I would like to start by thanking the standing committee for coming to St. John's, Newfoundland. It's always great to see you here. It's been ten years since my last confession. I had the opportunity to speak to the standing committee at the other hotel back in 1997, and I believe at that time we were talking about the CBC. I'd like to start by saying we're still able to talk about the CBC.
For 32 years, the Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Cooperative, NIFCO, a not-for-profit film, video, and television production, professional development, and editing facility, has been a leading light of Newfoundland and Labrador's social economy. NIFCO's mandate is to provide training, infrastructure, and support for entry-level and advanced film and television professionals. For over 30 years, the organization has enjoyed a critical partnership with the CBC in nurturing talent, training, and cultivating awareness and pride in our culture. With the support of the CBC, NIFCO has an impressive history of adaptability and growth in an ever-changing international, knowledge-based discipline. As a result, NIFCO is a nationally admired centre of cultural excellence. The organization has been an essential entryway and professional development provider for the local production community.
NIFCO's achievements are many, including the following: the establishment of introduction-to-filmmaking and introduction-to-editing classes, and film and television produced through these programs, and the creation of the first-time filmmaker program.
NIFCO has also been an essential skills-enhancement provider for the film industry through the following: workshops, job placements, and technologies that enable smaller-budget films to be made. Furthermore, NIFCO has been crucial in the growth, development, and success of our cultural community by providing technical staff support for film festivals, screenings, and exhibitions; by giving other artists from other disciplines access to the media of film and video, including dance music, theatre, visual arts, and writing; and by offering space and technology to filmmakers for meetings, auditions, research, computer use, and so on.
NIFCO's vision and practices are key reasons for its success and longevity. Through the years, three philosophical pillars of management have governed the organization. These are, firstly, to provide access in Newfoundland and Labrador to the technological equipment required to make big-budget, market-driven film and television. Secondly, NIFCO is a focal point for creation and innovation. NIFCO encourages and provides a milieu for artistic and entrepreneurial excellence in the creation of film, video, and television in Newfoundland and Labrador. Thirdly, NIFCO works very hard to develop the film and television community overall, and, in the process, develop the industry and this province.
NIFCO is the heart and soul of the Newfoundland film community, and the CBC has been a valuable partner since our formation in 1975. Our positive relationship continues to this day.
The management of all healthy organizations is the management of change. I don't think anyone's going to stand here and say we can return to the two-channel universe of the eighties. When I think about the bright future for NIFCO and the CBC, I cannot help but think about the great accomplishments that lead us to where we are today. While I say that we can't go back in time and be a two-channel universe, I think we can look back and see what worked in that period, and perhaps apply it to our current events.
I'll tell a little tiny story. In 1975, NIFCO played a critical role in the production of some really funny films by a young comedy troupe called CODCO for use in their stage performances, sort of an early multimedia experience. The popularity of the film work with the local audiences helped inspire the local CBC to include comedy in their popular TV show, The Wonderful Grand Band, which was produced by the CBC in Newfoundland at the time. This in turn led to the production of the hit national TV series, CODCO, in the eighties, which eventually led to This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and eventually the successful Rick Mercer Report.
I put forward that there are three basic reasons a huge audience exists for the Rick Mercer Report. Firstly, in 1975, independent filmmakers crawled through the woods with a hand-held camera and a windup camera, inspired to film funny people. Secondly, there were enlightened producers at the CBC in Newfoundland who realized the material would resonate with Canadian audiences. Thirdly, Rick Mercer is really funny.
So we put forward from this example that it is important for government to provide the CBC with sufficient resources so they can strengthen their commitment to regional production and diversity. Newfoundland and Labrador is a region of Canada that is geographically, and in many ways culturally, cut off from the rest of the country. The CBC is the common thread, the cultural link that connects us to Quebec, Ontario, and all the way to B.C. We believe the CBC plays a vital role in promoting and preserving the identity of Canada, and it should be given the money and support needed to do the job properly.
Thank you.