On The Spot presents Top Spots 2001, recognizing the best in Canadian commercial production talent. OTS solicited Canadian production companies to submit work directed by Canadians with creative from Canadian agencies, first air date not to have preceded October 2000. Our crack(ed) judging panel consisted of Playback editor Samantha Yaffe, OTS associate editor Mark Dillon, OTS staff writers Dustin Dinoff and Dave Lazar, and Steve Hillman, founder of Toronto post and design shop exhibita. After marathon, blinding sessions of spot viewing, analyzing, marking – not to mention fierce bickering and name-calling, our panel arrived at a final ranking for this year’s Top Spots and winners in five craft categories. So, without further ado…

1.

Sears Canada – Eatons ‘Dilemma/Discovery/Big Finish’

Director: Floria Sigismondi

DOP: Chris Soos

Production house: The Partners’ Film Company

Producer: Merrie Wasson

Art director: Randel Peacock

Editor: Michelle Czukar, Panic & Bob

Music: Mark Hukezalie, Chris Tait, Pirate Radio & Television

Sound design: Pirate Radio & Television

Animation/FX: TOPIX

Colorist: Bill Ferwerda, Manta DSP

Agency: Ammirati Puris

Agency producer: Pat White

Creative director: Doug Robinson

Art director: Doug Robinson

Copywriter: Tom Goudie

2.

Panasonic ‘The Dilemma’

Director: Matt Eastman

DOP: Marc Laliberte Else

Production house: Radke Films

Producer: Michael Haldane

Art director: Matt Eastman

Editor: Marcus Valentin, School

Music: Mark Hukezalie, Rick Shurman, Pirate Radio & Television

Sound design: Stream Audio

Agency: Palmer Jarvis DDB

Agency producer: Christine Pacheco

Creative director: Neil McOstrich

Art director: Mark Bovey

Copywriter: Steven Fogel

3.

Ford Motor Company of Canada ‘Umbrella’

Director: Jean-Marc Piche

DOP: Barry Parrell

Production house: Cinelande & Associes

Producers: Alex Sliman, Michi Lepik-Stahl

Art director: Danielle Labrie

Editor: Chris Parkins, Flashcut

Music: Steve MacKinnon, Steve Webster, Rosnick MacKinnon

Animation/FX: Mike Morey, Manta DSP

Agency: Young & Rubicam, Toronto & Montreal

Agency producer: Diane Kirk

Creative directors: Marc Melanson, Ian Kiar

Art director: Francois Vaillancourt

Copywriter: Alexandre Gadoua

4.

7UP ‘Sensitive Skin’

Director: Phil Brown

DOP: John Houtman

Production houses: Voodoo Arts, Radke Films

Producer: Stephanie Lord

Art director: Patrice Vermette

Editor: Jean-Francois Bergeron, Splice

Music: Les Respectables

Sound design: La Majeure

Agency: BBDO, Montreal

Agency producer: Natalie Gauthier

Creative director: Martin Beauvais

Art director: Martin Beauvais

Copywriter: Martin Belanger

5.

Mercedes-Benz ‘Eat, Sleep, Work’

Directors: Linda Carte, Peter Carnevale

Production house: Crush

Editor: Barry McMann, Third Floor Editing

Music: Rosnick MacKinnon ‘Run Lola Run’

Agency: Roche Macaulay & Partners

Agency producer: Leslie Hunter

Creative directors: Geoffrey Roche,

Linda Carte

Art director: Linda Carte

Copywriter: Peter Carnevale

6.

Janes Family Foods ‘Exacting Standards’

Director: Aubrey Singer

DOP: Glen Keenan

Production house: Industry Films

Producer: Caroline Gayler

Editor: Greg Edgar, Stealing Time

Agency: QVS Branding

Agency producer: Angela Carroll

Creative director: Aubrey Singer

Art director: Aubrey Singer, Angela Carroll

Copywriter: Aubrey Singer

7.

Canadian Dental Association ‘Nerd Club’

Director: Zach Math

DOP: Pat McGowan

Production house: Generator Films

Producer: Melanie Cornish

Editor: Ross Birchall, Relish

Music: Michael Zweig, Candy Sound

Colorist: Walt Biljan, Command Post/TOYBOX

Agency: Direct to client

8.

Sugar Mountain Confectionery Co. ‘Tiny Sparrow of Love’

Director: Zach Math

DOP: George Morita

Production house: Generator Films

Producer: Danielle Schwartz

Art directors/writers: Ian Letts, Michael Gelfand

Editor: Greg Edgar, Stealing Time

Music: Michael Zweig, Candy Sound

Animation/FX: TOPIX

Colorist: Walt Biljan, Command Post/TOYBOX

Agency: Direct to client

9.

Halls ‘Golfing’

Director: Philip Kates

DOP: Doug Koch

Production house: The Players Film Company

Producer: Julie Noorden

Editor: Brian Noon, Flashcut

Sound design: Great Big Music

Agency: J. Walter Thompson

Agency producer: Camielle Clark

Creative director: Rick Kemp

Art director: Rick Kemp

Copywriter: Allen Oke

10.

Corus Entertainment/Movie Central ‘Backseat’

Director: Javier Aguilera

DOP: Federico Barbabosa

Production house: Mad Films

Producer: Shannon Barnes

Art director: Michael Goodwin

Editor: Michelle Czukar, Panic & Bob

Animation/FX: Laird FX

Agency: (In-house) YTV/Corus Entertainment

Agency producer: Dolores Keating-Mallen

Creative director: Dolores Keating-Mallen

Art directors: Dolores Keating-Mallen, Nicholas Kadima

Copywriter: Nicholas Kadima