It’s been almost 10 years since the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario expropriated the Showline Trinity Studios at 65 Trinity Street, but as the facility is roused from a long sleep, it’s being welcomed back by an enthusiastic and nostalgic industry.

The studio facility was purchased by Showline’s outspoken president Peter Lukas and partner Murray Dutchak in 1982 and was expropriated in July 1988 to make way for the never-consummated Ataratiri Housing Project.

After sitting empty since early 1991, the space was rechristened late last month by Maxx Productions on a Larry August-directed Sprite project out of Roche Macauley & Partners.

Maxx head Harve Sherman says the facility was a hallmark for the industry the first time around and is an appreciated resource once again, citing the workable size of the studios and Lukas’ continued commitment to the commercial industry.

Dubbed ‘Little Beirut’ when it was first purchased as effectively a burnt-out hulk, the Trinity facility was assembled over two years by Lukas and Dutchak, who poured equally large amounts of money and attention to detail into the space.

Lukas points to touches like a double air-conditioning system (to prevent costly delays should one malfunction) and a spacious, well-maintained setup as details which ensure maximum efficiency.

But other perks, like a ground-level view of the city observable from the open doors of the main studio, went a long way to making the place an industry highlight. Sherman recalls not only the pleasure of observing the city panorama on summer nights of shooting, but actually shooting the skyline from the open studio doors on jobs out of the u.s.

The studios were engaged from 1984 to 1988 by the commercial industry and officially reopened on Nov. 13 after Lukas reached a settlement with the provincial government and undertook two months of renovation.

The 24,000-square-foot facility is comprised of a ‘maxi’ 8,000-square-foot stage and a ‘mini’ 2,000-square-foot stage, with generous support space, dressing rooms, production offices and parking.

To mark the reopening of the space, Lukas is offering inaugural 1988 rates.

*Stringham departs BBDO

BBDO president and ceo Peter Stringham has left that company to become chairman and ceo of y&r North America out of New York. Mike Fyshe, formerly president of BBDO Retail, has assumed the position of president and ceo of BBDO Canada. Creatives Stephen Creet and Michael McLaughlin have been named co-chief creative officers and the stylish Lou Quattro is now executive vp, coo.

*Partners’ ups Reneau Award ante

The Partners’ Film Company has revised the format of the Jeffrey Reneau Award this year to put the weight of the shop’s people and services behind the future film careers of student winners. The award is in memory of an ascendant young executive producer at Partners’ in the early days of the shop who was killed in a car accident and is presented annually at the Bessies to the winning commercial entry from a student or students.

Previously, the award was comprised of first, second and third place prizes of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. This year, Partners’ head Don McLean proposed that one prize of $50,000 be given to the top student or group. The prize will be delivered in Partners’ services, facilities and staff for the winner(s) to professionally produce their spot.

McLean says Partners’ will donate the gear needed to produce the winning spot, including 35mm film, lighting packages and art department, and the people in the winning group will work on the spot according to their capacity; i.e., if there is a director involved, he or she will direct, a camera expert will shoot, etc.

While the next award will keep the field open as to the nature of the submissions, applicants will likely be asked to submit a spot on a standardized subject or product in the future. McLean says the change is to ensure the award spoils go to developing skills and reels. He cites the quality of work coming from young directors out of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, a costly program but one that gets great support from the local industry. ‘This is a way of helping someone with that opportunity here,’ says McLean.

* The more the merrier

Partners’ has added new rep Marnie McGhie and editor Joel Zigler, who formerly ran his own shop, Shortcut Editing.

Partners’ has also added to its equipment complement with another Arri 435 and two 535b cameras.

* California import

Allen Martinez is the newest director at Imported Artists.

The California-based director is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he produced, directed and edited four spec spots, three of which contain graphic designs, cgi and compositing, all executed by Martinez.

* Moving on, moving in

Editor extraordinaire Gillian McCarthy will be leaving Third Floor Editing and Toronto at the end of the year. McCarthy will be heading to New York to practise her craft at the Consulate Film Editing Company in New York City.

Toronto’s Sesler & Company has moved as of Dec. 1 to 670 Richmond Street West. New phone number is (416) 504-1223.

* Top Spots addendum

The creative director on this year’s number-three Top Spot, Molson Export ‘Time Marches On,’ was Martin Gossellin at Cossette, Montreal, and the music was by L’Oreille Saffe, Montreal, not The Chemical Brothers as listed.

* Correction

Joseph Ruff, who recently joined The Big Film Company as an executive producer, is not a partner in the company as stated in last issue’s Word.