The Purchase Brothers, Ian and David.

The proliferation of desktop filmmaking tools seems to have unearthed a new breed of director, one particularly suited to our times, who can create quality films for a fraction of the cost. Sure, the woeful record of submissions from various UGC campaigns are proof that these filmmakers are few and far between. But when they’re found, prodcos would be wise to snap them up, which is exactly what Anonymous Content did recently when it signed Toronto-based directing duo, The Purchase Brothers.

The brothers, Ian (23) and David (25), garnered widespread attention when they released their first short in a planned series called Escape from City 17, based on the video game Half-Life, on YouTube. The comments section was soon aglow, with many wondering how the brothers created such a polished and post-heavy film for a miserly $500.
“The entire $500 went towards costumes and airsoft guns,” explains Ian. “We already owned the camera and a lot of the software.”

The brothers also did their own post. Self-taught, they honed their skills creating short films from childhood.
“We’ve always picked up the video camera and ran around making ridiculous action comedies with our friends,” says David. “In the late ’90s, editing tools started becoming available to average people. It was just a learning process from there.”

Escape from City 17 was borne out of the brother’s love for video games, but it was also a project that grew out of thwarted attempts to complete a proof of concept for an independent feature about World War II that the brothers also shot guerilla style.

They’re back on track to complete the film, but in the meantime they’ll be looking to pitch commercial projects via their new home at Anonymous and through Sons and Daughters, Toronto for Canadian rep.

“When we saw their work we were blown away at what they could accomplish for the money,” says Anonymous Content’s head of commercials Dave Morrison. The production company was introduced to the brothers via Blades of Glory producer Colin O’Reilly, who saw the short. “Their awareness of all levels of storytelling, production, visual effects and post, coupled with their fresh creative eye, hunger and vision set them apart from the crowd.”

The Purchase Brothers
Anonymous Content
Sons and Daughters