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Bill Marshall InterviewIs there anything that Bill Marshall hasn’t done? Frustrated with the Canadian filmmaker’s landscape, Bill Marshall co-founded the Toronto International Film Festival in 1976 and served as the President of the Canadian Association of Motion Picture Producers. The next year, he created the Toronto Film and Television Office to facilitate movie production. He then went on to form the Academy of Canadian Film and Television, because – hey - who doesn’t want a Genie every now and then?! He has produced 12 features, over 200 documentaries and public service films, live shows, plays and is a published writer. And that’s just his work in the biz. For all his accomplishments, Bill Marshall is a no-nonsense man of few words. Read on below to find out what he had to say when he sat down with Jules Ross. Bill will be Moderating the May WILDsound Film Festival. Did you start the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to showcase your own movies? That was a big part of it. I was making movies in Canada and realized that there was no market for Canadian movies. There were only 6 people making them in English Canada. I figured, if I start a film festival I can bring filmmakers here and learn from them. Also it’s a great way to get access to the other festivals. Once I was there, I saw how badly they were run. There was no respect for audiences or filmmakers. It helped me learn what do improve upon for TIFF. The next year, I created the Toronto Film and Television office to work with international producers and get more action in Toronto. It generates $1 billion per year now. Then I wanted some awards so I created the Academy of Canadian Film and Television. How did you secure access? I was a film producer and the President of the Canadian Association of Motion Picture Producers, so they had to let me in, begrudgingly. Also, I said I would honour their festivals at TIFF. Did you know that you wanted to be involved in the film industry from the start? [Laughs] No! Not at all. I thought I’d write the great Canadian novel. But that didn’t come until later. When I was working as a journalist, my partner Gil Taylor said it’d be nice if we could make movies. Then [in 1967] the government started the Canadian Film Development Corporation. So we wrote a proposal and got funded to do the first feature. Over the years we made 12 films with different partners. What do you look for in a partner? Someone who is smart, honest and doesn’t get nervous. There is a lot of pressure involved in making a movie. Aren’t you that guy? Yes. But you can’t do it by yourself. I’m more comfortable working with people. What are you working on now? A few features. One with Don Shebib. Also, I’m working on The Toronto International McLuhan Festival of the Future. It’s a videogame prototype competition. People will come to develop games for computers, cell phones, consuls and internet. I had no idea you were such an avid gamer. I’m not. I don’t like videogames, but I do like that they’re bigger than movies, television or music. I’m interested in popular culture. I like to see what people react to. Do you think gaming is the best way to reach the masses? I don’t think of people as masses, I think of them of people, just like me. Who would have thought that a non-gamer could market games so well! They’re too complex for me. I do love Wii though. It’s so intuitive and allows you to play tennis and guitar. I’d love to do a movie that has a videogame crossover. What do you think Canada needs most right now? If I had the answer to that, I would have done it by now. My best guess is better scripts and the ability to recognize a good script. Also, producers need to have more decision making ability on a project. What makes something a good script in your eyes? Do you have a favourite style or genre? The genre doesn’t matter. I just have to love the script. Only 1 in 1000 scripts is ever made. That’s because most of them are garbage. What is your favourite Canadian program? Eleventh Hour. Do you feel the industry has grown over the past few decades? Oh yes! There are many more people in it and you can learn how to do it through the industry and festivals now. TIFF taught Ivan Wrightman, Adam Egoyan and David Cronenberg how to be in the movie business. They’ll say it themselves. If you could, would you have changed anything about your life? I’ve always wanted to be the lead singer in a band. But that’ll never happen. Instead, we’re starting a new TV channel. We just received the CRTC license. It’ll be all Canadian, all independent, 24 hours a day. It’ll air 75% independent Canadian movies and music videos. It’ll be the anti-MUCH. Any sage wisdom for people looking to get into the biz? 1. Get out! There are too many of us here already. When one of us leaves, we’ll invite 2 more of you in. What are your goals for the future? Putting my feet up and relaxing. You can learn more about Jules Ross at her website www.julessite.com.
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