To celebrate the creativity and diversity of our clients and the work that’s produced here at our Toronto Film & Photo Studios, we do a monthly roundup that highlights some of the great projects that have recently taken off from The Lab.
This time, we will be covering the entire summer of 2020 to make up for lost time while our doors were closed. Projects are in no specific order.
Want your work featured? Shoot us a note!
YOUTUBE SERIES
The Creators Bureau team has shot at The Lab many times, but this was by far the most elaborate transformation they’ve done in our space. In fact, it’s probably top 3 for the most elaborate transformations of all-time at AstroLab.
To feature various areas of the home for their Ikea “Swede Space” series, they built three sets in Studio 1, and one set in Studio 2. It sounds crazy, but they surprisingly did it with room to spare. For over a week our space felt like a show home, so cozy. See the result and some BTS below!
PRODUCT LAUNCH VIDEO
First of all, did someone say robot? We’re listening!
For this launch video shoot, Stature Films took over Studio 1 to create a handful of mini sets, including a few different bathrooms (if you look closely you’ll also notice some art from our hallways and one of our chairs in use!).
Well, we are totally sold, this robotic toothbrush from Willo looks awesome!
TV SERIES
Given our love for music and inventions, hosting this show, which features a mixture of professional musicians (e.g. The Sheepdogs) with “real” instruments and DIY instruments made from typical household items, was a dream!
For their TVO Kids show “Backyard Beats“, the team from Bristow Global Media took over Studio 1, turning it into a backyard, complete with an entrance gate that “visitors” (guests on the show) came through!
It is incredibly charming and oozing with talent, catch it online and on TVO Kids now!
PROMO CONTENT | SOCIAL | WEB
When the marketing team from Pride Toronto asked if we’d be interested in sponsoring the festival by hosting them to shoot all of their 2020 promo materials, it was an easy YES, absolutely for us. On a global scale, Pride TO is among the largest – typically attracting visitors from literally all over earth. And an honour for us to be involved with.
At the time, nobody could have guessed that the event would be cancelled. But when that news did come through, the team handled it with class and did what any internationally recognized brand would: they pivoted and adjusted.
The result was an entirely Virtual Pride 2020, and we’re happy to say that the content they created in our studios did not go to waste!
We were blown away by the work created – stills being led by Nick Merzetti x Merzetti Studios, and video by Dale Sood (AKA Arts & Rec). Kudos to them and all involved, the results speak for themselves!
MUSIC VIDEO
About a week before Toronto entered Stage 2 and we had the green light to resume production, director Emma Higgins gave us a call about a green screen music video shoot she had been planning. The first day we were able to open our doors, her team was here shooting it, and she was online virtually directing it from afar.
The VFX are what really make this video for The Darcys‘ track “Look Me In The Eyes” really shine, but all live elements were shot right here at The Lab, and together make this video as awesome as it is!
TALENT SHOWCASE
The Canadian Film Centre’s CBC Actors Conservatory is an immersive, full-time acting program that helps transform participants and set them up for success on screen.
At the end of each conservatory, the actor participants get to create and feature in “Close-Ups”, which are 3- to 5-minute cinematic works based on original characters created by the actors. These productions are intended for the big screen, and are designed to promote the actors and their talents in an entertaining and meaningful way.
We had the opportunity to host a few of the eight actors’ shoots, here is one of them!
MUSIC VIDEO
If someone from abroad asked us to share an example of homegrown talent, Haviah Mighty is a name that would immediately come to mind.
The Toronto rapper stands out thanks to her distinct style and talent as a writer, producer and performer. She is no carbon copy, auto tune rapper. Everything about her screams originality and confidence, and we’ve been big fans ever since we heard her track “Blame” (much of that MV was also shot in our space).
Teaming up with Toronto creatives Combo Bravo, her video for “Smoke” is a perfect example of how to maximize and take full advantage of our space with props and lighting. We love how they approached colour, using B&W as a base but injecting moments of colour throughout the video.
Watch and check out some BTS below!
BTS Photos by Nicole Shapiro aka @nshaps
JOURNALIST FEATURES | WEB
To take readers behind-the-scenes and give them a look at how their journalists follow a story or cover a beat, while also humanizing them, The Globe & Mail filmed a series of videos entitled “Beyond The Byline” in Studio 2.
Produced by Signature Video Group, and again showing that simple can be very effective – the set consists of a red chair on the white cyc wall.
Check out a couple of the videos and some BTS below!
THE WORLD IS YOURS. ASTROLAB STUDIOS 2025.
