Think globally, shoot here

comm.bat Films’ Miami-based director/dop Robert Maya just wrapped a multinational spot for JWT Colombia starring Paulina Rubio, Latin America’s answer to Madonna, and is spearheading efforts to bring a wave of Latin American production to Canada.

Maya and a gaggle of international bright young things shot the spot for Unilever’s Lux Shower Creme in Miami, following prepro in Colombia and Toronto, and posted the spot back in Toronto at Daily Post with Chris Van Dyke.

Maya describes the shoot as a ‘little United Nations,’ with crew from Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Miami and Canada, a German client and a French production designer, who constructed the stainless steel and water-soaked sets to showcase the attributes of Rubio and her vigorous efforts to get clean.

The three-and-a-half-day shoot was at the epicenter of a public and media frenzy over the wildly popular pop star who, despite her sex kitten persona and the innovative use of female keys on set, Maya says was uncharacteristically shy about sudsing up au naturel.

One of the biggest challenges in the shoot, he says, arose from the attempt ‘to shoot someone naked when they’re not really,’ and solutions included the construction of a little bathing suit made of wires.

Maya is initiating a mini-wave of Latin American/Canadian production, currently bidding on two projects out of Argentina, which would be shot and posted entirely in Canada.

Maya says so far Latin American clients have raved about that Canadian city quality of life and outstanding post-production. ‘To them it’s exciting, they’re tired of Miami and l.a.,’ he says.

In other news, another comm.bat wanderer, Michael Buckley, returned to Toronto June 10 from a stint in South Africa.

TOPIX, by request

TOPIX Computer Graphics and Animation is contributing to its second major feature film with its graphically intense opening for Paramount Pictures’ Harriet the Spy. After earning kudos from Paramount for the groovy opening of the Kids In The Hall feature Brain Candy, topix was enlisted again to work on Harriet, based on that favorite of many a bookish youngster.

Lisa Weinrib, topix executive producer on the spot, says Harriet director, Canadian Bronwen Hughes, was adamant about topix handling the job, much to the initial chagrin of the Harriet production team, who naturally assumed it would be handled out of l.a.

The opening sequence is a retro-feel, 3D animation and graphic design extravaganza intercut with live action. topix designer/director William Cameron, designer/animator Susan Armstrong and animators Fay Grambart and Dawn Dudek used topix proprietary software and Flint and Flame and output to film resolution for the big screen, with final film recording handled at Toronto’s Cinebyte.

M2 brain trust

MacLaren McCann has donated $11,000 toward the establishment of the MacLaren McCann Teaching Chair, a third-year, six-week course in Strategic and Account Planning at the Ontario College of Art.

MacLaren has also established the MacLaren McCann Creative Scholarship, to begin in spring of 1997, to pay the tuition and provide an internship for its lucky recipient.

Other M2 brains

MacLaren McCann star scribe Andrew Anthony, the mind behind an internationally recognized Coke campaign and the Nescafe head-swap spots, has made the move to Leo Burnett, Toronto.

Raving new

The newly established Rave Films, formerly Dalton Films, has been firming up its roster. In addition to David Straiton, Paul Goldman and director/cameraman Jack Churchill, commercial and video directors will include Rod Chong and Jeff Richter. The Rave commercial lineup will also include Oscar Bassinson, Chris Blum, Howie Deutch and director/ dop Joe Murray from Shadow Rock in the u.s., and music video directors Ulf Buddensieck, Keith Harrick and Andrew Nisker.

Apple Box

Apple Box Productions will round out its representation of Randy MacDonald, who will now be repped out of Apple Box, Toronto, as well as the Vancouver and Edmonton Apple Box offices, which have handled him for the past year.