Film Frenzy

Toronto’s film industry is on the rise but it’s a long way to go until we’re back on track.

By: KRISTOFER BAKER
 James Hardie believes the golden age of Torotno’s film production industry is over.

 Despite a rise in industry spending in the past three years, the 65-year-old Post-Production Chief for Creative Post Inc. is concerned about the state of filmmaking in Toronto.

 According to Hardie, the industry has fallen so sharply since the year 2000 that Toronto may never be a beacon for local and international filmmaking ever again.

 “We were huge but I don’t think Toronto is ‘Hollywood North’ anymore,” Hardie said.

 Economic changes after the turn of the century led to far lower budgets on average for film production. Hardie describes today as “a nasty time”.   

 “The recession absolutely killed us,” Hardie said. “The banks won’t lend you enough money to make a decent amount on. Our clients are having cash flow issues which impacts down the line.”

 Hardie said hundreds of people still leave the television and film industry annually because there is less money available in the city. This has led to stagnation in the business.

“We are having to work twice as hard with half the people so things stay the same,” Hardie said.

 Eric Jensen is the manager for the Toronto Film and Television Office, a city department that oversees filmmaking. He argues work in the city’s film and television industry has exploded in the past three years.

 “It’s been busy. I tried to have a meeting yesterday where I needed input from location managers. There weren’t any available because they were all working.”

 In 2009, total spending on film production in the city was over $610 million, a 43 per cent increase since the previous year, according to the TFTO.

  Jensen said Toronto’s infrastructure for filmmaking has grown to an unprecedented level.

 “The major studio spaces that we have, Studio Line, Cinespace and the recently completed Pinewood Studios,” Jensen said. “Those are three state-of-the-art production studios or studio lots that are as good as any lots anywhere.”

Jensen said Pinewood Studios are fully booked "deep into next year."

 Hardie said Toronto has already lost the attention of international filmmakers and faces a daunting task at recovering the industry.

 “We have nowhere near the amount of clients from abroad than we used to and now the majority of our business comes from indigenous production,” Hardie said.

 But the TFTO has been working to get those groups back to the city, according to Jensen.

 “In September we brought up 11 studio executives from L.A. and we showed them everything Toronto has to offer and they were blown away,” Jensen said. “They told us that we have everything they could possibly want.”

Hardie paints a bleak picture for the future of employment in Toronto. He said there is not enough space for young people who want to break into the industry.

“The problem is that most of the colleges of Ontario have all their different film courses and are probably turning out more people that are already working in the business. So who’s going to hire you? We’re laying off.”

 Tomas Pal is a film and broadcast student graduating this year. He acknowledges the competiveness of the business but doesn’t share the same bleak vision as Hardie.

 “I think Toronto as a filmmaking city is starting to turn some heads from around the world,” Pal said.
The 20-year-old touted Toronto as one of the best places to start a career in film.

 “There are a lot of programs that can get you into the business if you’re good enough,” Pal said.
 “There are internships, networking opportunities and unions that can help you get in the business and stay there.”

Jensen said the TFTO is discussing programs to keep Toronto’s film students in Toronto after graduation.

 “We don’t want to see our best talent being recruited by L.A. We have to keep our talent pool here.”

The TFTO hasn’t specifically released a plan to encourage filmmakers and production workers to stay in Toronto.

But Jensen said Toronto and the province have a far better program that encourages companies to stay and return.

“Downtown L.A. is a thousand dollars a day for on-street production. We don’t charge you a dime to shoot on our streets,” Jensen said.

 “To top it all off, you get outstanding service from us and from the industry here and then you get tax credits from the provincial
government.”

Street Meat

BY: ROGER TRAN

It’s not easy selling hot dogs on Toronto streets.

Often overlooked as just quick, convenient food on the go, hot dog stands are continually affected by weather, outdated bylaws and changes in Toronto’s tourism. Marianne Moroney, a vendor for 15 years, pays $5,500 in city fees before she can turn on the grill. Health checks and permits are part of it. And there’s no new street vending permits for the downtown area, says a Toronto Municipal Licensing & Standards representative.

“Every time you shut us down, you’re shutting our families down,” she said. “It’s not a part time job for us, it’s our job.”

In 2007, some vendors were fined by the city. They wanted windscreens protection from harsh Toronto weather, but a bylaw prohibited them from setting one up. Moroney, a hot dog vendor on University Avenue, called for an amendment. But she says former city councillor Howard Moscoe turned away and go invest in a good snowsuit.

That’s why Moroney started the Toronto Street Vendors Association.

“The politicians, they don’t care because they’ve gotten to a place where they’re just arrogant unfortunately,” she said. “It was that arrogant remark that made me realize, ‘I just have to get an association together.’”

City Hall eventually amended the bylaw.

Moroney argues City Hall doesn’t view street vendors as an industry. For example, they’re vulnerable to repair work. If construction or neighbourhood revitalizations are planned, then hot dog vendors must shut down until it’s complete.

There are also strict street food regulations. Only precooked hot dog meat is allowed outside while in places like New York City, a variety of foods are cooked and prepared on the streets. And then in 2009, City Hall tried to heat things up.

The a la Cart program allowed eight vendors to prepare different ethnic food on the street. Samosa, jerk chicken and Thai food were some of the selections. But the pilot project was deemed by many to be a failure.

Moroney says she originally asked the city for existing hot dog vendors to serve different foods, but was turned down.

“We were really upset that we were trying to get some fairness protocol to the city. And then this new program comes in,” she said. “They now built this albatross that costs an enormous amount of money.”

CONVENIENT FOOD: Henry Nguyen serves hot dogs at busy Yonge & Dundas. Despite his love for the job, panhandlers begging for food is his biggest complaint. (Photo by Roger Tran)

The eight a la Cart vendors had to buy a $30,000 cart. The manufacturer, Verity Crown, conformed to the city’s requirements and regulations but the final design was flawed with bulkiness and lack of weather protection.

Moroney blames City Hall’s micro-management.

“There were nine vendors originally (by the) second year there were four and now there are none,” she said.  “(They) took a creative idea…completely soaked it in red tape and bounded it up so it couldn’t breathe.”

However John Filion, the councillor who spearheaded the a la Cart program, sees it in a different light.

 “It was a good program that had a number of flaws in the implementation, all of which I think are correctable,” he said. “I much rather have people complaining about regulations than lack of regulations causing illness.”

But there’s a sense of pride and joy for street vendors.

Henry Nguyen owns a hot dog stand across from Dundas Square. Despite panhandlers always blackmailing him for food, he says he loves his job.

“I’m so happy to do this for (another) 10 years,” Nguyen said. “When I stay outside, I feel (like) I’m healthy. I never get sick, that’s the way I like it.”

Not too far from his hot dog stand, Mehran Bermah has grilled hot dogs for Eaton Centre shoppers and nearby tourists for 15 years.

 “You have to love your job, that’s what it boils down to,” he said.

FEAST ON THE STREET: Mehran Bermah cuts a special hot dog beside Eaton Centre. He's been a vendor for 15 years. (Photo by Roger Tran)

And Moroney enjoys playing a bright role in the local community, with her stand in front of Mount Sinai Hospital. Moroney remembers a patient who appreciated her food.

“(The patient said) Marianne, I’ve come in for my cancer treatment and this is the only thing I look forward to,” she recalled. 

External Links 

Hot dog vendor documentary (Marianne Moroney) - http://www.peacetogetherforever.com/online/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=53

Parents Decry Toronto Ice Fees

Why are ice pads in Toronto so costly when suburban facilities are better equipped?

               BY: Sean Sillers

Cathy and Gary Molinnas stood chatting in the chilly confines of Scarborough Gardens arena, surrounded by the vapour from their breath, watching their 14 year-old son circle the ice prior to his AA contest. As members of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), both their sons play in various locations around the GTA. The Molinnas represent typical hockey parents in Toronto who wonder where all the money collected at the arena’s gates goes.
“That’s the big point with most parents, the gate fees,” Gary said. “It’s six dollars per rink, when I go to see my other son at a different rink on the same day, I have to pay again.”

Molinnas and his wife question the motive of collecting duplicate fees simply because their two sons play at separate arenas.

“Profit is being earned on that money; they should lower the gate fees.” Molinnas said. “With all the costs included, it must shut out many families whose kids want to play.”

COSTLY ICE: An architect's portrayal of the four pad arena proposed for the city's Portlands district. The cost is estimated at $88 million. (Image by RDM Architect Inc.) 

 Following city amalgamation in 1998, the former Metro Toronto Hockey League became annexed by the larger GTHL, which oversees competitive minor hockey in the GTA. Many of the arenas in the City of Toronto fail to meet the standards of their suburban counterparts, according to GTHL president John Gardner.

“Given its cost, the lack of facilities is disgusting,” Gardner said.  “If (your arena) gets the Toronto tag, it’s bad.”

Gardner bemoans the cost of indoor ice rental costs in the City, which range from $102 to $284 in prime time per hour, depending on facility quality and group rental classification, which favours children and youth community and competitive programs. Ice time in many other cities are highly subsidized, resulting in much lower costs, such as an average of $32 per hour in Montreal.

“The city breaks down use by per cent per category group,” Mark Lawson, the city’s manager of customer service for parks, forestry and recreation, said. “Sixty per cent of all prime time use goes to children and youth.”

The city’s 40 indoor rinks range in age, quality and upkeep; with the arenas in the city’s core representing what Gardner calls the worst-off.

Pat Hutton, a cashier at the City’s indoor arenas for 22 years, explains the varying state of the facilities.

“Some of the arenas, like Victoria Village (at Bermundsey Road and Eglington Avenue E.), are well kept, while things like the bathrooms at Scarborough Gardens (at Birchmount and Kingston Roads), are disgusting,” she said. “I think they all need work, they’ve all been let go, they used to keep them up better in the MTHL days.”

AT PLAY: Fourteen and 15-year olds battle on the ice during an AA level contest at Scarborough Gardens Arena. (Photo by Sean Sillers)

 The city’s dilemma between the increasing cost of keeping up older arenas and choosing to replace them with up to date, less expensive to maintain facilities remains given the city’s current budget problems. Gardner hopes new leadership at city hall will bring a new focus on funding arenas.    

“In the city, there’s a definite need for more ice,” he said. “Given the new mayor coaches high-school football, there may be more sympathy for our cause.”

Gardner does note one exception in the North York district of the city. Formerly the North York Centennial Centre, the arena was renamed The Herbert H Carnegie Centennial Centre in 2001to honour the black hockey pioneer. Yet this arena was built in 1966, and represents one of the better facilities within the city’s boundaries.

“The Carnegie centre is nice, it used to host OHL games,” he said, noting the problem lies mainly with funding. “If the league had corporate sponsors, we’d build them (new arenas) to meet demand.”

Following the building of the nearby Markham Centennial Centre in 1974, the Carnegie Centre lost its luster and much of its popularity as leagues fled to the newer, more modern facility outside of Toronto. This has been the case for many Toronto arenas as their age and lack of upkeep has led to an exodus to the suburban facilities.

Gary Mollinas recalls a recent trip to an Ontario Minor Hockey Association tournament in Hamilton where the gate fees are lower and he wasn’t charged for multiple games.

“In Hamilton, the heaters were all turned on yet they’re never on here (in Scarborough),” he said. “Here, I have to go outside to get warm.”

Condo Clash

City Hall faces the challenge of balancing new development with the demands of Torontians

BY: Kristofer Baker
City Hall faces the challenge of balancing new development with the demands of Torontians.

Most people are unaware of the complicated process behind developing a condominium in the city of Toronto.

Rigorous planning, dozens of meetings and heated community debate are all required before construction can even begin.

Ward 37 Councillor Michael Thompson often deals with developers. He says the first step to building a complex is to show it will adhere to the style and demands of the surrounding neighbourhoods.

“You’ll want to either speak with the planning department or the local councillor,” Thomspon said. “The local councillor can advice as to what the appetite of the community is and whether or not people are generally supportive of that type of development on a plot of land.”

The second phase is a series of meetings with the Planning Department, who uses The Planning Act of Ontario to determine if the development meets all the necessary safety and functionality requirements.

“You have to look on the impact of the development from a perspective of the sewage system, the impact on the roads, the impact on the overall neighbourhoods,” Thomspon said.

Melissa Cristofoli is an Assistant Development Manager for Tridel. She stressed how “each land development must have regard for its surroundings.”

“Low stable neighborhood communities will need consideration when proposing a higher density project,” Cristofoli said. “Traffic is a fundamental consideration when proposing certain uses, as well as potential shadowing of properties.”

John Laforet, candidate for ward 43, is a strong critic of condominium development. He believes planning staff and councillors do not enforce the requirements, citing a new condo on Kingston Road as an example.

“There’s another variance passed to allow them to go to nine stories even though the planning ceiling is eight stories, which is still insane for the area,” Laforet said. “So, developers right now are just doing whatever the hell they want at City Hall and councillors are along for the ride.”

After a project receives the green light from the planning staff and the area’s councillor, the developer must go through the risky phase of displaying the project to the community for input.

According to Laforet, communities ultimately have no say when it comes to new development in their neighbourhoods.

“By the time you get to the community stage, the decisions already
been made and you have planning staff, zoning bylaw amendments all ready to go and all your doing is meeting your legal requirements,” Laforet said.

Eye of storm - Development on the corner of Kingston Road and Payzac Avenue is a hot button issue among residents in East Scarborough.
(Kristofer Baker, Inside City)

Cristofoli said developers are not required to follow public opinion but take huge risks when they turn a blind eye to resident’s concerns.

“If the developer or builder is not willing to work with the community, then they will ignore their concerns and take their risks in whatever manner they choose,” Cristofoli said.

Developers tend to take public interest because they view them as potential buyers. Laforet said communities lack the resources to mount effective opposition against developers, who already have staff that regularly deal with City Hall.

“For residents to gear up and defend themselves it takes months and by that time the approval process is already over,” Laforet said.

Cristofoli said development is a slow process and residents have more than enough time to voice their full concerns.

“Approvals on re-zoning applications range from 15 to 18 months, approvals on site plan application range around eight to 12 months, and building permit approvals generally take about a year until the City is ready to issue your final above grade permit,” Cristofoli said.

After the community input stage, the proposal is then presented to Community Council for a fair hearing Process, where Thompson says residents have another shot to oppose or modify the project.

“The matter would be brought through Community Council and people would have another kick of the can at it to review it, to see the final report, the final input based on past discussion, the local councilor, the staff and the broader community,” Thompson said.

According to Laforet, community councils can do more to involve residential input into a complex’s development.

“They have a huge opportunity to get the developer to work with community early surely, you’re going to able to find common ground if you try.” Laforet said.

If a community council approves a proposal, the next destination is City Hall, where the final decision could be made.

 “After that, the application is sent to council, who further reviews the report recommendations and they can make changes or ask questions, approve it or send it back for further review,” Thomspon said.

If City Hall rejects the application, developers have a chance to take their application to the Ontario Municipal Board, an independent organization with final say on development in the province.

Like City Council, Thompson says the OMB uses the Planning Act as requirements building companies must adhere to.

Developers can appeal their case to the OMB if development is rejected. Most projects are scrapped if the municipal board doesn't approve of the development the first time.

Once an application is approved, the developer goes back to City Hall for building permits and construction can finally begin. Developers can begin to sell homes before the foundation is laid.

Laforet is strongly opposed to the current process of condominium building, saying residents are “steamrolled every step of the way.”

Thompson, however, praises system and contends Toronto planning staff treats developers and residents equally.