Radke Film Group

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Radke Film Group

Parallel form(s) of name

    Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

      Other form(s) of name

        Identifiers for corporate bodies

        Description area

        Dates of existence

        1992-

        History

        The Radke Film Group was formed in Toronto in 1992 by Richard Radke (in partnership with the company Partners’ Film Company). Radke, who was raised in New York City, had come to Canada in the early 1980s and began his advertising career in 1988. The company was intended to be a director-driven enterprise with sales agents generating contracts to produce commercials for various clients. Radke enlisted several directors to his firm, which his company then represented to various clients. In addition to representing Canadian directors, the Radke Film Group also served as a sales representative for a number of the major American production companies for business in Canada.

        Following Radke’s sudden death at the age of 40 in 1994, then General Manager Edie Weiss took over the company. In 1998, Partners’ sold its 30% share to Weiss and she became the company’s full owner (she continues to serve as President). In 2003, the company opened an office in Vancouver.

        The Radke Film Group also encompasses a number of affiliates:
        · Steam Films was launched in 2001 to enable Radke to represent a larger number of directors; in 2003, they too opened a Vancouver office. Steam also provides crew and production for American shoots.
        · Soft Citizen, a dedicated music video production company, was founded in 2003 with the intention of producing videos for both Canadian and international artists. To date, the company has produced videos for such artists as Badly Drawn Boy, Broken Social Scene, Cut Copy, and Death Cab for Cutie.
        · The Vapor Music Group is a full service music house based in Toronto. The company specializes in original music, sound design, film/television branding, long format licensing, radio and voice direction. Vapor is managed for former Jungle Music head Roger Harris; clients include Nissan, Purolator, AGF, Gatorade, Nike and Toyota.

        Radke directors have won every major international advertising award, including Cannes Lions, Clios, AICP’s (Association of Independent Commercial Producers), Bessies and more. Amongst the best known directors are Mike Bigelow, Antoine Fugua, Zak Snyder, Martin Shewchuk and Eric Lynne; a number of these people have also worked on feature films.

        Places

        Legal status

        Functions, occupations and activities

        Mandates/sources of authority

        Internal structures/genealogy

        General context

        Relationships area

        Access points area

        Subject access points

        Place access points

        Occupations

        Control area

        Authority record identifier

        2007.010

        Maintained by

        University of Toronto Media Commons Archives

        Institution identifier

        University of Toronto Media Commons

        Rules and/or conventions used

        Status

        Level of detail

        Dates of creation, revision and deletion

        Created 03/19/2015

        Language(s)

        • English

        Script(s)

          Sources

          The Radke Film Group website: http://www.radkefilms.com/

          Steam Films website: www.steamfilms.ca

          Soft Citizen website: www.softcitizen.com

          Vapor Music website: www.vapormusic.com

          Zima, Danielle. “A Turbulent year.” Playback (December 5, 1994) http://playbackonline.ca/1994/12/05/3989-19941205/

          Iezzi, Teressa. “Radke, Partners’ split.” Playback (July 27, 1998) http://playbackonline.ca/1998/07/27/22635-19980727/

          Staff. “Radke, Steam in B.C.” Playback (October 27, 2003) http://playbackonline.ca/2003/10/27/radke-20031027/

          Maintenance notes