News and Events
March 11, 2010
CASO Receives Funding Support from the OMDC’s Entertainment & Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund.
March, 11th, 2010
CASO is pleased to be one of this year’s recipients of the Entertainment & Creative Cluster Partnerships fund (the Partnerships Fund). This funding will enable CASO to revitalize their existing website in order to support a suite of web-based social networking and marketing tools which aim to strengthen the links between CASO members; improve membership outreach and recruitment; and provide a centralized marketing platform for new business & employment opportunities in the digital animation & effects realm...
The Partnership Fund News Release (PDF FORMAT)June 02, 2008
THE EXECUTIVE BREAKFAST SERIES #02
Friday, June 20th, 2008
RSVP
to christa@casont.ca
or 416.207.9142
Date: Friday June 20th, 2008
Time: 9:00am - 11:30am
Location: The Ontario Investment and Trade Centre, 250 Yonge St., 35th floor, Toronto, ON (Eaton Centre, access on Yonge St. at Shutter)
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April 15, 2008
CASO WELCOMES LA EXECUTIVES - Please Join Us
Thursday April 24, 2008
The Computer Animation Studios of Ontario formally invites you to a reception to meet our honored guests from the Los Angeles Film and Television industry.
RSVP by Friday, April 18th*
to christa@casont.ca
or 416.207.9142
Date: Thursday April 24, 2008
Time: 12:15pm - 2:30pm
Location: The Ontario Investment and Trade Centre, 250 Yonge St., 35th floor, Toronto, ON (Eaton Centre, access on Yonge St. at Shutter)
October 18, 2007
LOS ANGELES IMPACT VISITS
January 8 – 11, 2008
The Ontario Media Development Corporation, FilmOntario and the City of Toronto, partners in the operation of the LA Marketing Office, are planning a visit to Los Angeles in January to promote the City and Province as a prime location to create and complete film and television products. We know that many among the sector – producers, directors, studio owners, film support businesses, unions and associations – regularly travel to L.A. during the year. We are hoping that you might consider taking your regular sales, marketing or investment trip during the same period. The idea would be to have a large and broad spectrum of Industry representatives there at the same time and as a result create a great buzz about our jurisdiction.
We are now in the planning stages of a number of meetings and events for that week. Based on the response to this notice we may develop at least one event where all Ontario stakeholders who make the trip will come together with the key clients in Los Angeles. As well, you’ll get an opportunity to meet with new clients we hope to influence to come in the future, whether to produce a project, obtain financing, professional services or do their posting. We will cover the expenses related to the joint event but you need to cover the costs of your trip as well as expenses related to your individual business meetings.
If you are interested in joining this initiative, we ask that you let us know if you or another rep from your organization will be in Los Angeles during the January 8 – 11, 2008 time frame and would like to attend the joint event. Please RSVP with a yes, (or a definite maybe if you must), to Donna Zuchlinski at OMDC (dzuchlinski@omdc.on.ca) by November 8 so we can begin to finalize our plans.
October 17, 2007
CALL TO MEMBERSHIP
Dear Computer Animation Studios of Ontario,
With the prospect that the newly elected Ontario government will address the current and potential situation of Ontario studios -- $US parity, aggressive tax credits in other jurisdictions and competition from low labour cost suppliers in India and elsewhere - CASO will be undertaking an in-depth analysis of Ontario tax credits and other impediments to studios' operations for presentation to the new government.
Based on the position with respect to the screen-based industries that the Liberal party espoused during the election, we are optimistic that our recommendations will be favourably received.
To help us formulate our presentation(s), we wish to reflect the experiences, suggestions and perspectives of all Ontario studios. If you have comments that we may include in our report, please forward them to christa@casont.ca.
Sincerely,
CASO Board of Directors
April 26, 2007
CASO to participate in Sheridan College "Think Tank"
CASO has been invited to be a participant in assisting Sheridan College map its future direction in digital media research. On April 26, 2007, CASO President Ron Estey will be part of the College’s “The Big Picture: Digital Media Think Tank”.
Sheridan has invited a select group of external stakeholders to do “some serious blue sky thinking” regarding future trends and issues in the digital world. The College anticipates participation from approximately fifty senior decision makers representing multiple sectors impacted by digital growth. The “Think Tank” will explore the greatest challenges, opportunities and priorities facing the digital media industry today.
March 22, 2007
CASO's efforts secure change to OCASE Regulations in Ontario Budget
In the Ontario Budget introduced on March 22, 2007, Ontario's Minister of Finance Greg Sorbara proposed the following amendment to OCASE legislation:
The government proposes to amend the 20 per cent refundable Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit to allow any wholly owned subsidiary to claim eligible labour expenditures incurred by the parent corporation in respect of the subsidiary's production, effective for productions commencing after March 22, 2007. This proposal would simplify the claims process and would be similar to the treatment provided under the film and television tax credits.This proposal is a direct response to meetings CASO has had with Ministry of Finance officials over the past year. We appreciate the ongoing support of the Ontario Government in assisting the Animation and Digital Effects industry.
The change will greatly simplify payroll administration for studios setting up single purpose corporations to facilitate productions and will harmonize OCASE with the other Ontario credits.
Note that at this time this is a proposed amendment to the legislation and still requires legislative approval.
March 1, 2007
CASO Hosts International Trade Studio Tour and Networking Reception
CASO joins with Greater Toronto Marketing Authority, OMDC and Royal Bank to welcome international trade officials.
The Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance is collaborating with the Computer Animation Studios of Ontario (CASO), a trade association representing Computer Animation and Digital Visual Effects companies, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, and RBC Royal Bank to host a networking reception for Toronto's top creative talent and local international trade officials. This event will take place at The Spoke Club located on the 4th floor of 600 King Street West on March 27th starting at 6:00 p.m.
This is an opportunity for Ontario's world-class studios to meet and mingle with trade officials from countries such as India, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. There are more than 52 foreign consulates, embassies and trade offices located in and around Toronto, and we've invited them all to come and meet our studio executives.
Trade officers can play a key role in facilitating international business connections. They are the contact point for companies from their region looking to do business in Canada. The more they know about a company, the more likely they are to recommend that company to their clients.
Prior to the reception, the trade officers will spend the afternoon touring the facilities of CASO members: Optix Digital Pictures, Side Effects Software, Mr. X Inc., Cine Byte Digital, C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures and March Entertainment.
February 15, 2007
CASO signs on as Partner of CONCERT
CONCERT is the acronym for the Consortium on New Media, Creative and Entertainment R&D in the Toronto Region. As a recipient of funding from the first round of the Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund, CONCERT will establish an innovative, industry-driven GTA innovation consortium of industry, academia, government, and others to support R&D, commercialization, and economic development within screen-based and other innovation-driven creative industries. It will develop an integrated approach, across sectors, to R&D within the industries in the GTA. Linkages and working relationships between the research community and industry will be strengthened, thereby strengthening R&D capacity and economic outcomes and creating a world-leading hub of innovation in the entertainment, screen-based, and creative industries. CONCERT will provide an agenda that is coordinated, strategic and dynamic. The end result will be improved competitive advantage.
More information on CONCERT at:
http://www.yorku.ca/mediar/archive/Release.asp?Release=1202
