Stories
News, project launches and thoughts from our team.
Illuminating the Road Ahead for Deloitte
This week we went international! Thrilled to announce that both Deloitte Global (Deloitte.com) and Deloitte Canada have officially launched the commercial series we produced.
These bite-sized overviews of Deloitte’s accounting services are used as an introduction to new and current clients, helping CEO’s & CFO’s get the most out of their bottom line.
Check em all out here : https://doublebarrel.wpengine.com/projects/deloitte-canada-commercial-series/
While the subject manner is dense – audit & assurance – we kept the tone light using humourous intros to pull the viewer in, and high production values to keep them there. Utilizing animation, VFX overlays, actors, props, a snappy soundtrack and professional voice over, these pieces stand above the crowd and entice the audience to learn more about everything Deloitte has to offer.
We had a blast producing this series and are thrilled to add Deloitte to our happy list of clients!
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We Brought Home the Gold!
DOUBLE BARREL WINS TWO DAVEY AWARDS FOR SPCA CAMPAIGN VIDEO
It’s a tail as old as time: a great idea deserved a good home and after a few laughs, an award-winning match was made.
What started as an idea for a comedy sketch (“How about we show people speed dating, but with cats?”) became an online hit (10,000 views on launch day) and won two Davey Awards, in part because funny got paired with the right client and cause.
Let me back up and re-introduce you to some funny ladies I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Diana Frances (The Hour, The Debaters) and Jennifer Goodhue (Baroness Von Sketch Show, This Hour has 22 Minutes, Comedy Inc.) of F & Good Comedy have been strategic comedy partners of Double Barrel for almost three years. While collaborating on original comedy content, we’ve lightened up some pretty heavy issues and had a great time doing it. But none have brought home so many awards.
L-R: Zakk DiSabatino, Clayton Burns, Diana Frances (F & Good), Roz Mugford, Natalia Hanson (HBSPCA), Jennifer Goodhue (F & Good)
When we approached the Hamilton Burlington SPCA with the idea, not only were they excited about our vision, but it was a perfect fit to promote their Meet Your Match pet program. Starring animals Spike, Knuckles, Magoo, Sephora and Odin, in SPCA: Cat Speed Dating we had some laughs at the very real awkwardness of speed dating, while educating on HBSPCA’s valuable pet matchmaking process.
We are so proud of this piece and are excited that the Davey Awards have recognized Double Barrel and SPCA: Cat Speed Dating with a gold award in the category of Online Film/Video and a silver in Online Film/Video – Comedy. It’s a privilege to be able to celebrate this award with the team at the HBSCPA and to use our funny business to support the great work they do in our community.
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PROJECT LAUNCH: INVIS & Mortgage Intelligence
When you’re a national brokerage with teams in hundreds of Canadian cities, how do you even begin to capture the spirit of the hard working brokers representing your brand? In the case of INVIS/Mortgage Intelligence, the answer was simple. You go to them. With a camera crew in tow.
Over the summer of 2016, the Double Barrel team was thrilled to film across Canada, documenting the passion and the people behind the INVIS/Mortgage Intelligence brand. In one of our most ambitious documentary projects to-date, we filmed in six provinces and seven cities, capturing the camaraderie that makes INVIS/MI truly unique. From wineries in Kelowna, to line dancing at the Calgary Stampede, from charity golf tournaments in Niagara to boat cruises off the Halifax harbour. Through it all, what stood out the most was an overwhelming sense of community and caring. Brokers that truly care for their clients, and each other, working exceedingly hard to ensure their happiness.
Double Barrel is thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with Invis/Mortgage Intelligence, documenting this beautiful country and their world class teams from coast to coast to coast.
This completed piece screened at the INVIS/MI annual gathering, to rave reviews. And it’s easy to see why! Invis Mortgage Intelligence has successfully built the only true full service brokerage in Canada, attracting top brokers that are continually diversifying and developing their craft to deliver the best support possible. That’s something to cheer about.
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PROJECT LAUNCH: Hamilton Code Clubs
Hamilton Code Clubs is a trail-blazing program that sees industry mentors introduce local youth to simple software computer programming, through a blend of interactive and hands-on training. The ultimate goal is to teach students to develop a love for the subject and begin integrating code into the classroom in a fun and engaging manner.
For many students, this introduction can open up career pathways and 21st-century learning skills.
With the tech industry in Canada expanding at a breakneck pace, Hamilton Code Clubs represents a critical link between the classroom and the real world, with mentors working to spark an interest in our youth and develop our next generation tech workforce.
At Double Barrel, we know the importance of a solid education in digital literacy for our youth. That’s why in 2015, we worked to create the #HamOnt Forever Digital Literacy fund, a Hamilton Community Foundation administered fund that will distribute grants over the next 15 years for digital literacy initiatives in the Hamilton area.
This year, we are proud to continue that legacy by providing an amazing organization like the Hamilton Code Club with this recruitment video free-of-charge, to inspire the tech community to continue to grow and help ensure that kids are realizing the amazing career opportunities around coding at a young age.
If you’re in the software industry and keen to help out, you’re in luck! They’re in need of volunteers! If you’re interested in volunteering for Hamilton Code Clubs, contact experience@iechamilton.ca
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Project Launch: Team Unbreakable – 30 Second Spot
Team Unbreakable is a therapeutic teen running group operating out of Hamilton, Ontario. Their goal is simple: to decrease anxiety and depression among our teen population by providing access to a proven mood-booster: exercise! Running has been proven to decrease depression and anxiety by suppressing stress hormones, while boosting feel-good hormones like endorphins.
The Hamilton Family Health Team is looking to add to its roster of runners and volunteers for this program, and would like to spread the message to #HamOnt teens. If you or anyone you know would benefit from either volunteering or running with this amazing organization please reach out!
We are proud to say that this piece will be screening in clinics across the City of Hamilton. Thanks to the Hamilton Family Health Team for involving us in such a great project!
**This piece is an accessible, shortened and animated version of the longer three minute promotional video we produced back in 2016.**
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PROJECT LAUNCH: “Foodie” – A City of Hamilton Lifestyle Commercial
Hamilton is a city known for industry. But spend a little time within our borders and you’ll find there’s much more to this community than that.
So when the City of Hamilton approached us to produce a series of broadcast commercial spots highlighting the lesser known lifestyle benefits of living in #HamOnt.. we were thrilled. Thrilled at the opportunity to show you the city through our eyes. From rural charms and outdoor adventures to world class restaurants, arts and culture – these spots are our homage to the city we call home.
We filmed these spots over three days in a variety of Hamilton hotspots – from James Street to Cootes Paradise and everywhere in between. Featured are local farms, fashion designers, fitness enthusiasts, chefs and their fanbase of foodies. Chances are good you know someone in each frame.
Many thanks to the City of Hamilton, Tourism Hamilton and Hamilton Economic Development for bringing us aboard this project!
Special thanks to location providers (and amazing Hamilton restaurants!) Mezcal, Aberdeen Tavern, Nellie James Too and to intrepid foodie Chanry Thach!!
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PROJECT LAUNCH: W Booth School of Engineering Practice
Today’s engineering graduates have a tough job ahead of them. From water quality to sustainable living, from climate change to aging infrastructure, the engineering classes of 2015 and beyond will be expected to have the skills necessary to tackle the grand challenges of tomorrow.
The W Booth School of Engineering Practice provides recent grads with that skill set, through interdisciplinary education combined with experiential learning and mentorship. Their tagline: “Inspiring innovative leaders who will transform the world.”
No small task.
When the W Booth School came to us for help with their new commercial, we were excited to get involved. Double Barrel has a long history with McMaster’s Engineering department, but we hadn’t had the opportunity to work with the Master’s program. We knew that this would be a particularly tricky project – within a tight timeframe, showcase the depth and breadth of experiences and opportunities a W Booth graduate would attain.
After much discussion, we decided to go with a combination of green screen, animation and live action in-the-field footage.
After one particularly long shoot day with an amazing team of W Booth Graduates, our animator Taylor Heres set to work in the edit suite. Sketching, animating and keying out the green under the guidance of director Tyler Tekatch. We couldn’t be happier with the end result.
Many thanks to the W Booth School for involving us in such a great project!
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PROJECT LAUNCH: McMaster University
Engineering is the invisible thread that holds so much of our day-to-day lives together. And when it comes to getting teens excited about a STEM career – it pays to reveal just a bit of the science behind their everyday experiences.
We set out in October of 2014 to create a 30 second broadcast commercial that did just that. Using skateboarding as our metaphor – and an extreme slow motion camera – we aimed to capture the forces of friction, momentum and gravity.
The end result is something we’re all so proud of. Screened in theatres from Hamilton to Toronto (in IMAX no less!) and also in Calgary, we hear this piece is on its way to theatres in Hong Kong!
Many thanks to our amazing crew, as always. Shot in slow-mo by Ty Tekatch and Christoph Benfey, with animation assistance from Antenna Visual Communication. Edited by Taylor Heres. Starring skateboarding superstar Alishia Stevens, and Hamilton’s own Arts Awards nominee, Alyssa Nedich. Many thanks to New Line Skateparks for allowing us to shoot at their construction site in Oshweken, Ontario!!
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CALLING ALL GOLDEN GIRLS!
CASTING CALL
Double Barrel is currently casting ACTRA members for a 30 second web-only PSA. Shoot to take place in Hamilton, Ontario on September 30th.
We are filling THREE roles:
(2) female, comedic “Golden Girl” types, age range 50+
(1) female “Director” – age 35+
This is an ACTRA waivered commercial project, categorized as a non-paying PSA. Actors will receive a $250 honorarium. Casting to take place in Hamilton on Friday, September 26th.
Please contact roz@doublebarrelstudios.com for further information.
Thank you!
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Tantalizing your Tastebuds
Projects begin in all kinds of interesting ways. Our latest, a commercial PSA & website for Hamilton organization ‘Tastebuds’ evolved out of a conversation Double Barrel partners Roz Allen & Lee Hillman had with board director Deirdre Pike.
‘We were just chatting over lunch – and it came up that Deirdre was a part of this great Hamilton organization that feeds 23,000 kids a day,’ says Roz. ‘She mentioned the snack carts that they used and I realized – my son eats off that cart every day. In this really six-degrees-of-separation way – Deirdre’s organization was helping me.’
From there the team at Double Barrel worked alongside what was then known as ‘Hamilton Partners in Nutrition’ – connecting them with Hamilton branding powerhouse Kitestring and creating the commercial PSA based on the new branding ‘Tastebuds.’ Dale Mugford of BraveNewCode helmed the redesign and revamp of the website.
‘We saw the site that currently existed and knew they needed more than a video,’ says Hillman. ‘We didn’t want to just create a video based on what they had – we wanted to help them really reface, come up with a fresh look & feel that would make it clear to Hamiltonians – this is an amazing organization doing great work.’
Written by & starring Canadian comedienne Diana Frances & co-starring Hamilton actress Molly Turcotte – the team at Double Barrel couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
“This is proof that you don’t need a long documentary to get your message across,” says Allen, concluding “a little humour goes a long way.”
