Village Gamer

Bell Media and Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited have announced their collaboration on the exclusive original online series Intersections. The eight episode integration, which will roll out in two phases, is an exploration of what drives Canadians who are at the forefront of art and technology.

The first episode premieres today and follows Jason ‘DJ Shine’ Spanu, a star in the Canadian and international electronic music scene. The final three episodes in the first phase introduce audiences to:

• Brian Richer, a designer for Castor, who works in the middle ground between high design and ribald yokelism.
• Michael Nyuis, a ‘No Boarder’, who hopes to share the freedom of snowboarding without bindings with the masses.
• Bryn Davidson, a building designer for Lanefab, who transforms some of Vancouver’s most under-utilized spaces into energy-efficient laneway houses.

New episodes of Intersections will be available online each Monday until April 23.

“Each episode of Intersections highlights people and places at the crossroads of art and technology, a perfect theme for a partnership that sits at the crossroads of brand and entertainment,” said Jon Taylor, Senior Director of Content, Bell Media Digital. “Intersections is a highly-watchable series that delivers for both the client and the audience. This is a show we’re proud to have produced with Ford of Canada.”

All of the episodes include co-branded opening graphics, product integration, and custom created Ford of Canada promotional pre-rolls. Episodes will be housed in a custom microsite with a large-format embedded video player, participant profiles, and an interactive Ford Focus photo gallery including features and product details.

“The Ford of Canada Team was excited to work with CTV from the very beginning to craft a program that so closely mirrors the core values of the Ford Focus,” said Jon Macca, Managing Director, Client Lead, Mindshare. “Intersections shines a spotlight on the work of bright Canadian talent who are relevant to Ford of Canada’s target audience.”

Intersections will roll out in two, four-video phases. From Monday, April 9 – Sunday, May 13, applicants who are driven by art and technology can visit the submission site and explain why they should be selected to become one of the four Intersections profiles in phase two. The second phase of videos will premiere on Monday, Sept. 17 with the series running online until Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012.

Intersections is produced by Bell Media Digital’s internal Video Production Unit, led by Jon Taylor, Senior Director of Content, Bell Media Digital (Get Fresh, Destination: Hong Kong, and the Digital Lounge at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games). Gary Anderson is the Head of Bell Media Digital. Intersections concept by Nicole Petrak, Account Executive, Bell Media Digital Sales and Mike McKenna, Senior Producer, Bell Media Digital Internal Production Unit. Intersections is directed and produced by the Video Production Unit, including McKenna, Dean Gillis, and Travis Wood.