DiHL Digital

A web series about a Berlin DJ who comes to Nova Scotia for the summer…

A short film about a woman who falls in love with her gynecologist…

A science-fiction horror film about a virus that causes the world to end.

Unique subject matter and unusual genres are just part of the mix for Dartmouth-based film and digital media company DiHL Digital. But the company also works on corporate videos, web content and television ads for some of Nova Scotia’s more established organizations.

Started in June 2009, DiHL is a relatively new company with a team of seasoned experts. The company’s founding partners, Lisa Heyden, Darryl LeBlanc and Herb d’Entremont, have a wealth of experience on two continents and in multiple genres.

“DiHL offers a unique and artistic perspective, as well as cutting edge technical skill, to capture and creatively convey virtually any subject matter,” Heyden explains. “We pride ourselves on creating compelling, effective productions from almost any topic. We have all the tools in-house to take clients from start to finish or to provide the specific service they need for any media venture, whether it’s shooting a commercial for television or directing a feature film.”

Originally from Germany, Heyden moved with her parents to Nova Scotia at age 17. She worked briefly in Toronto as an actress, but decided she likes being behind the camera. She still takes the opportunity to act when time permits.

Heyden returned to Halifax to attend the film studies program at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD), where she met Cape Breton native Darryl Leblanc. Leblanc is a design program graduate from George Brown College in Toronto, who was studying fine arts and film at NSCAD. The two continued to work together after graduation.

They encountered Herb d’Entremont through his work as producer and in crew positions including electric, camera operator and technical lead for numerous films in Halifax. D’Entremont also manages projects in the IT industry and has a Diploma in Engineering and a Bachelor of Economics.

D’Entremont has produced two short films, A Thin Dry Roar and Paper Hearts, which were screened at the Montreal and Atlantic film festivals. He was also selected to be part of a one-year producer mentoring program called Film 5.

“We work really well together and we all bring different skill sets and visions to a production. We decided to form DiHL to bring the three of us together officially.”

The DiHL team worked together on Waiting for the Apocalypse, a feature length science fiction horror film filmed entirely in Halifax. They have also created two book trailers for best-selling Nova Scotia romance novelist Julianne MacLean. Their award-winning short film Fractured has been well-received in film circles across Canada and beyond. They also created a short film called Gyno, about a woman who falls in love with her gynecologist.

“We’re interested in unusual subject matter. We use our skills to bring unique people and stories to life. We feel film is a wonderful way to explore human tendencies and generate strong emotions in the viewer,” says Heyden.

Heyden’s goal is to use her German heritage to develop co-productions between Canada and Germany, a process she started last year. She is fostering relationships with many of the top production houses in that European market.

“We feel there is a great deal to be done with Germany, and other international markets. Nova Scotia has a lot to offer as a location, and when it comes to material and talent. We choose to work from here, but promote our work globally,” she explains.

In addition to feature and documentary film work, DiHL produces corporate and educational videos, web video series and television programs. DiHL also handles service production for clients who need on-the-ground support in Nova Scotia.

“We recently worked with the London Film School to provide local support for a shoot here in Nova Scotia. We helped them find locations, crew, actors and facilities. We also helped them navigate the system in Nova Scotia to ensure their filming went as smoothly as possible.”

Heyden says DiHL is building its web content area, drawing from experience developing multi-platform games for HB Studios and animated content for clients like Disney. DiHL is responding to the changing requirements of the film and video production business by adding a web component to its productions.

“In the digital economy, people are not paying for development, they want content. When we shoot footage for a television program, we also shoot a lot of content for web, so there is complimentary online material that works with the TV content.”

Following that model, the DiHL team is currently pitching an online series to a German television station that focuses on a popular DJ from Berlin who spends the summer in Nova Scotia.

“It’s a fun concept, and we’ve chosen to present it as a TV series, but online. You can imagine the how a DJ from a huge European city would view Nova Scotia. There’s a lot of cultural contrast between the two locations, which makes for funny material.”

True to its diverse roots, DiHL is working on a spectrum of productions ranging from an instructional video for waiters who handle drunken customers, to a horror film made for television, to a web series on the history of Nova Scotia that the company is promoting to online broadcasters in Germany.

“We’re fostering a stronger connection between Germany and Nova Scotia and we’re working on world class productions from this province, to show what’s possible here. “

Heyden says Nova Scotia is a great place to work in film, because of the beautiful locations and because of the tax credits.

“The tax credits are a huge draw. International film producers are interested in Nova Scotia and DiHL is available to help them set up and operate easily when they arrive in the province. We know the system, we know the locations and actors and we have the technology to help with production and editing”

A lot of people think they need to go to a bigger city to make it big in the film business. But Heyden says DiHL’s mission is to work on international projects but shoot the production on the ground in Nova Scotia.

“There is a lot of talent in this market and there are some great people around. There’s a very creative culture here in the province. We want more film producers to see that and to bring their productions to Nova Scotia.”