What if editors had access to original, unheard tracks? What if it was easier for producers, creatives and directors to think about audio at the beginning of the production process? What if composers did not have to start from scratch with only days to complete a project? And what if you could find an audience for existing tracks rather than writing music to fit the visuals?

While the rest of us have been freezing our butts off, Pete Luckett, host of Ocean Entertainment’s Food Hunter, has been gallivanting down south, shooting season two of the cooking/travel series. Each episode focuses on a different country and its local delights: avocados in Mexico, snow peas in Guatemala and grapes in Chile, to be followed by a trip to Tahiti for vanilla and Hawaii for pineapples.

Having established a presence in every province west of Ontario, Regina-based Minds Eye Entertainment president and CEO Kevin DeWalt says the company’s growth aspirations will see future expansion into Ontario, with the potential of an IPO in the ‘medium to long term.’

It ends right where it all began – in Winnipeg, where Israel (Izzy) Asper, while chairing his last annual meeting, announced that he’s called it quits… well almost, anyway.

Minds Eye Entertainment president and CEO Kevin DeWalt says the acquisition of Winnipeg’s Buffalo Gal Pictures in May ‘solidifies the company on the Prairies, and as we continue to grow and raise capital, who knows where we will be.

Calgary prodco Combustion, in coproduction with Toronto’s 49th Parallel Films, is set to go to camera on a pair of follow-ups to cult hit Ginger Snaps, to be shot in succession at various locations in Edmonton. Ginger Snaps 2 starts shooting Feb. 3 and should wrap mid-March. After a short rest, cast and crew will shoot Ginger Snaps 3, to finish mid-April.

The first thing Martin Shewchuk did when he started as executive VP, executive creative director at J. Walter Thompson, Toronto, was to separate Canadian directors’ reels from ‘all the rest’ in the agency’s library, with Canadian flag stickers and an exclusive Canuck shelf.

The Park City Film Company has nabbed one of Apple Box Productions’ top directors, Randy Diplock, who joins the company as a partner.

Richard Hardacre has been re-elected president of ACTRA Toronto Performers and says he will focus on industry stability and the balance between competition and fairness for members.

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A group of fearless young men leap from building-top to building-top high above Toronto’s streets in ‘Tic Tac Toe,’ a spot for Microsoft’s Xbox from The Partners’ Film Company created by MacLaren McCann, Toronto, which transforms the usually stagnant game into an extreme sport… And the best part is it’s all real.

With little help from his supporting cast, Oshawa, ON-born actor Jonathan Wilson’s performance in ‘Latte 911’ for Janes Family Foods secured the comedy spot top marks in the talent category.