ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN FILM ARTISTS FORMATIVE MEETING SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9, 1980 at the FUNNEL EXPERIMENTAL FILM THEATRE
PRESENT: Jim Anderson, Rick Hancox, Lame Marin, Neai Livingston, Patricia Gruben, Al Razutis, Ross McLaren, Mike Jones, Ric Amis, Dave Bennell,
Steve Niblock, Jim Riley, Anna Gronau, Michaelle McLean, Peter Dudar, Peter Chapman, Ian Cochrane, Christian Morrison, Cindra McDowell
WROTE IN: Julian Samuel, Gary Lee—Nova, Chris Gallagher, David Rimmer, Pete Lipskis, Martha Davis, Bill Home, Debby Clarkin
CALLED IN: Veronica Soul, Vincent Grenier
CHAIRMAN: Ross McLaren
l.Cindra McDowell from C.A.R.O. introduced - invited to give advice.
2.Mike Jones from NIFCO: Report on Yorkton Canadian Independent Film Conference, Nov. 3—9, '8O, and formation of Independent Film Alliance du Cinema Independent. Aims: to form a link among independent film groups, to confer and ally on issues of mutual concern, to provide criticism of each others' work.
3. Al Razutis: Cineworks presented 5 point list of proposals to the conference.
Some reasons offered for need for experimental filmmakers alliance:
l) Needs and special concerns of this group not represented at various national conferences of independent filmmakers.
2) Fee schedule necessary in dealing with galleries, etc.
3) Need for a national voice rather than many regional ones.
4) Making galleries aware of current work.
5) To promote better distribution
6) To promote better exhibition and criticism
7) Confront film's international ghettoization as a 2nd Class Art Form
8) Organize a structure that could work with C.A.R. and other artists groups.
4.Cindra McDowell: CAR's fee schedule policy — base minimum recommended. Artists can negotiate for more or less. Boycott tactics used initially, but fees now acceptable to galleries, especially Ontario. It is important to get the funding bodies to recognize schedule of fees.
5. Neal Livingston: positive response to questionnaire on East coast, Interest in a journaL, better exhibition, archives of members info, etc. Michaelle McLean: Alliance should serve needs of all experimental film makers, not just members.
Suggestion: Canadian Film Institute should perform this archival function
6. Al Razutis reported favourable West coast reaction to questionnaire.
7. Proposed names fur organization: Association of Canadian Film Artists,
Association of Canadian Experimental Film Artists, Association of
Experimental Film Artists of Canada, Association of Experimental Film
Artists — Majority vote for Association of Canadian Film Artists.
a) To negotiate a base honorarium fee for speaking engagements and rental or purchase of work by individuals, galleries and other cultural institutions.
b) To advise various cultural institutions on policy related to curatorial practices, selection of work, cultural 'export' and visibility of film art — with an added emphasis of participating in these decisions
c) To facilitate communication and exchange in the areas of exhibition, information/critical journals, and production.
9. Membership Criteria decided on: Members must have created at least one film considered by the majority of the members to be of an experimental nature, which has been shown at public exhibition. This criteria to be reviewed annually. These members will have voting power. Membership fee: $24/year.
Associate Memberships available to non—filmmakers and organizations, but will be non-voting, also $24/year.
Membership fees f&r l980/81 due November 1, l980..