Time was when Liane Thomas was placed firmly in the center of the Canadian art world. The executive producer got her start by studying art history at McGill University in Montreal and then, upon her return to Toronto, working in sales for the Drabinsky Gallery, promoting homegrown artists – something she says she really believed in.

Still, there was something missing.

‘It seemed there wasn’t much future in Toronto art galleries,’ she explains, ‘and my career was kind of at a standstill.’

All that was before she was ‘bitten by the bug,’ she says. The commercial production bug, that is.

The connection between Thomas’ early foray into the art business and her career in the commercial industry may seem tenuous. However, Thomas says of her time working for museums, ‘I had a strong sensibility in terms of the creative part. I also was able to take the creative part and sell it and represent it to buyers in a way that worked.’

It’s a talent that paid off later when she got her first job in advertising, and continues to be a big part of her talent in her executive producing work for L.T.B. Productions.

Thomas got her first job in the commercial industry when a friend of her brother’s set up an interview for her with Kessler Irish Films (now Blink Pictures). After a few meetings, she convinced owners Jane Kessler and Kate Hunter that she was the one for the vacant sales job.

‘It was my business to learn about the directors in terms of who they are and what they excel at,’ she explains. ‘Then I would pass that along to the agency. I wouldn’t go into a room and just screen reels and leave, nor would I take a hard-edged sales approach. I sort of took it upon myself to communicate to the agencies about the directors and their talents. That way, I think I built up a good rapport with the people in the agencies.’

Almost two years later, the ‘bug’ firmly in place, Thomas was offered a position with ltb by Wayne Fenske. ‘Jane and Kate were wonderful strong women to work for and terrific mentors,’ she says, ‘and it was hard to leave. But there was a lot of growth potential with ltb.’

Under the guidance of Fenske, a 35-year veteran of the biz, in 1996, Thomas began in sales, which led to doing bids, which in turn led to doing some line producing and executive producing.

‘It’s been a real growth experience,’ she says. ‘I see my role as working with and representing directors, and keeping everything together. It’s a fast-paced business with lots of egos and lots of money. It’s all about relationships and my goal is to keep everyone working together cohesively, keeping things contained and running smoothly.’

Thomas says she tries to do all this while living up to her personal standards of integrity, loyalty and professionalism. ‘It’s hard sometimes,’ she admits, ‘but I just love this business, so it’s worth it.’