The Players Film Company’s Philip Mellows has expanded his sphere of American influence in a deal with Santa Monica, California-based production company Atlas Pictures.

Mellows has entered into an agreement with Atlas head Sterling Ray to head up an east coast operation of Atlas, opening a New York office within the next month.

Atlas currently represents directors Alex Von David, Toby Phillips and Ron Fricke, all based in l.a., as well as Adam Massey, a Canadian based out of Toronto and l.a. and previously represented here through The Partners’ Film Company.

Mellows will represent the Atlas roster in Canada and the Canadian roster of Players in the u.s., with the exception of David McNally, who signed with Omaha in the States.

‘It allows me to do what’s best for my directors and to start with a very strong roster in the u.s.,’ says Mellows, who will split his time between Toronto and the New York operation.

– New exec, partner for Radke

Krista Marshall has been appointed executive producer at Radke Films.

Marshall began in the industry 12 years ago, working as a pa and coordinator then a second ad, before moving into the role of production manager with stints at The Directors Film Company, at The Artists Company and then at Radke. Over the past two years Marshall had been line producing for Radke’s Canadian directors.

In other Radke news, Scott Mackenzie has been made partner and shareholder at the company.

Though rumblings of speculation have been heard in the wake of the shop’s break with The Partners’ Film Company and the departure of Tina Petridis, Radke’s Edie Weiss says all of the directors on the Radke roster (including Eddy Chu and American affiliate companies) are staying with the company.

– Thursby departs Palmer Jarvis

Palmer Jarvis ddb group creative director Stephen Thursby has departed the agency. According to the shop, when Thursby stepped down as president and returned to the creative department, it created a redundancy in roles between Thursby and creative director Marta Cutler. Cutler will assume Thursby’s creative duties.

– Stargate builds roster

Toronto’s Stargate Studios is expanding beyond the realm of post-production and building a roster of directors, which the shop says will enable it to offer a combination of live-action production and 3D animation, cgi and special effects.

The motivation behind the transformation is the increasing amount of storyboards calling for morphing or paint work, says executive producer Deborah Fox, who adds the game plan is to become ‘the house that can do it all.’

Directors on board to date are Toronto-based Paul Gardner and Robin Trickett (who recently wrapped the shop’s first project for The Ongoing Partnership and Schneiders LunchMates) and l.a.-based Jeff Richter. Director/dops on the roster are Mark Osberger out of New York and l.a.-based Jerry Dugan and Francis Mohajerin.

– Sesler adds Macleod

Sesler & Company is now representing dop Dylan Macleod.

In addition to spot work, Macleod has numerous music videos for major Canadian talent to his credit as well as a feature films and several shorts. Recent commercial work includes spots for the Brewer’s Association, Lever Ponds and General Mills.

– Imported takes a Tripp

Imported Artists has added newcomer Mark Tripp to its roster. The Los Angeles-based director spent three and a half years at agency Rubin, Postaer & Associates in Los Angeles, where he worked his way up to associate producer. Next he went to Saatchi & Saatchi in l.a. before freelancing as an agency producer.

Last fall, Tripp shot four spec spots, making the transition from agency guy to director, and in February signed with l.a.’s Moxie, where he has landed a handful of jobs.

– Great Scott

For his next mtv foray, Canadian music video directing big gun and new commercial director Stephen Scott will helm the new effort by the lovable Hootie and the Blowfish.

– Big Night in NYC

As many of you may know, the people behind Playback and KidScreen (‘about reaching children through entertainment’) trade publications are throwing a deluxe shindig in New York Sept. 9 to celebrate and promote Canada as a production destination for u.s. ad makers.

The Team Canada Party, organized by Brunico Marketing, is being held at the end of the first day of KidScreen’s two-day New York conference on advertising to children.

Sponsoring the event are Canadian commercial production companies Apple Box Productions, Avion Films, L.T.B. Productions and The Revolver Film Company, post/animation shops The Animation House, Cuppa Coffee, Loop Animation, Optix Digital Post & Effects, Spin Productions and TOPIX/Mad Dog, as well as the B.C. Film Commission.

The big night will be held at New York’s new entertainment/ sports/conference locale, Chelsea Piers, and invitations have been extended to u.s. agency and production wigs.

The Golden Marble Awards, recognizing achievements in advertising to children, will be held at the end of the KidScreen conference on Sept. 10.

– Our apologies

Due to a production glitch in the July 13 First Cut Award Special Report, a quote from Gee Jeffery & Partners’ Robin Heisey was cut off mid-thought. Heisey’s response:

In your recent interview with me, an error gave the impression I was ‘always’ interested in directing, which is the sort of the thing that could cause a mass exodus of people from our production community. So before that happens, let me clarify that when asked if I ever wanted to direct, my answer was ‘Always. Luckily most directors are smart enough not to let me.’