CASO ACCOMPLISHMENTS

CASO is a non-partisan, not-for-profit industry association committed to the growth and
international competitiveness of Ontario's animation and visual effects industry, through
advocacy, professional development, and marketing initiatives.

 
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CASO Achievements

2023-2024

CASO identified 7 priorities for the 2023/2024 fiscal year reflecting the three areas of our mission commitment of Advocacy, Professional Development and Marketing Initiatives. See our activity below.

Mission Commitment: Advocacy

1. Untether OCASE from OPSTC and OFTTC, to reduce red tape for all companies, ensure that small companies entering the market have a fair chance at securing work and improve Ontario’s industry competitiveness.  ACHIEVED UNTETHERING INCLUSION IN ONTARIO 2024 BUDGET March 26, 2024

2. Help Ontario compete for the best talent by adjusting residency requirements for OCASE tax credit so that individuals are eligible in the year that they undertake the animation or visual effects activity.

3. Address tax credit certification and approval delays with key stakeholders in an effort to shorten time to resolution and improve cashflow for studios

Actions

April 10th CASO submitted a formal letter to the provincial government supporting their proposed amendments to Ontario tax credits extending eligibility for OFTTC to productions distributed online.

Collaborated with Ontario Creates to deliver in May a promotional video highlighting the visual effects talent, resources, technology and incentives found in Ontario.

An OCASE Changes Consultation was conducted online May 25th for the membership to provide an opportunity to give input and discuss how a simplified OCASE could help our studios overcome challenges and encourage growth opportunities.

 Post membership input, CASO met with key government policy makers to discuss the simplification of OCASE. This initial meeting resulted in the co-chairs submitting a formal letter to the Ministers office in June outlining thoughts on streamlining which included comments on budget/expenditure minimums, content exclusions, the restructuring of OCASE as a producer bonus and maintaining tethering.

In an effort to expand the conversation CASO co-chairs took the opportunity to introduce a new idea for consideration. the creation of a "Made in Ontario" tax credit that would allow more aggressive competition with other jurisdictions, give financial incentive to studios and create a marketing tool for the province.

Neil Lumsden, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports responsible for our industry sector attended the CASO 2023 AGM in June, with his Chief of Staff, Susan Truppe. Both networked with membership in attendance.

Recognizing the significant employment and economic impacts of the strikes during the summer, CASO conducted a Strike Coping Survey of the membership and then initiated contact with municipal and provincial governments and film offices to ensure inclusion in discussions re: possible supports to help during business disruption.

On July 19th CASO hosted an online education session to promote further understanding of OCASE, the Ontario Computer Animation Special Effects tax credit. The focus was on what it is, how it is used, its pros and cons and how it could be made better.

After consultation with industry stakeholders, including CASO, Ontario Creates announced that the government would extend eligibility for the film and television tax credits to productions released exclusively online and introduced a screen credit requirement.

Collaborated with Ontario Creates to deliver in August a promotional video highlighting Ontario's animation industry.

Co-Chair Matt Bishop awarded a seat on the reignited City of Toronto Film, TV and Digital Media Board.

CASO GR liaison Ramiro Mora offered to work with any CASO member wishing to apply for the Ontario Skills Development Fund open from August until November.

Submitted our 2024 Budget Submission to the Minister of Finance in November, a critical correspondence which conveys the needs of our industry to government decision makers. This year our submission and our asks, which include untethering, were endorsed by Film Ontario and the CMPA with new tax credit statistics from Ontario Creates. It is critical to note that based on these new stats, project value in dollars for OCASE is more than fifteen times the value of the estimated tax credit.

Began outreach plan to tour the Minister of Finance and other key Ministers at a member studio in 2024.

In December, CASO Co-Chairs and Film Ontario presented a united front with government policy makers when meeting to review three potential government approaches to simplifying OCASE. Untethering remained the preferred option and recommendation. 

Government policy makers initiated a follow up conversation with CASO Co-Chairs in January 2024 to further discuss options presented to simplify OCASE. Untethering continued to be the recommended option to provide the most immediate industry impact.

CASO initiated a very brief State of the Industry survey to be able to show with certainty the impact of the strikes to Ontario studios. Results were used while advocating with key stakeholders.

ACHIEVED UNTETHERING INCLUSION IN ONTARIO 2024 BUDGET March 26, 2024

 
 

Mission Commitment: Professional Development

4. Initiate and participate in education reform at the post-secondary level to bridge gaps in skill and knowledge, improving graduates’ opportunities for success and shortening the window to productivity for studios.

5. Develop a Production Management Workshop series to fill the training void for production coordinators, production managers, line producers, producers, and ancillary production staff.

Actions

In April CASO shared the results of their online survey, Inquiry on Education. The survey of CASO membership was to help inform Ontario colleges of the areas of importance for teaching (key positions needed), areas of further development (what don’t they teach now you think they should) and studio interest level in taking on interns.

CASO’s Education leads met in early May with key policy advisors to the Minister of Colleges and Universities to discuss our industries challenges and solicit their input. In late May we met with Janet Hope, Vice President, Policy and Innovation at Colleges Ontario. In both meetings we covered our recent survey results and discussed internship incentives as a possible solution.

On July 19th CASO hosted an online Tax Credit Education session to promote further understanding of OCASE, the Ontario Computer Animation Special Effects tax credit. The focus was on what it is, how it is used, its pros and cons and how it could be made better.

CASO executed a Memorandum of Understanding and Letter of Support in September for the proposed Production Management for Animation and VFX Professionals, Professional Workshop Series. We look forward to the development of this upskilling workshop series at The Creative School at TMU, which will help our industry: address a current real-world industry identified skills gap, be created with direct input from industry subject matter experts, test the competence of prospective Animation and VFX Production management candidate and establish an industry standard in production management from a skills-based perspective.

In partnership with the VES Toronto, CASO brought together studio representatives and college program leads, in October, for Creating a Better Workforce: Industry x Education, a webinar to discuss current industry needs and the improvement of outcomes for students. Communication and collaboration were key themes identified. As such the group agreed to establish a Provincial Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from CASO, VES Toronto and HOMAD – Heads of Media Art and Design, who represent Ontario colleges.

The Creative School at TMU and CASO joined forces in December to conduct a confidential survey to determine Upskilling Workshop Needs for animation and vfx industry. Looking to learn more about personal and professional upgrading needs and career progression.

End of 2023 marked the introduction of the first CASO/VES/HOMAD Provincial Advisory Committee

Pete Denomme, Co-Chair of CASO, CEO/EP of Switch VFX & Animation
Mark Jones, Dean, Faculty of Animation, Art & Design, Sheridan College
Laurence Cymet, VES Education Lead, Educator and Head of Technology at WeFX

Melissa Graham, Director of Production, Nelvana
Chris Hebert, VES, Senior Director, Marketing - Side FX
Pamela Teed - Chair, Schools of Information Technology and Creative Industries, Cambrian College
Preeti Sharma - Academic Chair (Acting) - Arts & Design, Centennial College
Silvana Macdonald, PhD (she/her):  Dean - Faculty of Creative Industries, Fanshawe College

In January 2024 CASO/VES/HOMAD Provincial Advisory Committee introduced their first actionable objective – The creation of a minimum standards document that could be shared with all colleges across the province. The intent being to better inform education of the requirements of industry and at the same time learning from education their possibilities and limitations.

Introduced the format of Production Management for Animation and VFX Professionals, Professional Workshop Series which will include 4 components – Fundamentals of Production Management, Production Finance, Scheduling & Budgeting (Business), Creative & Technical Production Pipelines and Production Planning (Operational). Once a candidate completes all four workshops CASO will certify the successful participant as qualified to be a Production Manager.

 
 

Mission Commitment: Marketing Initiatives

6. Encourage Ontario talent retention through the creation of a provincial job board where studios can post jobs and talent can post availability. 

7. Develop webinars/events that engage the membership, advance thought leadership, encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration for industry growth.

Actions

The TAAFIxCASO Job Fair successfully returned to an in-person event April 23rd. Well over 1000 job seekers met with studios and attended presentations to make connections and advance their careers. At the CASO sponsored panel: From Pixels to Paychecks – Navigating a Career in Animation CASO members shared their personal stories and professional insights. CASO thanks participants Joe Giampapa, House of Cool, Sue Jung, Guru Studio, Morena Protti, Guru Studio, Terry Bradley, Sinking Ship Entertainment and moderator Ben McEvoy, Friends & Enemies.

Delivered a CASO branded vfx promotional video highlighting the visual effects talent, resources, technology and incentives found in Ontario in May. Followed up in August of 2023 to deliver a CASO branded animation promotional video highlighting the jurisdictions and creativity of Ontario’s animation studios. Each production featured the incredible work of CASO member studios.

CASO Valued Partnership leads invited to participate on the TAAFI Advisory Board.

Launched a Building a Business in Animation/VFX Series in November at TAAFI Industry Day with Episode 1: Surviving and Thriving. CASO thanks participating members Matt Bishop, Sinking Ship Entertainment, Ricardo Curtis, House of Cool, Lori McIndoe, Jam Filled, Jonas Diamond, Smiley Guy Studios and moderator Ben McEvoy, Friends & Enemies.

To encourage talent retention and attract new employment to the province CASO, with initial investment from Ontario Creates began work on a CASO Job Portal to launch in 2024. CASO thanks sub-committee members Christine Hout, Mainframe Studios, Sue Jung, Guru Studio, Alycia Burns, WEFX, Tori Coulthart, Jam Filled and Matt Bishop, Sinking Ship Entertainment for their input and participation in development. Marketing and soft launch scheduled for March 2024.

Joined the collective celebrating the first ever, World VFX Day, December 8th. This new annual event is aims to put visual effects in the spotlight by highlighting the great talent, projects and innovation that supports filmmaking. CASO was recognized as a supporter in marketing materials, shared multiple studio posts in celebration and CASO’s animation reel was played during the days online programming.

February 1st CASO delved into how studios are redefining talent management and development strategies to align with industry changes and new advancements. Insightful discussion was initiated at Next Gen Skills: the Future of Talent in Animation & VFX with panelists Lance LeFort (LeFort Talent Group), Sue Jung (Guru Studio), Laurence Cymet (WeFX) and moderator Ben McEvoy (Friends & Enemies)

Announced that CASO will once again be collaborating on the TAAFIxCASO Job Fair rescheduled to June 1st after consultation with studios, partners and the CASO Board. At the event CASO will continue the panel discussion of Next Gen Skills: The Future of Talent in Animation & VFX Part 2.