Stories
News, project launches and thoughts from our team.
In Uncertain Times, We’re Here to Help
|
Post Tags
ANNOUNCING OUR SECOND ACT
We’ve refreshed our brand!
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CREATIVE DIRECTOR:
From my early days working for CBC Radio in Kelowna, BC to the very first day of Double Barrel Studio’s existence and now in our 6th year of business, my work has always been in service of the story.
To use whatever medium was available to convey something honest and interesting, and do it in an unexpected way. I saw too many good stories not get their chance with their audiences because they couldn’t capture their attention for long enough. I believed video production needed a renegade, and I would be that shooter.
And that’s what my team did. For years Double Barrel has become known for creating big narratives out of our clients’ needs and doing so in unexpected ways.
This became our brand. A bit rebellious, and a bit of shooting from the hip to get the best creative out of any project. Our creative spirit was embodied in our logo; red, rugged and with cross-hairs focused on the prize. Our identity served us well; we worked with great clients, attracted a passionate crew, and we made great video.
But every story needs it’s second act, and this is ours.
Introducing our shiny new Double Barrel brand and >website! We’ve cleaned up around the edges, replaced the renegade’s crosshairs with the artist’s viewfinder, but our essence is still there in distinctive typography and a bold colour palette. Our website has been updated to include all 250 videos from the past 6 years sorted by industry and style for easier browsing. The biggest change though is our tagline, which speaks to the work we’ve done since day one and how we are taking our clients into the future.
Expand Your Story represents our strategy in two ways; first, how we’ve always considered every element of video production such as sound, lighting, script, editing, and colour as an opportunity to add more richness to the narrative. That’s nothing new to us and that’s not changing. But remember that noisy, messy content generating world out there? The second part of Expand Your Story is what cuts through that nonsense and gets our clients heard.
Brands are not only a reflection of their companies but of their clients too. So in sharing this exciting news with you, I also have you to thank. Every narrative we’ve told together has helped shape Double Barrel into what you see today. When I look at that logo, I don’t just see the business that I’ve built – I see my crew, my partner and you. It’s been a great story so far, and I can’t wait for us to write what’s next!
Post Tags
Behind The Scenes of 2016: A Year in Pictures with Double Barrel
by: Clayton Burns
Over the years, Double Barrel Studios has had the pleasure of working with many different clients producing many different styles of video content. Everything from healthcare and education to top national brands and non-profit local organizations. We have the luxury of working with individuals from all walks of life and learning about different interests and perspectives.
Personally I have been with Double Barrel for just over a year now, and even with my extensive experience in television and film production, I have never experienced anything quite like this before. It’s been a privilege visiting many organizations, not only in our city of Hamilton but also across Canada! I have learned a lot, grown a lot, laughed a lot and taken a ton of photos!
Of course, every project has a ton of pre-production planning, coordinating and location scouting that takes place before we even roll camera. Without flooding your Instagram feeds we aren’t able to share everything! I thought it would be fun to share some never before seen photos from our various sets and adventures in 2016!
-
- Location scouting! If you’ve never seen the Brantford Safety Village, you must drop everything and go explore. Lots of fun shooting with Sarah Kupferschmidt on her road safety videos for children with autism.
-
- On set! When you have to interview 40 people at a golf tournament, a golf cart is the only way.
-
- Headed to a shoot at McMaster University. We often joke that “production is glamour” when in reality it’s mostly just cramming as much equipment as possible into our tiny cars.
-
- On location for our original documentary on Canada’s craft beer scene. Here we are at Shawn & Ed Brewery interviewing Neil Woodley from Play Advertising!
-
- Igniting Empires with local rockstar CGA Tim Miron! This was my first ever directing gig, on location at Kitestring!
-
- Producing our first ever piece with CBC Television! This is a shot from the shoot we did with CBC “The Exhibitionists” with our friend Chris Farias.
-
- Everyone on our team wears multiple hats – here our sales manager Mike doubling as a sound mixer.
-
- And of course, this is Roz, many of you know her as the face of Double Barrel Studios. What you may not know is that she is also the voice of Double Barrel! She does the voiceover narration for many of your projects!
We always have the best time while working on these projects with you guys, as you can tell! 2016 was a fantastic year for us & we are so looking forward to all of the amazing photos we will share in 2017.
Post Tags
Loving Your 9-5
“Why do I have to go to camp and you get to go to work with all your friends at a super fun place?! You have the best job ever!” – Ben, age 10
This gem came from my son as he prepared to spend a summer day enjoying water-gun fights and hiking along the Bruce Trail at ‘Fun Camp’. While he was there, I’d be in my edit suite at The Studio at 41, a shared office space that is home to Double Barrel Studios and other creative-industry businesses, in the gorgeously renovated Empire Times building on King William Street.
The thing is, he was right – I do have a great job. My days are spent telling stories. Like painting a picture, I start with a blank canvas, and then add in layers of ‘paint’ – video footage, audio recordings, music, sound effects, etc. – and at the end of each project there’s a complete picture. And Ben was right about the other part too – spending my time in the studio with co-workers that are also friends makes working hours even more enjoyable. I’m lucky to be surrounded by talented people who I respect, admire, and genuinely like to hang out with.
According to an article in today’s Hamilton Spectator – “Employees with work friends more committed to companies” – it’s important for businesses to foster those connections to increase workers’ happiness, their trust of leadership and make them want to stay put. Makes sense, I think. From my first meeting with Roz and Lee in early 2012, over pints at the West Town, we discovered we had much in common. From similar life experiences and a shared understanding of the language of film and video, to our personal ideals and political views – we definitely started off on the right foot. Almost three years later, I’m pleased those initial connections deepened into friendships that inform the way we work together. I am regularly awed by Roz’s quick decisiveness and thoughtful insights, and charmed by Lee’s easy laughter and ability to make everyone in a room instantly more comfortable. They are lovely people to work with and for.
To the benefit of all of us, the others who’ve joined ‘Team Double Barrel’ along the way are an equally good fit. From producer Dean Campbell who adeptly puts his visions on paper before they’re translated to screen, to our wonderfully gifted Director of Photography, Tyler Tekatch, whose eye for detail makes every production beautiful, to the wizardry and genius of Christoph Benfey, cinematographer extraordinaire. There’s not a dud in the bunch, and we’re involved in each other’s lives beyond Double Barrel – we’ve cheered achievements, supplied last-minute childcare, worked together on films, shared in birthdays and wedding celebrations, and supported each other in various outside endeavours. And, of course, we’ve raised many pints together over the years.
As an editor, by necessity, I’m often sitting in a room by myself. I don’t mind it actually – but it’s nice that whenever there’s a knock on my door, it’s always someone I’m happy to see.
