadians understanding ways of living and problems in other parts of Canada. This was important, as it helped Canadians get a stronger sense of who they were. This really started bringing attention to the importance of Canadian subject matter. The Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, also known as the Massey Commission was designated in 1949. The purpose of the Massey Commission was to advocate for federal funding of cultural activities, and other recommendations to promote Canadian culture. In 1951, they released the Massey Report which covered many different topics relating to American invasion in film and radio viii. In the report, it is noted that before and during the 1930 s, Canadian s saw no films except those shown in theatres, but more or less all of it was from Hollywood. Documentaries had started to become a style of film that was adopted by Canadians, as the idea of expressing the identity and facts of Canada was very appealing. However, not many people were able to watch them. The Massey Report highlighted many of the important issues in Canada relating to culture and how it is represented through film. It concluded with Promising developments in feature films Canadian in character are taking place in Quebec; but English-speaking audiences are still exposed to strange Hollywood versions of a Canada they never thought or wished to see. ix So, the report states that Quebec was already exposed to a lot of Canadian content. It also mentions that the rest of Canada is only exposed to Hollywood-type films, and it is disappointing that in 2017, nothing has changed. This report was written over 60 years ago, and nothing has really been done about that issue since then. 3

In 1952, television broadcasts from the CBC, also called the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation first went on air. This was one of the first times Canadians got to experience their culture on television. However, as the CBC continued, most of entertainment was American x. The Canadian Council for the Arts, which was created in 1957, was one of the major recommendations from the Massey Report. The purpose of the Council was to aid universities, the arts, and anything that would benefit Canadian culture. A lot of funding was given to art programs, including drama and theatre xi. This meant that actors and performers were enticed to stay in Canada, instead of leaving to go to America where there were more opportunities. In 1967, the Canadian Film Development Corporation was established to promote film production in Canada and determine what would be considered Canadian film, and qualify for the Capital Cost Allowance benefits. It was renamed to Telefilm Canada in 1984, because television started to become a greater priority xii. The Toronto International Film Festival, also known as TIFF, was first held in 1976 xiii. This was an important milestone in the film industry, and it is still a very significant event that is held today. It is one of the most popular film festivals in the world, and it brings many people from around the world to watch films, in which a large majority of them are Canadian. This has brought more attention to Canadian film, which is very important. A rare attempt to promote a Canadian movie about a Canadian sport took place in 2002. Men with Brooms, which was about the sport of curling was only moderately successful, yet it still played an important role of showing the Canadian films can make it into theatres, and even do well at the box-office xiv. In 2015, the CRTC revised their polices because of all the changing technologies. This was extremely important, since Canadians are living in such a digital era xv. However, there are still improvements that can be made. Most recently, in September 2017, Netflix pledged $500 million for creating Canadian content xvi. This was a big milestone in the film industry because it means more chances for Canadian film makers to create films, more exposure to this content, and more jobs for Canadians. Current Policies A current program put in place is the Canadian Content Points System, which determines what movies are considered Canadian, and are eligible for certain benefits xvii. This is important because it allows us to control what is considered Canadian, so American producers don t take the benefits available, as the films must pass a series of Canadian requirements to qualify for the funding. There are also a series of programs that have been put in place to fund Canadian films, many of which are put in place by Telefilm Canada. Programs such as the development, production, theatrical documentary, marketing, and promotion programs for the most part do the same thing in the long run, however they are specialized 4

to fit all the needs. The purpose of these programs is to support, finance, and promote the production of Canadian feature films xviii. The National Film Board also has a few programs to support Canadian film. There are both French and English programs. An example of one of their programs include the filmmaker assistance program, which provides technical support to independent filmmakers xix. These policies are beneficial, however a change is still needed. It is important that these programs understand a lot of lives now revolve around the internet, and new policies can use this to their advantage. Alternative Solutions Of course, there are other solutions that have been put in place to try and solve cultural dominance around the world. Many countries understand the importance of the need to promote their culture, and have taken the appropriate measures. In Korea, each theatre must screen domestic films for 146 days a year. They allow children to take film making courses when they are young, so a passion for film is developed. As well as Canada, they also have funding programs, a film council, and film festivals xx. In the UK, there is a film council that allows anyone to go online and watch UK films, and view the films that are in production, which allows citizens to be updated on new upcoming releases xxi. These solutions prove to work well for these countries, but they may not work for Canada. Canada already has something like the UK Council, which is the NFB. However, the NFB isn t working to Canada s full benefit. It would also be difficult to require theatres to film Canadian movies for 146 days a year, as that wouldn t make a lot of money considering many Canadians would rather watch Hollywood based movies. Policy Recommendations There are many recommendations that have been made to try to eliminate American dominance in film in Canada. These include: 1. Redirect funding for television and radio to more popular media platforms 2. Mandate a certain percentage of films screened in theatres to be Canadian/ host small film festivals around the country 3. Fund drama and theatre programs It is recommended that the funding going towards Canadian television and radio, is redirected to the funding of Canadian film on popular media platforms. These platforms include sites such as Netflix, Crave TV, YouTube, Vimeo, itunes, and even social media. This is because Canadian content rules are mostly focused on Television/ Radio. It has been shown that nearly 50% of Canadian households have streamed something on Netflix within the past month, and many families have started to consider canceling cable. Canadians need to adapt, as television is starting to become less relevant. Netflix is very popular, and so funding content on this type of media will get Canadian films a lot more attention. So, shifting focus to the new growing technologies is very important. Canadians are living in a very digital era, and so the film industry needs to adjust to it. 5

Another recommendation is to mandate a certain percentage of Canadian films to be screened in Canadian theatres a year. This is important, considering only between 2-6% of films shown are Canadian. Raising this percentage will allow more Canadians to watch these films, creating a better sense of identity as a country for everybody. However, this is difficult because major cinema companies like Cineplex argue that until Canada starts producing Hollywood-type movies, Canadians won t be willing to watch them in theatres. This makes sense as many people have something against Canadian films, or anything that is different than the normal Hollywood film. This doesn t mean it is right, Canadian film deserves a chance. What could be done instead is a small film festival at theatres around the country, where only Canadian films are shown. This could be beneficial as it will raise awareness of Canadian film, which hopefully will open the minds of citizens, and cause Canadian films to be able to make more money in theatres. Lastly, it is recommended that money is set aside for the funding of drama and theatre programs around the country. Whether it be in schools or privately, this is very important, because it allows youth to explore their interests in these fields. This allows us to raise more Canadian actors, directors, cameramen/women, set makers, (etc.). The importance of this is that these people are more likely to stay in Canada if they have better education, as they were born here, and if the recommendations above are put into place, there will be more jobs for them. It is important that they stay and don t move to America, because that will be benefiting America s film industry, which will be damaging Canada s in the long run. Tertiary Benefits American dominance is an issue Canadians face on a daily basis. Whether it is the tv you watch, the music you listen to, or the movies you watch. These may not seem to bad but it gets bad when Canadians think that the USA and their history is better than theirs, that's a step too far. How come citizens know more about Martin Luther King Jr. then they do about Lincoln Alexander. This policy will help end the American dominance when it comes to Canadian hero s. These videos will be broadcasted about Canadians, by Canadian actors, directed by a Canadian director, and produced by Canadian companies. Summation and Conclusion In conclusion, is an important issue that needs to be addressed. By following these recommendations, it is likely that Canadians will be able to continue making and promoting Canadian film to continue the exploration of their identity as a country. It is exciting to be able to be exposed to this inspiring, new Canadian content. The importance of this should be recognized, and hopefully other citizens around the country will feel the same way about the expansion of Canadian content. 6

Bibliography Clarke, Amanda. How do you define Canadian film culture? Toronto Film Scene. April 5, 205. Accessed October 2017. http://thetfs.ca/article/define-canadian-film-culture/ English, John. Canadian-American Relations. The Canadian Encyclopedia. March 9, 2009. Accessed September 2017. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-american-relations/ Epstein, Edward. Northern Expenditure. Slate Magazine. February 13, 2006. Accessed December 2017. http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_hollywood_economist/2006/02/northern_expenditure.html Harvey, Jocelyn. Canada Council for the Arts. The Canadian Encyclopedia. September 5, 2011. Accessed September 2017. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-council-for-thearts/ McIntosh, Andrew. Massey Commission. The Canadian Encyclopedia. February 7, 2006. Accessed October 2017. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/massey-commission-emc/ Handling, Piers, Ted Magder, and Peter Morris. History of the Canadian Film Industry. The Canadian Encyclopedia. January 10, 2012. Accessed September 2017. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-history-of-film-in-canada/ Raymundo, Fairlane. 10 Things Korea is Doing That s Helping Their Entertainment Industry. Reel Rundown. November 15, 2016. Accessed December 2017. https://reelrundown.com/film-industry/10- Things-Korea-is-Doing-Thats-Helping-Their-Entertainment-Industry Taylor, Kate. For Canadian TV, summer is the new growing season. The Globe and Mail. June 7, 2011. Accessed October 2017. https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/for-canadian-tv-summer-isthe-new-growing-season/article4260963/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com& Vipond, Mary. The Beginnings of Public Broadcasting in Canada: The CRBC, 1932-1936. Canadian Journal of Communication. 1994. Accessed November 2017. http://cjconline.ca/index.php/journal/article/view/806/712 Winton, Ezra. Canadian Dis-Content. The Dominion. April 3, 2006. Accessed October 2017. http://www.dominionpaper.ca/business/2006/04/03/canadian_d.html Canadian Culture in a Global World. Global Affairs Canada. May 24, 2013. Accessed October 2017. http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/topics-domaines/ip-pi/sagitgcsce.aspx?lang=eng Films in Canada. Library and Archives Canada. February 1, 1998. Accessed December 2017. https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/massey/h5-411-e.html Our History. CBC. 2017. Accessed October 2017. http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/explore/ourhistory/ 7

Mission and Highlights. National Film Board of Canada. November 18, 2015. Accessed October 2017. http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/about-the-nfb/organization/mandate/ Cultural Invasion. CBC. 2001. Accessed November 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/history/episcontentse1ep15ch3pa4le.html Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC). Canadian Film Online. 2012. Accessed December 2017. http://film.athabascau.ca/funding/canadian-film-development-corporation-cfdc Toronto Film Festival: Why the festival matters. BBC. September 4, 2013. Accessed November 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-23681679 American Influence. Film Reference. 2017. Accessed October 2017. http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/academy-awards-crime-films/canada-american- INFLUENCE.html#ixzz4xI0qBoPJ So what makes it Canadian? CRTC. October 13, 2016. Accessed November 2017. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/cancon/c_cdn.htm Netflix to spend $500 million to produce Canadian content. The Toronto Star. September 27, 2017. Accessed September 2017. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2017/09/27/netflix-commits-tospending-500m-on-producing-canadian-content-reports.html Financing. Telefilm Canada. 2017. Accessed December 2017. https://telefilm.ca/en/financing Filmmaker support programs. NFB. February 7, 2017. Accessed December 2017. http://onfnfb.gc.ca/en/produce-with-the-nfb/filmmaker-support-programs/ British Films Directory. British Council. 2016. Accessed December 2017. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-films-directory 1920s American Influence on Canada: Music, Movies, Fashions, Dances. Histo-Canadian. April 27, 2015. Accessed October 2017. http://histo-canadian.weebly.com/blog/1920s-american-influence-oncanada-music-movies-fashions-dances Cultural Life. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2017. Accessed November 2017. https://www.britannica.com/place/canada/cultural-life#ref841628 Notes i Canadian Culture in a Global World. Global Affairs Canada. May 24, 2013. Accessed October 2017. http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/topics-domaines/ip-pi/sagitgcsce.aspx?lang=eng ii Films in Canada. Library and Archives Canada. February 1, 1998. Accessed December 2017. https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/massey/h5-411-e.html 8

iii Epstein, Edward. Northern Expenditure. Slate Magazine. February 13, 2006. Accessed December 2017. http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_hollywood_economist/2006/02/northern_expenditure.html iv English, John. Canadian-American Relations. The Canadian Encyclopedia. March 9, 2009. Accessed September 2017. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-american-relations/ v Our History. CBC. 2017. Accessed October 2017. http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/explore/ourhistory/ vi Vipond, Mary. The Beginnings of Public Broadcasting in Canada: The CRBC, 1932-1936. Canadian Journal of Communication. 1994. Accessed November 2017. http://cjconline.ca/index.php/journal/article/view/806/712 vii Mission and Highlights. National Film Board of Canada. November 18, 2015. Accessed October 2017. http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/about-the-nfb/organization/mandate/ viii McIntosh, Andrew. Massey Commission. The Canadian Encyclopedia. February 7, 2006. Accessed October 2017. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/massey-commission-emc/ ix Films in Canada. Library and Archives Canada. February 1, 1998. Accessed December 2017. https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/massey/h5-411-e.html x Cultural Invasion. CBC. 2001. Accessed November 2017. http://www.cbc.ca/history/episcontentse1ep15ch3pa4le.html xi Harvey, Jocelyn. Canada Council for the Arts. The Canadian Encyclopedia. September 5, 2011. Accessed September 2017. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-council-for-thearts/ xii Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC). Canadian Film Online. 2012. Accessed December 2017. http://film.athabascau.ca/funding/canadian-film-development-corporation-cfdc xiii Toronto Film Festival: Why the festival matters. BBC. September 4, 2013. Accessed November 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-23681679 xiv American Influence. Film Reference. 2017. Accessed October 2017. http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/academy-awards-crime-films/canada-american- INFLUENCE.html#ixzz4xI0qBoPJ xv So what makes it Canadian? CRTC. October 13, 2016. Accessed November 2017. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/cancon/c_cdn.htm xvi Netflix to spend $500 million to produce Canadian content. The Toronto Star. September 27, 2017. Accessed September 2017. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2017/09/27/netflix-commits-tospending-500m-on-producing-canadian-content-reports.html 9

xvii So what makes it Canadian? CRTC. October 13, 2016. Accessed November 2017. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/cancon/c_cdn.htm xviii Financing. Telefilm Canada. 2017. Accessed December 2017. https://telefilm.ca/en/financing xix Filmmaker support programs. NFB. February 7, 2017. Accessed December 2017. http://onfnfb.gc.ca/en/produce-with-the-nfb/filmmaker-support-programs/ xx Raymundo, Fairlane. 10 Things Korea is Doing That s Helping Their Entertainment Industry. Reel Rundown. November 15, 2016. Accessed December 2017. https://reelrundown.com/film-industry/10- Things-Korea-is-Doing-Thats-Helping-Their-Entertainment-Industry xxi British Films Directory. British Council. 2016. Accessed December 2017. http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-films-directory 10