The recently birthed new player in town, Industry Films, has hit the ground running with a new pair of spots for Labatt and work underway on King Street digs.

Industry, the new Partners’ Film Company-backed undertaking of executive producer and president Tina Petridis, is in the process of renovating some dream space in the Design Building at 260 King Street East. Rounding out the Industry team to date is head of production Sophia Peckan, head of sales Eva Preger and office manager Jacqueline Hampton.

Petridis says Industry will focus on a limited, carefully assembled roster, with the emphasis on quality work and career management.

The nascent shop has chalked up its first high-profile jobs with the new Labatt spots including ‘Face Off,’ the inaugural spot marking Labatt’s four-year deal as the beer face of Hockey Night In Canada, as well as another Labatt spontaneous-fun-centered effort called ‘Organist,’ both directed by Vadim Perelman.

Perelman is among the initial directors to sign on to the Industry roster, which is still being assembled. Joining Perelman so far are l.a.-based Jay Vigon, who recently completed an early Industry job for Wearever pots and pans out of Kramer Krasselt in Milwaukee, Bob Giraldi, Brian Scott Weber, Alex Winter and director cameraman Michael Buckley. Also on the roster is Luis Kuri, a recent grad from the Arts Center in Pasadena, who is moving to Toronto in mid-November.

*On the move

Director David Straiton has joined The Players Film Company from Spy Films.

Mad Films has signed l.a.-based Kevin Donovan, repped by Bedford Falls in the u.s.

Director Eugene Beck has joined the roster of Angel Films. Toronto-based Beck, who helmed Gary Prouk’s multi-award-winning Cadbury ‘Mona Lisa’ spot, was recently inducted into the u.s. Advertising Hall of Fame.

Imported Artists has added Florida-based tabletop effects director Alex Fernbach to its roster.

Sparks has added local talent Gina Rae Horvath to its roster. Horvath has been a successful stills photographer and is making the transition to moving pictures. A spec spot is in the works.

Editor Mark Hajek has joined Stealing Time.

A reordering of the sales and marketing responsibilities under The Partners’ Film Company umbrella has Revolver Films sales rep Lidia Andic moving to Partners’. Also at Partners’, Mike McConnell takes over as head of post-production.

A whirlwind of production activity has been putting color in the cheeks of everyone at Partners’ and a couple of new cameras in the equipment pantry (two Arri 435s and a 535) to handle the pace.

Partners’ also recently donated an Avid 4000 nonlinear editing system to Seneca College’s School of Communication Arts.

*Dust off those cheque books

It’s time once again for The Big Night Out, where members of the advertising production industry get together to place their bids in support of Bereaved Families of Ontario.

This time around, in addition to the usual goodies up for grabs, auction enthusiasts will be able to bid on some of the industry’s favorite dons and divas. On the block will be Imported Artists director Richard D’Alessio, who is being auctioned off as a pa for a day. For the more recreationally inclined, there’s an evening drinking Scotch with MacLaren McCann head of television production Lesley Parrott and a game of golf with Radke Films director Steve Gordon, with Partners’ Don McLean as ball boy and MacLaren vp group creative director Jamie Way caddying.

Parrott says she is hoping to raise $100,000 this year. The Big Night Out takes place at The Joker on Oct. 27.

Platinum sponsors for the event are Charles Peebles, Panic & Bob, L.T.B. Productions, Spy Films, Mad Films, The Players Film Company, Stealing Time and Third Floor Editing. Gold sponsors include Imported Artists, Industry Films, Radke, Royal Bank of Canada, Partners’ and William F. White.

Tickets are $40 and are available from Bereaved Families of Ontario at (416) 440-0290.

*Industry rallies for PSA

Some romantic background music, bare bodies intertwined in the sheets and a little loving make for a somewhat erotic psa for the National Breast Cancer Fund.

The spot, directed by Stargate Studios’ James Hyslop and shot by dop Glen Keenan, focuses on giving women with cancer their lives back. Gary Watson and Chris Hall of Ambrose Carr Linton Carroll came up with the concept.

Others donating their talent were Powerhouse Casting, Third Floor Editing, FISH Music, William F. White and Eyes Post, as well as Medallion/pfa, Showline Studios and The Talent House.