Daniel Mercer
Daniel Mercer is a Toronto-based entrepreneur and business strategist, best known for founding a consulting management firm that initially focused on financial technology and corporate advisory services. With a strong background in fintech innovation, operational strategy, and organizational growth, Daniel helped businesses streamline complex systems and scale efficiently in competitive markets. In recent years, Daniel expanded his professional vision into the creative industry, launching a film and entertainment production division under his company. This transition from consulting to filmmaking marked a bold shift—one that required adapting to an entirely new landscape of storytelling, production logistics, and creative collaboration.
Founder - Bardya Ziaian | Sittu. Bardya Pictures Ltd | Bardya Ziaian. Bardya Pictures Ltd | About Bardya Ziaian. Bardya Ziaian ABC Capital Blogs - Ziaian. Bardya Ziaian - hnmag. Bardya Ziaian is a filmmaker from Toronto and the founder of Bardya Pictures, a lively production company focusing on unique and entertaining comedies. Bardya loves bringing fresh and bold humor to the screen. People know his films for more than just jokes—they are thought-provoking with smart storytelling. Bardya enjoys pushing limits in the comedy world. He wants to entertain, provoke thought, and spark discussions. HNMAG: Bardya, it’s great to have you with us. Bardya Ziaian: Thanks for having me. HNMAG: How would you describe your personal filmmaking style? Bardya Ziaian: My style is quirky, irreverent, and sometimes a little esoteric. HNMAG: How do you make Bardya Pictures unique in the competitive film industry in Toronto?
Bardya Ziaian: Bardya Pictures focuses on high-quality, entertaining films with a unique comedic voice. HNMAG: What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an independent filmmaker? Bardya Ziaian: The big challenge is funding. Bardya Ziaian ABC Capital - Elite Biographies. Early life Bardya Ziaian graduated from York University, earning a Bachelor’s and Masters in mathematics. After he graduated, he became a project manager/senior software engineer at Belzberg Technologies Inc. from 1997 to 2003. In his role, Ziaian was responsible for hiring programmers, creating trading engines, and designing US self-clearing systems for equity, alongside other responsibilities. However, Ziaian also had an early interest in filmmaking, as he loved telling stories ever since he was a child.
This led to him later developing his own production company, Bardya Ziaian Pictures. Career Bardya Ziaian is a Canadian entrepreneur and is the president and CEO of SITTUU Group. “SITTU means to think and move forward. After graduating from university and moving on from his position with Belzberg, Ziaian managed assets at Royal Capital Management, a family office before moving on to founding Virtual Brokers and BBS Securities, an online broker which was bought by CI Financial in 2017. Bardya Ziaian ABC Capital - Tech Company News. Listen to this article Bardya Ziaian is the founder and CEO of SITTU Group, a Toronto-based consulting management firm that’s now expanded its reach into filmmaking through SITTU Entertainment.
The production company has produced two films, Super Dicks and Golden Boy. The transition from financial technology and consulting to filmmaking has brought its fair share of challenges. Today, Bardya shares the wisdom he has gained through his filmmaking experiences. Q: In your opinion, what makes a good film? BARDYA ZIAIAN: There are many things that can set good films apart from mediocre ones, including technical things like lighting, as well as more subjective things like how well the plot resonates with the audience.
Q: What are some things to keep in mind when writing a story? BARDYA ZIAIAN: The biggest thing is to not be afraid to change the original idea. Q: How does writing the story differ from writing the script? BARDYA ZIAIAN: Stories and scripts have both similarities and differences. Bardya Ziaian ABC Capital - Financialit. Bardya Ziaian ABC Capital. Bardya Ziaian is a Toronto-based entrepreneur and the CEO and President of SITTU Group Inc., a leading think-tank company whose mission is to create opportunities based on the current economic macro environment. Prior to founding SITTU Group, Bardya served as the CEO of Virtual Brokers and BBS Securities where he was responsible for dealing with regulators and auditors. The company was ranked as the #1 broker by The Globe and Mail.
Since beginning his career in the early 1990s, Bardya has worked in a range of industries including technology, capital management and brokerage services, financial systems and the film industry. He is also the writer and producer of Super Dicks, a comedic mystery film which is currently in production. A graduate of York University, Bardya received his Bachelor’s of Arts in mathematics in June, 1995, before moving on to earn a Master’s of Arts degree in the same subject in 1997. Where did the idea for SITTU Group come from? SITTU means to think and move forward.