Movie metropolis by MATTHEW HAYS Montreal made headlines last year when the statistics on Canada's film biz revealed we had overtaken Toronto in terms of film and TV production. Some heralded the boom as an economic miracle for the city, a way for Montreal film types to learn the ropes while bolstering our sagging economy with injections of foreign film bucks. I was somewhat more cynical about the boom. After all, most foreign (i.e. American) producers aren't here because they like us, but simply because we're a cheap date (and that won't last; most economists are predicting a much stronger Canadian dollar this year, meaning Hollywood North will undoubtedly move back south). And as Roger Frappier--perhaps Quebec's most prominent producer--has pointed out, big Hollywood productions tend to drain local producers' abilities to launch home-grown films. It's a messy dilemma, one that no doubt will be discussed at Cinema and Urban Remains: An Inaugural Gathering on Cinema and the City in Montreal, a conference which will launch this Friday, May 5. But the event won't solely consider the economics of local film production. Discussions will include meditations on what mark a city leaves on a film after its been shot on location, and vice versa. The event runs until May 13. Info: http://restesurbains.sat.qc.ca/ My favourite maverick film studio and yours, Troma, is extremely well prepared for their annual jaunt to Cannes this year. Those people who think that the most famous film festival in the world is full of well-mannered Europeans drinking only the best wine and acting snooty would be wrong. As Troma points out in their latest press release, "it has become all too clear to the Troma Team that the movie industry is a cold, cruel, heartless place where competition and the never-ending quest for the almighty dollar has replaced good old-fashioned values like love, joy, and romance." Troma then announces that their screenings at this year's festival will be titled "All the Love You Cannes," a celebration of "love... Our love will cover Cannes like a warm blanket. Believe me, you won't be able to walk two feet in this town without stepping in Troma's love." That final mention of the word "love" is footnoted with the warning, "In Tromaville, 'love' is another term for 'drunken puke.'" What would the film world be without entirely bizarre people like those who run Troma? For those of us in the queer camp, Ellen DeGeneres' coming out on her sitcom Ellen presented something of a breakthrough. Unfortunately, after that brilliant episode, the show sunk into oblivion, ultimately the victim of too many script doctors and meddling producers. We haven't heard much from DeGeneres since, but I must say, some of her early standup work was very funny indeed. She will be in town next Thursday, May 11, at Place des Arts, where she will be working the crowd with her unique brand of comedy. Info: 790-1245 COMMENTS: matt_hays@babylon.montreal.qc.ca