– Harve Sherman, head of Toronto-based Maxx Productions, is bringing about a convergence of business philosophy and the other passion of his life – photography – into one environment dedicated to producing quality work with a group of like-minded people. That initiative consists of a push to bring on new Canadian talent and to bring his photography collection and expertise to a wider audience through the Maxx office.

Sherman will show numerous examples of his extensive and eclectic collection of photography as part of Contact 97, Toronto’s first annual photography festival, taking place at galleries and private venues throughout the city during May.

Photographs, from artists including Felix Bonfils, Peter Henry Emerson, Napoleon Sarony, Edward Curtis, Margaret Bourke-White, Eduard Steichen, Robert Frank and Irving Penn hang throughout the Maxx environment – in offices, boardrooms, common areas, even the washroom – and Sherman can provide a compellingly rich historical, artistic and personal context for each one.

This passion for striking images informs his m.o. on spot production. ‘What’s exciting is getting the right job for a director and knowing it will launch a person in the right direction,’ he says.

Sherman has done extensive u.s.-based work and says the accumulated experience has demonstrated the importance of managing talent properly; now he says he wants to undertake a ‘serious search’ for Canadian directors who are as dedicated to quality work as the company will be to their respective careers.

Sherman has called the production company ‘an underutilized asset that can be leveraged’ by an agency, and says a relationship whereby agencies truly rely on production houses to deliver is key. ‘Trust will become one of the biggest issues in the coming years,’ he says.

-Canadians bring home Clio hardware

Keeping in mind there was another set of awards held this month, of 17,000 entrants from 59 countries, six Canadian efforts were cited for Clio Awards at ceremonies held May 13 and 14 in New York.

In the tv awards, Leo Burnett’s ‘Monkey’ spot for Visa, directed by The Players Film Company’s David McNally, earned Clio Bronze in the banking/financial category, while Marshall Fenn’s Casino Rama ‘Breaker,’ directed by Maxx Productions’ Larry August, won bronze in entertainment promotions.

Other Canadian winners included Vancouver’s KOKO Productions, winning silver in the radio sound design category for Imax’s ‘Wings of Courage’; agency Ammirati & Puris, which won bronze in the print billboard category for Labatt Ice; Holmes Donin Alloul, winning bronze in the national print campaign category for Wampole; and Palmer Jarvis, which took print entertainment promotion bronze for Playland.

The Grand Clio for national campaign was awarded to Boston agency Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos for its John Hancock Financial Corporation effort, while San Francisco’s Silverstein & Partners, creators of the ‘Got Milk?’ campaign, was named agency of the year, with 14 wins in tv/cinema and 10 print awards.

-Other awardsŠ

Big Star Motion Pictures’ D. Gillian Truster picked up a u.s. International Film and Festival Award for a Speed Kings music video.

In addition to its Clio citation, the David McNally-directed ‘Monkey’ spot out of Leo Burnett also earned an Andy Award.

-Moves

The busy beavers at Spy Films have signed director David Straiton, ex of Rave Films, effective June 1. Spy, which has made a habit of building directors from scratch, brought Straiton aboard in recognition of his deft hand with performance and great looking pictures, including his work on Playland’s multiple Bessie-winning ‘Barfcam’ spot.

The Players Film Company has added director Rob Turner, formerly of comm.bat films, to its roster. Players has also signed l.a.-based Danny Weisberg, repped in the u.s. by Orbit.

Randy Diplock has left bbdo as vp associate creative director to join MacLaren McCann as group creative director, where he will team up with former partner Jamie Way.

-Makin waves at LTB

With recent initiatives to round out its roster and reaffirm its Love the Business position in the market, L.T.B. Productions has sent out a new set of reels to agencies showcasing the company’s efforts to address a wide range of creative niches.

Included in that package is Canadian director Kelly Makin, recently added to the ltb lineup. Name recognition for the new director is high among those familiar with Kelly’s dop dad, Harry Makin, or among fans of Kids in the Hall, which the younger Makin directed for two years. In addition to the series, Makin also has a strong background directing feature films, including the big-screen version of Kids in the Hall, Brain Candy.

With his demonstrable skill for comedy dialogue, ltb will aim Makin exclusively at the comedy side of the commercial market, an area for which agencies often seek u.s. talent. Makin, who has a commercial background, with a stint as pa at rabko, and industrials experience, will also continue to pursue feature film directing.

-L.A. Import

Imported Artists has imported a new l.a.-based director in the person of Tim Cronenweth for exclusive Canadian representation. Cronenweth’s background includes music videos for Snoop Doggy Dog and Blind Melon, spots for Porsche and Toyota, and he has cultivated a light comedy and dialogue touch.

The new director also has an impressive film pedigree, with grandfather Edward an Academy Award-winning stills photographer, father Jordan an Academy Award-winning cinematographer for Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and brother Jeff, also a dop.

-Omission

In last issue’s storyboard on ddb’s spacey Heinz spot, a key player – agency executive broadcast producer Martha Scandrett – was not mentioned.