MAKING MARKETABLE MOVIES

Local

pair o

firm

POSSESSION and Sithouette aren’t likely to win Academy
Awards, but the two movies currently being shot on the
North Shore promise to supply what most movie-goers want
to see: action, adventure, thrills and chills.

The movies are unusual for the
B.C. film industry in that they are
being produced by a North Shore
production company, North
American Pictures Ltd. (NAPL),
utilizing local actors and film crew.

This should come as good news
to the local film industry, which

_ was -hit by the 15 -per cent
witholding tax levied against
Americans working in Canada.

About 95 per cent of B.C.’s film
industry has been depéndent on
American productions, drawn here
by less expensive costs.

“We are giving local talent the

: opportunity to: play principals and
leads, .-whereas - Hollywood hires

. .them as extras,” explains NAPL

representative John Curtis.
THRILLER, MYSTERY

* “Possession is slated to be a Fri-
day the 13th type-of thriller, while
Silhouette is a murder-mystery in-
"volving .an attractive. psychologist
and serial killer.

Both films are aimed at the 18 to .
. °30:age. group, which comprises the

_-Most..enthusiastic - and- “frequent
-movie-goers and video:rentérs,
“We. have investigated | the mar-

: suit,” said Curtis? |. . <
: : Making marketable films is an
, NAPL priority-.,

The company ‘last’ year ‘produced

"Ladies. of the Lotus in -Vancouver
o ~with local talent.

* That film was ‘subsequently sold
to ‘18 different ‘countries. at the

~ Cannes Film Festival. -

By MAUREEN CURTIS
Contributing Writer

NAPL, which is closely af-
filiated with a local distribution
company, North American Releas-
ing Inc., feels its productions
should be an attractive proposition
to local investors. For one thing,
‘there is a 100 per cent capital cost
allowance for any Canadian cer-

. tified film.

SAFE INVESTMENT

It’s not only a tax break, but
also a safer investment — the most

-businesslike investment ever pres-

ented for. motion picture invest-
ment,’’ Curtis added.

“Our unique structure affiliating
a producing and a marketing com-
pany means that our mark-ups can
be significantly less than usual,’’
Curtis said. ;

Hoilywood. distributors ask for
upto 75. per cent, of the ‘gross
earned by a film.

North. American Releasing will

be. asking for 25 per cent, which -

means the investor will receive 75
cents: oi, every dollar the picture
makes.

Another eason that these films:

can bi'so attractive to investors is
that budgets are kept very low,
making it easier to recoup produc-
tion costs...” ‘
North American Pictures plans
to spend $600,000 per picture. —
‘We've had: a string of  suc-

:. cesses, all with low budgets, and

" LEE’

f thrillers

while not making a lot of money,
they do return money to the in-
vestor,”’ Curtis added.

North American Pictures and
North American Releasing are
headed by Curtis and Lloyd

Simandl, who had directed and. _

been involved with a number of
films. :
Attendance at the Cannes Film

Festival and similar festivals in .
Milan, Italy and Los Angeles, has -

brought the principals of the North
Shore companies into direct con-

tact with the presidents and vice-
presidents of larger film organiza- -

tions, such as AB Enterprises and
Cannon Film Group.

“At Cannes we were across” the :

street from Atlantic Releasing with
Teen Wolf and we got- to know
them -quite. well,’’ Curtis . re-
counted. : a

The contacts resulted in an
agreement with an American
distributing company for NAPL’s
next seven films, one of which,
planned for 1987, will be a science
fiction.

CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL
in co-operation with, VIDEO GALLERY

15 - Friday, March 13,

| to mulch?

1987 - North Shore News

NEWS photo Tom m Bare

NORTH SHORE film company, North American Pictures, has been
busy fi Iming two movies recently: Above, Holly, played by “actress ‘April
Atkins, is cornered by John R. Johnston’s Frankie in scene. from .

Possession. The shot was filmed locally.

INTERNATIONAL

TREAT YOURSELF TO BRUNCH AND WE’LL:

TREAT YOUR KIDS TO A SHOW
_ Every Sunday Starting March 8, 1987

March 8
March’ 15
“March 22
March 29
April 5°
April 12
April 26
May 3
May 10
May 17

- May 24

(Show Starts at 1:00 pm)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’
The 12 Tasks of Asterix
‘Swiss Family Robinson: ~
Adventures of Tintin.
The Incredible Journey
Pinocchio

Absent Minded Professor
Hansel and Gretel _
Mary Poppins

The Jungle Book

On weekends indulge in our sinfully delicious Chocolate Bar
Children under 10, half price.

Your presence always makes it
a special occasion for us.

845 Burrard Street at Robson © (G04) 682-5511

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