By TRALEE PEARCE -- Just as I was about to leave a Parliament Hill event staged Wednesday to promote a government TV production fund, I ran into actor Cynthia Beliveau, who looked quite flustered.

She stars in CBC's Sunday night family series, Wind At My Back.

And like fellow Canadian actors Paul Gross (Due South), Sonja Smits (Traders) and Jennifer Podemski (The Rez), Beliveau was there to lobby for the renewal of the laboriously titled, $200 million Canada Television and Cable Production Fund.

Without backing, the fund is set to dry up in 1999 -- that means productions could be affected as early as next year.

So, Beliveau didn't spend much time sipping wine and nibbling canapes. She rolled up her orange silk sleeves and worked the room, trying to educate anyone in her path.

Beliveau told me about detailing for critical MPs (who, to their credit, were at least there, asking questions) about the hard work and long hours it takes to produce a single hour of television.

Seems some people think it takes, oh, about an hour. She found herself combating other preconceptions, too.

"They're worried about `cardboard cutouts' being made to represent Canadians," she said, incredulously.

One look around the luncheon room would contradict that -- there's a comedy set on a Native reserve, a Bay St. drama and Beliveau's historical drama, just to name a few of the English language shows represented.

Beliveau was also battling a presumption that every TV project that raises its hand gets public money and a green light. "There is so much competition in this business," she countered.

Moreover, while the fund, which gets half its money from the heritage ministry, is a crucial part of many shows' funding, it is only a fraction of individual shows' total funding.

Beliveau said it was "frustrating" trying to get through to MPs who have no idea how the TV industry works. Yet, they happily recognize some of their favorite Canadian TV stars when they show up on the Hill.

"It's a life-and-death issue for us. We're very passionate about it," Beliveau said about using her star power to support the fund.

Just before she raced off for a break, Beliveau said she felt like she had got through to a few nay-sayers. And she was gearing up for round two.

In the end, Beliveau may have single-handedly changed a few minds Wednesday.

But I worry about the MPs who didn't bother to show up, whom Beliveau and the others had no chance to meet. They may be nursing misconceptions only they understand.

In a similar vein, I was contacted this week by the TVOntario Matters! Coalition. They're encouraging Ottawans to attend the last of five public hearings on the future of the provincial network.

The Privatization Secretariat Community Forum is Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Westin Hotel. Before the forum, the Coalition is hosting a reception in the hotel's Alberta Room, starting at 5 p.m. There's no need to register in advance, just show up.

If Studio 2, Saturday night movies, kids programming or cooking show sensations Two Fat Ladies are important to you, head down Monday night.

The moral of the story: You don't have to be an actor to get your support of public funding of television on the record.

Don't say you weren't warned.