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Play by Play
Four years ago, Philip Mellows, who had found success in the 1990s by launching and growing The Players Film Company, decided the time was ripe to make his big play – to expand the reach of his commercial production house.
Isn’t it Obvious?
It’s ironic that the concept behind new Toronto-based production/representation/sales company Obvious Management isn’t as immediately clear to everyone as its partners would have hoped. But according to partners Christina Ford president/exec producer of Imported Artists, and Tom Symes former publisher of Boards Magazine (Boards is published by Brunico Communications which also publishes Playback and On The Spot), who along with Treehouse North’s Karen Silver make up the executive, the concept is typical of how things are done in many markets outside Canada.
Hoodoo revamps spot division
Toronto’s Hoodoo Films, known throughout Canada for its prowess in the music video sector under executive producer Michael Rosen, is positioning its commercial production division as a strong alternative for spots with ‘challenged budgets.’
VIFF box office up 16% over ’02
Vancouver: The 22nd annual Vancouver International Film Festival wrapped Oct. 10 with more than 150,000 moviegoers attending and box office of more than $900,000, up almost 16% over last year.
Osama tops FCMM prize list
Montreal: Siddiq Barmak’s Osama (Afghanistan/Japan/Ireland), an emotional portrait of a brave Afghan woman and her daughter’s struggle for survivor, is the winner of the $10,000 DvColor best feature award at the 32nd edition of the Montreal International Festival of New Cinema and New Media. FCMM unspooled Oct. 9-19.
Somethin’ to sing about
In the early days of TV advertising, and on radio before that, jingles were the body copy of commercials. Whether it was ‘Hey Mabel, Black Label’ or ‘Everything’s better with Blue Bonnet on it,’ jingles were the pitch, sung so that listeners would have brand recall next time they were in the supermarket.
2002 First Cut winner Cornish eyes Spy
Last year’s First Cut Award winner, Trevor Cornish, has found a place on Spy Films’ roster.
CTV takes new season lead
A few weeks does not a season make, but with early numbers trickling in, media buyers have begun to prognosticate on the fate of new shows and the early winners of the ratings race.
MIPCOM Junior attendance up
At the MIPCOM Junior Screenings, Oct. 8-9, sellers presented 738 programs (a 6% increase over last year), 339 of them first-time titles.
A new Millennium for Cooper
Former Generator Films president and executive producer Michael Cooper has opened a Toronto office of Michigan’s Millennium Pictures, and signed three top Canadian helmers for his cause.
The judging process
For the past seven years, the First Cut Awards have been judged as most other award shows, with between eight and 12 judges from the advertising and production community participating. Reels would be sent, and judges would be asked to return filled-out forms for tabulation.
Downing Bobbles way to First Cut win
Last year’s On The Spot headline read ‘Downing on the upswing,’ announcing the selection of upstart Radke director Michael Downing as a runner-up in the First Cut Awards. We couldn’t have been more prescient if we’d rigged this year’s First Cut selections (which we didn’t, even if that’s what some of the losers are claiming).
Devilishly good film wins at SAFO
Son of Satan by Jean-Jacques Villard won the Nelvana grand prize at this year’s Ottawa International Student Animation Festival.
The Statement preems at AFI Fest
The world premiere of Norman Jewison’s new film The Statement will take place at the 17th AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival.
Staav’s First Cut success no fluke
First Cut Award runner-up Yael Staav is looking for great ideas to shoot. With a background in music video production, some strong early work and a First Cut nod to her credit, the young director appears poised for a big second year in the industry.
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