August 31, 1999
(Development and Rural Renewal)

Appointments to Board of Film Development Corporation announced

Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, today announced the appointment of a new board of directors of the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation.

The appointments include Norman Whalen, Q.C. as the chairperson, and Dr. Noreen Golfman as vice-chairperson. Other board members are Chris O'Dea, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, and Colleen Kennedy. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Department of Development and Rural Renewal will also have representation on the board of directors in an ex-officio capacity.

Mr. Whalen, a St. John's lawyer, has previously served as chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro Corp., and brings an extensive business background to the board. Dr. Golfman teaches English and film studies at Memorial University, and was a founding member of the International Women's Festival. Mr. O'Dea, marketing manager with Newtel Communications, has been actively involved in the Trinity Pageant. Dr. Johnson, associate district administrator for the Carbonear campus of College of the North Atlantic, has been very active in the cultural arts community in central and eastern Newfoundland. Ms. Kennedy, with the Gros Morne Co-operative Association, is an active participant in the tourism and cultural community on the west coast.

"I thank the new members for accepting the challenge of directing the growth of our film and video industry. I also sincerely thank the former board members for volunteering their time and for their contribution to the development of the film industry over the past two years," Mr. Tulk said. "I especially want to thank Danny Williams who served as chairperson. Through his commitment as team leader, our film industry is stronger today than it was two years ago and has a bright future."

The minister noted that the new membership represents a restructuring of the board. Previously, the board included a representative from each of the three umbrella industry groups B the Producers' Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers' Cooperative, and the Film Crew Association of Newfoundland.

An industry advisory council will now be formed as an alternative to direct industry participation on the board. Minister Tulk noted: "Consultations with all key stakeholders, including industry, pointed to the need for a new structure along these lines. This will remove any perception of conflict of interest among industry players as the corporation moves towards implementation of its industry development programs, such as the $1 million Telefilm Equity Program and the Telefilm Tax Credit Program.

"As a relatively new sector of our provincial economy, our film industry offers exciting new prospects for diversifying the province's economic base, attracting new investment, and generating significant new jobs within the private sector. I am confident the new board will propel the industry to new heights."

The Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation, reporting as a Crown agency to the Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, was formed in 1997 to direct the growth of the indigenous film and video industry and to market the province, both nationally and internationally, as a competitive place for on-location shooting of films and videos.

Media contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Communications, (709) 729-4570.

1999 08 31                                             10:25 a.m.