Toronto’s untitled is now representing L.A.-based, Montreal-born director Tim Godsall, filling the comedy hole within the roster executive producer James Davis alluded to in last month’s On the Spot.

Godsall, raised in Toronto, joins untitled from T.O. production house Avion Films, where he had been directing for roughly three years. Like many currently in the industry, Godsall came to directing from the agency side. He started as a copywriter for McCann-Erickson 10 years ago, moved on to Doner Schur Peppler and then Geoffrey Roche & Partners. He also ventured to the U.S. to take a job as an associate creative director with Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners in New York.

Godsall became well known as the director of Molson Canadian’s ‘No Doot Aboot It’ ad through Bensimon Byrne D’Arcy. Davis says untitled can certainly use Godsall’s brand of ‘subtle, ironic comedy. I would say he is an underutilized talent and I think he’ll do well here. We’ve already received a very good response from agencies to his reel.’

Through untitled, Godsall is already working on a commercial for Dristan out of Young & Rubicam in Toronto. He is represented in the U.S. by Epoch Films.

Massey returns to Players fold

After a two-year absence, L.A.-based director Adam Massey has returned to The Players Film Company in Toronto for Canadian representation, much to the delight of Players prez Philip Mellows.

According to Mellows, his relationship with Massey resulted in ‘the best working experience [he’s] ever had’ with a director.

For Toronto native Massey, the feeling is mutual. After a tenure with Toronto’s M.E.A.T. (now Steam), the director says it’s good to be a Player again. ‘We always kept up-to-date with each other, and I missed the camaraderie I had with Philip, Derek Sewell and Luc Frappier (both Players execs). It is nice to come back to that.’

Massey says Players also keeps him exceedingly busy. When On the Spot caught up with him, he was in the middle of a Players shoot for the Chevy Venture out of MacLaren McCann in Toronto. He says he can see old patterns starting to develop just weeks after coming back into the fold.

‘The way it usually works is when Philip gets me up here for one job he seems to keep me around for two or three,’ he says. ‘I’m shooting here today, but last night he called me and said they’ve already got another job in for me, so we’ll see how it goes.’

Spots on Massey’s reel include work for Labatt, Molson, General Motors, Sears, Bandai America and others.

Massey is repped in the U.S. by MacGuffin Films.

-www.playfilm.com

Haynie is a Hero

Phoenix-based director Art Haynie has joined the roster of Toronto’s Hero Films for representation in Canada. He joins Hero from Circle Productions.

A former art director/creative director with U.S. agencies Hill & Knowlton and SRO, Haynie had his first taste of commercial direction on a low-budget spot for The Team Shop, which garnered him an Addy Award. He then studied the art of direction under mentor Ron Howard on the set of Howard’s film EDtv.

In his relatively short career behind the camera, Haynie has directed two campaigns that reflect his interest in snowboarding for clients Bonfire and Salomon Sports. He has also shot a series of five short films for The Comedy Network.

Cenex signs Kennedy for the East Coast

Halifax-based commercial production company Cenex has signed director Michael Kennedy.

Kennedy has made his name directing episodic television, working on shows like Blackfly, Made in Canada, The City and Kids in the Hall. To date, he has directed 12 spots for the Foster Parents Plan of Canada.

Kennedy is based in Halifax and is represented exclusively on the East Coast by Cenex.