01 — From Competitors to Partners

If you’re in the industry, Barbershop Films and Studio 10 Productions are unlikely to be unfamiliar names. The British Columbia-based and Saskatchewan-based production companies, respectively, have been thoroughly entrenched in their home provinces for the better part of two decades. But, in 2020, during a time when most were looking for a life raft, the two companies jumped into the deep end. The two merged as a means to offer a greater wealth of resources to clients across Western Canada – all now under one name of Barbershop Films.

“We’ve found clients out of Ottawa and the east who prefer to deal with one company for everything. So that has expanded us across Canada. We have the team and resources now to take on projects that require us to shoot anywhere in the country,” said Barbershop Films’ Executive Producer Jeremy Drummond, formerly of Studio 10 Productions.

“We can stagger work, move our labour around, and transport work to any of our three studios. We’re in a position now to really grow to what we always set out to be.”

02 — It’s Always Better Together

The fit between the two companies was as natural as Vin Diesel and squinting. Both were like-minded companies of similar size that began nearing the ceiling of their respective markets. Together, with Barbershop’s immersion in BC and Studio 10’s strength in Saskatchewan, the two companies offer a solution for Western Canadian video production under one banner, one point of contact, and one consistent level of quality.

Saskatoon-born Producer Derek Baxter has been with Barbershop Films since 2010, after leading the Vancouver Olympics brand and advertising production team. He sees the partnership of Studio 10 and Barbershop as a benefit to not only both companies but to their clients.

“This was an opportunity for us to grow our scale, broaden and strengthen our team, and bring a more comprehensive set of services to our clients,” said Baxter.

“Rather than going through something that threatened us and made us weak, we emerged from the pandemic with a stronger team.”

After the partnership, Barbershop Films founder Gary Turner took the opportunity to focus on documentary content in a new entity, Thrive Digital.

Baxter remains as a vital component to Barbershop’s success, bringing a fifteen-year background in brand marketing for some of Canada’s leading companies, including Molson, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble.

03 — The Results Speak For Themselves

With less than two years since the partnership was inked, the company has already seen a significant upturn, landing contracts for some of Canada’s and the world’s largest companies, including Australian energy company BHP Billiton, and SaskTel – the largest contractor of video production work in Saskatchewan.

“It’s been unbelievable – we’ve been able to secure some huge national tenders. This partnership is why we’re where we are now,” said Drummond.

Barbershop Films now operates studios in Vancouver, Regina, and Saskatoon, and has a staff of over 20 creative experts in all areas of video production and post-production.

The company is now looking at opportunities to establish a studio in Alberta. With their deep-rooted presence in the west, the ascension of Barbershop Films could be borderless.

“We’ve built a strong presence from which to deliver production across Western Canada, and beyond,” said Baxter. “That presence across the west is a platform for us to service clients on a national basis.”