During the course of my career, I have been fortunate to have worked on some very interesting, entertaining and challenging productions:
Documentary: The Heintzman Piano Company, 90 Years in the Junction 1888 – 1978
I approached The West Toronto Junction Historical Society about producing documentary on the Heintzman Piano Company in 2012. Then Society president, Neil Ross, was helpful in connecting me with Heintzman family members willing to participate in the project. Over the following months, I gathered the interviews along with b-roll to complete the 22 minute documentary for initial viewing at Heintzman Place, the site of the former piano factory in the Toronto Junction area.
Music Video: Natalie Cole – This Will Be
The mid-1970s, MTV was a few years away, although music videos had been produced for some promotional purposes, it was the cusp of a breakout into national broadcast.
This music video was one of the first for the production company, Telecraft Films. They focused on revisions of US nationally broadcast TV commercials for the Canadian market. They also produced highlight films for the NHL Buffalo Sabres.
This production was a simple performance-based single 16mm film camera shoot to playback. A couple of other angles offered some cutting flexibility, no b-roll or titles required. Directed by Ray Cole, no relation to Natalie, he went on become an accomplished TV commercial director. Final distribution to television and promotional outlets was in16mm film with optical track. I didn’t keep a copy, they were of a limited production run.
Natalie Cole died at the relatively young age of 65 in 2015.
