It was a happy confluence of events ­ a location feature shoot in the wilds of b.c., a Canadian commercial production company piquing the interest of a Brazilian producer through a trade magazine and a Spanish-speaking producer ­ that brought the ever lovable Antonio Banderas to Vancouver for a soap shoot for Apple Box Productions.

The project for Palmolive soap originated out of Young & Rubicam Brazil where a producer had been reading up on Canadian commercial shops and learned that Apple Box had a Spanish-speaking rep, Jamie Rodriguez.

Banderas, currently shooting Disney’s Eaters of the Dead in Campbell River, b.c., was transported to Vancouver ­ with Melanie and baby Stella in tow ­ for the day’s shoot.

Brazilian director Joao Daniel Tikhomiroff helmed the spot, with dop Ronny Dana on camera.

In the spot, ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,’ a woman is lolling endlessly in a tub full of Palmolive suds, preparing the way for what turns out to be her dream-come-true date.

Leslie Thomas of Apple Box produced the spot, and according to reports, the star is, naturally, delicious on the inside too, a ‘hard- working actor’ with ‘no attitude.’

-Studio space

With Derek Vanlint’s studio at 38 McGee Street purchased by Vision Films’ Sandra Kovacs and Aaron Goldman, Vanlint may pick up the feature lens again on some of the productions coming out of the former comm.bat space, now Freedom Studios. The studio is now being offered for general use, and renovations to the second floor, expected to be completed in the new year, will result in post facilities on site.

-LTB’s new Union

Partially the result of a u.k. trip by (recently engaged) executive producer Liane Thomas, L.T.B. Productions has assumed Canadian representation of London-based Union Commercials.

With a previous introduction to the shop through O&M Singapore creative director and sometimes director Neil French, Thomas ended up staying a stone’s throw away from the company while on holiday in London.

The roster’s powerhouse reel represents a global trend, says Thomas, and some breakthrough spots and techniques unseen on these shores. The Union lineup includes Eric DeLa Hosseraye, Simon Gargette, Adam Johnson, Robert Golden, Simon Peters, Zadoc Nava, Ray Gower and Iain Mackenzie, whose reel is packed with high-end, visually and creatively captivating spots for the likes of Singapore Airlines and McDonald’s (there is some good creative out there for the burger chain).

Director Tim Cronenweth (son of Jordan, the Academy Award-winning dop of Blade Runner) is also on the ltb roster.

-Mad moves up

After a month of renovations, Mad Films has moved upstairs to their new home, complete with ‘cool’ ground-down metal doors displaying their logo, five storeys above Spy.

Although Mad hasn’t added any new names to its roster of eight directors the company is in negotiations with a few and their current directors are keeping very busy.

Michael Buckley is shooting a music video for Blue Rodeo. David Storey recently finished a spot for Ontario Tourism through smw, and Istan Rozumny just completed a two-day shoot for Sick Children’s Hospital.

-Bydwell joins the Zoo

Director/cameraman Glenn Bydwell has been added to the roster of Zoo tv. Bydwell, who is also a stills photographer, production designer, architect and industrial designer, recently sold a collection of his stills work to Polaroid International for its permanent collection in Dusseldorf.

-Sparks adds Belefant

With Sparks representing him on this side of the border, American commercial director Brian Belefant is bringing his provocative style to Canada.

Directing for about three years and repped in the u.s. by Wildlife Management, Belefant feels that his 14 years’ experience as an advertising copywriter helped him become more objective about problem-solving, which to him is a fundamental issue in the ad game.

‘It’s all about communication, problem-solving and capturing the moment,’ says the director, who claims to never do things in a straight-ahead manner.

Always in search of a different way to look at something, his style shines through on his reel, which is chockfull of prickly comedy and weird moments.

One such startling and thought-provoking spot for gun awareness features a heart-wrenchingly beautiful baby playing in that baby way while the tune Pop G’es the Weasel plays in the background, with the gasp factor provided when the little one picks up its new toy.

On the lighter side, his spots for wqhs rock radio feature country folk listening to country tunes. As they prepare for their suicides, the announcer comes on saying the more people listen to country music the higher the suicide rate.

‘I find the funniest things come out of tragedy and the most tragic things have comic elements to them,’ says Belefant.

As for Canadian creative, in general Belefant sees something much softer, honest and good-natured about it. ‘It’s comfortable, you laugh with someone instead of at them.’

-Entry deadline extension

The New York Festivals has extended the entry deadline for the 1997 International Television and Cinema Advertising Competition to Sept. 30. The show will be held this year at the Marriott Marquis in New York Jan. 23, 1998. For a call for entries kit, phone (914) 238-4481 or see the festival’s Website (www.ny fests.com).