Canada: CoPilot Productions

CoPilot Productions: production servicing foreign projects in Canada from coast (Atlantic) to coast (Pacific) to coast (Arctic).

"Canada’s low dollar and amazing production value has continued to help keep us busy in these uncertain inflationary times.

Here is a quick look at what we have been up to so far since our last spotlight update so far this year:

• A TVC / photoshoot combo for the Environment and Climate Change Canada government ministry
• A TVC / photoshoot combo for Barilla pasta with the composer of the 'White Lotus' tv series.
• One awesome four-day photoshoot for a fashion client highlighting Montreal’s European vibe.
• One full segment of the 'Chrysalides' feature documentary filmed in the Lofoten, Senja and Tromso islands of Northern Norway.

And much more work that, unfortunately, our NDAs prevent us to share until their respective publications."

Montreal: Hugo B. Lefort

With a photographic career spanning more than 15 years, Hugo B. Lefort stands out in the art of portraiture. His expertise extends from the world of theater and television productions, to the studios of renowned advertising agencies, such as Cossette and Taxi.

By immortalising the essence of actors, musical artists and theater companies, Hugo creates portraits imbued with a distinctive personality.

Inspired by the cinematographic and theatrical world, Hugo's work is characterised by the light he shapes. Each shot is imbued with a unique luminosity, capturing the moment with emotional clarity. His philosophy is based on the harmony between light, subject, retouching and staging, converging towards a single objective: instantly transmitting deep emotion through his photographs.

Montreal: Hugo B. Lefort

With a photographic career spanning more than 15 years, Hugo B. Lefort stands out in the art of portraiture. His expertise extends from the world of theater and television productions to the studios of renowned advertising agencies such as Cossette and Taxi. By immortalizing the essence of actors, musical artists and theater companies, Hugo creates portraits imbued with a distinctive personality.

Inspired by the cinematographic and theatrical world, Hugo's work is characterized by the light he shapes. Each shot is imbued with a unique luminosity, capturing the moment with emotional clarity.

His philosophy is based on the harmony between light, subject, retouching and staging, converging towards a single objective: instantly transmitting deep emotion through his photographs.

Canada: CoPilot Productions

"At CoPilot Productions, we provide production servicing for projects in Canada from coast (Atlantic) to coast (Pacific) to coast (Arctic).

Additionally, Jim can also work as a project fixer / producer for project filming in foreign landscapes.

Canada’s low dollar and amazing production value has continued to help keep us busy in these uncertain inflationary times.

Here is a quick look at what we have been up to so far since our last update in June:

Warner Media / CNN / Courageous Studios (USA): Our team line-produced a 6-7-minute advertorial for Destination Canada, in collaboration with CNN’s promotional studio, for Canada’s promotional material agency for the Federal ministry of Tourism.

VITAL Productions (Canada): in November, we are providing assistance for foreign filming in Europe for the 'Rioux' (2024) feature documentary (a Poland, Germany and UK coproduction) including obtaining filming and drone permitting at the Auschwitz-Birkenau holocaust memorial.

Also for VITAL, we have provided assistance for foreign filming in Socotra, Yemen, for the 'Chrysalides' (2025) feature documentary. This Spotlight includes some behind the scenes snapshots of this simply stunning and unique location."

Montreal: Hugo B. Lefort

"With a background in theater and cinema, I always try to have, as a subtext, the vulnerability of people in my images.

I don't like fixed situations. So, a successful image, for me, is a photo that tells several stories. From the light, the direction of the model, the artistic direction...

In my projects, I try to look for the precise moment when time stops to give way to silence, to the eye of the storm."

Montreal: Hugo B. Lefort

"For me, photography is the meeting of two things.

It is the encounter between people - with all their stories and their humanity - and light. The main challenge is to harmonise the two to leave room for the story I want to tell through the photo.

Whether through a simple portrait or a complex staging, the story, for me, is always the most important.

And it is created as a team by adding the experience, talent and passion of each."

Canada: CoPilot Productions

"Montreal-based, but we cover all of Canada from coast (Atlantic) to coast (Pacific) to coast (Arctic). Because it’s all about locations, locations, locations."

Since 1999, Jim Edward and his team @ COPILOTproductions has acted as production service producer for over 450 large scale commercial productions / photoshoots / TV series and IMAX films throughout Canada for local, Canadian as well as international clients from the USA, UK, Europe and South Korea. From pre-production and Canadian immigration paperwork for their foreign clients and crew, to location scouting services to complete production management solutions on the ground, COPILOT helps land your job smoothly and professionally.

"COPILOT productions provides you with more production value for a lower cost than any comparable shoot in Europe or the USA, with the flexibility to accommodate our clients budgets in a competitive global market with our low Canadian dollar.

You are the Pilot, we are here to assist you."

Canada: CoPilot Productions

"We production serviced several US, UK and European based projects shooting in Canada this year; and we also produced a YouTube Originals and Google UK project, filming on British Columbia’s glaciers.

In collaboration with Silverback Studios from Bristol, we filmed on location across five days with 13 cameras and an FPV drone to follow the stunt action. This was part of a series called 'Climate Games', matching professional skier JT Holmes with YouTuber and science expert Physics Girl. The project was for the benefit of the COP climate conference and we are really proud of the outcome. Being able to shoot on the glaciers really showcases what this part of the country offers for foreign producers. Part of this work was also included in another, longer YouTube campaign called Dear Planet Earth.

We also production serviced the Canadian portion of an international photoshoot for Marriott Hotels. The strategy was to shoot Montreal for European looking locations, all while spending CAD dollars in lieu of filming in expensive European locations.

Another highlight was filming portions of a TV series for National Geographic on Great White Sharks in Atlantic waters."