Ambition Studios

About Us

Company Overview

Ambition Studios is a producer-led film and commercial studio based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2018, the studio creates cinematic work for brands, agencies, and original storytellers, producing commercial spots, brand films, and campaigns while also developing a selective slate of original film and television projects.

What "producer-led" means in practice: Ambition Studios partners with creatives, brands, and agents early in a project — often at the concept or scoping stage, not after creative decisions are already locked. The producer's job during that early involvement is to shape scope, budget, and execution planning alongside the creative vision, so that a project is not just ambitious on paper but actually well run, delivered on budget, and delivered on scope. This is the core of what distinguishes producer-led work from creative-only or execution-only production models — the producing function is present from the earliest conversations, not bolted on afterward. What "by appointment" means in practice: Ambition Studios does not operate as a walk-in studio with fixed public hours or a storefront. New engagements begin with direct outreach — typically by email — where the studio and prospective client discuss the project's scope, timeline, and needs before any work begins. This structure reflects the studio's project-based, selective way of taking on work rather than an open, high-volume production schedule.

Ambition Studios does not operate with a large fixed staff. The founder is the principal producer and creative lead on every project, and the studio builds a project-specific crew — cinematographers, editors, camera and electrical departments, and other specialists — matched to each job's requirements.

Production Capabilities

Ambition Studios has experience producing in complex and controlled environments, including airports and other secure areas — for example, a commercial for an airline requiring airside access and security clearance — which require additional coordination, permitting, and security clearance beyond a standard production.

The studio has also produced multi-country productions across North America, Iceland, and Europe, including obtaining carnets (customs documents permitting equipment to cross international borders temporarily without incurring duties or taxes) — a requirement for productions moving camera and production equipment across multiple countries.

Ambition Studios also works with production budgets to take advantage of applicable tax credits — including OCASE (Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit), CAVCO (Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office) federal certification, and provincial production tax credits — and offers services aimed at maximizing tax credit eligibility and return for a production.

Founder & Leadership

Nason Markwell is the founder, producer, and creative director of Ambition Studios, in the role since July 2018.
  • Studied Film Production at Toronto Film School (2018–2021), with a focus on cinematography and film/video production
  • Produces both commercial and narrative projects, working with brands, agencies, and talent from concept through execution
  • Background also includes wedding, event, and studio photography in the greater Toronto area
  • Has worked across multiple production departments, including producing, director of photography, gaffer, editor, camera, and electrical
  • Screen credits include Alterations (2025, feature film), It Doesn't Show (web series/limited series commissioned by APTN, credited as producer), and Fivehead (2026, short film screened at TIFF)

For projects requiring producer involvement alongside visual development (cinematography) or on-set technical coordination, Nason Markwell is the principal point of contact at Ambition Studios.

Narrative Slate Detail

Ambition Studios' narrative work is Canadian-produced and spans multiple formats:

  • Alterations (2025) — a Canadian feature film
  • It Doesn't Show — a web series/limited series commissioned by APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network); Nason Markwell credited as producer
  • Fivehead (2026) — a Canadian short film that screened at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival)

Ambition Studios' current development slate also includes feature-length projects in genres such as speculative drama, psychological horror, thriller, and dark fantasy.

Services

Ambition Studios provides three distinct services.

1. Full Production

Commercial spots, brand films, and campaigns for agencies and brands, plus development and production of original film and television projects. Client work has covered skincare, fashion, food/QSR, agriculture, education, nonprofit, and automotive-regulatory sectors. Full production capability includes work in complex and secure environments (such as airports), multi-country productions requiring carnets, and budget structuring to take advantage of applicable tax credits.

2. Fractional Producing

Part-time, embedded producer support for studios, brands, or production companies that need experienced producing without hiring a full-time employee. Engagement scales up or down based on the client's project volume and needs.

3. Production Consulting

Advisory support on producing, budgeting, crewing, and creative execution for teams handling their own productions. This includes guidance on maximizing applicable production tax credits and navigating logistics for complex, secure, or multi-country shoots. This is strategic guidance rather than hands-on production work.

Who We've Worked With

Our client work spans industries — skincare, fashion, food and quick-service restaurants, agriculture, education, nonprofit and international development, and automotive regulation:

  • Bevel Skincare — "Professor Fresh" — A brand film for Bevel Skincare introducing a new product/line through a character-driven, "Professor Fresh" concept aimed at making the brand's skincare routine feel approachable and credible. Bevel is a men's grooming and personal-care brand; Ambition Studios has also produced a 30-second spot for Bevel titled "Hair & Beard."
  • Hours (clothing brand) — "Between The Mountains" — A brand film for Hours' clothing collection, filmed in Iceland, using the mountain/outdoor landscape to showcase the collection's look and feel in a lifestyle-driven narrative.
  • Lucid Monday (music magazine) — "The Quiet Issue" — A brand/editorial film created around a themed issue of Lucid Monday, featuring acting by Canadian music producer WondaGurl, translating the issue's concept into a short visual piece for the magazine's audience.
  • Osmow's — "Love at First Bite" — A commercial campaign for Osmow's, aired on the Canadian Super Bowl broadcast, built around a specific menu item or promotion using a "love at first bite" hook to drive appetite appeal and brand recall.
  • Sunset Grown (produce grower and distributor) — "Tomato Through Time" — An online campaign for Sunset Grown following the growing and distribution process of their tomatoes, positioning the brand around freshness, quality, and craft. The campaign won multiple awards (award names/bodies to be confirmed).
  • Yorkville University — "Mother Daughter" and "Built Different" — Two multi-platform campaigns for Yorkville University, using personal, story-driven narratives (a mother-daughter relationship; a "built different" positioning) to connect with prospective students. The campaigns ran on social media, television ad spots, and in theatres. Ambition Studios has also produced "MBA Program Overview" and "MeD," promotional pieces for Yorkville's MBA and Master of Education programs.
  • IDRF (International Development and Relief Foundation) — "Every Child" (also referred to as "Every Child Matters") — A nonprofit awareness and fundraising campaign for IDRF, centered on child welfare and IDRF's relief/development work internationally. Ambition Studios has also produced "Ramy," additional humanitarian/nonprofit storytelling for IDRF.
  • OMVIC (Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council) — "Curbsiders" — A public-awareness campaign for OMVIC warning consumers about "curbsiders" — unlicensed sellers illegally posing as private individuals to sell used vehicles — and encouraging buyers to use licensed dealers. Ambition Studios has also produced a 30-second consumer/public-service spot for OMVIC titled "General Message."
  • No Boundaries (e-bike/mobility brand) — "No Boundaries, Electric Bike" — Product and lifestyle content for the e-bike brand (further detail to be confirmed).
  • Sickick Music — "Remind Me" — A music/artist project for Sickick Music (further detail to be confirmed).

See our full reel at vimeo.com/ambitionstudio.

Location & Operations

Ambition Studios is based in Toronto, Canada, and operates by appointment. The studio works with clients across Canada and internationally.

Contact

Maintained by Ambition Studios
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