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BRAUN: Canadians shine at Oscars

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Good things grow in Ontario — including movies. 

The Oscars are only a week away, capping a banner film year for Canada and for our fair province in particular.

Among the Oscar nominees this year are The Breadwinner, a Canadian co-production based on Ontario writer Deborah Ellis’ famed novel. It’s up for Best Animated film.

Toronto’s own Christopher Plummer nabbed a Best Supporting Actor nod for his performance as J. Paul Getty in All The Money In The World.

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Christopher Plummer replaced Kevin Spacey in “All the Money in the World.”
Christopher Plummer replaced Kevin Spacey in “All the Money in the World.” Photo by Giles Keyte/Sony Pictures

And The Shape of Water, leading the Oscars with 13 nominations, is an advert for CanCon. It was filmed in Toronto and Hamilton, and according to producer J. Miles Dale, almost everyone who worked on the movie is Canadian — himself included.

Ontario has become a go-to spot for film and TV production, but it didn’t happen by accident. Government support for the arts has paved the way for investment in the province, and film crews with mad skills guarantee return visits.

The Shape of Water director Guillermo del Toro lives here now, and calls Toronto his filmmaking home. 

Aaron Sorkin filmed Molly’s Game with Jessica Chastain here in Toronto, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay; he’s described local crews as “phenomenally talented.”

In fact, says Justin Cutler, Ontario Film Commissioner at the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), Ontario crews are, “Among the very best in the world.”

The OMDC nurtures film and TV productions from start to finish — creating some 35,000 jobs in Ontario and bringing close to $2 billion into the province as part of the bargain.

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Cutler is particularly proud of the OMDC’s concierge-style service for producers. 

“We provide a remarkably broad range of tailored services for individual producers,” he says. “And we do everything possible to meet a director’s vision, no matter how big or small.”

Miles Dale would agree. The award-winning producer, nominated along with del Toro for Best Movie, is thrilled with the many Oscar nominations racked up by Canadians who worked on The Shape of Water.

“Thirteen is my new lucky number,” he says. “I’m really proud of our folks. It’s great that they’re getting this recognition.”

According to Dale, Ontario crews are among the best in the industry.

The crew of The Shape of Water at Deluxe Toronto, with producer J.Miles Dale second from left and director Guillermo del Toro fourth from left.
The crew of The Shape of Water at Deluxe Toronto, with producer J.Miles Dale second from left and director Guillermo del Toro fourth from left. Photo by Deluxe Toronto

“I think this is the first Canadian film that’s ever had this level of Oscar recognition,” says Dale.  “It’s a watershed moment, where we’ve been recognized at the pinnacle of what we consider to be our industry, in peer recognition.”

Producer Andrew Rosen, whose film The Breadwinner just picked up the Cinema For Peace Justice Award in Berlin, calls Canada the best place in the world to make films.

“It’s because of the support we get from all levels of government. It’s also  because we’re kind of a pivot point between North American culture and European culture, so we can do co-productions…we’re able to do anything an American company can do, but we can also take advantage of great co-production opportunities with European countries. More than anywhere else in the world, Canada really excels at that.”

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According to Rosen, the OMDC worked with him and The Breadwinner every step of the way.

The Canadian co-production has a screenplay by Canadian filmmaker Anita Doron and features Toronto actress Saara Chaudry as the voice of the lead character.

Says Rosen: “We have a very diverse acting population in Toronto and so were able to find many Afghan actors. Ontario and Toronto specifically, if you’re talking acting talent, you can’t beat that — anywhere else in the world. And we have access to these world-class crews.”

The best thing about an Oscar nomination?

“People are finding out about The Breadwinner now,” says Rosen. “That’s who we make movies for — audiences. Not for awards.”

“So that’s really the blessing of the whole thing,” he says.

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CANADIANS NOMINATED FOR ACADEMY AWARDS:

HONOURARY ACADEMY AWARD

— Donald Sutherland

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Best Motion Picture:  J. Miles Dale.

Best Production Design: Paul Austerberry, Jeffrey Melvin and Shane Vieau.

Best Sound Editing: Nathan Robitaille and Nelson Ferreira.

Best Sound Mixing: Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern and Glen Gauthier.

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Best Costume Design: Luis M. Sequeira.

Best Film Editing: Sidney Wolinsky.

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer.

BLADE RUNNER 2049

Best Production Design: Dennis Gassner

SCI-TECH OSCARS

These honours from the Academy were awarded February 10.

– Academy Award of Merit to Mark Elendt and Side Effects Software for the creation and development of the Houdini visual effects and animation system.

– Scientific and Engineering Award to Jeff Lait, Mark Tucker, and Cristin Barghiel (and American John Lynch) for their contributions to the design and architecture of the Houdini visual effects and animation system.

– Technical Achievement Award to Ontario’s Mike Jutan (and American Rachel Rose) for the architecture and engineering of the BlockParty procedural rigging system at Industrial Light & Magic.

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