A new report by Telefilm Canada reveals that Canadian movies took only 2.9 per cent of box office receipts last year with movies out of Hollywood continuing to dominate the market.
This is not surprising at all! Canada's cultural global impact is becoming less and less important as our government's lack of perspective over the years has helped foster this decline. We can also blame the CRTC for allowing the nation's leading private media outlets, such as Global and CTV, to use content provided by American networks CBS, NBC, ABC, etc., therefore outsourcing the development and production arm of the networks. But is it too late? Is the Canadian public too locked into Hollywood hype?
A fundamental policy shift is needed to curb this trend. By demanding more Canadian produced content, our representatives could help foster a scene of Canadian actors, writers, writers and producers. Instead CTV and Global simply rebroadcast what our culturally dominant neighbors to the south create. In the process they help assimilate the broader Canadian perspective on our own culture!
Not only do we echo dramas and comdey shows, but even Hollywood cultural magazines to keep the masses up to speed on what's going on in Hollywood. By doing this for many years now, CTV and Global can partly be held responsible for the decrease in market share. Canadians aren't even made aware of Canadian cinema when Entertainment Tonight airs everyday, simply echoed from an American Network. Even Canadian versions of such shows fail to create interest about Canadian productions.
Québec's industry can thrive because they have media support. Everywhere you look in Montréal or Québec city, local celebrities are present in the news, written press, television and even billboards.
Some will say Canadian stories are boring. A commenter on the CBC article even said:
Too often I have heard the lament that no one is interested in Canadian stories - if it happens in Toronto or (God forbid) Winnipeg or Regina, then no one wants to watch it - especially not Canadians. I am tired of hearing that. If the story is interesting, the characters engaging, then does it being set in Chicago make it a better story? Is Boston inherently more interesting than Ottawa or Halifax? (For example, The Stone Angel was a wonderful story as a film.)
Clearly this person has never seen such movies as Fargo, Academy award winning feature set in the desolate winter of Minnesota. Or 2007's excellent underdog film, shot in Manitoba, The Lookout. Location has nothing to do with anything. Having some familiar faces like Steve Buscemi or Jason Gordon-Levitt helps. But at the end, story and substance goes a long way.
It is true however that Canadian luminaries such as James Cameron will always be snatched up by Hollywood interests, because only american producers have the capital to invest in large scale concepts such as Terminator and The Titanic. Canadian producers need to harbor these ideas and keep them here.
On the other hand we do have the Egoyans, Cronenbergs, Arcands, Maddins, etc, who continue to create in Canada while being widely appreciated on the world scale. Their movies however are rarely big box office hits.
At least the CBC has a strong development arm, helping foster Canadian made content, aptly filling their mandate
I believe that with the combined efforts of the Canadian government and the private sector, efforts could be made to salvage our Canadian cultural industry and help it blossom in the future. Until then, Hollywood will keep eating up the market share and key talented individuals will abandon ship for a sunny Hollywood.
We have the crews, we have the talent. What are we waiting for?
Oh and, at least we have the Trailer Park Boys! (Thanks Showcase!)
