My foray into film-making began with post-production work on feature films in Quebec during the early 70's. I then worked in production on sports films: from curling and professional hockey to football and auto racing. Interspersed with this were occasional information films for government and private industry. Audio-Visual was a popular medium; in those days it meant slide shows, but by the end of the decade users were turning more and more to video, which meant live action and a more portable medium. In 1978 I joined a coalition of two other video producers: Anthony Berube and Michael Rixon. Born on a napkin in a cafe, Media Mercenaries was the brainchild of Tony Berube. Professionally we are better known as Rixon, Burch & Berube.

 

One of our principal clients is Bombardier Aerospace, the world leader in the manufacture of executive aircraft. Tony and Mike are seen at right shooting the maiden flight of the newly launched Global Express. Our videos include credits for the entire line of Bombardier's jet aircraft as well as the famous CL-215 & CL-415 water bomber aircraft used for fire-fighting.

Since 1985, we have been the exclusive video producers for CAE Electronics Ltd. - a world leader in the development of simulation technology for civil and military applications. CAE full flight simulators are used by airlines in over 40 countries. Maxvue Image generation provides realistic interactive visual environments for pilots and crews in real time training scenarios. We produce videos for all types of corporate communications, including training, employee communications, marketing, trade shows, public relations and archival. We have developed unique formats for multiple-screen "Videowall" displays and special interfaces for CD-ROM information displays which are audience interactive.

Our aerospace clients also manufacture products and systems for the military. Here I am working with senior officers of the Royal Netherlands Navy during filming of CAE's Operational Tactics Trainer - a simulator for training in combat and engagement exercises onboard the Orion patrol aircraft used by the Dutch Navy in the North Atlantic. We have made numerous videos about military products for both CAE Electronics Ltd. and Bombardier. Other military related video credits include productions for the Canadian Department of National Defense.

Tourism films are also high on our list of priorities. In 1991 we produced several videos in France. Here are Tony and Mike on location at the "Salon Aeronautique" where we shot a video about the Paris Air Show. We also produced a ballooning tribute to Malcolm Forbes at his "Chateau Balleroy" in Normandy. Another production was for the French "Arcade" Hotel chain. An on-going project is a documentary about the "Pere Lachaise Cemetery" - resting place of Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Sarah Bernhardt, Chopin and Jim Morrison, among others. Our unique approach to Paris has been unconventional, high-lighting little pockets of the city that are off the beaten path.

Recently we have embarked upon an ambitious project to produce a package of documentaries about African countries. The series will be called "Through African Eyes", and examines nine nations in different regions, as viewed through the eyes of African Americans. Dennis Hayes, an American lawyer with the NAACP, accompanied our team to Benin for the first of the series. This initial program was a collaborative effort with the support of the Tourism Ministry of Benin and the participation of Air Afrique. In this photo, Tony is in Ghana filming a voodoo priestess in trance.

Tony, our veteran cameraman and producer endured a number of hardships including the "Temple of Serpents" in Ouidah - Benin, the cradle of voodoo. We are currently in the process of completing the first one-hour program and plans are underway to shoot the next episode in Ghana during September. Future episodes will take us to Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Tanzania and Egypt. We are a full service production unit committed to quality productions from conception to completion. We maintain our own broadcast quality video and audio equipment, lighting, and comprehensive post-production facilities.