Director choice sparks debate

Still hot: the issue of the choice of directors for recent and imminent Labatt shoots out of Ammirati and Puris, Toronto. Street diligently asked creative director Tom Nelson what route a&p had followed in finding directors, to which he replied that his agency wanted the best people for the job. He also said ‘six or eight’ Canadians had been approached and demurred because they weren’t available.

The assignments have gone through two Canadian production houses and one director chosen for the English-language assignments is a Canadian resident, he being Imported Artists’ Richard D’Alessio. Other directors include Peter Smillie of Smillie Films, l.a., working through The Directors Film Company on ice; Mark Chiat with more than one spot; and New Yorker Pam Thomas, who’s with Satellite Films in l.a., and who was, at press time, in editing on a spot for Labatt Genuine Draft.

Hot flashes

judging by the reactions of a couple of ‘average’ viewers, at least one of a pair of new spots en route from a certain retail chain should nudge the on-air sensuality meter toward the red line. This from a client whose ads have been known for their sedative effect. But, with a new agency and a bold young director on board, the creative has taken a dramatic turn. Stay tuned.

Action packed

much activity at The Players Film Company where principal Philip Mellows reports brisk business for two of his directors. Recent arrival Stephen Surjik (Wayne’s World 2, among other long-form credits) has just wrapped his first campaign as a Players-ite, two comedy/dialogue spots for Harvey’s out of smw. And David McNally, who joined Players last December, has accumulated five projects already, including two ‘big projects’ in March, one for an undisclosed Backer Spielvogel Bates client and another for Vidal Sassoon out of Tatham Euro RSCG.

Kodak’s in the can

long time no word from them, but Stargate Studios has been busy with a Kodak film spot intended to showcase Kodak’s involvement in World Cup soccer. Produced for the Mexican and South American markets, Canadian participation was apparently aided by the new North American Free Trade Agreement.

Stargate shot live action for the spot in Toronto and put the live bits together with three computer-animated scenes, produced by Image Group, of a box of film bending and stretching. Stargate’s Wayne Trickett directed the live action and the animation while Image Group’s Alan Kennedy designed the animation. Stargate’s Cathy Stilo produced.

Uh, sorry about that

how can a commercial show off a director’s talents and still put the creative in a questionable light? It’s easy when the director does a good job directing the creative but the creative has nothing to do with the client’s product! That’s what happens in a Kroger spot on the reel for Circle Productions’ Jim Weiner – a reel reviewed in our last issue – which could easily leave viewers convinced the client sells or makes a brand of athletic shoes. But no! Kroger is a supermarket!! Sorry for the misinterpretation, but it was an honest mistake, based on the visuals in the spot in question. Yikes!

Achoo

on a final note on the subject of the converging worlds of commercial and long-form production, Vancouver’s International Rocketship recently ‘joyously’ announced a premier screening for Pollen Fever, a nine-minute animated cartoon designed, animated and directed by Debra Dawson.