I’ve had the good fortune to work in three completely different markets. I started my career in Toronto, then Vancouver, then Halifax and now back in Toronto. Scott has asked me to write about how things differ in Toronto compared to the Halifax market. Here are three things that stand out to me but I’m sure there are others.
The number one difference I’ve noticed since moving back to Toronto is how much more competitive it is. You can’t be a seat warmer, you have to produce or you’ll be replaced. There is no room for laziness. People come and go quickly around here.
The second thing is how much bigger the budgets are. We had to be much more resourceful in Halifax to produce good work on shoestring budgets. I’m always amazed when I hear people complaining about how small the budget is because we would make it happen for half that in Halifax and still produce solid work.
The final thing that separates Toronto and Halifax is the number of options that exist in the Toronto market. It’s great to have so many choices and it keeps it a very competitive place. Competition is a good thing.
Mike Jones / Art Director
Since 1998 Mike has worked for top agencies in Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax. Over the years he has gained valuable experience working on a wide range of clients. Currently he works at Due North Communications for clients such as: LCBO, Goodyear, H&R Block and 3M.
Mike has been recognized at many national and international award shows such as: Marketing, ADCC, National Advertising Awards, Applied Arts, Extras, New York Festivals, London International Awards and the Bessies to list a few.
Over the last 50 years we have all experienced incredible changes in the technology involved in presenting messages to the consumer. We have moved from an analog world to a digital world. We have moved from a film based silver halide technology through a magnoferris technology to silicon /transistor based technology. All very complicated, all very amazing and all mere waystations on the endless technology highway. For my sins I have worked in the advertising film production business for most of this self same time. I started when the first few colour TV commercials were being produced and all commercials where delivered to the TV stations as 16mm film prints by mail. So you ask or maybe more accurately “so what?” Well the “so what” is that over this time frame and through and beyond all this technology I have formulated three basic things that are required to make great visual communication. They are:
image capture formats… disc, hard drive, HD, XD, Red, and even film. This all matters nada! What to my mind is the most important element is in fact the “element(s) of the piece of glass between the idea and the image capturing media. The lens!!! Good lenses make great images. The best lenses will allow the idea to be clearly recorded. All modification to that image can be done … post can make something crisp and clean, soft and fuzzy, BUT NOT the reverse.
With over 42 years experience in Canadian film and television, James Hardie has dedicated his career both to supporting the established individuals and companies who have succeeded in our industry while always fostering and encouraging emerging talent. For his ongoing efforts and dedication in the advertising industry James was honoured with The Bob Mann Award from the Television Bureau of Canada at the 2006 Bessies. The award was created to ‘recognize an individual who has demonstrated a long term contribution to their craft’. The description epitomizes James Hardie. He has worked as an editor, a grip, a production manager, in almost every discipline of post production and currently is Manager Commercial Dailies, Independent and Student Films for Creative Post Inc. Working with filmmakers has been the paramount driving force for James to dedicate his career to our industry, our filmmakers and their stories. A tireless and vocal supporter of the depth and diversity of filmmaking talent across the country, James has volunteered his time and expertise throughout the years with the Academy as a juror consultant and sponsor.