OTTAWA – As the CMPA’s Prime Time conference debated the economics behind who’s making and buying content in a rapidly-changing global media business, attention turned Thursday to 6 out of 10, 8 out of 10 and 10 out of ten.
No, delegates weren't talking judging for Olympic figure skating.
The conference held a debate over Canada in the emerging digital age, and specifically whether or not the current Canadian-content points system should be retained or revamped to ensure innovation and growth. (Readers will remember this has been a serious bone of contention between the CRTC and producers through 2016)
But figure skating was apparently on the mind of David Zitzerman, partner and head of the entertainment law group at Goodmans, as he argued for a more elastic and supple points system.
“For my money, uber Canadian shows, 10 out of 10, are the ones that should be getting the additional funding from our government.” – Scott Garvie, Shaftesbury
"There's probably better ways to define Canadian, that make more sense, and will give more flexibility to producers," he told delegates as the pros and cons of the points system was debated against the backdrop of heritage minister Melanie Joly's sweeping Canadian-content review.
But while even the International Skating Union revamped its scoring system, Canadian actor Peter Keleghan was having none of any talk of admitting more foreign talent into the creation of Canadian content by changing how points for key creative and technical roles is assigned.
Keleghan insisted the 40 year-old points system didn't need change because it sustained a world-beating industry. “What is outdated is (thinking) Cancon doesn't hold cachet. It does hold cachet. It's hugely popular around the world," Keleghan said.
Christine Piovesan, founder and principal at First Generation Films, who along with Zitzerman argued for reform of the points system, said change was required to ensure innovation. “We have to update it (the points system) so it helps foster and lead innovation, as opposed to just being concerned about protecting," Piovesan told delegates.
Countering, Shaftesbury/Smokebomb senior vice president, business & legal affairs, Scott Garvie, backed Keleghan in arguing Canada needed to retain the current points system, especially the 10 out of 10 points requirement. “For my money, uber Canadian shows, 10 out of 10, are the ones that should be getting the additional funding from our government," Garvie said.
