Thursby directs PSA

Straiton helms Microplay

At Dalton/Kessler Films, David Straiton directed three spots for a one-day, client-direct Microplay job, with Barry Parrell on camera.

Derek Van Lint and Associates’ Stephen Thursby directed a psa for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada through Vickers and Benson. The one-day job was shot north of Toronto – in the middle of a 30-acre potato field – and involved over 100 volunteer extras. Doug Koch handled dop duties and sound design was provided by Louder Music and Sound Design. Thursby was also the director on the English- and French-language spots for the Arthritis Society of Canada. The job, shot by Ryan McMaster, was through smw.

The Thursby/McMaster team recently wrapped a pool of 15-second spots for Neo Citran through DDB Needham. Mark Stafford did sound design.

Chameleon Film and Video’s Andy Attalai handled editing on all three assignments.

Richard D’Alessio of Imported Artists Film Company scored five days with Bell Canada and Leo Burnett. Miroslaw Baszak shot two days and Sean Valentini shot the remaining three. Flashcut’s Gillian McCarthy and Bob Kennedy posted the spots and Rosnick MacKinnon did the music.

At Chaos International, tabletop director/dop Bruce Nadel worked on a job for Labatt and Corporate Communications. Third Floor Editing’s Alex Eaton handled post.

Circle Productions director Derik Murray scored three days for Pizza Hut through fcb. Gabor Tarko handled camera.

Damast Gordon and Associates director/dop Dan Izzard had a day for gm’s Safari Van. Izzard landed another three days directing a half-hour assignment for the GEO 3 on 3 World Festival, which will air on bbs and ctv. dops for the shoot included Bill Atanasoff, Bret Judges, Gordon Judges, Al McCormick and Barry Smith. Flashcut’s McCarthy handled editing and music was composed and produced by Jim Longo and Bryant Didier of Trax Sounds. The agency for both jobs was MacLaren:Lintas.

Radke Films’ Phil Kates landed a day for Molson out of v&b, with Tarko on camera.

In Montreal, new commercial action reported by La Fabrique d’Images includes five 15-second French/English tv spots shot in late November for Pharmaprix and PNMD/Publitel. Michel Poulette was the director, the dop was Allan Smith and the ongoing pool stars talented actress Macha Grenon.

Director Marc S. Grenier and dop Pierre Gill got the call on a Cantel Amigo Christmas message out of Groupaction Marketing, with rising comedic talent Stephane Rousseau in the lead role. The one-day shoot was posted at Buzz and transferred at Centre de montage electronique, with lab services provided by AstralTech.

A Bell Quebec Xmas promo for Cossette Communication-Marketing called ‘Surprise’ features the ever-popular Monsieur B. offering season’s greetings. It was shot by veteran director Jean-Francois Pouliot, with Steve Danyluk on board as dop. The transfer was handled by Supersuite. Pouliot and Danyluk also got the nod on ‘Genie-Tibet,’ a two-day shoot for Bell and Cossette featuring a smoky blue genie in the role of a long-distance operator.

Still at Fabrique, five new spots for Brasserie Molson O’Keefe from director Grenier and dop David Franco promoting an expanded musical cap premium with prizes that include 10 Suzuki Sidekicks, 50 holiday trips to the Dominican Republic and 20,000 prepaid $20 long-distance calling cards from Teleglobe. The pool is out of agency Promo Marketing.

At Jet Films, new shoots include a tax-time reminder in the form of two 30s for H&R Block and Allard Communication directed by Michel David and shot by busy dop Danyluk.

Andre Melancon directed three 30s for broadcaster Telemetropole’s anti-violence campaign. The spots were posted at cme and feature aggressive characters who don’t see how their behavior is aggressive.

New Jet director Eric Tessier and dop J. P. Trudel handled duties on two 30s for Desjardins and the federation of eastern regional Caisse Populaires. The spots were shot in-studio at Cite du Cinema and posted at Supersuite.

And David got the call on seven new spots for General Motors dealers in Montreal, including two 45s and a 15-second Boxing Day promotion. Danyluk is the cinematographer on the long, two-day studio shoot, which will be posted at Hybride Technologies.