Why most Canadian films TANK at the box office…

The first time I ever set foot on a movie set was back in 2001 (working as a boom operator on a Sarah Polley short film). Since that day my passion for making movies has only grown and intensified. But one underlining question that continues to run through my mind is…why do most (95% or more) Canadian films tank at the box office.

Ask any Canadian filmmaker this question and you’re sure to start up a very long and never-ending conversation that might leave you wonder what made you want to open that can of worms. Well, I’m going to open the can of worms…just for this article. I’m so proud to be Canadian and our industry produces world-class movies year after year, however, these films just don’t seem to make any money (profit).

I found a great article by Canadian actor, writer and producer, James O’Regan that explores this matter in further detail:

Over the last year or so, a great teeth-gnashing has broken out within the Canadian Movie industry. Producers and their public sector confreres at Telefilm Canada sat down to wonder why no-one saw Canadian movies in the theaters. And now Telefilm has unveiled new money to throw at the problem.

In case you don’t know, Telefilm Canada is an arms length crown agency that has no public accountability via a “value for money” audit unless its own board of directors thinks it needs one – wow, get me on that gravy train, quick! It has generated, over the last 30 years, an industry wholly ignorant of Canadian theatrical film markets and wholly dependent on cultural welfare in the mistaken belief that you just can’t make any dough here a mare usque… I and every American film distribution company on the planet know different. I know because I’ve made money in the Canadian box office, in fact more money on one film than all Telefilm films on average. My short comedy, Edsville – about an innocent young couple that stumbles upon a town of Ed Sullivan impersonators – has a recoupment rate of 20% while the average recoupment rate published in Telefilm’s annual report, year after year, hovers at 2%-ish. I’ve also observed what our Yankee cousins actually do. All you have to do is ask them and they’ll actually tell you – hey, who knew?

So let’s see what it takes to make money and sell movies in Canadian moviedom. Here’s the top 12 for anyone who wants to make $8M on a movie in three weeks in Canada:

Rule # 1: No one knows what sells

Rule # 2: See Rule # 1, no, seriously, memorize Rule #1. I’m not saying this only to make the list apostolic, really. I could make something else up.

Rule # 3: Anything that helps sell is good

Rule # 4: The public will pay to see things or people they really like

Rule #5: Exploit people or things that the public likes

Rule #6: The Canadian Public doesn’t care who directs, writes or produces movies

Rule #7: The Canadian Public pays to see “people” on the screen. Actors are the Product

Rule # 8: The Canadian Public loves Stars

Rule # 9: Make sure you have a story

Rule #10: Comedy Sells (Canadians are masters of comedy)

Rule #11: Do everything you can to ensure the Canadian Public knows about the movie

Rule #12: To the risk taker goes the reward. All else is bunk.

To manufacture and market a Canadian movie to the Canadian market, you have to invest $3.5M. Making the movie costs CDN $2.5M. Marketing the movie for a 100 screen three week release costs CDN $1M.

Let’s take a look at how much money you can make. A 100-screen release can generate up to $16M in revenue. If you control the marketing with your $1M, you get $8M back from your $3.5M

Save