4 Canadian film and television

Although often eclipsed at cinemas abroad and at home by Hollywood, Canada has a vigorous filmFor other uses see film (disambiguation Film — also called movies the cinema the silver screen moving pictures motion pictures photoplays picture shows and flicks — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as part of the entertainment industry that has produced a variety of well-known films, actors, and auteurs. In fact, this eclipsing may sometimes be creditable for the rather bizarre and quite innovative directions of the works of such auteurs as Atom Egoyan ( The Sweet Hereafter, 1997) and David Cronenberg. Also, the distinct French-Canadian society permits the work of directors such as Denys Arcand and Denis Villeneuve. However because of the closeness of the giant American TV and film industries, distinctively Canadian productions such as the TIFF List of Canada's Top Ten Films of All Time are relatively thin on the ground, compared with the situations in Britain or Australia. Canadian TV stations usually fill their prime times with US shows, often running at the same time as they are broadcast in the US.

A number of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood significantly contributed to the creation of the motion picture industry in the early days of the 20th century. Over the years, many Canadians have made enormous contributions to the American entertainment industry, although they are frequently not recognised as Canadians (see Famous Canadians).

Canada's film industry is in full expansion as a site for Hollywood productions. The series The X-Files was famously shot in Vancouver as is Stargate SG-1, and The Outer Limits. The American Queer as Folk is filmed in Toronto. Montreal, due to its European appearance, has served in a great variety of mainstream movies, attracting the loyalty of industry people such as Bruce Willis; there are plans to build the world's biggest film studio on the outskirts of the city. The choice of location is usually due to cost, rather than a requirement for a 'Canadian atmosphere'. The frequent question of a Canadian, seeing a film crew on their local streets is "Which bit of the States are we pretending to be today?".

Canadian television, especially supported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, is the home of a variety of locally-produced shows. French-language television, like French Canadian film is buffered from excessive American influence by the fact of language, and likewise supports a host of home-grown productions. The relative success of French-language domestic television and movies in Canada often exceeds that of its English-language counterpart.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's Canadian content regulations dictate that a certain percentage of a domestic broadcaster's transmission time must include content that is produced by Canadians, or covers Canadian subjects. This also applies to US cable television channels such as MTV and the Discovery Channel, which have local versions of their channels available on Canadian cable networks. Similarly, BBC Canada, while primarily showing BBC shows from the UK, also carries Canadian output.

One of the country's attempts to counteract the overwhelming influence of American media is the National Film Board of Canada/Office National du Film du Canada, "a public agency that produces and distributes films and other audiovisual works which reflect Canada to Canadians and the rest of the world".

5 Canadian comedy

Canadian TV is noted for cutting political satire such as This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Rick Mercer's Monday Report, and Royal Canadian Air Farce.

There are plenty of eminent Canadian humourists. The Kids in the Hall were a popular Canadian sketch group. Also the Second City Television show originated in the Toronto Second City operation, which produced many comedians that went on to success worldwide, including John Candy, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Catherine O'Hara, and others.

Other Canadian comics and comedy groups include Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, CODCO (the precursors to This Hour Has 22 Minutes), Maggie Cassella, and Elvira Kurt . The Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal is one of the world's most important comedy festivals.

6 Canadian music

Canada has developed its own brands of traditional musics, including the French, Irish and Scottish-derived Cape Breton Violin Music of the Maritimes, the Franco-Celtic styles of Quebec that often include foot percussion and a scat style called turlutte; and other national styles from the Ontario Valley to the west. Noted proponents are Buddy MacMaster and his niece Natalie of Cape Breton and Madame Bolduc of Quebec, whose recordings in the 1930s lifted her people through depressing times.

The Canadian music industry has been helped by government regulation designed to protect and encourage the growth of distinct Canadian culture. The Canadian Content (CANCON) regulations force all radio stations in Canada to play at least 35% Canadian music. This has enabled Canadian artists to garner success on the airwaves which were once dominated by American and European acts. Now it is common to hear several Canadian songs on the radio every hour you listen.

In the realm of popular music, Canada has produced a variety of internationally successful performers, such as the Barenaked Ladies, Guess Who, Rush, The Band, The Tragically Hip, Nickelback, Sum 41, Treble Charger, Our Lady Peace, Prozzak, Three Days Grace, Shania Twain, Alanis Morissette, Céline Dion, Roch Voisine , Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan , Delerium , Paul Anka, Gordon Lightfoot, and Nelly Furtado.

See also: Music of Canada

7 Canadian stereotypes

Canadians are stereotyped by other nationalities as being nice, but rather dull-'decaffeinated Americans' being one description, while the definition of a Canadian as 'an American with healthcare and no gun' is another. One joke goes 'How do you get Canadians out of a swimming pool? You ask them.'

Nick Auf der Maur, a Montreal politician and journalist (and the father of rock musician Melissa Auf der Maur), once remarked that Canada was supposed to have British government, French culture and American know-how, but instead ended up with French government, American culture and British know-how.

Part of Canadian culture is a self-deprecating awareness of these stereotypes and assorted cultural highlights, for example Canadian French, Canadian English, eh, the RCMP, joual, poutine, winter, the Canadian Arctic, First Nations people and Inuit (to the extent to which the cultures of these groups are mapped onto that of the country as a whole), maple syrup, ice hockey, and beer. Noted examples of stereotypical Canadian characters are Dudley Do-Right , SCTV's Bob & Doug McKenzie and Royal Canadian Air Farce.

In 2003, the country's official refusal to get involved in the US invasion of Iraq, the proposed decriminalization of the possession of small amounts of marijuana and the legalization of same sex marriages were noted internationally. As the UK magazine, The Economist, noted Canada has taken the image of a North American culture that is "cool" in that it is taking a socially progressive tone in contrast to the USA.

8 Canadian symbols

Official symbols of Canada include the maple, beaver, and common loon.

See also: Canadian identity, Religion in Canada

Canadian culture

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