Playback presents the 2000 Top Spots Awards, our 15th annual edition. Following are the results, recognizing the best in Canadian commercial production talent. Our judges visually digested some 130 spots from more than 20 companies and came up with a list of 11 Top Spots (there was one tie), and selected winners in eight craft categories. Spots were eligible for competition if shot by a Canadian director, or a director who lives in Canada for most of the year, and hit the airwaves in Canada between September 1999 and September 2000. Enjoy!

1.

Bud Light ‘Raft’

Director: Eddy Chu

DOPs: Barry Peterson, John Schwartzman

Production house: Backyard Productions

Producer: Susan Rued

Agency: DDB Needham, Chicago

2.

Breast Cancer Society ‘Cam’

Director: John Mastromonaco

DOP: John Houtman

Production house: Jolly Roger

Producer: James Davis

Art director: Elisa Sauve

Editing: Barry Farrell, Smash Editorial

Music: Rosnick MacKinnon

Sound design: Rosnick MacKinnon

Animation/FX: D.A.V.E.

Colorist: Bill Ferwerda, D.A.V.E.

Agency: ZiG Inc.

Agency producer: Janet Woods

Creative directors: Elspeth Lynn, Lorraine Tao

Art director: Elspeth Lynn

Copywriter: Lorraine Tao

3.

Beer.com ‘Pull My Finger’

Director: Martin Granger

DOP: Doug Koch

Production house: Avion Films

Producer: Michael Schwartz

Editor: Brian Noon, Flashcut

Music: David Fleury Music

Sound design: David Fleury Music

Animation/FX: Command Post/TOYBOX

Agency: Palmer Jarvis DDB

Agency producer: Johnny Chambers

Creative director: Neil McOstrich

Art director: Rich Pryce-Jones

Copywriter: David Chiavegato

4.

Spytech ‘Santa’

Director: Aubrey Singer/Duncan Bruce

DOP: Pat McGowan

Production House: Angel Films

Producer: Iris Savage

Music: Louder Music

Sound Design: Louder Music

Animation/FX: Red Rover

Editing: Greg Edgar, Stealing Time

Agency: TBWA Chiat Day

Agency Producer: Iris Savage

Creative Director: Duncan Bruce

Art Director: Duncan Bruce

Copywriter: Aubrey Singer

5.

Nearly Naked ‘Heist’

Director: Derek Horn

DOP: Marc Laliberte Else

Production house: Avion Films

Producer: Danielle Schwartz

Editor: Brian Noon, Flashcut

Agency: Palmer Jarvis DDB

Creative director: Marc Stoiber

Art director: Rich Pryce-Jones

Copywriter: David Chiavegato

6.

Bailey’s ‘In Laws’

Director: Tryan George

DOP: Miroslaw Baszak

Production house: The Partners’ Film Company

Producer: Geoff Cornish

Editor: Mark Morton

Music: Pirate Radio & Television

Sound design: Lonesome Pine Studios

Colorist: Elaine Ford, TOYBOX

Agency: Roche Macaulay & Partners

Agency producer: Dave Medlock

Creative director: Geoffrey Roche

Art director: Linda Carte

Copywriter: Alanna Nathanson

7. (tie)

Royal Bank ‘Dreams’

Director: John Mastromonaco

DOP: Scott Buttfield

Production house: Jolly Roger

Producer: Peter Davis

Art director: Kelly Lycan

Editor: David Baxter, Panic & Bob

Music: The Einstein Bros.

Sound design: The Einstein Bros.

Animation/FX: Axyz

Colorist: Gary Chuntz, Toybox

Agency: MacLaren McCann

Agency producer: Sandy Cole

Creative director: Stephen Blair

Art director: Rose Sauquillo

Copywriter: Jane Murray

7. (tie)

Reactine ‘Fashion Victims’

Director: Jaume

DOP: James Hawkinson

Production house: The Partners’ Film Company

Producers: Doron Kauper, Tervor Williams

Art director: Alan Fellows

Editors: Chris Parkins, Flashcut

Music: Rival Music

Sound design: Sonny Keyes

Animation/FX: Spin Productions

Colorist: Bill Ferwerda, D.A.V.E.

Agency: Taxi Advertising & Design

Agency producer: Louise Blouin

Creative directors: Paul Lavoie, Zak Mroueh

Art director: Christina Yu

Copywriters: Phil Silver, Paul Lavoie

8.

Short Man Brown ‘Head Bump’

Director: Dale Heslip

DOP: David Moxness

Production house: Imported Artists

Producer: David Brennan

Art director: James MacDonald

Editors: Mark Bachli, Andre Kirejew, Axyz

Music: Jeff White, Soundfield

Colorist: Gary Chuntz, TOYBOX

Agency: Direct to Short Man Brown

Creative director: Peter Holmes

Art director: Mark Holmes

Copywriter: Peter Knight

9.

TD Waterhouse ‘New City’

Director: David Tennant

DOP: Andre Pienaar

Production house: Jolly Roger

Producer: Ashley Austin

Art director: Oleg Savytski

Editor: Barry Farrell, Smash Editorial

Music: David Fleury Music

Sound design: David Fleury Music

Animation/FX: Spin Productions

Colorist: Gary Chuntz, TOYBOX

Agency: TBWA Chiat Day

Agency producer: Ken Rodger

Creative director: Jamie Way

Art director: Jamie Way

Copywriter: Aubrey Singer

10.

Shoppers Drug Mart ‘Opera Diva’

Director: Floria Sigismondi

DOP: Chris Soos

Production house: The Partners’ Film Company

Producer: Merrie Wasson

Art director: Phillip Barker

Editor: Richard Unruh, Third Floor Editing

Music: The Einstein Bros.

Sound design: The Einstein Bros.

Colorist: Bill Ferwerda, D.A.V.E.

Agency: TBWA Chiat Day

Agency producer: Ken Rodger

Creative director: Jamie Way

Art director: Jamie Way

Copywriter: Aubrey Singer