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MEL
Hoppenheim
President mels cite
du cinema
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Responding primarily to the vocal
concerns and urgent needs of local
Montreal cinematographic productions,
Mel Hoppenheim founded Panavision
(Canada) in 1965. Providing cameras
and other shooting equipment, Mel
was soon traveling all over the world
to equip ever more elaborate productions.
After six years of success in his
hometown of Montreal, Mel decided
to open a second technical installation
in Toronto in 1972. A Vancouver facility
followed in 1977. Still committed
to what he saw as Montreal’s
vast and largely untapped potential
and possibility for the production
industry, Mel acquired the historic
Theatre Expo de la Cité du
Havre in 1988. Building five state-of-the-art
studios, he soon had created the most
modern of facilities available to
the Canadian film and television industry.
Mel’s Cité du Cinéma
was born.
Through an initial investment of some
$14 million, the first building in
La Cité du Cinéma quickly
pumped an estimated $250 million into
the local economy and created more
than 500 new jobs.
In 1997, Mel donated $1 million to
Montreal’s Concordia University,
which was subsequently used to open
the Mel Hoppenheim Film School, now
renowned throughout North America
and the world. Mel and his partners
have also helped in the development
of Montreal’s Institut National
de l’Image et du Son (INIS),
a well-known and respected private
school for the development of world-class
writers, directors and producers for
film and television.
Convinced of the tremendous potential
of Montreal, Hoppenheim and Trudel
built the second building in La Cité
du Cinéma in 1999 at the cost
of $14 million. Comprising three studios
totaling 36, 500 square feet, modern
production offices and a complete
camera department, including Panavision,
the complex is already a favorite
for large American and international
projects, including The Sum of All
Fears, The Score and the upcoming
The Human Stain and The Day After
Tomorrow.
Never deterred by obstacles of any
kind and convinced of the fact that
Quebec and Montreal have still more
to offer, Hoppenheim and Trudel began
construction of the third Cité
du Cinéma in 2002 with an initial
investment of $15 million. Four ultramodern
studios will accompany a large lighting
and grip department capable of serving
the most ambition film production.
Proud of their modern infrastructure,
cutting edge shooting technology and
unparalleled technical expertise,
the innovative and courageous duo
has been recognized both by the great
city of Montreal and the province
of Québec as something of which
to be very proud. |
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