Industry committee  In other words, the compensation I receive?

Industry committee  We're in collective bargaining. It's in constant definition, but the format is almost identical to the linear universe.

Industry committee  I might add one thing, by the way. That contract includes a clause that purchases assumed moral rights the artist may have in the work. There's a recognition embedded in that contract, in both the linear space and the digital space, that we are in fact the original owners of the audiovisual material.

Industry committee  It's because of our way bigger union.

Industry committee  I would say that this is something that actually does apply to our position with respect to the CRTC's recommendation, which is that in terms of creating content, in terms of creational content, virtually nothing about the digital universe makes our challenge any different; that is to say, origination is origination, and the Internet is essentially a platform or a pipe organized in a very different and very compelling way.

Industry committee  My instinct today would be to say that they're separate. As you know, the CRTC review is a comprehensive recommendation. Obviously, the rights market is fundamental; how it operates is fundamental. This goes directly to copyright, to what we're saying here.

Industry committee  Okay, good. With me is Dave Forget, Director of Policy. We appreciate the committee's invitation to present the DGC's work with the Directors Rights Collective of Canada, particularly as this work reflects a core principle of the DGC, which is that Canadian directors and screenwriters should be recognized in law as co-authors of the audiovisual work.

Industry committee  Thank you, Chair, vice-chairs, members of the committee. My name is Tim Southam. I'm the President of the Directors Guild of Canada and a director of feature films, documentaries and series on platforms ranging from theatrical release to linear television and the Internet. I recognize your love of Star Trek, but I have to put in a pitch for Lost in Space, which I directed this year.

Canadian Heritage committee  We have talked about it. We made this recommendation—as did several others—as part of the “Let's talk TV: a conversation with Canadians“ initiative. It is important to stress that the format dominates the market but it is not included in the current system that asks private broadcasters to make a minimal contribution to the Canada Media Fund.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, the fact that the president of the CRTC came up with the request did not go unnoticed. I think that was very well received and it was thoroughly covered as such in the media. Let's say that the matter has not yet been resolved. We see it as a very important matter, especially given the development of home viewing on these formats.

Canadian Heritage committee  That is so for the moment and it would really be a lot.

Canadian Heritage committee  We do not want to prejudge the issue, but we wonder why the information would not be made available to Canadians given that the companies are operating in the Canadian market.

Canadian Heritage committee  As a director in development, that is to say someone who is creative—and feature film is a very good example of this, where I am at the origin of a project in collaboration with a producer and/or a writer—my interaction with those government agencies that you've listed is very frequent.

Canadian Heritage committee  You're quite right, and those who have told the story of how series have become a dominant storytelling form in the screen industries are bearing out all our experiences. Many more people watch and enjoy series and feel that television series are as good an experience for the viewer as a feature film.

Canadian Heritage committee  Oh, yes. Series is a dominant form. It's an exciting form. It's a place where many of us are having a great deal of fun as artists and craftspeople. Certainly the writers are no exception, but imagine other members of our organization, production designers, editors, sound editors, assistant directors, production managers.