Videoage International August-September 2021

21 needed energy, willpower, good content, a great team, appreciation of the international market, and off you went! I was opening markets where no French programs had been seen before.” Chevonne O’Shaughnessy , president, ACI Most challenging times : “Towards the end of the ’90s, Canada started giving huge tax incentives to Canadian producers to shoot in Canada. The market was already starting to show some signs of change with the numbers in the video stores internationally begining to come down. The tax incentive really helped recoup monies faster. However, that meant that we moved the business to Canada, which resulted in all the Los Angeles companies being drained. The time came to rethink how we do business. Now, in 2021, the business is changing again with all these new streaming platforms.” Most enjoyable times: “George [Shamieh] and I started producing and selling movies [and have been doing so for the last 30 years]. The late ’80s through the ’90s were a special time when we did 12 movies a year in Los Angeles with us owning our own studio. The film industry was fluid and everyone was making money. There were a lot of opportunities with DVD sales and then CD sales. The boom of the video stores was a very special time to be in the film industry.” Cathy Payne , CEO, Banijay Rights Most challenging times : “Our most challenging times have come in the form of the various mergers we’ve been through: Southern Star’s acquisition by Endemol, Endemol’s merge with Shine Group, and finally, Banijay’s takeover of Endemol Shine. The challenge is that you always want to bring the best from both sides, while also respecting people and their goals and ensuring the merged entity is up and running as soon as possible. That said, sometimes your worst experiences — when looked back on — can be the most rewarding and create some of the funniest memories in the long run.” Most enjoyable times: “All the friends and long-term business relationships formed over the years have certainly made up some of my most enjoyable times, as well as the visits to so many wonderful countries. Closing those first big co- productions with new partners (both linear and non-linear) as they’ve entered the market has always been a great feeling, and remains so even when they happen to this day.” Brook Peters , managing director and senior VP, Sales & Production Operations, Incendo Most challenging times : “Ownership changes, ad- ministrative shifts, restruc- tures… each comes with its own specific challenges and they seem to be never-ending in the television broadcast and production sector in Canada. If I never have to put together another corporate PowerPoint to explain my job, I will be a happy camper.” Most enjoyable times: “Truly the last five years have been tremendous and exciting as we navigate the new, emerging platforms and services that bring content to consumers. While the pace of change brought trepidation at first, the reality of the new media landscape has created a golden age in television. It’s exciting.” The Good And The Bad: 41 Biz Years Recalled By International TV Executives (Continued from Page 6) August/Sept. 2021 The Return of In-Person Marts CGI ANIMATION 52x 11` KIDS 5-9 AN OUT OF THIS WORLD COMEDY ►►► COMING IN 2022 Take a Spaceship to Friendship! WHERE THE ENTERTAINMENT IS [email protected] I www.studio100group.com © friendZspace VISIT US @MIPCOM BOOTH R7.C15