Heaven…just a Stones’ throw away

Street was lured off the beaten commercial path this issue, but no apologies will be forthcoming because The Stones are in town. Rehearsing for their coming concert tour, Jagger, Richards et al set aside time to shoot a video for their latest single, Love Is Strong. Directed by David Fincher of Propaganda Films, the video seems to offer no Cancon, until you know that Propaganda ‘wanted to run the video through a Canadian producer,’ that being Toronto’s Circle Productions.

Circle’s Tim Turner says apart from the crew, most Circulars observed Mick, Keith and friends from a distance on the closed, groupie-free set, just this side of the burly – but friendly – security guys. Turner says the rock stars brought an extremely professional, workmanlike attitude to the set (except for a few late arrivals), and seemed keen to maintain a certain image. Rather than accepting Fincher’s suggestions unchallenged, says Turner, they questioned how they would appear making certain moves and controlled the look of the shoot at all times.

The shoot itself involved the performers doing their moves against a green screen background. In editing, Turner says, the Stones will be made to look like giants roaming around in New York City. The requisite model-type females also featured in some sequences, but he says they were never on-set with the Stones. Unfortunately, the one day all the Stones, wives, kids, etcetera, were assembled on set, Turner’s attention was diverted by the pain/repair of a broken shoulder.

Despite the security, the set was fairly relaxed, says Turner, because everyone was so thrilled ‘to be a part of it.’ Even the company delivering bottled water wanted to deliver it personally, but of course it was a closed set.

Cannes do

In another exotic location, Canadians made it back into medal territory at the International Advertising Festival in Cannes, France with a Bronze Lion for a commercial promoting the Cystic Fibrosis Charity Appeal.

The commercial was directed by Terry O’Reilly for Michael O’Reilly Advertising, Toronto. Production company was Sparks Productions, with executive producer Andy Crosbie.

Last year Canada came home without a single medal at the prestigious commercial competition.

While Canadian attendance lagged a bit this year, entries from Canada were up to 75, seven of which made it past the first cut and onto the short list.

Still, that’s a far cry from some of the more eager European nations. Norway, for instance, submitted 117 entries, Switzerland sent 82, Denmark 92 and even Argentina and Australia outdid Canada with 107 and 103 entries respectively.

Ever wonder why the u.s. does so well every year at Cannes? Led by the ever-Lion-hungry Joe Pytka, the u.s. accounted for 625 entries this year, with 111 of them making it to the short list.

There were some 3,751 entries from 30 countries.

The Grand Prix, or best of show, went to u.s. director Eric Saarinen for a 30-second spot for Jeep Grand Cherokee created by Bozell North Advertising of Southfield, Mich.

And of course, Pytka of Venice, Calif. took top honors as the leading production house, followed by a Brazilian company Jodaf -Joao Daniel Films in second and Big Deal Films of Norway in third.

Movers and shakers

Question: which Toronto production house will end up repping directors from Atlanta’s First Light Films? Janice Burstein, formerly with Shooters in Toronto, says she has signed as an exec producer with First Light and is ‘in discussions’ for a repping affiliation in Toronto.

Tony Sasso’s Roundhouse Films has been busy with a Giant Carpet spot for one of its new Canadian directors, Alex Schmoll. Other new domestics include Jim Donovan and lifestyles specialist Alain Desrochers of Montreal. Recent addition Allan Mestel had a shoot shortly after launching as a director, but client and agency seem shrouded in mystery.

Audio post veteran Mark Baldi has moved from Deschamps Studios to McClear Pathe Studios in Toronto and will find his home at McClear in brand new Studio 4. McClear vice-president and general manager Bill Mather says hiring Baldi is its latest step in making his shop ‘a predominant player in the audio-for-commercial post market.’