1975SILENT FEATURE FILMS
HOWARD ALK INTERVIEWS JOHN VERNON TAPE TWO
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| 00:00:05 5.62 |
John Vernon 0:00
Are we rolling? Howard Alk 0:07 Yes sir. Well hang on for one second here. Let me do something that I actually should first of all color bars, John Vernon 0:19 you don't get that smog in Toronto, do you? |
| 00:00:19 19.6 |
COLOR BARS
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| 00:00:45 45.46 |
JOHN VERNON HOLDS A SMALL WHITE BOX IN FRONT OF HIS FACE WITH "MADE IN JAPAN" TYPED ON IT. HE PEEKS ABOVE THE BOX, CLEARS HIS THROAT AND PUTS IT DOWN.
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| 00:01:07 67.94 |
INTERVIEW:
John Vernon 1:08 so if we're talking about the lack of an industry there. The question is why? My question is do we have the scripts and the people to go with the scripts? I don't mean actors, because there's all kinds of actors all over here and there, lots of them there, that's for sure. So we're really down and correct me if I'm wrong, we really do have a lack of scripts and lack of businessman who weren't in that particular business, to put these scripts together and sell them on an international level properly. Maybe we have more businessmen than the scripts.What is the answer? How do we get the scripts? From Canadian writers? Yes. But why not open the doors and get everyone? A lot. Open, open wide and just say, Come on, fellas, you got something to write? Have you written something? We'll do it in Canada, Canadian talent, Canadian technicians Canadian setting fine. If indeed some of these stories or scripts that we're hopeful to get take place in Bogota or Timbuktu? Let's go there, too. And let's use technicians from Canada, the key ones and let's pick up a crew there. Let's get into business. I think that's my team. Howard Alk 2:27 Yeah, I would certainly John Vernon 2:28 It's a hell of a business. A marvelous business. Why why do we have it? You know, why did we like staring at a lighter? Whatever? Howard Alk 2:33 Yeah, I would certainly John Vernon 2:36 No day is the same. That's for sure. Howard Alk 2:39 The the more that we minimize all the restrictions that we've been putting in our own way. The, the easier it's going to be to really stretch out. John Vernon 2:51 And usually, usually, when we're talking about film directors in that the young ones usually have to have something to say. So the first two or three films are their own. They've written them themselves. They'd like to produce it themselves, if they're if they're, if they can. What am I saying? Let it happen. Let it be. Let's shake the cobwebs off and open the doors if we need to. Maybe we do? Because if we don't have the scripts, let's get them. I don't care where we get it. Let's let's just find and shake it up. Howard Alk 3:28 Okay. Is there anything else that you would like to talk about? Any areas that we we haven't covered or anything else? John Vernon 3:42 Just a few personal things. I wish that I could get back to Canada to function in my craft more often. I wish the scripts that I do. Could be better. I'll try to make them better. If I can. It would be nice to go back and work in Canada. Howard Alk 4:06 I'm sure what this is all. I mean, to me John Vernon 4:08 It would be nice to be recognized that this is made in Canada on an international basis. And we have so much talentin Canada. And so much Canadian talent lying around here. Let's put it together and have fun. What is your attitude? I mean? Do you see any restrictions here? Why why are we being held back in Canada or are we being held back? Howard Alk 4:39 Well the things as I say I didn't want to just off camera make a speech here. But I think yes, we are being held back by a number of reasons. And one of the things was when I told you that that in some bizarre way the Canadian film industry is at the mercy of the American star system. John Vernon 4:56 Oh, well that's yeah, that's Yeah, but what stars have been The Americans given us over in Canada that are really big box office stars. Howard Alk 5:04 Well they have not because budgets are low enough so that so that first magnitude monster box office stars are not available. |
| 00:05:13 313.76 |
John Vernon 5:13
No. And there's only about six or seven of those and their pictures don't make any money. Howard Alk 5:17 Yeah but financiers insist, though, on some kind of of star for what they think is going to be box office insurance. But that means that in this peculiar way John Vernon 5:32 it's a crock a horseshit, isn't it? Howard Alk 5:34 Yeah, I think so John Vernon 5:35 that's what it is, if the film Black Christmas, haven't seen in sorry, is a good film, I understand. And he's making a hell of a lot of money. It has no stars. Not that I know of, a new director, but it's a good product that should be indicative to hell with the financiers get in make your own money, make a rather make your own film and get out it, sell it. That's what I think about the star system. Howard Alk 6:01 Well, of course, then, we also get into another area, which is even much too complicated to begin to talk about. And that's the question of distribution and the what happens to Canadian product, if it is at all commercially viable? John Vernon 6:15 Well, if it's good enough, you have every right and every any, any distributor in the world will have a look at it and say, Where can I package this? Where can I sell it? For example, Black Christmas? If they're far out, like Paul almonds, journey, whatever. It's not that people didn't like it. Wasn't that commercial, I guess? Or you didn't sell it? Right? Who knows? Howard Alk 6:43 Okay, I think I'm very pleased, are you what we need? And it really it all ties in? So in such an extraordinary way? John Vernon 6:53 Can we be more succinct in terms of saying, I mean, can we can we it narrow down? What should be done? Can we be more succinct? And in terms of saying, all right, how do we get the scripts? Because that's really all we need it and backing. But there seems to be an awful lot of businessmen who have got this tax shelter who are willing to put two or three or $400,000 Even without the CFTC why should we have to be responsible to the CFTC? What should we need them at all? It was created out of need and Hurray. They themselves can't find any decent scripts. How do we get the real question? How do we get the script? Howard Alk 7:30 Have you got an answer? John Vernon 7:31 Open the door, say Come on, fellas. advertise for scripts. There'll be deluge it'll be good reading for them. Damn writes every writer in the world will go there every producer. So what? So what are we taking away from a Canadian nothing. We're giving technicians and actors a right to flourish in their own in their own craft. And we just make kick up a hell of a lot of energy. Open the doors and shake it out. Howard Alk 8:02 Okay, all right. Good enough. Let's hope that it gets done. John Vernon 8:09 I can't see any any other way. |
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