*Something Special

Jolly Roger director Steve Chase has inked a deal with mgm to direct his first feature, Special.

A quirky comedy in the tradition of There’s Something About Mary, Special is the story of a man who pretends to be handicapped in order to win an autographed football and score points with his girlfriend’s child.

Chase is repped by Reactor Films in the u.s.

*Eyes on the TIFF Trailers

Twelve eyes are the stars of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival trailer, directed for the fourth year by Echo Advertising’s Barry Avrich.

The first teaser, which ran in movie theatres throughout the summer, shows film running through an antique Keystone projector, courtesy of Avion Films’ Michael Schwartz, and ends with a shot of a human eye. The projector was originally hand-cranked, but for the purposes of the trailer it had to be motorized.

The second trailer, which will unspool before each festival film, starts off where the teaser leaves off, at the eye, and focuses on how the eye interprets film, and its relationship to the mind’s eye.

Echo agency producer Margaret Callaghan produced the spots, Hoodoo Films was the production house and George Morita was dop. Post was donated by Soho Post & Graphics, Eyes Post and Deluxe. Trevor Morris looked after the music.

*New Gammage gambit

After moving his operation from Oakville to Toronto just a few months ago, Chuck Gammage Animation is headed in a new direction.

Jonathan Block-Verk, former account manager at Playback, has joined Gammage as director of sales and marketing. In this new position, Block-Verk will be developing and promoting a roster of designers who specialize in specific styles of 2D illustration, which Chuck Gammage and his team of animators will bring to life.

The shop recently completed spots for Kellogg’s Mini Wheats and Frosted Flakes out of Leo Burnett and is in the running for a Golden Marble Award for an Old Navy ad for Big Pocket Jeans.

*Much anticipation

The nominees are in for the 10th annual MuchMusic Video Awards and Generator director Jef Renfroe’s music video for Sky’s Love Song is in the running for seven prizes, including best video, best pop video, best director, people’s choice: favorite Canadian group and favorite Canadian video. dop Dylan McLeod is up for best cinematography for Love Song.

Renfroe’s video for Joee’s Do You Right is nominated for best dance and best independent video.

The Players Film Company director Bradley Walsh – known in music video circles as ‘B-Rad’ – is up for best director for his work on Len’s, Steal My Sunshine. The video is also nominated for best video, best pop video, the people’s choice award and best editing (Chris Van Dyke).

Command Post/toybox vfx artist Alex Boothby’s Hang Ten video for Edwin is up for best video, best rock video, best director and best editing.

Spy Films’ Ulf Buddensieck is nominated for best rock video and best editing for I Mother Earth’s Summertime In The Void. topix/Mad Dog artist James Cooper’s video Squeeze Toy for The Boomtang Boys is in the running for best video, best dance video and best editing.

Montreal director Pierre Dalpe out of Voodoo Arts is up for best French-language video for Lili Fatale’s Les Djinns.

Among the celebs taking the stage at the Sept. 23 awards ceremony will be David Bowie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Britney Spears, Barenaked Ladies, Alice Cooper, Geri Halliwell, Len, Our Lady Peace and Sky.

*On the move

Clare ‘Cash’ Cashman is the newest executive producer at Apple Box Productions, Toronto.

Formerly a freelance producer, Cash will officially take her new post at the beginning of October to coincide with the company’s move to 488 Wellington Street West.

* New on the roster at The Players Film Company is director Branson Veal. Based in Sun Valley, Idaho, and repped in the u.s. by sister company Ace of l.a., Veal has shot spots for Nike, Powerade, Bank One, The Sports Authority, and most recently for Budweiser.

* Freelance production manager Michael Haldane is the new full-time head of production at commercial service company Treehouse North Productions.

*Correction

We would like to apologize for the mistake. This is Oscar Bassinson, the subject of last issue’s Direct This, and not Vadim Perelman as the headline indicated.