Quebec cinema captures passion of the province From page 30 ding alarm bells. Robert Dub- berley, president of the B.C. Mo- tion Picture Association, agrees that local producers have difficulty tapping international markets (not to mention Canadian ones) and that they do not have the same access to funds as their eastern counterparts in Toronto and Quebec. “It’s a very serious problem, and it’s been glossed over because of the American side of the in- dustry,’’ says Dubberley. ‘Wf the Americans were to go away — and that doesn’t seem likely because this year is going to be our biggest year ever — there would be some giant question marks.”” As a B.C. producer then, Davis has done amazingly well. He has averaged a film a year for the last six years, including Cadence, star- ring Charlie and Martin Sheen, Matinee, directed by Richard Mar- tin, and the film The Outside Chance of Maximillian Glick, which he co-produced. “¥ve been very fortunate,” he says, tugging on his ample beard. ’ “lve. chosen to do things my way, which is to be independent. Of course the consequences of that is you don’t make a lot of money. “it's true, | could make a lot more as a line producer for a U.S. company, and I’ve had several opportunities to go to L.A., but I don’t want to do tirat. “Canada is a much more human place to live. It’s still very obvious here that there’s a sense of cornmunity, a sense of sharing and caring.” _, lt was the film Wedding in White that inspired Davis to come to Canada in the first place from Australia, where he had spent eight years as a journalist in the print and e!ectronic media before being appointed head of the New South Waies Film Commission. One incident he wiil always - remember from that period of his OFF your - Christmas or New Year's Party! ” (over 10 people) Staff Banquets up to 250 . ‘ accommodated. life was a stinging bit of advice he received from his boss, the premier: ‘‘He told us, ‘Anything you do that works, i get ull the credit for. Anything that doesn’t, you'll gei crucified.’ * (i checked for stigmata signs and found none. in fact, one of the films Davis became involved with during his tenure was the suc- cessful My Brilliant Career.) Given a producer's schedule, Davis would normally be up to his ears in work by now but today is one of those rare occasions (it’s also his 40th birthday) when he can take time out to talk, having just wrapped up a tight five-week shooi on his last project, Harmony Cats. The low-budget romantic com- edy (he says if he had $3 million more it could have been a road movie), scheduled to be released next summer, is directed by Sandy Wilson (my American Cousin) and stars Canadian actor Kim Coates and singer Jim Byrnes. It’s obvious Davis doesn’t see the film as his crowning glory. ‘Harmony Cats is a very funny film, with lots of laughs and great music. But it doesn’t pretend to give any messages. It’s nat a Chaindance picture, which con- fronts the audience with some important issues.”’ And he doesn’t miss the oppor- tunity to heap praise on the crew: ““When people see a movie they say, ‘Wasn't the direction great, wasn’t that a great script.’ They don’t think of the people who run around in the mud at midnight.” As far as Davis is concerned, B.C. crews are the best he’s work- ed with. And he should know, having shot in 23 countries on six continents. But for all their taient, Davis points out that the Harmony Cats crew received only half of what a crew on an American production would make. Despite its many problems, Davis says the Canadian film in- dustry has managed to produce “Free Crab’! Ra Foch kay-2, Choose any 4 dishes on our menu and receive a FREE CRAB! OPEN NEW YEAR’S —______. —___, Red Cross Water Safety Says: | same fine films, particularly the Quebec film industry. Indeed. With the eaceplicn ot 1992, French-Canadian films have won a disproportionate share of Genie Awards beginning in 1981 with Les bons debarras, ie dectin de l'empire americain (1987), Un 200 Ia nuit (1988), and Jesus de Montreal (1990). Davis’ favorites are the two Denys Arcand films. “| admire French-Canadian cinema very much,”’ he says. “There's a passion and excite- ment about life over there and their cinema reflects that. We in English Canada could Jearn a lot from that.” Compare Twin (22 02.) 8 Double (28 0z.) Queen (32 02.) King (33 02.) 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