Another Close-up on QNX

The BSL video team was at it again yesterday, for another shoot with our clients at QNX Software Systems. For those who don’t know – QNX has been developing highly reliable software that has impacted virtually every sector you can think of. From aerospace to coal mining, cars to microwaves, even online shopping and hospital bed monitoring – QNX technologies are everywhere, and they’re evolving the way we live.

Starring the Connected Car once again (alongside the talent of QNX Product Marketing Manager Andy Gryc), this particular video will be promoting yet another collaborative innovation called Nokia Terminal Mode – the latest game-changer for in-car infotainment. Nokia Terminal Mode is another example of how QNX is helping transform the enjoyment, safety and convenience of our day-to-day lives.

The day itself was a fairly well rounded success – from the achingly beautiful weather (despite Sean’s palpable disdain for the sun) to our always-amicable clients, to the teams’ impressive penchant for problem solving on the spot (lighting and noise control are certainly two of the more challenging variables) – we all left the shoot feeling pretty good.

Check out our Flickr page for a glimpse of the team at work. Or take a look at our first shoot to see how it all began.

From the Mall to Montreal

BSL headed to Montreal recently with our longtime client Place d’Orleans Shopping Centre, as we staged a full day shoot for their new fall campaign. Together BSL and Place d’Orleans have spent the last two years building on a fresh, new brand image for the shopping centre – one that reflects style, sophistication and a real focus on fashion.

This particular photo shoot gives a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming hot off the racks this season. Place d’Orleans is enticing shoppers to make all of their own custom looks for fall, so what better place to draw inspiration from than backstage at a fashion shoot?

Taking place in a Montreal loft-style studio, the shoot brought together a dynamic group of people who were all after the same thing – getting that perfect shot. Or shots, rather. And this team was a definite testament to the small world that is this business. Our Art Director Tim happened to work with Stylist Patricia Coté over a decade ago, and he also went to school with and even modeled for Photographer Patrizia Castiglione – this extra dash of chemistry surely contributed to the success of the shoot.

These ongoing, branded campaigns always feature one model that embodies the style of the season. Since the launch of these campaigns, the new Place d’Orleans brand has been represented by a hot mix of subjects, each with their own unique look. After taking inventory of these past looks, it was decided that the fall campaign was destined for a brunette. We flew the lucky recruit, Pamela Bernier, in from NYC but are proud to note that her talent is in fact homegrown, right outside of Ottawa. Her career has recently hit it big and we managed to snag her while she tours the globe.

Armed with some big talent and an arsenal of eclectic outfits, the team was ready for success. You put a group of creative people in a room with an espresso machine and anything’s possible. In fact, the shoot called for a series of backdrops, all to be constructed in the same location. This was seen as a welcome challenge. The events of the day were actually so inspiring that before the day was done, the team had already done a few test shots of their vision for the 2010 holiday campaign.

QNX Video Shoot

It was another bang-up job for the BSL video team this past Thursday, as we headed out to the offices of QNX Software Systems, to shoot a three-minute video for a brand new client.

Without tangling you in too much technical jargon, it’s pretty easy to describe QNX’s awesomeness in a nutshell. For the last thirty years this company has been developing ultra-reliable software that has impacted a TON of what we do on a day-to-day basis – from changing the way we use the Internet or take medicine, to the development of sustainable technologies in the home or improving your online shopping experience – the sky seems to be the limit for how QNX touches our lives.

Starting bright and early before sunrise, our team got to work prepping for the talent – and in this case the talent was the client himself – Andy Gryc, QNX Product Marketing Manager – as well as the QNX Connected Car. The QNX Connected Car is one of their latest game-changing innovations featuring a slew of state-of-the-art bells and whistles, including the Apple iPod Out – the very focus of the video itself.

Shooting was well underway by 9am and things were looking good. Andy appeared to be something of a natural, and pairing his talent with the seemingly limitless capabilities of our Canon 5D made the men behind the camera, John and Sean, pretty impressed with the outcome. All scenes were wrapped by 1pm, and the footage was already into production by 3pm (superhuman talents aside, our team still needed to eat). Fast forward a cool 24 hours after the shoot itself and the client already had the rough cut in hand.

But we can’t hog all of the glory. We owe the uber-efficiency of this shoot to a mélange of variables – really good technology + natural talent and lovable new client + positive attitudes across the board = an excellent chance for success. Thankfully we were able to capture some highlights of this magical mix on our BSL Flickr Page.

Happy Birthday BSL

The gang at BSL got together and celebrated our 37^th anniversary this past Friday. As a matter of fact, we actually have a few official milestones we can celebrate – but we found another one, giving us the gleaming excuse to have a "happy hour on steroids" after a very busy week.

Yes, the discovery of one simple legal document confirming the original Banfield as an official corporation on August 13^th, 1973 enabled us to toast to the BSL back-story. And anyone who has worked at BSL understands that these kinds of events can end in myriad ways – sometimes it’s half the company playing pool at the Elmdale til 1am, other times it’s the whole company bustin’ moves in the Market. In this case it wound up a select few, fulfilling a fictional obligation to finish the leftover alcohol and engaging in simultaneous power chats at the boardroom table.

Quite fittingly, the photos I took of the occasion happen to be just as blurry as my memories of it. But somehow I’m still able to classify it as a night to remember.

More Bells and Whistles for BSL

I was at a party this past Friday, and found myself in the company of two wildly passionate photographers. Cut from two very different cloths (one a professional photographer and videographer for a popular salon downtown and the other a critically acclaimed, somewhat controversial trailblazer on the Ottawa art scene) these two spent the better part of the evening gushing over how the Canon 5D has changed their lives and work as they know it. Under normal circumstances this topic would be considerably irrelevant to me – but since BSL has picked up their own 5D recently, I could actually admit I knew what the fuss was about.

This year the BSL Digital Studio has been getting some serious nips and tucks, since welcoming Motion Graphics Specialist Sean Cusson. As BSL’s New Media Director Sean has been largely responsible for this boost – by bringing his own skills to the table, training other staff in new media (such as 3D animation), and adding some shiny new tools to the box.

Since the face lift BSL is now able to make the majority of our clients’ digital dreams come true in house – with full capability to produce high-quality photography and video, after effects, rendering, editing – a considerable gamut. But beyond the technology itself, Sean’s close connections with the video industry have also given BSL access to a large pool of local talent – making the search for the perfect subject a breeze.

Like they say – the proof is in the pudding. And since we love pudding here – we’ll let the tools and talent speak for themselves. Check out this video we did for the Canadian War Museum and Museum of Civilization – all shot with the 5D. And here’s a sneak peek at a video shoot we just had for a very – *ahem* – exciting new project (also shot with the 5D, featuring some hot, fresh talent).

The Museum Experience

This is a Motion Graphics piece we recently did for The War Museum & Museum of Civilization. If you're attending Bluesfest this year, you can see it playing on the jumbotron! Or whatever that big screen thing is called.

HOPE 2010: The Do-Over

BSL hit the beach this weekend for HOPE Beach Volleyball Summerfest, and karma was upon us. We had fingers crossed for good weather, to make up for last year's epic bust (the first ever rainout in HOPE history), and to the delight of thousands it was pretty close to perfect.

Despite a few excess degrees in temperature (certain areas felt like we were all standing in a giant frying pan), the day was a smashing success. Without much practice, BSL won four out of the five games played, and had a wicked good time doing it. But perhaps the greatest victory came first at 7am, when a select group of us early birds secured some prime real estate by our beach court, just before the droves of partiers began trickling in.

Friendly faces were everywhere (even from the teams we shamed with our skills), music was blaring, and for those of you who can't resist a good day of people-watching, it was a marvelous circus of DIY uniforms, scantily-clad men AND women (of all shapes, sizes and ages) and a hilarious mix of every game face you can imagine - from the ultra-competitive (many of my teammates) to the staunchly recreational (me).

Over the years HOPE has raised more than $3.5 million for over 110 charities, with 2010 proceeds going to Operation Come Home, Ottawa Humane Society, Sheperds of Good Hope,

Camp Quality Canada and CHEO.

(The full album of photos will be posted to our Flickr account soon).

Hat Trick for BSL

BSL has had much to celebrate already this year, with the news that we won two Telly Awards, an IABC Excel award, and a Platinum Creativity International award.

Early this month we brought home an IABC award for our rebrand strategy of Iridium Communications Inc, while the centrepiece Corporate video we developed for their 2008 brand launch has brought us two bronze Tellys.

We have also received a Platinum Creativity International award for our work on Alcatel-Lucent's "LTE: Redefining the Wireless Experience" video, which will appear in their 40th Creativity Annual Book in 2011.

BSL is extremely grateful for this significant recognition, and couldn't have done any of it without the vision and support of our clients at Iridium and Alcatel-Lucent.

Another Sold Out Success for Bon Appetit!

The lovers of food and drink united this past Tuesday, as a crowd of thousands packed into the Aberdeen Pavillion for Bon Appetit Ottawa 2010. With tickets sold out weeks before the event, the highly anticipated "best cocktail party of the year" delivered on its reputation, yet again.

Over 90 restaurants, wineries and breweries were in fine form on Tuesday, having spent hours, days, and even weeks preparing their finest gourmet samples to present to the public. And present they did! Vendors were seen impressing guests with more than just their gastro delights - points for presentation were awarded (by me) to those who went that extra mile, including Lago's gigantic ice cubes dispensing Mojitos, the wondrous towers of mini gourmet cupcakes care of Isobel's, and the dozens of vendors who took special care to don their own cultural touches to each booth.

And of course - there were certainly points awarded in the food category. Petit Bill's Bistro introduced me to the dangerously delicious concept of lobster poutine (where have you been all my life!), while Epicuria stole my heart with their succulent samples of pulled pork on bite-sized potato latke crisps. And those are just two examples of dozens upon dozens of knee-weakening samples, offered by spots like Fresco Bistro, The Works, Culinary Conspiracy, and Scone Witch - to name but a fraction.

On the beverage side of things, guests were surrounded by some of the finest wineries and breweries in the Region. Palettes were wet by samples from Beau's Brewery, Trumpour's Mill, Yellow Tail, Mill Street Organic - which again are but a fraction of what was available.

As an event sponsor and employer of one of Bon Appetit's board directors, Carolyn Eaves, BSL understands fairly intimately the scope of work required to pull off such a high caliber event. But to witness everything come together so perfectly - from the hardworking volunteers, to the efficient setup and waste disposal, to the enthusiastic turnout of so many vendors and guests - it was a real heart warmer to know that such a hugely successful event was all in support of those in need (with all proceeds given to over 20 local charities in the Ottawa Region).

And one final note - I couldn't help but notice that my more seasoned peers were armed with strategic plans of attack, to maximize their sampling opportunities (highlighted maps of the Pavillion, predetermined priorities for their favourite foods, etc.). Now that I am officially in the know, I have to ask: is it too early to start planning my own strategy for 2011?

Thanks to everyone who made it a night to remember!

Bon Appetit Ottawa 2010

Over 20 charities, 90 top restaurants, and 2000 friendly faces. Combine these ingredients, in one stunner of a Pavillion, and presto! You’ve got the best cocktail party of the year.

There are many reasons to attend Bon Appetit Ottawa. With all proceeds being donated to local charities that provide hunger and poverty relief in Ottawa, supporting those in need is certainly enough of a draw. But it isn’t the only attraction.

Every year Bon Appetit Ottawa welcomes scores of some of the finest restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries province-wide, to set up shop and show off their tastes to a crowd of thousands. For many guests, rubbing shoulders with friends while sampling from top chefs serves as much more than just a silver lining. This night offers a feast for the senses, and a chance to get acquainted with the gourmet food industry.

And for those craving a little something to take home, Bon Appetit Ottawa gives its guests the chance to bid in between bites, with a silent auction sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa.

Despite the varying palette of priorities among those who attend Bon Appetit Ottawa, all guests can agree on one thing – how much they love it. BSL has proudly sponsored the non-profit event since 2006, and continues to see the incredible effect it has on everyone involved. From the beneficiaries and sponsors, vendors and volunteers, to of course, the guests – Bon Appetit Ottawa leaves us all feeling full – in both heart and stomach alike.

Last year’s event was a sell-out success. And as for this year - May 4th is so close, you can almost taste it. So are you getting hungry? Then get your tickets today!

www.bonappetitottawa.ca