With a mother in showbiz, Roma grew up on sets and in studios, absorbing everything that happens behind the scenes. She got her start in broadcast TV before moving to politics, then the news, and finally to a Toronto agency where she was VP of Production. There, Roma worked for eight years leading and building the production team, landing work with major financial, CPG, and beverage brands, while managing a large integrated production team across video, experiential, digital, and events. Having lived in 23 cities, 10 states, two provinces and five countries, she has a keen sense of adventure and adaptability. Roma’s versatility is her asset, making her most projects’ 411 and 911. She can and will do anything, and consistently excels at it.
What was your favorite production challenge?
Stepping into the role of Executive Producer. I think the best part of producing is building an ensemble; as an EP I’m taking the time to understand the people that make up the company, their passion and talents, so that they drive evolution and growth.
What do you look for in projects?
As much as I’m looking to make a human impact and difference in the world, I’m also looking to entertain people. It’s heavy out there; sometimes people just want to be entertained, and I think that’s ok! It’s why I got into this job to begin with – to entertain.
As Founder and Executive Producer, Sumit leads a multi-disciplinary team that can, without hesitation, produce anything for anyone. From movies and experiential installations to animation and digital campaigns, Sumit leads the team at Makers in embracing the challenge of answering the uncommon ask for global brands. He loves tackling that which seems impossible, using collaboration and unconventional thinking to conceive, execute, and deliver projects for clients that have included Toyota, Sony, and the United Nations. Since childhood, Sumit has thrived most when bringing people together. With roots in film and TV, he is a natural-born Producer for whom the distance between thought and action is exceedingly small.
What was your favorite production challenge?
A number of years ago a friend approached me with an idea to deliver bikes to kids in rural Ghana. Thirty thousand bikes. We flew to Ghana and we did what we do best, we just figured it out and made it happen. Those are my favorite types of challenges – ones where I can just get in there and figure it out.
What do you look for in projects?
I love making things I don’t yet know how to make, or haven’t yet made before. Beyond projects, I’m also always on the lookout for new Makers. Producers can be found anywhere and in any industry; I’m always trying to find and talk to people that go and get things done. I want to bring them into our fold, and make magic together.
Dan is a doer. After 15 successful years in senior management and director roles in the industrial construction industry, he was ready for a change. Dan identified a unique opportunity in digital content production and decided to bring his business acumen to the world of creative production, founded his own production company and spent the next 10 years traveling the world creating work for clients including Siemens, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Honda, Nike, Suncor and Exxon. Today, Dan applies his business savvy and endless determination to his role as Makers’ Director of Strategic Growth, looking for the best and brightest new opportunities for the company and the team’s personal creative goals. With a track record like Dan’s, we know we’re in good hands.
What do you look for in projects?
Personally, I like projects that have a lot of different dimensions to them. The more complex, the better. But even more importantly, I enjoy projects that involve a lot of team building and opportunities to become friends with both coworkers and clients.
What was your favorite production challenge?
Part of my role involves finding ways for Makers to collaborate with unique teams or companies who are “producing” solutions to other business problems, not just creative ones. I love this challenge because I get to explore and understand new businesses, meet new people, and find innovative ways for Makers to help solve their problems.
Carol has experience as Producer for a broad range of brands including Bank of Montreal, McCain, Volkswagen, McDonald’s, and Labatt. She excels in video production, and has produced everything from live action to animation to websites and innovative digital platforms. Whether a client is looking for a holiday campaign with a limited budget and even less time, or needs a high volume of personalized video assets turned around lightning-fast, Carol will get it made, without compromising creative quality. She thrives on exciting challenges, no matter the project. The more challenging, the more Carol’s at her very best.
What do you look for in projects?
I love projects that challenge me to use my brain in new ways. I’ve worn a number of hats throughout my career, and appreciate having the opportunity to work on a lot of different types of projects, across multiple industries, surrounded by all kinds of producers.
What was your favorite production challenge?
Oohhh the best challenge and one of my favorite productions to date was a very unique video shoot for Skittles. We had to figure out how to create a four-hour-long, multi-cam, livestream video of a man in an oversized beaver costume building a human-sized beaver lodge in the woods, all with very limited resources and time to pull it off.
Since childhood Taylor could be found “producing” community fundraisers, school events, and family vacations, so it came with no surprise to find herself thriving in the world of experiential marketing years later. She’s proud to have produced portfolios of work for clients like LEGO, TD, McCormick, Plan Canada and Stoli Vodka. Eager to learn and expand her production knowledge in other channels, Taylor has seized opportunities to solidify her expertise in broadcast, print, social, web & app development, tech builds and the list continues growing.
What do you look for in projects?
I get most excited about projects that start with a seemingly unsolvable problem, present opportunities for human connection, and are backed by killer creative ideas. I love learning-by-doing and feel the most at home working in teams to accomplish “the impossible”. For me, the final output of a project can be just as exciting as the path we’ll take to get there.
What was your favorite production challenge?
My favorite production challenge was, and continues to be, keeping up with how fast technology is changing the world of entertainment & media. With every new day comes new ways to bring ideas to life, and new platforms to showcase them to the world. I’m so grateful for being a part of an amazing community of innovative producers, creatives, and partners who keep pushing our industry forward, and that I get to learn from them every day.
Sophia’s career began in New York as a production coordinator turned producer at PBS’s flagship station, THIRTEEN, where they focused on digital series, long-form documentaries, and cultural programing—one of which received a New York Emmy. Sophia then began working with scripted digital series and branded content – partnering with global brands like Kate Spade, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon. In 2020, they moved into the podcast space as a development producer creating talk shows and non-fiction episodics for Spotify and Audible. Sophia wrote and produced 2 seasons of a podcast hosted by Sabrina and Idris Elba, which was nominated for a British Podcast Award. Always looking for strong creative, one career highlight was directing a micro-documentary series that showcased uplifting stories around gender affirmation. This cathartic project was like a mirror to Sophia’s own experiences, deepening the need to produce meaningful content for people.
What do you look for in projects?
I look for solid creative. No matter how big the brand or client is, thoughtful, creative ideas are the foundation of any good production. I also look for a team of collaborative, curious people. I think people who ask questions and want to work well with others have more stamina when challenges occur.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I was producing a spec spot for an international car manufacturer in Los Angeles. We had specific covid procedures in place for the talent on set. If talent got sick, we had a backup for them, and a backup for that backup. The day before the shoot, I found out that all three people on deck for main talent got sick. I was in a nail salon pacing around wondering what to do. Where could I find a Black lesbian to be on camera at 6am the next day? I look up and see my face in the mirror, realizing I fit the bill uncomfortably well. To my dismay, the client agreed and was happy for me to step in. Fortunately, we were able to find a fourth option. And you know what? She was perfect. Production isn’t always a straight line, but things end up working out for the best.
Alex spent the early years of his career working for accounting firms and providing clients with financial statement audits and consulting. After building a strong foundation in finance and accounting he brought his skills and experience to high growth organizations where he could support the creation of a scalable finance and operations function. He was the controller of a growing e-commerce company which he took through a successful acquisition. He then moved on to a medical technology company as their VP of Finance where he proudly built a killer finance department for the company overseeing a public listing and several acquisitions. Bringing his wealth of experience, Alex saw a unique and exciting opportunity to join a great team accomplishing amazing things. Enter Makers.
What do you look for in projects?
I’m always looking for opportunities to learn and make an impact. In my career I have taken on a wide variety of challenges that have contributed to my growth over the years including several acquisitions and taking a company through a public listing. In many of these instances, I have operated in a leadership role, providing for an exciting challenge.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I led the consumer fraud prevention operations in an e-commerce company. This was an important role for the company, which was operating in a high risk industry. It was a delicate process that required me to work closely with customer service to implement effective tools and best practices in order to mitigate the financial impact of consumer fraud. I learned a lot about a topic that was previously unknown to me and managed to help the company improve its profitability.
A leader at Makers, Pat is most inspired by the continued influx of projects and challenges – strange and unexpected – that he’s asked to solve. Whether entering augmented reality or assembling a crack team of talent, Pat’s endless enthusiasm makes light of any heavy lift. Pat trained in IT and digital marketing before making the move to advertising and account management. He approaches every task with an open mind, and his lunch-pail ethos has supported high-end creative for clients like Volkswagen, Google, and Shoppers Drug Mart. As a self-described “old Italian man who wants to make sure you’re fed and happy,” Pat brings out the best in people. He’s also a tinkerer, and uses his curiosity and knack for assembly to build amazing things for our incredible team.
What was your favorite production challenge?
For me, producing is putting the right people at the table and giving them the tools to make something great. That’s my role now, to make sure everyone at Makers is doing what they want to do, and are happy. Producing Makers, the company, that’s my favorite thing.
What do you look for in projects?
I look for amazing people – people I know, like, and trust – or new collaborators that are really fired up and excited to try something new. And I look for the unknown; the opportunity to expand my mind through making something that’s never been made, through solving problems I have yet to solve.
Antonietta has always been drawn to creative expression. For Antonietta, the producer’s role is perfect: it keeps her involved in nearly every aspect of the creative process. Working with brands like Tim Hortons, Walmart, Hotels.com, Bumble, and HSBC, Antonietta has gained experience across a broad spectrum of industries and roles. From production lead and agency producer to client services and project manager, she knows how to take projects from ideation to execution, with experience in both commercial and original content production.
What do you look for in projects?
I look for creative ideas or briefs that are both fun and smart, that allow me to be both educated and entertained. I’m also drawn to projects that positively impact the world; I’m extremely proud of the work I’ve done in the past with Indigenous communities.
What was your favorite production challenge?
My first full production with Makers was for Round Agency and GoAuto, where I acted as both the agency producer and line producer, and had just under two weeks to pull everything together. In some ways it was the perfect crash course, as it forced me to learn fast and problem solve a lot on the go.
Mike grew up in London initially, subsequently moving around quite a lot until settling in the English countryside in his early teens.. After receiving a degree in Visual Media in Manchester, his love of travel took him around the world for several years, learning about different cultures, expanding his mind and perception of people. On returning to London His career started in the camera department working his way up the ranks on ads, drama, and visual effects. Desperate to get back out on the road he moved into documentaries, picking up any project that got him on a plane. After spending 4 years in Sweden working on large formats, reality, and television, Mike moved back to the UK with the desire to direct and produce on a higher level. Whilst working on a documentary in Burma he spent alot of time around international journalists who, like him, routinely relied on fixers to complete their work. The role of these fixers was vague and undefined, ranging from translators and drivers to fully fledged producers and service companies. However, it was clear though that the process of finding reliable ones rarely expanded beyond peoples ‘little black books’ and with so much riding on this relationship for international production he began to explore what could be done by bringing together the best in one place, vetting them and making them available to the wider industry. From this sentiment World Fixer was born and alongside digital partners in London he began the long journey of building the platform and bringing on members.. From the very beginning membership grew quickly, validating a real need in the industry and before long the site boasted thousands of high level fixers, journalists, producers and service companies who were routinely used by some of the biggest names in the business. . Now in its next stage of evolution, Makers’ global network continues to expand as we foster the best talent into an ever-growing talent platform.
What do you look for in projects?
As a growing company that not only pays the bills but funds a free platform, you take whatever comes through the door. But the best work is a project with a strong message or amazing people. Joining Makers makes room for choosing the projects and people that fit best. Aside from the people or companies I like to work with, a good track record shows potential. It’s not always about what is, but what could be.
What was your favorite production challenge?
Notting Hill Carnival in 2020 was a fun one. We filmed nearly 1000 artists in Abbey Road studios, Albert Hall, Trinidad, Barbados, Nigeria, and Grenada over the course of 2 months during the covid pandemic and produced a live production to launch in 3 days. Musicians are rarely on time, often argue, and embrace the chaos. But meeting all the performers and getting to know the community was incredible. It was amazing to gain the trust of such a strong community like London and an honor to be involved.
For Andrew, developing new technology is about more than coding. It’s about building something new, something exciting that solves problems and leads to better things. That’s why he’s spent so much of his career learning new skills, applying them to new projects and teams to build experiences that can thrive. Andrew joins Makers not as coder, or even a technologist, but as someone with the skill and drive to build a team that can build for the future.
What do you look for in projects?
I like to take on projects that are new and somehow different. Sometimes that requires a new skill set, like using new code libraries or different system architectures I’ve never worked with. But it can also mean making something I’ve never made before. Even if it doesn’t end up doing something exciting, it’s still an opportunity to use what I’ve learned and gain more experience that I can apply to the next project I do.
What was your favorite production challenge?
It’s always great when it’s a problem that allows me to flex my research muscles. One time, I got to make something that lets people measure the distance between their pupils. The measurement needs to be exact, otherwise people’s glasses prescriptions won’t work. Usually, your eye doctor measures it with special equipment and while there are techniques to measure it yourself, they are cumbersome and prone to inaccuracy. We figured out how to do it with digital image processing without requiring any reference items in frame for scale, really simplifying the process for users. I had to dig through all my old textbooks to brush up on things like object recognition and edge detection, but in the end we ended up with a functional prototype that proved our technique was well-founded.
Sam is a Toronto-based producer who, simply put, loves telling stories. After starting her career working in development, she craved the fast-paced environment of production and quickly moved up the ranks in the worlds of unscripted television, documentary, branded content, and commercial production. But it wasn’t until she worked as producer on several music & lifestyle documentaries that Sam felt the power of her production prowess: forging human connections, seeking out the right people, and building a strong team in order to turn a creative vision into reality. Sam has produced for some of the world’s most influential broadcasters such as Netflix & Bell Media, and international brands like Kraft Heinz, Toyota, and Samsung. She has produced dozens of integrated campaigns that have been award winning and shortlisted at numerous international advertising festivals.
What do you look for in projects?
I love figuring out who the right people for the job are, and how to make it happen. They have ideas and I am the one to help turn those ideas into reality. Good people are everything when it comes to making a good production. I love creative producing and storytelling, but I excel in organizing the structure for a big picture. I like having the ability to make things move out of your head and onto the screen.
What was your favorite production challenge?
One of the best productions I had the pleasure of working on was a teen girl lifestyle series called We Are Savvy. This was a mix of reality and scripted content where I was privileged enough to be a story producer with an amazing group of girls and young women. The tough part was ensuring that the business goals were met while still keeping the invaluable authenticity of the content. While we want viewers, its always important to keep in mind that viewers don’t just want content, they want to be moved.
Bryan’s curiosity and drive are what make him a true Maker. When a good tech idea presents itself, he immediately opens up his computer and starts writing code. He loves to be challenged with unfamiliar tasks because he loves the process of researching and expanding his problem-solving skills. His skill sets include software & hardware programming, digital painting, 3D modeling, game development, and beatboxing. Yep, beatboxing. Bryan stays active in a variety of fields within the tech community as he truly prides himself as a student of the industry and lover of all things technology.
What do you look for in projects?
As a software developer, I’m most on the lookout for how much fun I’ll have working on the project – and by fun I mean the more mind-expanding, the more fun. I’m into projects where I can learn new programming skills, and when the vision and final output make it something that I want to tell my friends about (and they’ll be super impressed.)
What was your favorite production challenge?
The making of a web game for Hershey’s Reese’s Pieces. I love this project because there are not many existing examples of high-quality web games built as part of a marketing effort. This will definitely be a gamer-loved adventure – keep your eyes out for it in 2022.
Jessica was born to create and produce. As children, she and her sisters spent their days writing, producing and acting in homemade soap operas replete with elaborate storylines and complex characters. She began her career in experiential and quickly adapted to industry demand taking on digital and technology production for industries ranging from entertainment to pharma, making her way into video and content production as Senior Integrated Producer at content marketing firm Mass Minority. At Makers, she’s been Producer Lead for Tim Hortons, World Wildlife Fund and Electronic Arts, among many others. A Maker at heart, she geeks out on her track record from overseeing film premieres where she shut down major thoroughfares to producing custom digital tools to answer client needs.
What do you look for in projects?
I like a project that makes you a little nervous in the beginning; the kind that makes you think, “How are we going to do this?!” I also like a great idea — it doesn’t matter if it’s a big budget or small — the kind of idea where I look at the concept and say “oooh.”
What was your favorite production challenge?
I like seeing an idea spread across different channels once it’s been pushed live as a complete campaign. One of my favorite challenges was leading production of the rebrand of a global nutritional supplements company. We took one idea related to how we wanted to represent their brand and communicate their message, and translated that to video, print, OOH, digital, and internal tools to launch their new corporate identity.
After launching his production career as the in-house Creative Producer at Inkbox, a unique Toronto startup making semi-permanent tattoos, Rasheem hasn’t looked back since. Working with clients like Toronto Raptors, Travis Barker, Post Malone, Pepsi, Gildan, Dolby, Sundance, and TIFF, Rasheem’s career highlight to date was bar-none flying to LA to shoot the campaign for Travis Barker's Inkbox collaboration. Travel and stars aside, Rasheem is a true Maker thanks to his empathetic and collaborative mindset. He has a deep respect, commitment and care for creative work and the people who make the work what it is. On set, Rasheem fosters a work environment where everyone feels championed at their best. When he’s not busy masterminding his way through the labyrinth of production, Rasheem enjoys film, music, and travelling the world. A lover of culture, he loves to see, hear and experience stories of humanity that differ from his own, and to experience the contrast between how vibrantly different the world can be, while finding those sweet moments that connect us all.
What's something about production that excites you?
What excites me is that production is like a puzzle. I get to take brilliant ideas from someone else’s brain and find creative, efficient ways to make it a reality. There’s nothing more exciting than that.
What's a piece of advice that guides your career or life?
My old mentor used to tell me, "If you're gonna take something on, take it all the way." If we truly want to create something with impact, no matter how big or small, we have to take it all the way. Every detail, every moment, every person is important—even if it may not seem that way at the time—and that always reminds me to carry the same keen motivation throughout the project’s entirety.
Tasha is one of Makers’ most versatile Executive Producers, with roots in film production, post-production, live and virtual events. A strong mentor capable of fostering growth in both her teams and clients, she has a deep knowledge of the industry and an even deeper passion for its future. With roots in the commercial production world, throughout her career she’s helped lead numerous production houses on journeys of tremendous growth–most recently as Co-Managing Partner at Skin and Bones Film Company, voted North America’s Production Company of the Year by the London International Awards. She’s served as decision-maker for accounts like McDonalds, Adidas, and Audi, delivering first-in-class creative while simultaneously making sure to support, nurture, and uplift those around her. She’s a true People’s Champion who’s humanistic approach results in some of Makers’ best work.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I’m proud of the work I’ve done discovering and supporting new artists. I’m passionate about working with clients who are willing to take risks — to take a chance on someone — and I actively seek opportunities to pair up-and-comers with clients who are brave enough to look at projects from a new, maybe even “untested” perspective to create real magic together.
What do you look for in projects?
I think a lot about what helped propel my career trajectory, and the people who invited me to sit at their table. The opportunities entrusted to me were life changing, and I feel a great responsibility to do the same for others, especially women. And I’m looking for more chances to be involved in a project’s creative ideation; to step into the stream early on and collaborate on the process and execution.
Michael’s career has been defined by what some would call superb service, but he describes simply as helping people. While working as a bartender and bookkeeper – but never at the same time – he returned to school to complete his degree in accounting and finance. He was lucky enough to find a place in the finance industry focused on collaboration and helping people solve problems, rather than direct competition. With almost every industry available to him, Michael chose Makers, attracted by its environment of teamwork, growth, and dedication to making things happen.
What do you look for in projects?
In finance, you have to do things over and over again. It gets repetitive, but that’s not a problem for me as long as I’m helping do something worthwhile. If I can help make something exciting, something interesting, or help make someone’s life better or easier, work stops feeling like work. Things like working on improving our systems and procedures or figuring out where we can stretch a dollar a little further means our projects can go that much smoother, with that much better results.
What was your favorite production challenge?
When I was still very junior I was hired to work on a team of four people. Except within four months the team expanded to 20 people. I was working on things that were way above my level as a new graduate, doing stuff I’d learned but didn’t expect to be doing for a few years. I had put in a bunch of extra effort to make sure everything was done right, but it felt good to be doing senior-level work, especially after I got moved to senior-level positions.
As a producer, Mike loves helping creatives bring their ideas to life. Having worked with major brands including Air Canada, TELUS, PepsiCo, Hershey’s, Budweiser, and more, Mike has the experience to get the job past the finish line. His calm, cool and focused demeanor is envied by his peers and appreciated by his clients. When he isn’t producing, he’s either working on music, writing sketch comedy, biking around town, or eating spaghetti.
What do you look for in projects?
I look for ways to help creatives elevate the work. I look to team up with talented people. I look for ways to make money (and save clients money). I look to have fun.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I once worked with an editor on an extremely VFX-heavy file. The challenge was to seamlessly get the cut over to color without having to rebuild the VFX; a tricky process that could have easily gone off the rails. I liked it because I had to use my post-production brain as well as my producer’s brain.
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Hailing from Sweden, Joel brings a keen eye not just for design, but for bringing the right people together to help his projects exceed all expectations. His career began as a copywriter and content creator at the Stockholm School of Economics. From there, he moved to Telia Company, one of Sweden’s largest telecommunications companies as a key member of their in-house creative team. There, he oversaw the company’s slew of b-to-b websites that aimed to bring Telia’s range of services and helpful guidance to different businesses across Sweden. When he moved to Toronto, he shifted to web design where he’s been flexing his chops ever since.
What do you look for in projects?
Joel is always drawn to projects that allow him to produce something tangible in the end. Whether it’s a creative campaign, a brand identity, or a website, Joel likes to see the work he’s a part of make it out into the world. But above all that, the most important thing for Joel is to work with good people: collaboration is strengthened when there’s a genuine connection amongst the team.
What was your favorite production challenge?
At Telia Company, Joel helped with the launch of Apple’s iPhone 10. Apple is a notoriously secretive company, holding back key details about their new products until their annual keynote. This meant an extremely tight timeline between getting details from Apple and building Telia’s consumer-facing website and campaign pages.
After graduating with a Journalism degree, Katie went to work in the place of her teenage dreams, Star! Channel. There she produced celebrity segments for the next eight years before jumping into documentary production. Her latest work includes producing the feature-length documentary CANDIDATO 34 in association with Lionsgate’s unscripted division, Pilgrim Media Group. Katie is now turning her eye towards Makers Original Content, where she’s curating powerful, character-driven projects that inform, entertain and emotionally resonate with an international audience. Katie’s broad experience allows Makers to provide an enhanced experience to our clients by creating unscripted and factual content with a focus on compelling storytelling.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I shot an entire season of a documentary show—featuring a cast with disabilities—at the height of COVID. It was of critical importance to keep them safe, but we felt that sharing their story in real time was equally important, because their community was so heavily impacted by the pandemic. It taught me so much, and so many new ways of producing.
What do you look for in projects?
Character-Driven Storytelling! I believe FIRMLY in character over story. Finding incredible characters and building out around them is my secret formula. Then beyond the characters, I look for projects that have something to say, that might change someone’s perspective, or generate positive change.
Angela’s agency experience formed a foundation of how to produce live experiences, broadcast, photography content, communication campaigns, and what makes a good pitch. Angela is always game to learn more. Which is why she has worked on multiple-continents, in multiple languages, across multiple production models — earning praise from big-name brands like Audi, Tesla, SK-II, and HSBC. Most recently, she stewarded internal creative teams for MLSE’s big league brands – The Raptors, The Maple Leafs, and Toronto FC. With both the leadership and strategic mind to get things done, she’s ready to do everything all at once.
What do you look for in projects?
I love strategic planning. Ideating and concepting the idea from the start is where the best work can get done. I think in systems so I am always focused on how to bring the idea to life. I enjoy creating routes to success and this always goes better when I can absorb the goal and influence the outcome.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I enjoy how things only happen ONCE with live experiences. It’s a challenge, but gives you a rush when it’s done. During the launch of a new cruise ship, we were all concerned about the ceremonial smashing of the champagne bottle. We only have one bottle, and the imagery is only captured once. Moments like that excite me because it takes months of planning to get one small moment right.
Erica’s diverse background spans fashion, experiential marketing, and previously producing for Makers. She now joins the Makers finance team as she translates her producing chops into accounting and bookkeeping. In her producing career, Erica brought to life all kinds of experiences from music festivals, events, large-scale tours and brand activations. Most notably, she co-produced the weekly Canadian hockey festival Rogers Hometown Hockey and coordinated sponsorships for the PanAm Torch Relay. Project management is a part of producing that Erica has always loved—and paired with her zest for growth, it led her to expand her skillset to learn accounting and balancing the books. In her downtime, the naturally curious and studious Erica can usually be found in her books, either learning about art, history or studying accounting.
What's a piece of advice that guides your career or life?
The advice that guides me is to prioritize continuous learning, seek feedback, build a strong network, and actively seek out opportunities to expand your skills and knowledge.
What led you to shifting from production to finance?
I became interested in finance to round out my project management and producer skill set. As I explored it and was talking with people in my community about bookkeeping the same message kept coming up. They loved what they did, graphic designers, producers, artists, masons, but they hated doing the books and it was affecting their business. I thought I could do that! And started studying seriously and went back to school.
A born leader with a strong sense of aesthetics, Julia’s comfortable working with or without the rule book. Julia’s bread & butter is in commercial production, navigating frantic sets, early call times, and long hours in the editing suite. She consistently delivers value-rich, creative outputs for her clients and has worked on notable brands such as Pepsi, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Subaru, VW and Adidas. She views every production as an opportunity to dig deep, elevate the creative through the production process, and be a valued and trusted partner throughout the project.
What do you look for in projects?
I look for interesting and captivating creative, a dynamic where collaboration is valued, and the opportunity to bring forth unique, creative production solutions. I’m the type of person who gets excited by figuring out how to bring a napkin sketch into the physical realm, and I’m grateful when I get those opportunities.
What was your favourite production challenge?
We just finished a shoot with Pepsi that I really loved, which celebrated the marching bands at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). When you work on a spot like that, it’s so important that the final product is truly of the culture. The team that came together was composed entirely of people who were passionate about ensuring the creative’s authenticity; I really loved the collaboration, teamwork and passion that brought that spot together.
For Lily, producing is like baking: it’s not just the right combination of ingredients, it’s how they come together that makes a project shine. Lily followed her passion for big brands into advertising, graphic design and social media before becoming a Maker. Her journey includes producing pitches for WPP agency GREY before jumping head-first into start-up agency, Sunday+Night, to launch a US-based cannabis brand. Whether she’s building websites, planograms or affordable homes, Lily unites creative and client teams, bringing projects to life for some of the world’s biggest brands. Yet to approach a production without rolled-up sleeves, Lily embraces the unknown with relentless optimism.
What do you look for in projects?
I look for opportunities to change perceptions while digging deep to really understand partners and their goals. I’m naturally curious, so part of my process is to ask a lot of questions and I rarely take things at face value because of my innate desire to understand people on a deeper level. By drilling down to clarify the motive for the project, I build stronger working relationships and produce better outcomes.
What’s been your favorite production challenge?
I always enjoy the challenge of creating efficiencies between projects. Every project is an opportunity to listen, assess, and apply learnings to the next one to ensure it’s even better than the last. Whether it’s a standard or unconventional production, the responsible use of resources is sacred. I yearn to create order that allows creativity to flourish.
Jess’ diverse experience ranges from building apps for MasterCard to developing a chocolate-loving secret society for Reese’s. A project manager by training, her talent elevating creative visions through production makes her a valued partner to some of Makers’ biggest clients. Whether facing massive budgets, limited spend, construction delays, or needed FDA approvals, Jess remains unfazed by pressure. A true believer that the results are in the details, one of her proudest achievements is producing and hosting a four-course dinner party out of her basement apartment, complete with a menu designed to accommodate dietary restrictions and tastes of nineteen palates.
What do you look for in projects?
My favorite projects all have three things in common. First, the opportunity to learn something new. Second, getting the chance to work with a diverse group of people. And third, some sort of inherent challenge to overcome. I do love a good challenge.
What has been your favorite production challenge?
Probably Isolish: a digital platform that brings fine dining experiences to anyone’s home. Not only was this one of the more meaningful projects I’ve had the pleasure of producing, it presented the opportunity to learn many new skills. From building the digital platform, to managing customer service, route planning and deliveries, it was an all-hands on Makers Production – and I’m so proud of what we contributed to the Toronto restaurant industry at a time when innovation was needed most.
A seasoned agency producer who got his start as an on-set PA, Camera Assistant, and Lighting Tech, Scott’s combination of technical expertise and creative credentials are unique to the Makers’ ecosystem, and make him a valuable asset. Behind his natural ease and affability is a razor-sharp production mind that excels at organization and thinking ten steps ahead. And while his laudable campaigns for clients like McDonalds might be intimidating on paper, Scott’s quiet confidence and willingness to lead-by-supporting are what make him a true force to be reckoned with; as he makes teammates, clients, and collaborators alike feel respected and appreciated.
What do you look for in projects?
Above all I look for good people to work with and collaborate with. Really, it’s the team that makes the project for me—I’ll do anything if the right people are attached to it. I like to be a part of the crew and around people, the energy of creative collaboration, and the motivation I get from making something in a supportive environment.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I enjoy educating clients about the realities of production, from cost implications to scheduling and keeping on time. We are always dealing with heavier asks coming in on shrinking budgets and tighter deadlines. Managing all three and keeping all involved satisfied is a challenge, but one I’m happy to undertake.
Jeremy is best known for how he listens, learns, and collaborates, turning clients’ ideas and concepts into products to be proud of. He stays hungry for new challenges and non-traditional assignments. As Development Director and a Maker through and through, Jeremy is most passionate about building win/win partnerships with people and brands that want to make the unmakeable, and break old ways of getting shit made.
What do you look for in projects?
Considering I work in the relationships part of the company, finding brands, agencies and projects that I know our producers will be proud to work on is a real win for me. I was a producer before I transitioned into Business Development, and so I’m familiar with the kind of projects that make our team feel accomplished and proud. Today I use that knowledge to find projects that help elevate Makers to elite status within our industry.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I started with Makers in the “early days,” in a Producer role. As the company grew, my role gradually shifted (now to Biz Dev), and I’ve seen a lot of major changes take place. Simply learning and growing through the Makers evolution has been a challenge, but a well-received one. I’ve had to grow as the company has grown, and that’s been exciting.
Zaabelle first started her career in politics working for an international organization in Washington D.C. She went on to non-profit work and then transitioned into wealth management where she was most fulfilled by working to help people solve problems and build their own financial support systems. After a brief stint working in tech, she was introduced to Makers. Soon after, she became Makers HR advisor helping to define our culture. An expert at blending business choices with human needs, Zaabelle wants to make sure we have an edge and continue doing things differently than other production companies. Belle aims to channel our industry’s creativity into building more innovative/ingenious corporate systems. She is able to not only offer a home for our peoples human relations, but also ensure we keep our authenticity as we grow.
What do you look for in projects?
It was a childhood dream of mine to work in production. I love stories. As I got older, I realized that production is the blend of project management, people management, human capital management, and creative management. I always try to inform the bigger business choices through an understanding of the human ambitions. I look for ways to ensure everyone has an easier time doing what they love. Regardless of roles or hierarchy, I am always checking to see if everyone interacting together is feeling respected, heard, and helped.
In her third year studying Film and Media Production, Devika earned an internship that became a major stepping stone for her career. Armed with real world experience, she finished her four year degree while continuing to work on a variety of content including reality programs, and children’s television. Eventually, her hard work paid off and she landed a PA job on a revival of the show Blue’s Clues for 4 seasons. In season 2, Devika learned more as Assistant Production Coordinator and for season 3-4 she came back with more responsibility as the Production Coordinator. She also began teaching at a College course called “Production Entrepreneurship”, sharing her experiences and skills with students. Now, immersed in Makers, Devika uses her administrative background and production knowledge to support Producers and APs. She focuses on picking up any lingering pieces to aid in the wrap process and transitions onto new projects seamlessly.
What do you look for in projects?
Meaningful content that is inclusive. I enjoy working on projects that can impact people’s view of themselves or the world. Working on the revival of Blues Clues was very empowering, especially since it was a show I watched in my own childhood. When the reboot premiered, kids I knew loved it and that excited me because I got to be part of the historic journey of their on-screen heroes. The show was breaking boundaries too, the new host was Filipino. We had a deaf actress join us for a few episodes and had to find and wear clear, anti-fog masks so that the actress could lip read, which was something people don’t often think about. And we had all sorts of new cultural integrations to bring the show into the next generation.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I worked on a show that followed a wedding planner through her process leading up to events. We all know that reality TV is loosely scripted but the journey can be unpredictable (especially a wedding day). Our team would go in with a general plan of what we wanted to capture and how the day was supposed to flow, but on one occasion the wedding planner locked her keys in her car at the start of the day. That made for good television! No plan is ever going to run smoothly and how you react to obstacles and overcome ultimately can make or break a production. These little things don’t ruin the project, but create opportunities for an authentic story.
Let’s put it this way – if you need to shut down one of Toronto’s busiest streets for a holiday concert while considering every detail including pedestrians, streetcars, and impatient taxi drivers, you hire Andrew. His desire to learn has led him across an eclectic range of roles and experiences, including his latest gig as an Integrated Producer at Diamond where he led creative teams from ideation to execution. Andrew’s team-centric approach and desire to take on new challenges are what makes him a dedicated, fearless, and inspired Maker.
What do you look for in projects?
I’m so much more inspired by the people involved in a project than the project itself, and am always looking for interesting people with cool ideas they want to see get made. I love working with people who are collaborative, passionate, and genuinely excited about the work – it’s having those personalities in the mix that makes almost any job appealing.
What was your favorite production challenge?
Definitely a collaboration with The Hive and OLG to launch Proline +. The creative was super ambitious — it involved flying athletes through the air on set, and then having them sucked into a portal through the use of VFX/CGI. It was a challenge, one that everyone involved was genuinely excited about solving, which made the experience a great one.
Tiffany has produced everything from bespoke brand experiences to global music festivals and conferences. Having begun in music with major and independent record labels and with non profit industry organizations, she eventually dove into the agency world where she connected music properties with brands to produce unique programs and experiences. Known for delivering breakthrough solutions to clients like Prime Video, Apple, Toronto International Film Festival and Paramount+, Tiffany believes collaboration is the best way to showcase the visions of her clients. With her breadth of knowledge in live experience production, this foundation is what upholds Tiffany’s cross-disciplinary expertise. She understands all modern productions are integrated and have some facet of experience, tech and content. Complex problems need unique solutions and Tiffany is known to uncover unseen opportunities for stellar experiences.
What do you look for in projects?
The ability to inject and exercise creativity, whether it’s to help conceptualize the project or using creative problem-solving skills to bring the idea to life. I also love taking something that doesn’t typically live in the physical space and bringing it to life. Example: we gave users the full Cinderella movie experience in a short 5 mins during our immersive event.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I love when a multi-layered idea comes my way that isn’t fully thought out yet. In order to find a production solution, it requires multiple partners to collaborate and share their experience. Through collaboration I’m able to learn and expand skills, while inspiring others to do the same.
A lifelong creator who got her start Producing while planning events and collaborative projects with her art collective–The Deadly Nightshades—both Kirsten’s resourcefulness and her creativity knows no bounds. She was one of Makers’ first employees and spent half a decade spearheading some of our most lauded and innovative work. A people first approach and natural empathy lend themselves to an easy report with clients, vendors, and teammates alike; people flock to Kirsten, and she in turn helps guide them towards greatness. This attitude and approach to producing is what helped propel her to her role with Makers as Talent Lead. In this position, she draws upon her own production experience and unparalleled research skills to help us source the best new Makers, partners, and possibilities.
What do you look for in projects?
Maybe it’s because I come originally from a fine art background, but in my mind, true art is not commerce—it doesn’t get made with an end sales goal in mind. To me, the most ingenious work gets made when there’s no pressure to commodify. My favorite projects are when we can harness this kind of ingenious creativity and apply it to something more commercial in nature, to create a hybridization of mediums that is truly innovative, and inspired.
What was your favorite production challenge?
My favorite production challenge was a great example of that hybridized creative space I just mentioned, even though it ultimately didn’t get made. I was tasked with figuring out how to make an animatronic giant walk across North America. It was so much fun diving into circus and puppeteer culture and trying to combine them in a way that had never been attempted before, while still authentically delivering the client’s message.
After volunteering for North by North East, a Toronto music festival sister to SXSW, she would eventually oversee and manage the volunteer group for 10 years. She collected more knowledge in contracting for more music and arts festivals, helping to produce the Pan American Games, taking every opportunity to learn something new. Whether it be VIP transportation, Gate management, Gala Coordinator, or any other title, Lindsey believes every role has an opportunity to learn more about the higher vision of a project. Interested in being a part of more ideation and creative concepting, she joined Makers in 2021 for more opportunities to expand her book of tricks. For six months she integrated into the team, learning about our Makers model and processes that help clients achieve great productions. Now as a full time Maker, she is interested in shadowing more content-driven work and perhaps house building! But her heart and wealth of knowledge lies in unforgettable experiences.
What do you look for in projects?
I’m attracted to projects with vision. Whether it be a good story to tell, a meaningful experience to remember, or a cause to be passionate about, I am not one to say “no” when there is good work to be made. Environmental issues, poverty, and indigenous representation are causes I would eagerly jump in to help solve.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I once had to create a game for a client, which in itself is a lot of work. The client was looking for a way to engage a younger audience with their product and the goal was to get bystanders to play with some sort of interactive experience. Since this game involved larger equipment in a public space, there was a potential for injury and we had to make sure that people were attracted to participate but also stay safe. Since the objective was to get youths involved, we had to adjust the experience so that it was safe enough to not require people under 18 to sign a waiver. It was tough but the event went really well and lots of people had a blast.
Team-focused yet also individual in style, Andrea’s agility on set and in the field has delivered renowned projects for clients like Jack Daniel’s, Philips, and the Kraft Heinz Company. A key to Andrea’s success has been her unmatched laser focus—regardless of scope, no task, request, purchase or detail ever falls through the cracks. She targets the toughest projects for the best clients with the sole intention of striking the bullseye, and is the kind of producer that loves her job because it allows her to fulfill her endless passions. Whether working with clients in music, food, fashion or retail, she brings a fine balance of insight and intensity when helping to make ideas a reality for international brands.
What do you look for in projects?
I look for projects with both nice people and reasonable timelines. I can buckle down and laser-focus when I’m racing against the clock, and I have many times. But I much prefer working with long lead times, so that my team can both make something great and enjoy the process while doing it.
What was your favorite production challenge?
I’d love to keep building on my line production experience. I’m very detail-oriented and enjoy mapping out steps, which are two qualities that I think lend themselves to success in that position, and I’ve applied it with great success to smaller 20-30 people shoots. I’d love the opportunity to do more of it with larger crews and more complex locations or set-builds.
