Filmmaking for CBC

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CBC Television's Mix Flicks invites Canada's filmmakers to come up with compelling real-life tales about our diverse society. Mix Flicks will commission up to 12 dramatic short films a year of five to 10 minutes in length that illustrate genuine slices of life from across the country.

Hoping to see some great proposals from the Ottawa community! Please pass this email along to others who may be interested in submitting.

Michelle van Beusekom

CBC TELEVISION EXPLORES CANADIAN CULTURAL CROSSOVERS

WITH 24 DRAMATIC SHORT FILMS

CBC Television’s Mix Flicks invites Canada’s filmmakers to come up with compelling real-life tales about our diverse society.

Mix Flicks will commission up to 12 dramatic short films a year of five to 10 minutes in length that illustrate genuine slices of life from across the country.

“It’s not about the stories of one culture or another,” says Rae Hull, Senior Director of Network Programming. “As the title suggests – it’s about the mix – how we bump into each other in a way that can be poignant, provocative, uplifting or hilarious. We’re not looking for earnest multiculturalism ‘commercials,’ but fusion stories from the front lines – whether from the streets, the workplace, the bedroom or the kitchen.”

Open to all filmmakers, half of the entries selected are to involve a writer and/or director from Canada’s communities of colour or First Nations communities. “These stories are about all of us – and belong to all of us to tell – but at the same time, we want to ensure that the project showcases the work of a wide diversity of filmmakers and writers,” adds Hull.

“Mix Flicks is another demonstration of CBC Television’s ongoing commitment to both cultural diversity and programming innovation - which is one reason we’re delighted to be announcing it at this year’s Innoversity Creative Summit,” says Slawko Klymkiw, Executive Director of Network Programming. “This investment of almost half a million dollars will do a lot to stimulate the country’s up-and-coming creative film-making talent.”

The maximum license fee for commissioned projects will be $20,000 and the anticipated broadcast slots for completed films will be on ZeD, Canadian Reflections and/or regional programming streams. CBC has committed to Mix Flicks for two years, providing for the creation of up to 24 new Canadian dramatic short films.

Project guidelines are available on CBC.ca.

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For further information, please contact:

Ruth-Ellen Soles

Head of Media Relations

CBC

416-205-6638 June 9, 2003

***Guidelines attached***

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MIX FLICKS on CBC

PUBLIC GUIDELINES

WHAT’S THE DEAL:

Is Canada a “melting pot” or a “cultural mosaic”? What’s the difference? Who cares? All we know is that the pieces of this crazy quilt we call Canada make for some good stories. And CBC Television is on the prowl for the most original and most compelling of the lot.

It’s not about any one culture – but how we mix it up.

Mix Flicks is a new nation-wide initiative to license independently produced dramatic short films. We’re looking for 5 to 10 minute slices of life that prove that when it comes to how the pieces of the cultural puzzle fit together, there’s more to multiculturalism than government policy. We want fusion stories from the frontlines – the streets, bedrooms, kitchens and workspaces – whether they’re comic, poignant, provocative or irreverent. We’re looking for insight – up close.

We’ll select up to 12 projects from across Canada during the 2003/04 season.

Maximum license fee is $20,000 from CBC subject to a budget approved by CBC, the balance of which will be financed by the independent producer. Payments for any and all collective agreement fees, rates, entitlements, rights and clearances are the sole responsibility of the independent producer.

Open to all filmmakers who are Canadian citizens or landed immigrants

We’re aiming for half of the selected entries to be written or directed by individuals who come from racially diverse backgrounds.

Films can be shot in any medium but must be delivered on MiniDV, Betacam, BetaSX or digital Betacam tapes with two channels of audio.

Projects for consideration will be accepted through CBC Regional offices. There will be both a summer and a winter intake of submissions.

The selection process will take into consideration geographic as well as cultural representation.

Anticipated broadcast slots for completed films will be on ZeD, Canadian Reflections and/or individual regional streams. Submission details and deadlines are available online at CBC.ca on June 9, 2003.

What we’re looking for:

Slice of life stories that reflect how we bump into each other, connect, collide, fuse -- cultural revelations, faux pas, and juxtapositions -- whatever speaks to mixing it up!

Mix stories may also reflect subject matter related to faith, ethnicity and individuals with disabilities.

Tone and emotion can run the gamut.

Good stories with strong production values are our priority. Conventional or unique styles and cinematic techniques are all welcome.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Submission deadlines will be August 15th, 2003 and January 30th, 2004.

All packages should be submitted to regional offices as specified.

Application Requirements:

Detailed pitch document including a script if available

Director’s notes discussing tone, style, rhythm and shooting style (must be less than two pages)

Draft budget

Financing Plan including all sources of cash funding as well as in-kind

Resumes of Producer, Writer and Director

Identification of any other key creatives (DOP, Art Director, Talent, Editor)

If it is pertinent to the application, identification of ancestry

Eligibility requirements:

Projects should conform to *CAVCO rules.

Applicants must have previously made at least one short film or equivalent. VHS copies or an URL of these films will be requested.

Applicants do not need to be graduates of a post-secondary film program.

Please note: CBC will require a copy of the agreements under which the rights to all underlying creative materials are granted by the creators to the independent producer, to prove that the independent producer has all the rights which CBC will be licensing, including Electronic Distribution Rights.

We are interested in original stories and discourage submissions based on literary adaptations.

*CAVCO: Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office.

Evaluation process:

Projects are to be submitted to a CBC regional office on the dates specified. Short-listed submissions may be requested to make a project pitch via telephone conference. Also, additional materials may be requested from short-listed teams.

It may take up to 10 weeks for your application to complete the assessment process. All applicants will be notified as to the results.

Production:

CBC will have approval of creative and key production elements throughout the process including script, assembly, rough cut, and final cut.

Legal terms:

The CBC license will include unlimited plays for a three-year period, the first year of which will be exclusive to CBC and any channels that CBC owns or in which CBC has an interest during the license term, including Country Canada. Pieces will premiere on ZeD, Canadian Reflections and/or regional programs. CBC has no obligation to broadcast the finished product within any time frame.

The CBC license will also include Electronic Distribution Rights so the items can be presented on CBC-related digital platforms including without limitation the internet, CD ROMs and DVDs.

Best efforts will be made to allow completed films entry into the festival circuit on some level. CBC will not be responsible for entering films into festivals.

Mix Flicks is funded in part by the CBC TransCanada Development Fund.

Submit To:

Atlantic: Ron Crocker - ron_crocker@cbc.ca

1840 Bell Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3E9

Ontario & Quebec: Michelle van Beusekom - michelle_van_beusekom@cbc.ca

P.O. Box 6000, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A8

Toronto Only: Nicole Belcourt – nicole_belcourt@cbc.ca

P.O. Box 500, Station “A”, Toronto, Ontario, M5W 1E6

Prairies: Carl Karp - carl_karp@cbc.ca

P.O. Box 160, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 2H1

BC & the North: Gillian Hrankowski - gillian_hrankowski@cbc.ca

700 Hamilton Street, P.O. Box 4600, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 4A2

Inquiries can also be directed to: MixFlicks@cbc.ca