Great news!

We've been given the green light on a new project for MTS Video on Demand. Titled Urban Harmony, it will be a celebration of Winnipeg music and artists and will feature an original Olaf Pyttlik composition. We'll start working on this next week to take advantage of (hopefully) some perfect summer shooting weather.

Thanks to Cam Bennett at MTS VOD for choosing to move forward on Urban Harmony. We can't wait to get going.

Halfway through July already.

The time is sure flying by. Is it my age or what??!

We have managed to update our website which is nice. It's always funny how difficult it is to look after internal needs when you're concentrating on projects for valued clients.



Working hard on a relatively large presentation to three levels of government on Thursday. I am so passionate about this project because I think it's important, I think it can make a difference, and I know we can create something incredibly meaningful.

Big thanks to Glenn Hildebrand from the
College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
who allowed us to film his testimonial yesterday morning. What an amazing guy and he made us sound pretty good too! Definitely more on this after the presentation but I've included a tentative title graphic.


AND...we've met with MTS VOD and think we have a very exciting new project with them.
I'm dying to talk about it but I think I'll hold off just a bit.

Amanda has done an amazing job for Paradigm Pharmacy Services. Dave and Steve had their photos taken yesterday with David Lewis in his new studio. Can't wait to see it when it's all finished David! We're having a lot of fun imagining the possibilities with Paradigm. Definitely an interesting new piece of business for us.

Continuing to work on the Edwards School of Business webisodes and documentary. It's fantastic to have the privilege of working on projects that are going to make a difference in people's lives.

Which brings to mind a couple of projects we're starting up soon for the Victoria General Hospital Foundation. More on those later.

Reflecting on our lives right now we're grateful to have the opportunity to explore new ideas and campaigns in a free and war-free country. We are always aware of those parts of the world who do not enjoy this luxury.

Hope you're all enjoying your summer.

My goodness we're having fun!

Lots of interesting things going on at the Picanteria these days.

We're working hard getting our Role Model campaign finished for the Edwards School of Business. Had a lovely time in Saskatoon and enjoyed seeing all our old friends again. Leanne Bellegarde, Director, Aboriginal Initiatives previewed our documentary on a big screen and though we still have some things to add in, the response from the crowd was very positive. We made Leanne cry again....(in a good way) but she gets emotional pretty easily. Interviewed the new Dean of the ESB and he's just as committed to Aboriginal students as the former Dean was so that's positive news.

Keeping busy with The Centre Mall in Saskatoon. Their new Marketing Director is keeping things hopping while our former client is off on Maternity leave.

Speaking of Mat Leave....we're still waiting for Lori from Elemental to have her baby. The little one is quite overdue and we're getting anxious to meet him or her. I think my guess for the baby poll was June 18th so clearly I was way off.

We're working on some really exciting new things with Dave Huston our favourite pharmacist. Amanda is so amazing at capturing the vision graphically sometimes it makes my heart sing.

Shaun's wife Kaleigh successfully defended her Masters last week and then they went out and bought a new vehicle. Today they are celebrating Shaun's 30th birthday and Canada Day by skydiving. OMG. Hope it goes well. I mean I REALLY hope it goes well.

I'm cooking up a new idea for MTS Video on Demand. Meeting with them next week. Sure hope they like the concept. It would keep us very busy this summer and would be so rewarding to do.

Looking forward to hosting Olaf and Clint from daCapo today as well as Tony from Midcan. Celebrating Canada Day with some favourite friends we've met through the business.

Working on Picante's new website. Hopefully we'll unveil it next week.

Happy Canada Day everyone. Let's all take a moment to appreciate this incredible country we live in. In these days of strife and unrest in places like Iran, Iraq and Honduras among so many others, it's important to reflect on our tremendous good fortune of being able to live and work here in peace.

Runnin' back to Saskatoon.

Am away in Saskatoon all this week shooting more Aboriginal Role Model profiles for the Edwards School of Business http://www.thisisyourfuture.ca/ So I have found a moment to catch up.

On June 18th it was a news conference with the Winnipeg Police Service to announce the winners of the Youth Video Contest. In all we had 30 entries and some amazing Just Slow Down messages. You can view them all at http://www.justslowdown.ca/ . I think you'll be impressed. Snapped pics of the winners with Chief Keith McCaskill, Manda and I with the Chief and our core JSD "team" of Staff Sargeant Mark Hodgson, Steve West, Manager, Issues Management, Manda and me.


Later in the day, Shaun gave a big presentation at the Warehouse Theatre on as part of his Leadership Winnipeg program through the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. This extensive program takes young, future Winnipeg leaders and exposes them to all sorts of issues and opportunities facing the City. Shaun's group presented on Sustainability. Other groups spoke about Revitalizing Downtown, Arts & Culture, the effects of the new Human Rights Museum, and other topics.

For me it was off to Fargo for a soccer tournament with my daughter Shea and then a quick (or so I thought) jaunt to Saskatoon. Plane cancelled due to malfunction in Denver and a 7 hour wait at the Denver airport. But I'm here now and things are going swimmingly.

My other talented friend.

I want to tribute my good friend Olaf Pyttlik. Olaf has been responsible for the original music for many of my most important commercial productions. Including our award-winning Centennial spot for the Saskatchewan credit unions and the theme song for Shea's Rockin' World Tour.

Here's a little bio from his blog: "I had an exciting life over the last 12 months: daCapo bought a new building; I turned 40; I travelled to New York a few times as well as to France, Holland and Germany; MTYP produced my show 'Rich' in November (A definite highlight of my career); Angela and I vacationed on the Galapagos Islands and after that volunteered in the slums of Lima, Peru; I was able to attend a production of my musical 'The Wave' in The Netherlands and I finished the score to my first large-scale-52 episodes-animation project called 'Noonbory'."

Simply one of the most talented people on the planet. Olaf has been diagnosed with tongue cancer and starts chemo tomorrow.

Although it's been awhile since I've updated Picante news on my blog and that was my plan when I started this, I find I can't focus on that at all right now.

In an instant, just a few weeks ago, Olaf's life completely changed. (Those pics you see at the top of this post were taken at the Signature Awards on May 6th. Olaf found out he had cancer on May 17th. )

It could happen anytime to anyone. I know cancer touches everyone and in my own family I lost my mom, my sister had breast cancer and my brother fought cancer as well.

I just want Olaf to know that we are with him in his journey and are so hopeful that the wonderful people at CancerCare Manitoba will ensure he beats this thing.

My Talented Friend

Adam Sliwinski, Director of Photography extraordinaire has just updated his website http://www.adamsliwinski.com/ with new demo reels. I was fortunate enough to meet Adam (who now makes his fortune in Vancouver) over 10 years ago. He's a long-time friend of my long-time friend and collaborator Keith Neimor.

Adam has joined Keith and I in numerous adventures, helping us develop an enviable reel of television commercials shot on film, for Saskatchewan Credit Unions, Manitoba Hydro and many others over the past 9 years.

He's worked with the likes of Adam Arkin, Nicolette Sheridan, Christian Slater and others. His demo reels are an entertaining blend of blow-em-up action, subtle pans and incredible light.

One of my fondest memories is when we picked up Adam at the Regina airport and took him to a huge athletic centre and said, "We are going to shoot in here." "Here?" he replied. We had originally been looking for a nice location outside to shoot some spots of High School Athletes but nothing looked just right. Eventually we found a great track at the Brandt Centre. Moving the shoot indoors from outdoors was a huge change and a giant challenge to be tackled within our modest budgets.

The result was one of the most powerful spots we ever created. There were lots of other funny parts to that shoot...clothing malfunctions and scheduling challenges. As usual, the crew (Sue, Keith, Adam and I) had a blast. It's impossible for this writer to capture the magic that is Adam with mere words. The stories of working with Adam could go on and on.

Anyhow - if you have a chance, check out his site. Some of our stuff is on Reel #3.

Did I forget to mention?

Picante picked up two Signature Awards at the event on May 6th. The day started out at Midcan shooting new webisodes for the Just Slow Down campaign. Under the gun to get them done - they're already on the air! Thanks Keith from Energy and Denise, Adam, Simon and Lori from Elemental - WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT YOU!

Speaking of Adam, he joined the Picanterians at the Signature Awards and shared in our excitement of picking up two People's Choice awards for the Credit Unions Financial Therapy "Bathroom ads" - one my first attempts ever to be funny......and the Saskatchewan Rocks website designed by ....wait for it....the geniuses at Elemental. Oh yeah, Adam won the table prize a fabulous new TOASTER! 8 new entries in the Just Slow Down Youth Video Contest today. Check out www.justslowdown.ca and vote for your favourite. Some of them are just fantastic.

Had a lovely meeting late this afternoon with two of our new favourite friends. Can't help it. Just happen to think this is one of the best campaigns we've ever created. Really looking forward to telling you all about it.................................later. :) By the way Kath.....awesome explanation of GRPs!