Toronto’s Imported Artists has signed an exclusive Canadian representation agreement with New York-based Shooting Gallery Productions, headed up by president and executive producer Tim Clawson. Shooting Gallery Productions is a division of Shooting Gallery, an independent feature film company established a decade ago by chairman/ceo Larry Meistrich and president Steve Carlis. The company branched off into commercial production less than a year ago.

Imported executive producer Christina Ford says once she heard Shooting Gallery Productions was looking for Canadian representation she was immediately interested.

‘Tim Clawson has an impeccable reputation in the States,’ says Ford. ‘I haven’t found anyone who can say anything but brilliant things about him. This man was the driving force behind Propaganda Films for several years, which is one of the most successful production companies of all time. If nothing else, I was excited to meet the man and the myth.’

Ford did more than meet Clawson, she struck a deal to represent his roster north of the border. The roster includes Carlton Chase, Spooner & French and Ford’s husband Richard D’Alessio, who recently made the jump to Shooting Gallery from A Band Apart. D’Alessio has been repped in Canada by Imported for several years.

Clawson says he is very excited about the deal with Imported.

‘To work with the right people is the most important thing for us,’ says Clawson. ‘We didn’t want to step into the marketplace without feeling as though we had very good solid people behind us who really knew the lay of the land and also understood where we were coming from.’

Clawson says a big part of Shooting Gallery’s new affiliation with Imported is thanks to the reputation of Ford and the way she runs her business.

‘We met [the folks at Imported] and hit it off right away,’ he says. ‘We really felt their sensibilities and their concerns for the creative work as well as the support the company offers its directors is exactly the kind of company we are.’

*Industry goes Public

Toronto’s Industry Films has signed an exclusive representation deal with Los Angeles-based Public Works. Public Works, an independently operated satellite of HKM Productions, boasts a roster that includes directors/ director teams Johan Brisinger, Sean Ellis, Joel Gallen, Felt, Todd Lincoln, Gus Gus, Giuseppe Capotondi, Panoptic, Franco Dragone and Roenberg. (Roenberg is the Norwegian team behind Budweiser’s ‘Rex’ spot, which aired during the Superbowl).

‘[Public Works] is a really innovative company…because it is more about bringing art to the commercial side of things,’ says Industry executive producer Tina Petridis.

Petridis is impressed not only by the talent on Public Works’ roster, but also by how seriously the company’s principal, Ellen Jacobson, and her directors take the Canadian market.

‘It sometimes doesn’t happen so easily with American affiliates,’ admits Petridis. ‘Public Works takes the Canadian market very seriously, and that is why for us, at Industry Films, having a relationship with Public Works is terrific. It’s not as though they just care about the American market, and I think a part of that is because of the European sensibility many of their directors bring.’

Jacobson offers some insight into the 11-month-old company’s motives for signing with Industry.

‘I did a job through Industry and I was impressed by their operation, reputation, overall sophistication and experience,’ says Jacobson. ‘I think there is good creative to be had in Canada and I think it is definitely important to give my directors as many options in the marketplace as possible.’

*Navigating global waters

Navigator Films has gone on a global shopping spree and added three new directors to its roster for exclusive representation in Canada: l.a.-based Emmy Award-winning documentary director Lionel Coleman, Australian spot director Peter Cherry and Canadian salad dressing mogul/director Alex Ogus.

Coleman’s credits include spots for Gatorade, Nike, Sony, Subway and Oldsmobile.

Yvonne Buckingham, executive producer at Navigator, says, ‘Coleman is an an extremely exciting and dymanic young director.’

Cherry has split his spot work between l.a. and Sydney. His representation with Navigator marks his first foray into the Canadian market.

As for Ogus, he translates a successful salad dressing business and a strong desire to direct into what marks the launch of his new career. Ogus is clearly excited about the deal. ‘Navigator is a house that’s supportive of developing talent. I liked their marketing approach for me as a director, that being [hyping my specialties of] comedy, performance, and dialogue,’ he says.

*Blink adds two

Blink Pictures has added Vancouver-based feature film/commercial director Gavin Wilding to its roster, and has signed u.s. celebrity still photographer/commercial director Timothy White for exclusive representation in Canada.

Wilding’s most recent commercial venture, ‘Turbulence’ for b.c. amusement park Playland out of Palmer Jarvis ddb, Vancouver, won Best of Show and a multimedia silver at this year’s Marketing Awards and is among the Bessie finalists. The spot was produced out of Vancouver’s Sezwho Productions.

Based in New York, White has shot commercials in the u.s. featuring celebrities Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep and Whoopi Goldberg for such clients as New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Association of American Publishers.

Blink sales representative Carmen Jarzabek explains what the two directors bring to the roster:

‘Timothy has spent most of his career on movie sets photographing celebrities. So making the transition from print to film was a natural progression. He can do both the print and film aspects of a campaign.

‘Gavin’s strongest quality is his ability to draw out performances. He’s worked with impressive casts in a variety of genres. We believe this versatility will translate well into commercial production.’

*An Anonymous MEATing

Toronto’s m.e.a.t. has signed an exclusive Canadian representation agreement with Los Angeles-based spot shop Anonymous. The company currently represents a large roster of filmmakers, including David Fincher, David Kellogg, Malcolm Venville, Hammer and Tongs, Andrew Douglas, and others.

‘I’m very excited about them,’ says m.e.a.t. executive producer Susie Neill. ‘It is a very hip company. We want to continue to offer the Canadian market a more diversified array of storytellers.’

Neill hints Anonymous will be signing some additional directors in the near future, which m.e.a.t. will also be looking at boards for.

*Adding magic to Voodoo

Montreal’s Voodoo Arts has added two Montreal directors to its roster, 28-year-old director Francis Leclerc (son of Quebecois poet-chansonnier Felix Leclerc) and Alastair Paton.

Voodoo has also struck a deal with Toronto’s Radke Films for exclusive representation of 14 of its directors in the Quebec market.

The agreement includes directors/dops Jeth Weinrich (Allina, Cigna) and Steve Gordon (Tropicana, Sears), and directors Mike Bigelow (Labatt Blue, nfl), Marco Brambilla (Sony, Lite Ultra), Phil Brown (Canine Equipment, Labatt); Gordon Clark (Canada Post, Zippo), Eddy Chu (Interim, Panasonic, Bud Light), Tom DeCerchio (I Wireless, Tostitos), Wayne Gibson (Federal Express, Chrysler Neon), Mark Mainguy (Crayola, fila), Allen Martinez (Ugly Duckling, Heineken), Adam Massey (Labatt, Molson), Martin Shewchuk (Toyota, Labatt) and Jim Sonzero (RTE 66, Jaguar).

Martial Vincent, Voodoo president, is thrilled with the expanded roster: ‘With the arrival of Paton and Leclerc and our exclusive agreement to represent Radke Films’ 14 directors in Quebec, we have built a strong portfolio of directors that offer a wide array of specialties. This new team will help Voodoo Arts penetrate more effectively the advertising business in Quebec.’

Voodoo also announced this month an exclusive collaboration agreement with Mac Guff Ligne, one of France’s leading visual effects production firms.

*So long, Mr. Smyka

Playback’s parent company, Brunico Communications Inc., held a tribute dinner and roast April 3 in honor of Playback founding editor Mark Smyka. Smyka left the company last month to pursue new ventures.

Smyka’s passion for the advertising business and the business of entertainment spawned not only Playback, but Playback sister journals Strategy, KidScreen and, most recently, Boards. He can also be credited with the launch of the Golden Marble Awards.

Plans include screenwriting, working with a non-profit organization, and completing a book about the ad industry – if the phone ever stops ringing. One thing those who know him are sure of, however, he will be successful at whatever he chooses to do. He’s just that kind of guy.

*Vanlint spreads to WorldFest

Director/dop Derek Vanlint’s feature film The Spreading Ground was recently screened at the WorldFest – Houston 2000 film festival. The film, about the race to track down a serial killer who preys on young girls, premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival earlier this year. Vanlint, who served as dop on the features Alien and Dragonslayer, directed and shot The Spreading Ground, which stars Dennis Hopper.

*Well, I never…

As the results began to come in for the Playback annual Top Shops survey of audio, audio post and post-production houses, a popular Canadian music company has nominated itself as top shop in all categories.

The company (which shall remain nameless) fancies itself tops in everything from animation to editing. As for a reason for its self-nominations, the company offers this justification: ‘We wouldn’t call anyone else.’