Cannes, France is a long way from Alma, Ontario, but for Pietro Gagliano, it was the influence of his rural roots that launched his award-winning career.
The Centre Wellington District High School graduate (class of 1998) is now the creative director and vice-president of Secret Location, an interactive agency that specializes in brand, entertainment and technological development in Toronto.
On April 1, Gagliano’s creative team won the Digital International Emmy Award for best digital program in the fiction category for Endgame, an interactive Facebook episode based on the 13-episode television show that had a dedicated fan-following.
“We were able to take on a Showcase television show, called Endgame,” Gagliano said.
To support the series’ launch last year, Thunderbird Films joined forces with Showcase.ca and Secret Location to create the ultimate web experience.
“We made a 14th episode and made it interactive online for viewers,” Gagliano explained.
The result is best described by CFC Media Lab’s online blog as an “interactive online episode designed to weave information from viewers’ Facebook profiles directly into the online narrative, plunging the audience and their friends deep into the heart of a personalized mystery.”
Endgames was a drama series, starring Shawn Doyle of Big Love, 24 and Desperate Housewives.
“We had a great opportunity to use the cast and the sets, which was incredible,” Gagliano said.
He credits his business partners at Secret Location: James Milward, founder and executive producer for the company, and Ryan Andal, technical director and vice-president.
Describing their work, Gagliano said, “Everything has a balance of entertainment and technology and creativity. The most success we have is when we have a balance of all three.”
Secret Location has won many professional accolades.
“I hope this helps us work with Canadian media to help it thrive,” Gagliano said.
“We are competing on a global scale now. I hope this brings us the opportunity to do work around the globe.”
He added, “Previously our biggest achievement was the Gemini Award for stormingjuno.com,” which he describes as adding an extension to a History Channel docudrama film about the contribution of Canadian Forces on Juno beach on D-Day, 1944.
Gagliano is passionate about his work and future projects, but he credits his childhood on the family farm in Alma for making it all possible.
“I think growing up on a farm and being surrounded by nothing but an open sky and open fields, with no barriers or distractions was the basis for my creativity,” Gagliano said, adding he is the eldest of four boys.
“I hold the experience of my childhood, for my creativity, in high regard.”
Eventually he plans to return to the area, to the wide open places for inspiration.
“I’m at my creative best in the chaos of the city or the quiet of the country,” he said.
“I will be back there again, someday.”
