Case study · Incolour Films
The Missing Dates
A stylized Ramadan production built with a small team and a large cast.
How Incolour Films produced The Missing Dates, a Ramadan campaign for ISNA Canada, across multiple locations with a large non-actor cast and a small production team.
- Client
- ISNA Canada
- Format
- PSA
- Year
- 2026
- Locations
- Toronto and Mississauga
- Shoot
- 2 days
- Incolour Role
- Producer and full production partner
01
The brief
ISNA Canada returned to Incolour for its 2026 Ramadan production.
Ali Gilani directed the piece, with Incolour handling the production from planning through execution and post in a similar full-service role to Ismael's List.
02
How we approached it
Visual direction
The visual direction referenced the composed, graphic style associated with Wes Anderson.
That required a high level of control over framing, colour, production design, blocking and the spaces used on camera.
03
What Incolour handled
- Production planning
- Casting and performer coordination
- Crew
- Locations
- Equipment
- Lighting logistics
- Production design
- Car rigging
- On-set production
- Post production
04
The production challenge
The shoot involved a large cast, multiple children and performers who were largely non-actors.
The production also moved through multiple locations, each requiring lighting work, production design setup and fast turnarounds.
A small crew had to support a comparatively large production footprint.
Working with non-actors
Directing and scheduling non-actors requires a different production rhythm.
The team had to keep the set controlled and efficient while giving performers enough time and clarity to feel comfortable on camera.
Lighting and location turnarounds
Multiple locations required significant lighting setup and art department work.
Because the production was completed over two days, departments had to move quickly and coordinate resets carefully to protect both the schedule and the visual consistency of the piece.
Car rigging
The production also included car rigging, adding another technical element to an already compact schedule.
05
The result
The two-day production brought together multiple locations, a large cast and car rigging within a small-team production.
06
Key credits
- Producer
- Haad Bakshi
- Director
- Ali Gilani
- Line Producer
- Angelo Barovier
- Director of Photography
- Dmitry Lopatin
- Production Designer
- Aivry Napier
07
Watch the final piece
08
Behind the scenes
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