Our Team: Talent with Focus
Day One Media is young and experienced, creative and business-driven, visionary and focused, fun and deep. We don't take ourselves too seriously, we take you seriously. We create great stories, then we get work done. We work hard, we play hard. We love health and fitness; we love community and connecting. We are each talented but we always collaborate.
We like hanging out together. But Andrew is always late for the photos.
Day One Media advises the board of the Calgary Marketing Association as well as being an active member. We also sponsor the Video Production Certificate program at Mount Royal University. We are members of Calgary Professional Videographer's Association (CPVA). As such, Day One Media adheres to the strictest standards for honesty, integrity and professionalism. We are a supporter of Communo - a vetted community of marketing professionals. This gives our clients full marketing and advertising agency talent and services without the associated staff overhead costs. We can source and partner with professional talent matched with a client’s needs on short notice.
THE TEAM
Gil Ngai: CHIEF STORYTELLER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Gil has a rich background in media arts. He was educated at both Emily Carr University of Art & Design and graduated in Graphic Design at Grant MacEwan University. His creative skills include video production, photography, illustration, graphic design, web design, and creative direction. Old enough to use darkrooms and the first Mac, but young enough to keep innovating with new technology, Gil is the president of CPVA and is an instructor of video production at MRU. See his personal work at iStock Video. Gil loves his wife and teen daughter, rock climbing and mountain biking.
Erik Johnson: COMMANDER VIDEO: PRODUCTION LEAD
Erik has always had an interest in cameras and filming. He was educated at SAIT and has completed several courses on visual story telling. He started his career creating e-learning content for companies all around Western Canada. He has experience working with TV shows in Canada and the United States as a Director of Photography and Editor. His creative skills include concept and story board creation, photography, videography, motion graphic design, editing and audio production. Erik enjoys hiking, hunting, snowboarding and mountain biking and road biking. He especially loves his wife and daughter.
Matt Allen: CAPTAIN AERIAL: EDITOR & SPECIAL FX
What started as a creative outlet shooting snowboard acrobatics turned into a full-on career for Matt. With a knack for all things technical, Matt has become our licensed drone specialist delivering spectacular aerial footage. Using the DJI Inspire, Mavic Pro, Matt exercises precision control and creativity. Matt has professional flight school training and years of experience, with a deep understanding of the complicated Canadian drone laws. Matt enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing with his wife and daughter. Matt also has epic editing skills creating effects with emotion.
Andrew Manuel: VIDEO WARRIOR
Andrew is a skilled and versatile videographer bringing with him years of experience in live video production as a video director at Centre Street Church. In this role he has produced hundreds of live events. With a passion for great cinematography he has been producing epic aerial videos with the latest DJI drones. He excels in virtual events as well as visuals of architecture, real estate and interiors. He is versatile with all types of cameras and motion tools. Andrew enjoys traveling the world, scuba diving and scrambling up mountains with his wife.
Jackie Swinton: PROJECT SAMURAI / ADMIN
Jackie is a strong multi-tasker and an organizer. She produces our shoots, and keeps our projects moving forward. She is also an entrepreneur with a successful day home business for the past 6 years. She juggles these roles along with managing her busy family. Jackie loves her husband, 4 children, a dog, road trips, hitting the gym, running, singing in a choir, and lots of coffee, chai and ethnic food. She isn’t afraid to take on new roles at any given moment, tackling storytelling, creative development, equipment management to outright DIY projects and home renovations.
TRUSTED PARTNERS:
These talented individuals have worked with us in the past and we know first-hand the immense quality of their work. We are pleased to be in partnership with them to bring the best value to our clients.
DIRECTOR OF BRANDING & GRAPHIC DESIGN: Kelly Hartman
Kelly is a passionate advocate of the arts, and is an senior instructor at ACAD. She is a veteran designer with over 20 years of industry experience since her graduation from art school. One of her major accomplishments was her role as chief designer, and project manager for Weddingstar magazine for the last 10 years. Her design work has the look and feel of a museum art piece and has won numerous awards. Kelly offers our clients incredible value in branding and design with her deep industry experience, and her extremely successful business, Hartman Design Studio. Kelly loves hitting the gym and is an avid volleyball player.
ILLUSTRATOR & ANIMATOR: Aaron Russell
Illustrations for info-graphics and motion graphics add an extra level of sophistication to every project. Aaron is a talented illustrator breathing extra life into our stories with custom artwork. His work is often the most memorable segments of our videos. Aaron also offers his talent through Conference Doodles providing much-needed visual notes, graphic recordings, and mind maps for business events. He goes the extra mile on every project to deliver his very best. Aaron loves road biking, Korean BBQ food, and his family with 5 children. Aaron resides in Redwood Meadows, near Bragg Creek.
VIDEOGRAPHER / JOURNALIST / VOICEOVER ARTIST: Sheila Nykwist
Sheila has a background in journalism where her experience gives her strong communication skills. Sheila can connect with clients on a deep level and draw out the beautiful story from within. She is passionate about health, fitness and athleticism. She recently completed the Ironman Canada in Whistler, BC. and continues to participate in triathlons. Sheila resides in Victoria with her fiancé.
VIDEO PRODUCER / PHOTOGRAPHER: Don Hammond
Don is a consummate professional with over thirty years of photography and video production experience. His intense focus and absolute precision behind the lens results in images and footage that are pristine and often surreal. His clients have included: Labatt's, University of Alberta, Chan Models International, Getty Images. Don brings in-depth experience for our corporate clients. Cycling is Don's spare-time activity of choice. Don resides in Edmonton and cares for our Northern Alberta clients.
Giving Back
Day One Media believes in a sustainable world where the planet and it's resources are for all of us – every human being. As such we donate at least one tenth of our gross income to charity. We support Compassion Canada whose work is to save children in poverty around the world. We support The Mustard Seed whose work is to feed, shelter and counsel the homeless of Calgary. We support Canadian Mental Health. We also offer discounts to registered charities. We support The Calgary Pregnancy Centre whose work is to help women in crisis.