ISSUE ZERO: LONDON : TORY PARTY CRACKS DOWN ON CANADIAN ART

You know how most Canadian actors eventually move to the US to nourish their stardom dreams? As difficult as it is, Canadians have found more success in the US than in the north when flourishing their careers in film and television. It all comes down to money. The US simply provides more funding in the entertainment industry than its northern sister.
Canadian talent is known more as edgy, raw, and artistic than Hollywood blockbusters but without proper funding, how will it ever prosper into its full potential?

The Canadian federal government has decided to deny tax credits to film and television productions that are deemed "too edgy," containing graphic sex, violence, and homosexuality.
Thanks to Charles McVety, president of the Canada Family Action Coalition, his part in discusssions with Public Safety Minister, Stockwell Day and Justice Minister, Rob Nicholson in the Prime Minister's Office, contributed to the Conservative changes.

Conservative MP, Dave Batters persuaded the new president of Telefilm Canada, Michel Roy, to prohibit federal funding for edgy films. He used the film Young People Fucking as an example.

Many art groups are speaking out, claiming these changes deviate from the promises of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Susan Swan, chair of the Writers' Union of Canada has protested, "we're not going to sit back and accept this. We don't like being told what kind of art we can make by the federal government."

Director David Cronenberg warns that low-budget, edgy Canadian films are at risk. Cronenberg says the changes proposed by the federal government is an "assault" on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "The irony is that it is the Canadian films that have given us an international reputation that would be most at risk because they are edgy, low-budget films made by people like me and others that will be targeted by this panel."

Martin Gero, director of Young People Fucking (opening in theatres in Canada this April) could also be scrutinized by the panel. Gero shot his feature film with support from Telefilm.

"It seems ill-conceived from beginning to end, and is less about censorship than destroying the economic foundaton of our entire industry," Gero says. "It's old people fucking with the Canadian film industry."

Conservative MP, Dave Batters obviously presents the opposing view to Telefilm's responsibility and role in support of Canadian film and television. "The purpose of Telefilm is to help facilitate the making of films for mainstream Canadian society--films that Canadians can sit down and watch with their families in living rooms across this great country."

Well, Dave Batters, Charles McVety, and Telefilm Canada, y'all can just go Tele-fuck yourselves. If you're lucky, Gero may direct it. 'Cause, you know, he's "all edgy like that."