Source: ACTRA

We have to get over this national inferiority complex

TORONTO - February 22, 2010: Canadian stars are incensed to hear that once again, Telefilm Canada is considering using taxpayer's money to buy Hollywood talent. In a weekend CBC News report, Telefilm Chair Michel Roy said he is urging Heritage Canada to change the rules to allow more U.S. actors to take leading roles in government-supported feature films.
 
Ferne Downey, ACTRA National President responded: "Mr. Roy's ill-informed and myopic ideas insult the 21,000 professional performers who live and work in Canada. We have fabulous, highly accomplished actors – we need to find smarter ways to nurture filmmaking that speaks to the people of Canada – identifiably Canadian stars are a vital part of that equation."
 
"Using Canadian taxpayers' money to finance Hollywood is not only wrong, it's an old idea that's been tried and proven to fail repeatedly since the 70s," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA's National Executive Director.
 
The majority of the top-grossing English-Canadian films featured Canadian leads: One Week, Passchendaele, Trailer Park Boys, Away from Her, Bon Cop, Bad Cop, Mambo Italiano, and Men with Brooms. Aside from being distinctly Canadian, the common theme with these success stories isn't U.S. stars, but decent financing, marketing and promotion. If English-Canada wants to emulate the success thatQuebec has achieved as Mr. Roy points out, we should be doing what Quebec does – building a star system with our own stars.
 
"I'm always stupefied by calls for more American stars in our films when box office returns have proven time and time again that American stars do NOT guarantee success," stated Little Mosque star Debra McGrath.
 
"We have to get over this national inferiority complex that assumes Americans are better and that by sticking an American performer in the lead, Canadians will suddenly flock to see Canadian films. A good story and a certain something that taps into the human condition are what drive the box office," said Canadian star Colin Mochrie who received ACTRA's Award of Excellence in Toronto this past Friday.
 
Telefilm's current guidelines requiring that the lead or second lead performer be Canadian in order to receive public funding are fair and already give producers flexibility on casting.
 
"There is no shortage of talented performers living in Canada who have proven to be a box-office draw," added Waddell. "That said, if Mr. Roy is so determined to fly in performers from L.A. he can choose from a long list of Canadians who have had to go to L.A. to find work. Frankly, I'm not sure that Mr. Roy realizes that a good number of the hottest stars in L.A. right now are Canadian."
 
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada's highly acclaimed professional performing community.

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