Roll Over Policy

JMSTRFNK · October 9, 2003

Sparked again by The cali recall, my anger arises over our lack of forgin policy backbone. Arnolad now states one of his quick fix ideas for cali is to bring back movie revanue to the state of cali. He especially points out drawing it away from cheaper places like Canada. I dont have to mention that the movie industry is a multi billion dollar industry and that have more and more films made here in Canada is doing wonders not only for our econmey but for our cultrue as well. Now that Arnold has stated his intention to draw all this away what do you think the government is going to do about it. Perhaps a few polite envoys to the U.S. Thats it folks, its our first and only line of defense against the Termanatior. Perhaps a more vigorious step should be taken, the government should stand up to the American pressue and launch a Campaing to keep bussniess in town, as well we should use our ablility to undercut the Americans as much as possible. Isnt it part of living in a democracey the ability to compete without fear of American reprocussions.

Whistler · October 9, 2003

Oh he puts his money where his mouth is:

This is a partial transcript from Sean Hannity's WABC radio show, Sept. 25, 2003. Watch Hannity & Colmes weeknights at 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET!

HANNITY: We are -- for those of you -- Arnold has a lot of history here in the L.A. Center Studios. Many of you may not know this. You have been here filming scenes for "Collateral Damage." For "Terminator 3," you had some scenes that were filmed actually right here on this lot. And you were also involved in, at one point, it was one of your "Terminator" movies, they wanted to take the jobs away from California.

SCHWARZENEGGER: That's right.

HANNITY: Do you want to tell us?

SCHWARZENEGGER: Yes, as a matter of fact, this is a fantastic studio here, the L.A. Center Studios. I mean, it's a really great facility, that you can literally shoot just about any scene that you want here, that the stages are big enough and all of that. So, we have shot "Collateral Damage" and, of course, "Terminator 3."

And "Terminator 3" was supposed to go to Canada. As many, many productions -- you know, there's an endless amount of productions that are leaving California and are going to Canada, because they have great incentives in Canada. And so, what I did was I said, "No, we're going to stay with 'Terminator 3' here. What is the problem?" And they said, "Well, there's a difference of $8 million." And I said, "Well, we have to sit down and negotiate."

So, we sat down and negotiated. I put in out of my personal salary, I put money in. They said, "OK, the producer should put some money in," and they put some money in. And then the various different departments, departments that were cutting down some of the fees, and we came in with a difference of the $8 million. And we created 500 jobs here in Los Angeles.

HANNITY: All right.

(APPLAUSE)

HANNITY: All right.

SCHWARZENEGGER: And...

HANNITY: Let me...

SCHWARZENEGGER: That's exactly what I want to do as governor. I want to bring jobs back to California. I want to bring businesses back to California and bring the economy back.

Cameron · October 9, 2003

JMSTRFNK - It's a Liberal government, what do you think they are going to do? The same-old-same-old, NOTHING. Live with it. The people of Canada keep voting the Liberals in, well, this is what you are gonna keep getting.

JMSTRFNK · October 9, 2003

This is excatly what i am talking about, here we see excatly what Arnold plans to do, however i am sure he failed to mention in his little spout that by making 500 jobs in california we loose that many here in Canada. I personally dont care if Arnold loose 2 mill of a 30 some mill dollar pay out (or whatever it was). And i am sure that most average people dont either. I think its kind of an insult to us that he is willing to spend 2 mill just to ensure that canadains dont get they money. I dont think that if i were a Canadian politician i would be able to expel forgin American bussniess so easily. I am not sure if the he is trying to set an example here and try to imply that other stars should make the same concessions for the state of califonia. If he is however then there may be hope for my plight yet, thanks to the overwhealming greed of todays super-stars I highly doubt that they will take any such cut in pay!

Cameron · October 9, 2003

He was trying to win votes. This whole "take jobs away from Canada bit" it lame, we all signed NAFTA!! Now they are seeing that more companies are doing business in Canada and Mexico because it's cheaper, DUH! Well no-shit-sherlock, I would to. I remember watching an article on CBC I think, about American candy manufacturers and their pilgrimage to Canada because of cheaper sugar prices. One of the biggest brand names (Lifesavers) was moving it's entire operation to Canada, to the denouncement of the American gov't.

Money talks my friends...

FastNed · October 11, 2003

Let's just review the basic economics of what is involved here. Canada has long had a program where financial incentives are provided to film-makers to induce them to move production to Canada. Canada is paying film producers to take jobs away from Americans and bring them to Canada to provide work for Canadians.

What's your beef? That Arnold plans to keep American jobs at home in America?

Greg · October 11, 2003

Canada has long had a program where financial incentives are provided to film-makers to induce them to move production to Canada.

Financial incentives? I thought it was access to non-union labour combined with lower production costs (due to a low dollar) alongside vast tracks of usable unpopulated scenery that attracked American movie production?

Canada is paying film producers to take jobs away from Americans and bring them to Canada to provide work for Canadians.

In what way? Gov't grants?

KrustyKidd · October 11, 2003

Arnold is doing exatly what he should be doing, going to bat for his people. What are our guys doing?

Are there any good Canadian movies in the works I wonder? I know that "Hinterland, Who's Who I and II" were big hits in the sixties with the middle aged TV crowd and "La Femmes du Hiver" wasn't exactly a blockbuster but other than that, have we made anything marketable? Better get a Government study group on this to check it out.

In the interim, why don't we have our own people in Hollywood seeking out scripts that fit our geography, filmakers that know the script, actors that are Canadian, Producers that will work with an almost all Canadian crew to make an almost all Canadian made movie that is Hollywood quality. Not the same lame ass crap that we produce to audiences of black turtle necked sweater wearing Fringe Festival people but rather block buster hits.

You want money you have to tell a storey. You have to take people away from their lives and into a place they never go. They want to see a love lost amid a sweeping epic background, a blood sucking alien chasing them through a lunar landscape. A church in downtown Montreal where two lesbians talk in French with English subtitles about what kind of tea heals pimples best does not fill that void.