Why does Canada suck at telling its own stories

[YZT580]

Great book. I also have a collection of Salty Dips.

Not the same swashbuckling yarns as Champagne Navy, but good reads.

We need to celebrate our history, accomplishments and bravery more.

another tale: 435 and 436 squadrons in Burma, before all the Dakotas disappear.

 

[YZT580]

Remember the CAF magically appeared as "peacekeepers" in the 50s. War like tales are not welcome.

depends. MASH told a tale for years, still is.

 

[OldSolduer]

Hyena Road was terrible

 

[mariomike]

Maybe the RCAF as defenders in The Battle of Britain.

Less likely as attackers .

 

[Halifax Tar]

At least in Greyhound they Yanks paid a passing homage to our efforts in BoA.



Canadian Naval Memorial Trust

 

[FJAG]

It's a bit of apples and kumquats. The CBC doesn't create full-length theatrical productions (have they ever?). These are made by private companies with various formulas of private and public funding. Private companies tend to want to earn profits.

Do we want to tell our stories to ourselves or the world? I don't know what the CBC's production budget is but I suspect that to try and create something that would tell a Canadian story to the world in a way that actually makes money would likely eat up that entire budget. Giving money to the CBC is not without controversy, and it seems that private money has its limits.

It's kind of strange actually because production budgets do not equate to good entertainment. I appreciate the point that the examples make but I'm starting to look at my own viewing habits. I tend to look at my own ones these days and find that I get much better programming through streaming services than broadcast/cable these days.

Take Britbox for example. The UK has produced dozens of crime/detective series which are high quality entertainment, IMHO. So much so that my usual American fare of NCIS, FBI, Marshalls etc etc in all their derivative forms has just become formalistic, unrealistic, over-the-top dreck that I've stopped watching. Yes, the BBC gets more money but many of these shows are non-BBC produced. Their budgets are lower, but their writing is better and, in many cases, the acting is better - heck, even "Murder in Paradise" which has dreadful acting has more entertainment value than the average US show.

My gauge of a good film or series is "am I invested enough in this character, that I care about what happens to him or her?" That's not just will the character die, but even leave the series, or will the series carry on so that I can get more of the story. The Brits do that better than others. Most American series I've given up on. Canada? Well, I give a new series two episodes for me to decide whether I'll watch it continuously. Few Canadian ones pass that test. "Saint Pierre," "Son of Critch," "Amazing Race Canada," and (Lord help me) "The Great Canadian Baking Show" have, but that's about it.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Hyena Road was terrible

Nevertheless, it was about Canadians in a contemporary conflict, so I give them a B for trying.