Censoring Canada

Jon Starr

Jon Starr

Veteran
Hey guys. Hope this isn't too political. If it is, feel free to close the thread, but I don't think so as it's not an issue to provoke debate. Just thought I'd let the Yanks know what is happening to us Canucks in the film industry. It has to do with a Bill that is trying to be passed in Canada, called Bill C-10, that will indirectly censor the Canadian film industry.

Anyways, best way to explain it is through an interview that was on TV last night. You'll see a debate between the man behind the bill and George Strom, a huge Canadian youth icon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1TM4dQBKA8

It's kind of scary...
 
Thanks for posting this, man. I can see why George Strom is popular. I thought he handled that nutjob very well.

I hate censorship.
 
A bell just went off in my head. I thought something was off...
George Stroumboulopoulos, not Strom.
Okay, Strom for short I guess.
 
Raptor365 said:
A bell just went off in my head. I thought something was off...
George Stroumboulopoulos, not Strom.
Okay, Strom for short I guess.
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I was lazy. :D

George is amazing. Went from a Much music VJ to getting his own show.

But yes, unfortunately that 'nutcase' is the prime ministers friend and advises him. :(

EDIT: Forgot to add. the Bill passed through the house of commons undetected because it was a single line in a 500 page bill. However one of the parties blew the whistle when they discovered it and it's now being discussed in the senate. Don't ask me how bills gets passed here, cause I don't have a clue, lol. But I know it's now up to the senate. Luckily there are people in the senate that oppose it. So we'll see.
 
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The nutcase is also just dumb. None of his arguments make any sense. He contradicts himself several times. I can't believe he will insist that a movie is obscene based on having seen a couple of scenes out of context of the entire film. Sigh. Canada is in bad shape.
 
Actually I sit in the middle on this one. I understand both sides and they're both nut cases.
But that's just my opinion..... Now I think I'll make a banned movie about it with my own nickel......
 
I've been watching this issue very closely since it hit the news an all I can say is it's extremely frightening and disgusting. They are trying to tell the public it's no big deal and that it wouldn't affect 99.9% of movie and television production. That statement carries about as much weight as election time promises. Why should we "trust" them to do the right thing when they sneakily try to pass a bill that ensures they can do whatever they want. And what a perfect way to silence their critics It's dispicable. And of course it's sugarcoated in a nice "we have to protect you from violence and porno" pill. This is really about so much more than how difficult it will be to make movies in Canada, this is about an uncovered plot to steal our freedoms and it must be stopped.
 
I thought this thread was going to be about censoring Canada and finally ridding us of the plague that is Celine Dion. Sigh.
 
JasonFox said:
I thought this thread was going to be about censoring Canada and finally ridding us of the plague that is Celine Dion. Sigh.
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Sorry. You guys can keep her. :D



He claims that 99.9% of films won't be hurt by it, however he's already gone out and condemned several films as "examples", young people f-ing is just one of them.

There was another one I heard of that he was having a debate with the filmmaker of a film he considered offensive. He was making claims about the film's content being about a son being raised by his father to be a homosexual, and the filmmaker responded (loosely quoted) "did you even see my film? There's nothing like that."

Honestly, they make it out to be no big deal, but with these films being singled out, it chills me. Not to mention the fact that most films rely solely upon this funding. To get "private investors" either means leave the country to make it, or don't make it at all. The Canadian film industry is struggling enough as is (although it's been picking up momentum), this would just bring us a step back.
 
Hey Jon,

I thought I read somewhere that this bill doesn't affect foreigners coming to Canada to make films. Did you hear that at all? If so ,what a total load of BS.
 
Atwinator said:
Hey Jon,

I thought I read somewhere that this bill doesn't affect foreigners coming to Canada to make films. Did you hear that at all? If so ,what a total load of BS.
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I'm no expert on it, but I think I heard that too. I think I read it in an article. Don't quote me on it though.

Sign the petition (might as well):
http://www.sunnydayjazz.com/

Some more viewings:

More of this idiot (it's what I was talking about ealier, wait about 45 seconds in to understand what it has to do with bill c-10): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asnUC087Me0&feature=related

A kinda funky rant, but explains a lot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccNu_-1jCPY

Something fun from the people of the hour again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KZ9nl-vALg

And some hope:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCXB117ivI

EDIT:

Atwinator. here we go. Quoted from this article: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/billc-10.html

"Foreign productions, including U.S. films and television made in Canada and employing Canadian crew, would not be covered by the provisions that withdraw tax credits. Canadian film- and television-makers say this is a double standard that places Canadian productions at a disadvantage."
 
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Great links Jon, thanks! Of course I signed the petition. On the bright side I personally can't fathom this thing actually happening now that people are aware of it. If it does we are in serious serious trouble. I think this will affect my vote in the next election. I'm not very proud right now to say I actually voted Conservative last time around, of course to my credit censorship was not a part of their election platform.
 
While I'm not entirely sure I support the government funding films at all, I completely disagree with this bill.
 
Atwinator said:
On the bright side I personally can't fathom this thing actually happening now that people are aware of it. If it does we are in serious serious trouble.
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That's exactly it. That's why I'm hopeful now that it's been plastered all over the news. Beforehand at our university news station we were talking about reporting on it because there hasn't been much media coverage.

I think it was the fact that they snuck it in that was the major problem, and it was a big what if? But then again, even though there are those who oppose it, there are people for it in the senate.

We shall see where it leads.
 
The only thing that makes me a little leary about what I watched in the first you tube post is the fact that the guy said many of the movies were made using "federal tax credits". I hate censorship as much as the next guy, but I certainly would not want my tax dollars used in making something that I find objectionable.

Since it is (or would be) in part, my money being used to create, then I would expect the representative of my state to do what is in the best intrests of my state.

If a movie studio is funded privately, they should have complete artistic freedom. But if the money is coming from the people, and the majority of the people wish to impose an "X" value system, I don't see the problem.

If the bill were to be passed, maybe Canadian filmmakers would look to other sources to fund their films. Let it go to the private sector, and then tell the governent to shove off.

EDIT: Learned to much to leave that last piece of post in.
 
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Problem is the Canadian film industry has to be funded in part by the government. There are too many lengthy reasons why this is true to fit in one post, so you'll have to trust us on this one. And so, if films ARE going to be funded (along with other arts), then someone has to decide WHO gets funded. And probably the best people to decide who gets funded are artists and producers and networks and distributors. Those people have to be in place before ANY government money starts flowing. And maybe the Prime Minister and his right-wing "family coalition" cronies aren't the best to be judging who gets money. I think the artists, producers, networks and distributors should continue to do that. And if those artists, producers, networks and distributors end up making really left wing or really right wing films, then it's simply part of the artistic spectrum. Art would be dead if it didn't challenge the status quo. But the guy interviewed by George in that YouTube video wants the status quo to be maintained above all else. Basically he just wants Strawberry Shortcake movies. Every other movie we could possibly make MIGHT be objectionable to this guy. He's too frickin' scary.
 
I understand where you're coming from Matt, but we're not Canadians just taking advantage of the tax payers. There are many reasons why films can only rely on Canadian Tax money.

It's not a question of either do what they say or fund your own film, it's do what they say or make it somewhere else. I, for one, want to see a strong Canadian film industry.

And yes, the problem is who gets to say what is to be funded. I completely understand picking and choosing, but it's the standards that they pick and chose with that is the big issue.
 
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