Half and Half Agency started on May 1, 2018, with director, writer, and art director Paula Vergara and executive producer, cinematographer, and writer Federico Pereanez. However, the journey to establishing Half and Half Agency was not without its challenges.

Vergara recounted a pivotal moment that led to the agency’s creation.

“I was crying every day,” Vergara said. “I was miserable at the company where I worked. So, one day, I went to work, and we had a terrible meeting. They treated me like shit. So, I left the meeting. I went to the washroom and took my stuff. I deleted everything from the computer and went to my car, and I am like, ‘you know what, I quit.’ And then I go home. And that’s when Half and Half was born.”

The name Half and Half symbolizes the collaborative nature of their work. Their mutual love for visual storytelling and design drove them to establish this agency to help London businesses and artists prosper by creating content that reflects their identity.

“I took graphic design at Fanshawe. I graduated 14 years ago,” Vergara said. “From a very young age, I forged my production field experience. My love for this profession has led me to become part of the London community to help local artists grow.”

Half and Half Agency is a culminated dream for Vergara and Pereanez.

“I’m a business administrator from Colombia,” Pereanez said. “Then, I came here 20 years ago, and I decided that I wanted to do something more creative. I took multimedia design and production, hoping to go into sound engineering. But then I fell in love with motion graphics and 3D.”

According to Half and Half Agency’s website, the agency has gained recognition for its commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. It has received numerous awards in various creative disciplines, including branding, web design, video production, and photography. These accolades serve as a testament to the passion and dedication of their talented team.

In fact, Vergara was recognized as the best director at the 43rd Annual Telly Awards and has received honourable mentions at the Falcon International Film Festival. Her work has also been selected at prestigious festivals such as the Toronto International Women’s Film Festival, Toronto Film Magazine Fest, Prague Music Video Awards, L.A. Independent Women Film Festival, and the Montreal Independent Film Festival.

At the same time, Half and Half stands out as a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion.

“We hire a lot of women in the media, and also, like 98 per cent of the people we work with are immigrants,” Pereanez said. “Some recently arrived in Canada looking for experience, and nobody opened the door for them. So, we do it because we are immigrants. We know how hard it is.”

Vergara agreed with this feeling and expressed her dedication to empowering marginalized voices.

“When you just got here, and nobody will open [the] door. And…unfortunately, you must study here for Canadians to accept your career,” Vergara said.

The projects created by Half and Half, meanwhile, are inspired by everyday life and the world around them.

“We see any situation, sometimes even a tattoo that inspires me, and we’re like, ‘we should make a movie about this,’” Vergara said.

Half and Half Agency continues to innovate and expand its portfolio. They are currently working on Arrivance: A Journey of Resilience, a documentary series exploring how immigrant musicians in Canada use music as a resilience tool.

“We created the teaser with the support of Ontario Creators, Canada Media Fund, and Telefilm. We are actually waiting for their answer to start production with their support,” Pereanez said.

Half and Half Agency’s journey is a testament to the power of creativity, resilience, and a commitment to positive change. Vergara and Pereanez’s dedication to their craft, community, and values has set a high standard in London’s filmmaking industry.