Point Load Pictures Casting For Damon Bennett Restoration Co.

Yesterday, Mike Holmes and Peter Kettlewell's television production company Point Load Pictures shared some more information via Facebook about casting for Damon's up-and-coming television series, Damon Bennett Restoration Co. The Point Load Pictures website also announced that they have some "DIY Primers" (short video clips) of Damon in action, which seem to be linked from the Point Load website to HGTV Canada. I'm not sure if the clips have been online for a while or if they are a recent addition -- either way, they're fantastic! I really enjoyed watching them. All in all, they have 16 clips posted, each several minutes in length, showing Damon hard at work performing tasks such installing baseboards, installing laminate, replacing a storm door, and my personal favorite (because it's something I've had to do quite recently), replacing an exterior light.

The only thing I'm sad about is that the chances of the US getting to see Damon's show in the future are pretty much zilch. Watching these clips and seeing Damon being able to do what he does without Mike is really different, in a good way.


Regarding the casting announcement, Point Load Pictures posted this to their website:

ARE YOU LOOKING TO RESTORE A ROOM IN YOUR HOME BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY?

Do you own a home with interesting historical attributes? Are you looking to restore one room or area back to its original glory? Do you live in the GTA? We would love to hear from you for our new concept with Damon Bennett.

We’re looking for houses of all time periods and eras to restore: Victorian, Georgian Colonial, American Craftsman, Queen Anne, Edwardian, Mid Century Modern, etc. We want energetic, enthusiastic homeowners with homes that deserve to be brought back to what they once were. What are the architectural features of your home that you love and want to see restored?

Please send us an email at

casting@pointloadpictures.com and tell us your story (250 words or less) along with a few photos of your home and yourself.

Please include ‘Damon Bennett Restoration Co: Homeowner’ in the subject line.

 

 

 

The DIY Primers can be found on the Point Load Pictures website here.

 

Here's some screen shots of Damon doing what he does best. I am pleasantly surprised how well he does by himself in his own element. He really takes command and shines as a leading man! I always knew Damon was talented, but I didn't realize just how charismatic he was. He certainly won me over big time, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for Damon Bennett!

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Holmes and Michael Quast, Holmes Group CEO, Part Ways

Very interesting news about some BIG changes in Mike's company, The Holmes Group's management structure. Michael Quast, the man who discovered Mike Holmes back in 2001 when Mike was working as a stagehand for HGTV, stepped down as CEO of Mike's company, it was announced yesterday, July 16, 2012. The split is "amicable" according to both Mikes. Here's the article:

HGTV Handyman Mike Holmes and Michael Quast Part Ways

10:34 AM PDT 7/16/2012 by Etan Vlessing

The CEO of The Holmes Group was production exec on the original "Holmes on Homes" series that launched the Canadian-based TV home renovation brand.

TORONTO - HGTV home repair host Mike Holmes has parted ways with Michael Quast, head of his Canadian-based production shingle The Holmes Group.

Quast, who served as the broadcast production executive on the original Holmes on Homes series that launched the iconic Mike Holmes TV brand, is leaving as part of an amicable split, according to both parties.

The move also follows Holmes hiring Canadian TV exec Shanna Albert as VP of development at a second production shingle, Point Load Pictures.
"We blazed a new trail and I’m very proud of what we created together," Quast, who became CEO of The Holmes Group last year, said in a statement Monday.
"I wish Mike and The Holmes Group long and continued success," he added.
There’s no word from the celebrity TV renovator on Quast’s replacement.
The Holmes Group is best known for its top-rated HGTV series Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspections.

As the above article states, this news follows other changes in the Holmes Group structure. Here's an article about Shanna Albert being hired on as VP of development for Point Load Pictures:

HGTV Handyman Mike Holmes Splits Co-CEOs at Production Shingle

7:08 PM PST 11/30/2011 by Etan Vlessing           

The top management revamp leaves Michael Quast as the sole CEO of The Holmes Group, while Pete Kettlewell launches Point Load Pictures, a joint venture with the TV home repair pro.

TORONTO - How many CEOs does HGTV home repair host Mike Holmes need?

our editor recommends

Turns out one’s enough, so Holmes has restructured his production shingle by splitting up its co-CEOs.
The Canadian TV handyman, who’s usually gutting suburban homes on HGTV Canada and HGTV to replace shoddy construction or renovations, has named Michael Quast as the sole CEO of The Holmes Group.
The new leadership structure also leaves former CEO Pete Kettlewell to launch Point Load Pictures, a joint venture with Holmes that will produce TV series outside of The Holmes Group brand.
Holmes and Kettlewell have been behind popular HGTV series like Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection that bowed in Canada before airing stateside.

One more article about Quast and Holmes parting ways, reposted from realscreen.com:

Michael Quast leaves The Holmes Group

17 hours ago by Danielle Ng-See-Quan

Michael Quast, CEO of The Holmes Group, is leaving the company.
According to a release from The Holmes Group issued Monday, “the amicable split comes on the heels of lengthy discussions on the company’s future direction.”
“We blazed a new trail and I’m very proud of what we created together. I always knew there was great potential and I think what we achieved in a short time was remarkable,” said Quast in a statement.
Quast and Mike Holmes, host of HGTV’s Holmes on Homes, first met in 2001, when the contractor presented Quast with the idea that spawned the TV show.
Quast became the series’ first production exec, and in 2005 joined The Holmes Group as VP development, before being named CEO recently.
“Michael has been an important part of The Holmes Group since 2005. Even before that, when he was a production executive at HGTV, Michael was the guy who ‘tricked’ me into doing a television series in the first place,” said Mike Holmes in his own statement.
“The Holmes Group continues to push forward and grow. You’re going to see big things,” he added.
Back in November, Holmes restructured his production shingle, naming Quast the sole CEO of The Holmes Group.
Former Holmes Group co-CEO Pete Kettlewell was tapped to head up Point Load Pictures, a new indie production company to operate as a joint venture with Holmes as chairman, to develop and produces new series outside of the Holmes Group brands.
As previously reported by realscreen sister publication Playback, Point Load Pictures has a development deal with HGTV Canada, the specialty channel that made Mike Holmes a recognizable face for Canadians, and now stateside with his shows that air on HGTV U.S.