It was a happy confluence of events ­ a location feature shoot in the wilds of b.c., a Canadian commercial production company piquing the interest of a Brazilian producer through a trade magazine and a Spanish-speaking producer ­ that brought the ever lovable Antonio Banderas to Vancouver for a soap shoot for Apple Box Productions.

The project for Palmolive soap originated out of Young & Rubicam Brazil where a producer had been reading up on Canadian commercial shops and learned that Apple Box had a Spanish-speaking rep, Jamie Rodriguez.

Banderas, currently shooting Disney's Eaters of the Dead in Campbell River, b.c., was transported to Vancouver ­ with Melanie and baby Stella in tow ­ for the day's shoot.

Brazilian director Joao Daniel Tikhomiroff helmed the spot, with dop Ronny Dana on camera.

In the spot, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," a woman is lolling endlessly in a tub full of Palmolive suds, preparing the way for what turns out to be her dream-come-true date.

Leslie Thomas of Apple Box produced the spot, and according to reports, the star is, naturally, delicious on the inside too, a "hard- working actor" with "no attitude."

-Studio space

With Derek Vanlint's studio at 38 McGee Street purchased by Vision Films' Sandra Kovacs and Aaron Goldman, Vanlint may pick up the feature lens again on some of the productions coming out of the former comm.bat space, now Freedom Studios. The studio is now being offered for general use, and renovations to the second floor, expected to be completed in the new year, will result in post facilities on site.

-LTB's new Union

Partially the result of a u.k. trip by (recently engaged) executive producer Liane Thomas, L.T.B. Productions has assumed Canadian representation of London-based Union Commercials.

With a previous introduction to the shop through O&M Singapore creative director and sometimes director Neil French, Thomas ended up staying a stone's throw away from the company while on holiday in London.

The roster's powerhouse reel represents a global trend, says Thomas, and some breakthrough spots and techniques unseen on these shores. The Union lineup includes Eric DeLa Hosseraye, Simon Gargette, Adam Johnson, Robert Golden, Simon Peters, Zadoc Nava, Ray Gower and Iain Mackenzie, whose reel is packed with high-end, visually and creatively captivating spots for the likes of Singapore Airlines and McDonald's (there is some good creative out there for the burger chain).

Director Tim Cronenweth (son of Jordan, the Academy Award-winning dop of Blade Runner) is also on the ltb roster.

-Mad moves up

After a month of renovations, Mad Films has moved upstairs to their new home, complete with "cool" ground-down metal doors displaying their logo, five storeys above Spy.

Although Mad hasn't added any new names to its roster of eight directors the company is in negotiations with a few and their current directors are keeping very busy.