Radke Films’ Matt Eastman, the big winner at the annual 2001 First Cut Awards ceremony, earning the top spot among Canada’s new batch of commercial directors, received feedback on his victory the day after his win. He left Toronto’s Capitol Event Theatre on Aug. 2 with a trophy and free trip to the Cannes Advertising Festival in 2002.

‘I was nicely surprised,’ says Eastman. ‘The next day some people called whom I hadn’t talked to in a while. It was nice that [word] spread quickly.’

He admits, also, that people started treating him differently on set when he returned to work just hours after receiving his award. ‘People were saying, ‘We’re glad we got you now because the rate is going up.’ It definitely feels good, and I think it is going to bring me a lot of work, which is the super part of it, for sure.’

Eastman has had little time to let it all sink in. Despite an industry slowdown that some say is to blame for fewer First Cut entries this year, he has been busy working on spots for Nabob, Kraft/Nintendo and Panasonic, and soon will begin shooting a new campaign for Five Alive, the client that arguably gave him his break.

The Partners’ Film Company director Kathi Prosser and Generator Films’ Zach Math received finalist certificates, presented by Saatchi & Saatchi, VP, director of broadcast Anna Tricinci.

Approximately 200 people turned out for the ceremony, which generated close to $1,000 for the Bereaved Families of Ontario. The First Cut Awards show was emceed by Playback/On The Spot publisher Lisa Nash. Saatchi & Saatchi and Playback/OTS sponsor the event.