Alex Eaton didn’t know what to expect when he left Third Floor Editing in the spring of 1997 to start his own post house. Three years later, Eaton’s Stealing Time is one of Toronto’s foremost editing facilities, employed often by agencies such as Ammirati Puris Lintas, Harrod & Mirlin fcb and Cossette Communication-Marketing.

Stealing Time has a staff of 12, including four senior editors and Kate Eisner, a new executive producer. With five clocks in the lobby alone, the shop looks more like a theme loft than a post house. Eaton and company have done their best to make the space as comfortable as possible for visiting clients, installing a games room with billiards, table tennis, shuffleboard, and an oft-used hammock. But if the perks at Stealing Time aren’t enough to keep clients coming back for more, then its work is.

Eaton called upon two decades’ worth of experience when he established Stealing Time.

‘I had my own company in the past and [starting Stealing Time] was just about making a change,’ Eaton says. ‘It wasn’t an ‘I can do it, too’ thing. Actually, I intended to do it on a much smaller scale. We’ve been fortunate to have good people join us, and good clients who have followed each of us. It has really taken on a life of its own.’

Shortly after the inception of Stealing Time, Eaton was joined by fellow editor Greg Edgar, followed by editors Mark Hajek and, most recently, Jeff Bessner, who came aboard from Partners’ Post. Eaton says although the main thrust of Stealing Time’s business is commercial production, the shop is capable of handling longer film formats, as Hajek and Bessner have done in the past.

Eaton adds that getting Eisner on board this year was a major coup.

‘[Kate] has brought a wonderful energy and enthusiasm, a lot of knowledge from the production house end, and agency experience,’ he says. ‘She lets me just step back and be an editor.’

With Eisner involved, Stealing Time has cut and posted many commercials already in 2000. Edgar completed spots for Dentyne out of Bates Canada that were shot in Chile, one of which will run 60 seconds and play in cinemas. Eaton has finished work for Sunlight and Lipton, while Hajek is basking in the praise for his work on the latest Toyota Dealers of Ontario cinema/tv spot.

Although Stealing Time’s local rivals include Third Floor Editing, Flashcut and Panic & Bob, Eisner and Eaton agree there is enough work to go around.

‘There are still a small number of competitors,’ says Eisner, adding that the amount of commercial work being made in Canada leaves few editors twiddling their thumbs. ‘There are far fewer post houses than production houses. There is a saturation of directors compared to editors.’

Eisner knows her clients must still choose from among several post houses, but believes competitive rates are not always enough to win the work.

‘It is not entirely about how low your price is, but how good your editors are and how good your service is,’ she says. ‘Clients come to you because they want to work with your editors. That’s what brings them back.’

As full as Stealing Time’s roster seems at present, Eisner admits there may be room to take on ‘the right person.’ Adds Eaton: ‘We have stopped pursuing since Jeff [Bessner] joined us. There are a few editors we may like to talk to, and they are welcome to call us wherever they are.’

Eaton hopes that after three years people are no longer thinking of Stealing Time as ‘Alex Eaton’s editing company,’ but as a facility with a whole roster of impressive editorial talent.

And a kick-ass games room.