‘Anarchy Across America.’ That’s the subtitle of director Evan Stone’s best-selling in-line skating video, Hoax II. Featuring the music of Bad Religion, Rancid and Sepultura as the sound track to a 34-day, 17-city, 10,000-mile in-line skating tour, it’s definitely anarchy.

Stone, newly with his first Canadian representation through LTB Productions, produced the video through T-Bone Films, his independent sports film company, which has sold copious numbers of skateboarding, snowboarding and in-line skating videos with titles like Mad Beef, Baking Cookies and Damaged Goods.

But before you shift him over to the ‘sports/action’ pile, consider that in 1995 Stone won two gold awards at the New York Festival and another gold at the Chicago Film Festival for his CH 1 docs Homeless in America and Living With hiv.

Stone says part of what he brings to ltb is the power to reach a youth demographic in more ways than one.

‘I can do the outdoor, in-your-face, outrageous sports stuff cut to music, but with my docs on CH 1 (the controversial u.s. in-school network), I think I’ve proven I can work with people. CH 1 reaches over eight million kids a day.’

When he wasn’t picking up awards, Stone kept busy last year directing two sports specials for mtv and an independent tv pilot in addition to his work with T-Bone.

‘With some recognition behind me, and a strong reel, I thought this year was the year to push myself in commercial work.’

Energized by the enthusiasm shown by the execs at ltb, he’s eager to tackle the Canadian market like he’s tackled American spots for BodyGlove and Snowboarder Magazine. ‘I want to get it on, they want to get it on. They’ve gotta game plan, and I’m excited.’

Game plans in other shops include a bigger roster at Revolver, which has added directors Geoff Ayres and Cosimo Zitani on the commercial side, and Margaret Malandruccolo and Mark Valentine on the music video end.

Tarantino cometh?

Imported Artists’ new representation agreement with A Band Apart, the u.s. production company representing Quentin Tarantino et al, has spurred some speculation that the Pulp Fiction director will actually come to Canada to shoot a spot.

But Michael Bodnarchek, executive producer at A Band Apart, says otherwise. Tarantino will only do one or two spots a year, ‘but he’s definitely more interested in working internationally than at home.’

After being courted by a half-dozen Canadian shops, A Band Apart went with Imported’s Christina Ford because the company felt she understood best what the cutting-edge young company was about. A Band Apart went in search of Canadian representation because ‘some of the best creative spots I’ve seen have come out of Canada,’ says Bodnarchek.

Bodnarchek concedes that Tarantino’s availability is limited, but says never say never. In lieu of a day rate, he’d probably work for a flat fee, ‘which will be a considerable amount of money.’

In the meantime, other high-profile directors from the company are Canada-bound, including director/cameraman Kevin Kerslake, in town on a Nike shoot for Wieden & Kennedy. Director Charles Wittenmire is pitching an undisclosed spot and could wind up in Hogtown at the end of the month. Also on the roster are directors Steve Lowe (Sega, Haagen Dazs, Nike) and Osbert Parker, a talent on spots for Nike, Anheuser-Busch and Coke.

For her part, Ford says, ‘We’re really excited to have them,’ and, closer to home, that Imported ‘wouldn’t mind’ one local director to add to the roster.

‘We’re keeping our eyes and ears open. We have two people in mind.’

Big showing at Mobius

Canadian advertising creative will be raking in 23 awards at the Feb. 7 Mobius Advertising Awards, nearly double last year’s tally of 13.

A total of 31 countries submitted 5,000 entries, with Canada producing the greatest number of winners from outside the u.s.

In the television commercial winners category, Leo Burnett’s campaign for Fruit of the Loom, expected to be a player in this year’s Canadian award shows, took a Mobius for ‘Ex-boyfriends,’ ‘Our body,’ and ‘Stuck.’ All were directed by Kessler Irish Films’ Ron Baxter Smith.

Burnett and Kessler Irish scored again with ‘Bus Driver,’ directed by Bill Irish for Burnett’s client, Bell Canada.

Also in the winner’s circle, ‘The Last Supper,’ a Vickers & Benson-created piece for ShareLife directed by Partners’ Dale Heslip.

Damast Gordon and Associates, now officially comm.bat, rings in with six second-place certificates for outstanding creativity for spots directed by Steve Gordon, Boris Damast and Tim Pike.

Cor blimey ­ What you say?

Several not hailing from the Queen’s domain have asked, so, as per the story on Stephen Thursby’s move to DDB Needham:

dross dras,dros n 1. the scum that forms on the surface of molten metal 2. waste or foreign matter: impurity 3. something that is base, trivial, or inferior.

Weight Watchers

So. Inquiring minds want to know: how g’es the diet? Let’s hope there are no more lunches like the dark day at Avalon.

For those who haven’t heard, Partners’ McLean men, Don, Ross and Tom, cohort Dan Ford, and Elvis, the 111-pound wonderpup, are in the thr’es of diet hell to win some money for charity, and have involved the whole industry in a little wager. To date, with the final weigh-in April 4 and bets still accepted, there’s about $3,000 in the pot, says Partners’ Nina Miernecki. The pressure, the pressureŠ

Well, it seems a couple of Fridays ago that Partners’ president Don McLean was joined for lunch at Avalon by Peter Weis, senior vp, creative director at Grey Advertising.

Now lunch is not the finest time of day for anyone in a weight-loss contest, especially with the to-die-for menu at Avalon. But with the help of a couple of members of the production community, who shall remain nameless, it became a little more complicated

In the spirit of fun, and with all conspirators having placed their bets, the contest was explained to the owner and a dessert was ordered for special delivery to McLean who was sticking with salad. A go’ey selection, they imagined, chocolate, naturally, and big.

After much kerfuffle in the kitchen, the waiter emerged with something the size of half a chocolate cake with every conceivable inch covered in whipped cream. ‘Good Luck’ was written in chocolate icing on top and surrounded by chocolate chunks. Complete with candle, it was presented to McLean as the parties in question huddled by the door prepared to make a quick exit.

Weis, faced with a cake and good luck wishes, quipped, ‘I didn’t think anyone knew we were dating.’

Shadow or no shadow

MacLaren McCann’s party Pied Pipers, creatives Mark Fitzgerald and Ian Kiar, are organizing another fundraising bash. Groundhog Boxing Day festivities will be held at the 360 club on Queen Street West, the same place as Larryfest at Christmas. Feb. 3 is the night.

Larryfest, a hubbub of groovy sound and packed with people driven into a frenzy by ’70s and ’80s music, raised more than $1,000, which was split between the CHUMCity Christmas Wish and the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Proceeds for Groundhog Boxing Day fest go to charity. Tickets at the door or call Kiar or Fitzgerald at MacLaren McCann, (416) 594-6000.