L.A.-based Coppos Films and Backyard Productions have partnered with Toronto’s Imported Artists Film Company for Canadian representation, causing a major restructuring of the Toronto production company’s directors roster.

‘We got rid of a lot of the directors we felt either weren’t serious about this marketplace, were unavailable, or who are more difficult to sell based on their style,’ says Christina Ford, owner and president of Imported. ‘What that in turn allowed us to do was make room for Backyard and Coppos.’

In the end, Imported comes out even – removing 14 directors and adding 14 new names to its roster. Ford says she is being careful not to let the company to get too big and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity presented by establishing formal business relationships with Coppos and Backyard.

‘It is really about servicing and selling these particular directors and really getting them out there into the Canadian marketplace,’ says Ford.

Apart from Coppos directors Richard Sears, who is repped in Canada by Industry Films, and Robert Black and Brian Aldridge, who are staying at Coppos’ previous home, Radke Films, the rest of Coppos’ roster has moved to Imported.

Among the Coppos directors are Jeff Karoff, Shawn Driscoll, Mikael Salomon, directing team Mark Coppos and Virginia Lee as well as Tom Schiller. Schiller, who joined Coppos in October 2000, was one of the first writers on Saturday Night Live.

With the addition of Backyard several weeks ago, Imported acquired six more directors, Rob Pritts, Kevin Smith, Don Rase, Chace Strickland, Steve Burrows and Tim Abshire.

And Imported gained an additional four directors when Radical Media, which is affiliated with Imported for Canadian representation, acquired L.A.-based Stifle Films.

-www.importedartists.com

-www.copposfilms.com