Gratifying because like any writer, it's rewarding to know that people are reading and responding to something you've written. Troubling because of what's been written to me in return.
By last night, I'd received a boatload of Comments and private emails. However, most will never appear appended to the "Eden" post. Not, as some may assume, because their writers don't agree with me. In fact, not one reaction falls into that category.
No, what I've been reading over the last 24 hours is a litany of personal humiliation at the hands of Canadian producers and broadcasters; artists being silenced, work being misappropriated and other tales of show business greed and misdeeds that range from the possibly criminal to those merely morally reprehensible.
And I'm not sure what to do with all that stuff. I sought advice from several friends last night, receiving recommendations from "Don't say anything" to "Print it all" including the compromise option of offering the material with the names redacted or disguised.
But none of those choices work for me.
Although I'm not a journalist and the blogosphere doesn't cleave much to journalistic principles, I've always felt you've got to follow that MO if you want to be taken seriously. I don't have physical proof or witnesses to what's been relayed, nor the time to do the legwork in finding such.
Perhaps most importantly, I'm not interested in being a conduit for gossip or assisting somebody with their own personal axe to grind.
I'm also a guy who has always believed in the knock out punch rather than the bitch-slap. So I want to do what's right. In my world, you get respect and whatever room you feel you need until you prove yourself unworthy -- and then you never get either one again. That's a cruel path to take with somebody else's foes.
But there is too much pain in these letters and comments to be ignored and what we're up against in getting rid of that suffering feels like a mythic task.
Canada has always been a nation that has devoured its young, its most vibrant and most promising (the "Tall Poppy Syndrome"). And that's not done out of spite. It's done to protect the Oligarchs and institutions already established. They're terrified of any renewal or change that might lessen their power. As a result, we've become a living embodiment of the myth of Saturn.
According to this ancient tale, it had been foretold that one of Saturn's sons would overthrow him, just as he had overthrown his father. To prevent this, Saturn ate each of his children as soon as they were born. His wife finally hid his son Jupiter in exile. And, as predicted, Jupiter returned home to overthrow his father.
Take a moment to visit this CPAC LINK and watch last Friday's submission from four Canadian screenwriters to the CRTC hearings on the Canadian Television Fund. You have to click the [>] button past the first clip to reach our guys.
What is patently obvious throughout is that the Commissioners have no clue what these writers are talking about. I don't know Aaron Martin and, not being in his prime demographic, I don't know much of his work. But he's a pretty smart cookie and watching him try to remain courteous and respectful and even get his head around the lunacies being suggested by the CRTC would be darkly funny if it wasn't also so damn tragic.
Aaron, you are among my new heroes. And I have no doubt, you will soon move into exile, where like such Jupiters as Jim Carrey, Paul Haggis, David Shore and the creative forces behind (the not Canadian enough to compete for a Genie) "Juno", you will be part of a culture that will one day fell our own Saturn establishment.
Click back on that CPAC link and you can witness a completely different tone of engagement between the Commissioners and satellite provider Bell Expressvu. And this is doubly ironic because Expressvu is part of a corporate entity facing a multi-Billion dollar class action suit in its telecom divisions while covering that alleged malfeasance with the false claim that their actions were mandated by the CRTC.
Less than a week later, Expressvu itself is on the wrong end of yet another Class Action suit over billing practices that, if proven, will result in criminal sentences.
Yet they get the kid glove treatment and the goody bag while the kids with a passion for their country receive a surly, cold shoulder.
And Canadian writers aren't the only ones reeling from the stench of what goes on within our production community. A friend who runs a well-known international charity recently turned down a six figure donation from a Canadian film and television producer after vetting his company. His exact words to that producer -- "You're not doing your charity penance here."
What does it say about our "respected" establishment favorites when even those fighting starvation, HIV and medical need around the planet decline much needed donations rather than be associated with them?
Something within our industry and our nation needs serious attention.
And right now, I need some help in figuring out what to do with all these letters. Do I send them to the CRTC, who I already know can't be trusted? Do I provide them to journalists who might enjoy leading a two-day "Cause Celebre" before moving on to some other topic? Are they the fodder for yet another WGC pity party?
It's so odd to live in a free country and feel you have nowhere to turn to find justice.
Maybe our only choice is to make some Class Action attorneys extremely wealthy through what we know.
Please send me your suggestions. I promise they will be printed.
