The Vancouver Canucks are a professional NHL hockey team known for their passionate fan base and electrifying in-game experiences. To create an engaging and high-energy hype video for their audience, creative director Mike Pohorly sought just the right young lead actor to bring his heroic idea to life.
Finding the right talent fast
Pohorly had a clear vision: a Marvel-inspired short film that would energize fans before every home game. However, with a tight budget and limited time, traditional, time-consuming casting methods weren’t an option. An experienced industry film maker, he knew he needed a reliable and efficient way to find the right talent—and fast.
Turning to Backstage
Pohorly turned to Backstage to cast the lead child actor for the film he wanted to create. The platform provided an easy and effective way to source talent where he needed it—in the Vancouver area.
“Using Backstage was great. We were able to find the lead for the short film by using it. I really appreciate how it came together with Backstage and that we found such a talented young actor for the part,” Pohorly said.
A fan-favorite hype video
The final video was a major success. Throughout the NHL season, the film played in the Canucks’ arena, thrilling tens of thousands of fans every game. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, proving that great casting is essential to creating memorable brand moments.
“It was amazing to have Backstage casting help with this,” Pohorly said, “and we wouldn't have been able to find our young lead without them!”
Watch the Vancouver Canucks Hype Video.
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