Former Players Film Company executive producer Luc Frappier has joined Spy Films, taking on the role of managing partner and executive producer.

Frappier gave notice to Players honcho Philip Mellows upon returning from a South African shoot for Labatt Blue Light in March and spent the better part of a month contemplating his next move. He stepped in at Toronto-based Spy in mid-April.

Frappier says he anticipates the move to Spy will allow him greater autonomy and a chance to be more front-and-centre in the day-to-day operations of Spy. ‘It gives me an opportunity just to be more hands on, to have more of a presence,’ he says.

Spy boss Carlo Trulli says he and Frappier share a similar view and approach to the business so the fit was a natural one.

‘I’ve been without a true partner for a couple of years,’ says Trulli. ‘Luc, to me, fulfills that managing role… he brings a lot of production experience, a lot of contacts. He’s the right tone for this company. He’s passionate about what he does. I couldn’t think of anyone else in the city I’d want to be a partner with.’

Trulli says a new managing partner will allow him to focus on Spy’s international business, leaving more of the operational responsibilities to Frappier.

Frappier comes to Spy in the wake of the shop losing its go-to director, Pete Henderson, but neither partner anticipates that the production house will miss a step due to the loss. Expect additions to the prodco’s roster in coming weeks.

According to Trulli, rather than deliberately focusing on a central director as Spy had over the last few years with Henderson, the plan going forward will be to build the roster and allow each director to develop naturally.

‘I’ve always said you plant a half dozen seeds and watch them grow, one of them is going to bear a lot of fruit. That’s what we do with directors. We take on new directors, we nurture them, help them along and, hopefully, with their talent combined with our expertise and guidance, we can get some great results. Hence, we find our star director in the next couple of years.’

-www.spyfilms.com