Jolly Roger has successfully ended a six-month search for a fourth Canadian director with the formation of a relationship with David Tennant of Vancouver’s Aviator Pictures and an extended affiliation with that West Coast company.

Jolly Roger will represent Tennant in Eastern Canada, while Aviator will assume representation of Steve Chase, Robert Logevall and Curtis Wehrfritz in Western Canada.

For Jolly Roger, the affiliation represents a number of gains. The company, introduced to Tennant’s work by a mutual agency contact, was drawn by the quality of Tennant’s reel and his 14-year background as an agency art director in London and Vancouver. Tennant has received a number of awards on the agency and production side, winning gold at he Bessies and the New York Film and Television Festival. The affiliation also marks an opportunity to access quality creative work for Logevall and Wehrfritz on the West Coast.

New clear name

Meanwhile, Steve Chase and Bedford Falls head Michael Romersa’s Jolly Roger L.A. has assumed the new handle of Reactor Films. Running the freshly named company will be executive producer Chuck Ryant, ex of Propaganda Films and T.K. Knowles from Satellite.

Chase was in Toronto shooting a Bauer spot for bbdo, and on the subject of pursuing a new feature project, he reports his ‘behind’s still a little sore from the last one.’ Chase says he was recently the recipient of a new ‘Mod Squad meets Pulp Fiction’ script from Oliver Stone’s company.

Poolish behavior

One can only imagine the shrinkage. For a recent Apple Box shoot, director David Hackl logged a wrinkle-inducing 10 hours in the pool to deliver some underwater breakfast scenes.

Agency bbdo wanted a tropical feel for client Kraft Canada’s Island Twist Fruity Pebbles cereal. The spot features a young breakfast enthusiast submerged in what is ostensibly a tropical sea grinning over a complete breakfast featuring Island Twist Fruity Pebbles as marine life swirls around him.

The spot, created by copywriter Jill Higgins and art director Isobel Moutrey and produced by Apple Box producer Sherry Smith, was shot at a Toronto community center’s indoor pool, for greater control of water clarity and lighting.

‘People aren’t really used to shooting in a swimming pool,’ says Hackl. Gaffers and grips donned snorkels and wet suits and masks and were reminded often of the physics of underwater activity; for instance, a 35mm camera encased in an underwater housing from Whites weighs a lot less underwater and will tip over if touched.

To provide lighting, two tarps were created and placed in the background of the pool to create a blue ‘sweep’ and lights were placed outside the pool to create beams shining through the water. Hackl hovered above the camera with a mask and snorkel, poking his head up to consult the monitor and assistant director, who issued instructions to the submerged.

Talent was key, says Hackl, and after scouring the city’s talent pool turned up one gifted eight-year-old experienced diver who was also comfortable before the camera. Between takes, the star breathed through a regulator, removing it while film rolled to expertly grab his cereal and smile broadly.

Fish were shot in an aquarium and then matted into the spot for an oceanic touch. ‘It will feel like you’re having breakfast in the tropics,’ ensures the spot’s tag line.

Post-production was handled by Atomic in Toronto, with David Buder editing. Agency producer is Steve Emmens.

Reel new

Tim Dashwood has joined Reel Ideas as senior editor. In joining the Reel Ideas editing team of Marty Kravshik, Peer Engelhardt and Wade Carson, Dashwood brings a background in editing commercials, including spots for Wizard, Canadian Tire and Sega Channel as well as music video and feature work.

LTB’s gain

Liane Thomas, late of Kessler Irish Films, will assume a position at L.T.B. Productions on Aug. 6 after a bit of a holiday.

ltb’s Wayne Fenske says with efforts to attract international work, the hiring reflects the need to ‘get on our soap boxes and scream our talents to everyone.’