Canadian feature film and television director Bruce McDonald has added his name to the roster at The Partners’ Film Company for commercial representation.

McDonald recently wrapped season two of cbc series Twitch City, starring Don McKellar and Molly Parker. His feature work includes Hard Core Logo, Dance Me Outside, Highway 61 and Roadkill.

* Klarenbeck ankles to Players

The Players Film Company has signed director Justin Klarenbeck. Formerly with Avion Films, Klarenbeck’s reel demonstrates a way with humorous storytelling as well as effects work on spots for the likes of Nissan, Carl’s Jr. burgers and Visa Gold. The director’s ‘Vending Machine’ for Visa Gold was recently cited with a New York Festivals Gold award.

* DDB marks 50

DDB Group Canada recently celebrated the half century anniversary of DDB Worldwide with a spree at the Atlantis facility at Ontario Place. The Canadian ddb contingent marked the occasion with the establishment of the DDB Foundation and a $20,000 contribution to the National Advertising Benevolent Society of Canada.

Concurrent celebrations were held by ddb staff in Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton and Winnipeg.

* AIC moves into spot action

Vancouver’s AIC Productions has officially launched itself into the commercial and music video arena. The company has a seven-year history primarily in the corporate video realm and will establish its commercial presence with a roster that includes directors David Tamagi, Willi Dahm and director/dop John Banovich.

The aic commercial contingent will be headed by creative director Ken Malenstyn and broadcast producer Kristen Riess.

The company branched out into commercial and series work on the post side a few years ago with post arm Big Red Barn, and followed up on the production side in the past year.

aic is also in development on a series called Extreme Cooking, an outdoor adventure cooking show.

* That’s the ticket

While the city of Toronto was cheering the ostensibly Cup-bound Leafs, Blink Pictures director Dale Heslip completed a set of Nike cross-promotional spots using the stars of the beloved Raptors (themselves narrowly missing glory) in various states of Leaf fan-hysteria.

One of the spots features Raptor Reggie Slater desperately seeking Leaf tickets outside the Air Canada Centre; another has Slater tarted up with blue and white Leaf makeup entering a blue-whale of a caddy emblazoned with the words Go Leafs Go.

On a happy note, Heslip and dop Simon Mestel did end up with tickets of their own for their efforts, enjoying the spots playing larger than life on the Jumbotron above the acc crowds.

* Applause of the cause

The Toronto advertising community came together earlier this month at the Palais Royale to do the swing thing, raise money for breast cancer research and increase awareness of digital mammography.

Organized by Echo Advertising senior art director John Vennare, who is cycling across Canada to raise funds for the cause, the bash was sponsored by Spy Films, Mad Films and LTB Productions.

Around 350 people showed up, and although Vennare says it was a great party and everyone had a great time, there would have been more bodies present had the Maple Leafs not been vying for a position in the Stanley Cup playoffs the same night.

* Clarification

Oscar Bassinson has joined LTB Productions but is still repped by Aviator in the West.