Gord Koch has been granted full-time editorship at Toronto post shop Flashcut. After three years assisting Mick Griffin and Norm Odell, Koch has been given his own room and says the main thrust of his work will be devoted to commercial editing.

Prior to joining Flashcut, Koch worked in the music business as a cd mastering technician for independent bands. He says his musical background helped a great deal when he turned his focus to editing.

‘Although it is quite different in many regards, being familiar with software of that nature really helped me grasp what was going on,’ he says.

Having assisted Odell and Griffin for so long, Koch believes this is the right time for him to fly solo.

‘I’ve definitely learned a lot from watching those two guys and assisting them,’ he says. ‘I’ve been able to pick up a lot and they’ve been very generous in allowing me to help them in different ways. I feel like I’m able now to use what they’ve given me to bring something to a project and still be at a point where I want to learn a lot more with different situations.’

Koch says he looks forward to the challenges of not only editing full-time, but also troubleshooting with the client, agency and others who may be lurking in the shadows, peeking over his shoulder.

Some of Koch’s more recent work includes the post on ads for Dimetapp and Labatt.

*Radke’s Brown gets licked

Radke Films director Phil Brown continues to push Canadian advertising to risque new levels with a big-name client. The director of Canine Equipment’s controversial ‘Very Bad Dog Gear’ spots recently shot a pair of Sony Discman ads that have just gone to air and will surely turn some weak stomachs, or at the very least, spawn a few cries of ‘Oh God, that’s so gross!’ If you’ve been following the career of the daring Mr. Brown, you know those words are like beautiful music to him.

To add context, Radke’s head of sales Jamie Phair says because of the potential to turn off sensitive viewers, the spots will only air after 9 p.m.

The two commercials were created by the MacLaren McCann team of Shelly Lewis and Wade Hesson and feature a pair of scary and perhaps all-too-common scenarios.

In the first, known simply as ‘Dog,’ a young woman is lounging in a park with her yellow Labrador retriever. She is lying on the grass with her eyes closed, listening to her Discman, while her dog becomes gradually embittered that he’s not getting the attention he deserves. To exact some revenge, the dog begins licking his most intimate of areas, unbeknownst to his owner. He licks and licks and licks some more, with the owner oblivious to what he is doing. He then begins to lick her face, followed by the tag line, ‘We can only protect your music.’

Brown has gone on record to say, ‘I can totally relate to the dog.’

The second ad is called ‘Waitress’ and has a similar scenario. A young man is sitting in a diner, waiting for his breakfast, listening to his Sony Discman. As the waitress is bringing it to him, she sneezes on his food. Realizing he cannot hear her, she delivers it to him regardless. The young man takes a bite and is immediately aware there is something wrong. Again, the tag line, ‘We can only protect your music.’

John Houtman served as dop and Brian Williams edited at Panic & Bob.

*Golf for gals

Okay ladies, it’s tee-time again. dave’s Cathy MacMillan is once again in the early stages of putting together the group known as Women Fore Golf, created to get women in the commercial production industry out to fraternize over 18 or so holes. MacMillan says she tried to get women in the commercial biz out on the courses once before, and received a huge response, but it turned out to be a bigger job than she initially thought, given the demands of her day job with dave. Recently she has found many women interested in such a group once again.

MacMillan says she will play her part in this ’round’ by compiling a list of women interested in getting out on a sunny afternoon for some golf and cheer, heading up the Women Fore Golf registry.

All those interested should contact MacMillan at (416) 364-1422.

*On The Spot

The next issue of Playback (July 10) marks the launch of Playback: On The Spot, a new monthly publication offering comprehensive coverage of the Canadian commercial production industry along with regular features and columns.

Direct editorial tips and queries to Dustin Dinoff or Dave Lazar at (416) 408-2300.

Until then folks…