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HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight: P3 Post

  • p3post logoExplain what P3 Post is to our readers.

P3 Post is a turnkey post production company and it encompasses anything that has to do with post. Whether it’s a production company starting a project, P3 Post helps from the ground up. Starting with offices, we then work with companies like HPC to provide the space. By giving our clients’ options of available floor plans, we then rent our editing equipment and set it up in those offices. We provide the offline work flow. Once they finish their offline editorial, we provide finishing. So that’s color correction, VFX, audio mix. We do full mix – 5.1 stereo or 7.1 stereo for theatrical and television. In addition, we do final deliverables. Every network has their technical specs and we work with all major networks. We also provide 24/7 tech support for our equipment rentals either over the phone or on site. At one given time we have 100 systems in the field. We primarily look for clients to rent equipment to and also do the final finishes for.

 

  •    How did you start in the post production world?

I’ve been in the business for 21 years and I started when I was 25. I worked with a company that was one of the top production and post production equipment rental houses in Hollywood – Steady Systems. When Steady Systems sold, one of the owners started his own small company and he asked me to join him. We were basically doing sub post. Following that, about 7 years ago, I was 50% owner of another company called Fortitude Editorial where Chainsaw currently is. We were doing commercial work- scripted TV, as well as unscripted and theatrical.

 

  • Who are some of your major clients? Discovery Studios is a big one, ABC, Disney, FOX, and some theatrical work. Right now we are doing a lot of work with FOX Sports. Also, with Greetings Media, which is more on the rental side. Greetings Media is a big client and they are currently doing Battle Bots Season 2. They have about 20 systems tied up on a server. We have had a similar system set up with ABC.

 

  • When you walk into P3 Post there is always a kung fu movie playing at the end of the hallway – what is the title of that film and is there a particular reason why you play it? [laughs] We play some Bruce Lee films. It’s multiple kung fu and martial arts related type films. Growing up I was in classes and even as an adult I still practice. I do think my work ethic and discipline is in part because of my martial arts training. All of us at P3 Post try to follow a certain discipline when it comes to delivering what the client asks. There are no excuses, our job is to deliver and whatever we have to do to make that happen, we make it happen.

 

  • What project is P3 Post most proud of working on? I gotta say, it’s the finishing we’ve done for Discovery. One show in particular called Man Hunt, was shot in multiple continents, the color finishing was fascinating. The atmospheric color in Scotland which is gloomy and then the polar opposite in countries where the colors were vibrant. It was just so much fun for us to work on and be part of that. Aside from that, in general we take pride in the details. For example, we think from the editors’ standpoint. We realize that these editors are working 10-hour days. So we make sure that the mat they’re standing on is ergonomic, that the monitors are properly positioned on the table. Our tables are custom made for P3 Post. We have a guy that creates tables out in Northridge in the San Fernando Valley. He is in charge of making these awesome tables and it makes such a huge difference. Whatever it takes to make the editor comfortable and to make their work space desirable. If the editor is comfortable, we have done our job and we take pride in that.

 

  • What is the most challenging part of what you do? The toughest thing – even though it’s a great thing, being busy is always great. We never complain about being busy. The toughest is juggling all aspects of a certain project and having the project run as smoothly as possible. Finding a harmonious balance with everything. Having said that, it’s easy when you work with great people and have a great team with you. P3 Post is the post house that really makes your project better because we are always looking at ways to make it better, all the while, getting done what the client wants. Finding the balance in that is where our success and reputation come from.

 

  • What three things do you need to be successful in your industry? Clients. [laughs] And being on top of today’s technology. Technology is changing everyday and it’s a matter of being most efficient. Some clients are not familiar with the most recent technology. So we are also educating clients and letting them know there is an easier and more direct way to accomplish what they’re looking to accomplish. There are other clients who are well versed in the latest technology, which is great. Another aspect is marketing, that is also huge for us.
  • Have you ever walked away from a project? Absolutely. We’ve walked away from projects when a client requests a certain workflow that we know from experience is just not going to work. We don’t want to agree to something that we feel collectively will fail. We take on projects with care because we as professionals care about our clients.

 

  • I’m going to loosely quote you from a conversation we had a few months back. In context of your day-to-day operations, you said that you do things your way because if a mistake was made on something, at least it was your mistake. On your dollar. For some reason that resonated with me. Do you still feel this way now? If we are familiar with a work flow or a way of how to get a project done, we stick with it. Unless we’ve researched and tried a different route, we can’t go to a client and 2nd guess ourselves. If in the middle of a project a client wants to experiment while there is a deadline, we are not going to do that. Not to say we are close minded and we won’t try different routes, we just don’t do that at a critical time when a time line has been set and we are responsible to help you get there.

 

  • I saw your before and after color correcting reel on Vimeo. When I was watching the 4-minute video, I thought about how much the industry has changed in the last 2 years since it’s posting. How do you keep up with the latest technology? We adapt. We change. We grow. The clients or networks may have new requirements and we change based on the direction they need to go. We are so involved in our industry that it’s part of who we are. If Avid came up with a new version or fixed a bug on something, we hear about it quickly. We live and breathe what we do so knowledge finds us. That’s what passion is, this is our craft and we love it. That is at the core of P3 Post.

 

  • What aspect of the industry is peaking your interest the most right now? Right now we’re looking at servers. With technology changing and clients looking for 4K – higher resolution means that we need more storage capabilities. There are a lot of big manufactures coming up with great solutions. So we’re always looking for the greatest ways to serve our clients.

 

  • There are some heavy weight post facilities in this town, what separates P3 Post from the rest? We are turnkey and centrally located in Hollywood. Our clients’ walk in the door, we have their space and equipment ready to go. They can walk down the hall to our studios and we can do the finishing touches and deliver to network. They don’t have to go across town and deal with traffic or deal with getting all of the services P3 Post provides at different facilities. For example a production office is housed at one part of town, then they go across the street for post, then they go to another place to do their final coloring and then they’ll go to another location for audio and so on. It is such a waste of time and money and it all adds up. We at P3 Post take care all of those needs under one roof. We are also quick to respond to our clients needs, we are just down the hall or a phone call away. As a matter of fact, you can go to our website and have a live chat and get a response immediately. We are very flexible and that is huge in this town. You can work with our editors closely and have direct control and contact with your project. Our talent includes Grammy and Emmy award winning editors and they all have so much experience in different aspects of post production. From scripted television to theatrical- our team is well rounded and have great skill and are passionate about their profession.

 

  • Where do you see P3 Post in the next 5 years? We have been around for 2 years. We have done very well, we have our finishing suites here at HPC in Hollywood, we have our warehouse downtown, we have equipment rentals all over Los Angeles. We are now going to move from offline editorial to doing more creative editorial. We’ll possibly go to promo and possibly more into production as well. In the next 5 years P3 Post will be creating more of it’s own original content. And partnering up with some of the companies we have been working with.

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Categories
Movies/Television HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight: Scott Mauro

Scott Mauro Playbill

Scott Mauro’s career spans from the late 1970’s when he first landed his job working on the hustling bustling Broadway circuit as a press assistant. Scott’s career flourished as he worked his way up Broadway’s hottest shows, where Disney eventually recruited him. We caught up with Scott at our Gower location where he has been a tenant for 4 years, to ask about his latest projects and to see what his Valentine’s Day plans are.

You started your career working on Broadway in the late 1970’s. You were a press assistant. Tell us a little bit about that position and who you worked for.

I started my career as a publicist for Broadway shows and then I wound up doing advertising for Broadway shows. That was for the original production of Barnum, Betrayal, among others, there were so many I can’t even think right now. But it was really exciting. I attended opening nights, went to incredible parties, I had so much fun. All the things you can imagine.

How did you land the initial job?

I literally knocked on doors. I knew what I wanted to do very early on when I was a kid. I grew up in New York, and attended Broadway shows. I knew my calling, so after I graduated from college, I sent out a 180 cover letters and resumes. We had to type them out in those days! I did not have a copier; none of that. I networked and I was able to have Liza Minnelli as a client when she was white hot. I had Frank Sinatra and I had Diana Ross, David Bowie. I suddenly was doing advertising for not only Broadway shows, but with various artists when they were out on tour and I did album releases.

You established your production company in 93’, how did that come about? What motivated you to do that?

Well it was very simple. I was head of TV specials for Disney. Disney recruited me out of New York. So because I was working with all of these stars in advertising, the stars would take me along with them to do these TV shows. From that I became a producer. I started producing shows like Night of 100 Stars for ABC and the Tony Awards. I was working with great executive producers who took me under their wing. This was all because of my advertising career. I ended up doing four TV specials for Disney, which aired on NBC. Then I received a phone call from Cher’s team. Cher was going to go out on tour: If I Could Turn Back Time was first tour since Sonny passed away. It was an 15 month job and on top of that I was doing the TV special with CBS. So I was able to leave my job with Disney and have a little bit of security to open up my own production company.

How has the advertising industry changed from 93′ to now?

The biggest change is digital and I love it. Vine, Periscope, Instagram, Snapchat. I was ahead of the pack when it came to the transition into the digital age. I was the first person to put a Broadway show on the Internet. It was a Rodgers and Hammerstein revival and It was primitive in that we put up reviews and pictures, it was very static, but we were the first ones to have a website for a Broadway show. At the time, I didn’t think it was ground breaking, I just knew that we should do it and it was all part of the advertising/marketing strategy.

If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?

[laughs] No one has ever asked me this before. I don’t know, let me think about this one. I’m thinking maybe Zachary Levi, yes Zachary Levi. I’ve worked with him before and I can see him playing a good father and I see some similarities. But wait, I think I’m changing my answer, I pick David Schwimmer. Yes, because David has the right personality traits and the audience can relate to him.

What is the biggest headache during the process of producing these live shows and events?

It’s always budgets. It always comes down to budget. You want to do the best show you can. Some people don’t want to see the bigger picture and they want to be penny pinchers. It doesn’t always take a lot of money; it just takes money wisely spent. So you must have good venders in place, people who are on the same page. You must work with the same people for the most part. Yes, I have had the same team for 20 years both in New York and in Los Angeles. With very few replacements and I’ve really put together a great team. In fact on a show I recently did with UNICEF with Mariah Carey and Elton john, somebody from UNICEF came up to me and complimented me on the people that work for me.

Favorite actor/performer you worked with? Oh boy, there’s several. Hugh Jackman was great. We collaborated very closely on the Museum of Moving Images Salute to his work. He was great fun. I got to know him and his wife and we hung out a little bit. But for the most part I pretty much have good experiences with most people. The one that I am in most awe of that I worked with is Frank Sinatra. I was part of his team for 18 years and that was quite an experience because he was truly larger than life.

What three things do you need to be successful in your industry? What are deal killers for you?

You have to be passionate, you have to be persistent; you’re going to get a lot rejection. For every yes, you’re going to get 30 no’s and you have to know how to be diplomatic when handling people. I have a reputation for being tougher than most, and that’s fine with me. I’m tough but fair. I’m fair but I’m tough when I need be tough and sometimes whether it be a huge creative team or talent, they may push over the boundary and you have to know when to say enough. But being tough but fair is very important. And what is a deal killer for you? Arrogance. Absolute arrogance. You meet some people who have absolutely no qualifications who are just full of attitude to make up for it. This could be off the record, who has been difficult to work with? No I don’t care, you can put it out there. It’s interesting; I had a really hard time with Sean Connery. No matter what we did we couldn’t make him happy. But then I met him a couple of months later and he absolutely loved my work, loved the evening. He not only became a fan, but he agreed to come to another one of my shows. It’s the most unbelievable story, he turned out to be a pussycat.

On February 9th you’re going to be holding the 13th Annual Woman’s Red Dress Awards 8 years is a long time doing this, what is going to make this year different from the past?

I actually created it; it used to be a cocktail party in a bar where they handled out these little statues. But Larry King who is committed to fighting heart disease because of his cardiac foundation, he brought me in and recommended me to turn it into what it is today. I made it into a show. So we booked the Lincoln Center and then we brought in musical acts and we give out 4 or 5 awards during the event. Over the years we’ve had CeeLo Green, Colbie Caillat, Elvis Costello, Sara Bareilles. There’s a pre-show with photo ops, step and repeat, red carpet, passed hors d’oeuvres. Then we do the show, which is 90 minutes, no intermission, theatre seating. Finally, there’s a 2-hour party with a live DJ and more food and more drinks and all the women wear red. It’s actually one of the most fun events that I do and I’ve very proud of it because it’s for a great cause. Who is on this years lineup? This year we’re going a little country with The Band Perry. We have a woman who is an impersonator; she’s going to be singing “Natural Woman” in 17 voices. So from Britney Spears to Bernadette Peters to Celine Dion straight through, it’s exciting.

Where do you see Scott Mauro Entertainment in the next 5 years?

I want to do more TV specials and more Broadway shows. I would love to bring together a great cast. You look at The Sound of Music Live and it wasn’t critically acclaimed but the ratings were phenomenal. Now we have Grease coming up on FOX, which is going to be great. I have one or two good TV specials in me. Maybe more.

If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be? “New York, New York” I was born in raised in New York. I’m a die hard New Yorker. I’m not a singer but the song swings a little bit and I could fake it.

How are you going to be celebrating Valentines Day this year?

Valentine’s Day is a hugely important holiday for my wife and I. This is our 40th Valentine’s Day. Not married, but 40 years since we have been celebrating Valentine’s Day together. We knew there was something going on between us 40 years ago on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a very special day for us. Our first date was the week after Valentine’s Day and in college we used to give each other cards. My wife and I will have brunch that day, she’s picking the place and you better believe I’ll be coming home with chocolates and flowers.

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News Movies/Television

Tenant Spotlight: Craig Bartlett

craig

Craig Bartlett, creator and exec producer, “Ready Jet Go!” and “Dinosaur Train”

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Seattle when it was still a scrappy frontier town, and moved to LA right before it became “cool” with the Grunge movement and the arrival of all the dot-com billionaires. I’m not moving back until it’s “not cool” again.

Please describe the industry you’re in.

I make cartoons for kids, mostly for PBS these days, so cartoons for kids with an educational curriculum. The two shows we’re doing here are “Ready Jet Go!,” a kid’s first space show, and “Dinosaur Train,” which, if you’re 4, is like when chocolate met peanut butter.

How long have you been with the company and what is your title?

I started working for the Jim Henson Company (“Dinosaur Train”) in 2007, and for Wind Dancer (“Ready Jet Go!”) last year.

What got you interested in animation?

I studied Fine Art in school, but found it to be too serious. I was always trying to make art that was funny and told a story, which naturally led me to comics, and then to animation.

How did you get involved with the entertainment industry?

Once out of school I found the only animation job in the Northwest working for Will Vinton studios, the Claymation people. Will’s studio became Leica Animation, but by then I had moved to LA, first to direct the Penny cartoons for “Pee Wee’s Playhouse,” then over to Nickelodeon, story editing and directing for “Rugrats,” which led to my own Nick series, “Hey Arnold!”

What are you currently working on?

I’m producing 40 half hours of “Ready Jet Go!” And 10 half hours of “Dinosaur Train,” both for PBS. I also hope to bring more “Hey Arnold!” work to HPC if I can.

You have accomplished so much in your career, what makes you so driven to succeed?

I really love the work – at this point, I get to work exclusively on stuff that I created. So it’s never boring to me. And there’s always something new about it to learn. So I keep at it.

If there is one person to thank for your success who would it be and why?

I would thank both my parents, who were very creative and driven, hard-working people. They set the bar high, and then turned me loose as soon as I was grown, and told me to make my own way.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Cartoon making is great, because you get to make up your whole universe from scratch. That includes the stories, the look, the voices, the sound design, and the music. And the PBS shows really feature a lot of songs, so I get to write and play songs as part of my job. I’m getting better at music every decade, which is great, because I’m sure not getting better at, say, basketball.

Do you have any shout outs for your employees?

I’m working with lots of great new people, like Producers Rusty Tracy and Blanca Uribe on “Jet” and Melanie Pal and Kadi Rodriguez on “Dinosaur Train,” but I’m also still working with old friends Joe Purdy, Rachel Lipman, and Christie Insley, writing on “Jet,” who’ve been with me for more than 15 years. And with Karl Toerge and Terry Izumi, who’ve been drawing with me 7 years now on “Dinosaur Train.”

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight: Cynthia de Petris and Edgar Pease

tenant

In this Valentine’s Day edition of Tenant Spotlight we caught up with Cynthia de Petris and Edgar Pease on a cool winter’s day in Hollywood. Cynthia and Edgar both practice law over at our Gower location and they happen to be one of the cutest couples ever! We wanted to know more about how they started out individually as well as what it’s like working together.

Cynthia and Edgar are happy to give a free consultation to anyone in the building with legal issues. Suite 254. (323) 785-2131

Cynthia, I read you passed the bar in 1993. What were you doing before you decided to take the big test?

Cynthia: One takes the bar exam following law school. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be an attorney when I graduated. I had always been a teacher, so I set up my own law school tutorial service and spent two years tutoring law students and bar candidates.  Meantime, Ed passed the bar and needed my help because the practice became very busy, so we decided I would take the test as well. I have been practicing since 1993.

Cynthia, what type of law do you practice?

Cynthia:  I am a family law attorney and deal with civil litigation.  Many of my clients are in the entertainment field and I deal with their divorces, custody, support and business disputes.

Edgar, How has your approach changed towards representing artists during the time you’ve been practicing law? What kind of services do you typically provide as an entertainment lawyer?

Edgar: I developed an approach to musical and theatrical artists based upon my 20 plus years as a professional musician prior to becoming an attorney which allows me to speak the language of the artists I am dealing with since I was once looking at issues as a composer and writer instead of just an attorney. I provide contract analysis, deal memos, copyright and intellectual property litigation and representation, trademark and domain name protection, writer and composer protection from infringers and general entertainment consultation.

Edgar, do you represent any artists that are just beginning their musical career?

Edgar: Yes. I represent a rock band by the name of Acidic who has just concluded a 10 month US Tour known as “Warped Tour 14.”  I also represent producer Angel Chen who is a first time major motion picture executive producer. Long time clients I currently represent include Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson’s Heal the World Foundation, Carlos Santa/John Ryan, Bobby Womack who recently passed away, Continuim Records (Keith Richards), Academy Award composer David Shire, Emmy Award winning composer James D’Pasquale, Academy Award nominee Carol Connors (Theme from “Rocky” and “Rescuers Down Under – Disney), Misty Copeland/San Pedro Ballet Co., Football Hall of Fame Athlete Eric Dickerson, Screen Writer Jerico Stone, Rock/Metal Bands “The Turtels,” Rare Earth, White Snake, Thin Lizzy, Stanley Clarke (famous Jazz musician), Janet Jackson, Jessie J/Loomis and the Lust federal copyright litigation, currently consulting on copyright infringement issues related to 12 Years a Slave/Desperate Housewives, among others.

Cynthia, what do you like most about working with Ed in the same practice?

Cynthia: He’s extremely creative he never says no to a client. And he’s extremely loving and compassionate with every client. It’s inspiring to watch that.

Edgar, what do you like most about working with Cynthia in the same practice?

Edgar: We have been married 24 years now. First of all, she’s such a good attorney; she’s really good at her job. We went to law school together. Between the two of us we make a lawyer. [Laughing] Judges and lawyers see us together all the time. People say when you hire one of us, you get two.

What are you two doing for Valentine’s Day?

Cynthia: We are going to Pupukae which is on the North shore of Hawaii. We have a little place there that overlooks the ocean.

 

Categories
HPC News

Tenant Spotlight: Hovelstay

Picture4Hovelstay is a vacation rental site for anti-luxury accomodations. The more unique and adventurous the property for short-term vacation rental, the more they want it. They even have patches of dirt for nightly rent in Seattle.

How did you get the business idea for Hovelstay?  

We, Michael Womack and I, worked for years in the luxury vacation rental industry and thought it would be funny to go in the opposite direction, down-selling places to stay.  We didn’t realize we were tapping into a previously untapped travel demand.

When did Hovelstay officially launch?  

July 18th was our formal launch day, for students only.  Since getting slammed with emails from all over, specifically baby boomers wanting to stay in inexpensive and fun places, we relaunched our site on October 18th, opening it up to everyone.

What would you say is the most interesting listing on your site?

There are too many to list.  I highly recommend a visit to the site itself.

What was your initial reaction when you received many inquiries from non-students about opening it up to everyone?  

Amazing.  We are continually surprised at how many people love what we are doing and want to be a part of it.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Meeting so many cool and interesting people, and of course, creating something that has some real teeth in the market.

Are there any big future plans for your company?

We are expanding overseas, opening an office in London as we speak and signing some big partnership agreements.  It’s pretty great.

 

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight: Flying Mollusk

Nevermind_TeamPhoto

Flying Mollusk is an independent video game development studio who makes “edgy games for good.” By that, we mean that we make games that, first and foremost, are just as fun and thrilling as any “traditional” video game out there – but also give back to players by surreptitiously teaching them a new skillset, exposing them to new ideas, or simply inspiring them in the process. Right now we’re a plucky team of four full-time members who collectively have over 30 years of game development experience across all aspects of the game industry

What does Flying Mollusk do and how did it get established?

I have always been very passionate about the potential of “positive games,” but have struggled to find existing studios that make games that are fun, beneficial to the player, and developed for adult audiences (as opposed to many of the “edutainment” games created primarily for children). Ultimately, I realized that the best way to pursue my dream of making these “edgy games for good,” would be by establishing my own studio dedicated to creating high-quality, fun, and beneficial virtual experiences. At the end of 2013, I left my job at a larger, mainstream studio to create Flying Mollusk and focus on our first title, Nevermind.

Describe Nevermind and the inspiration behind it.

Nevermind is a biofeeback-enhanced horror adventure game that reacts to your fear and stress. While you play this mystery thriller, the game is constantly reading your anxiety levels. As you start to become a little scared, the game will dynamically respond by becoming harder. The longer you stay scared or stressed, the harder the game will become – so the trick is to learn how to manage your fear and stress in intense situations on the fly.

The big picture idea with Nevermind is that by learning and practicing stress management techniques through playing the game, you will start to habituate the mindfulness and stress management techniques that you need in everyday life. For example, in Nevermind, you may find yourself practicing deep breathing to bravely cross that foreboding bridge into the darkness unscathed – in real life, you may find that that same deep breathing technique will help you calmly get through rush hour traffic on the freeway, prepare to give a nerve-wracking speech, or keep a clear head when you’ve misplaced your keys and are running late for a meeting.

Nevermind started as my Master’s thesis project at the University of Southern California – where the proof of concept was developed back in 2011-2012. I went into my thesis year knowing that I wanted to make a “positive game” that used biofeedback input (technology that I had experimented with a few years prior). As a longtime fan of a darker aesthetic, I also really wanted to try my hand at the horror genre. With those three goals in mind, the seeds for what Nevermind would ultimately become were planted.

What made you want to make a horror game as opposed to any other genre?

I’ve always been a huge fan of the horror genre. As a toddler, I watched the Alien VHS tape so many times that it fell apart. In highschool, I had almost every episode at that time of the X-Files and Millenium memorized. My personal art style has always trended toward the creepy and macabre. In many ways, the horror genre has always been in my blood and making Nevermind a horror game was clearly a natural fit given my goals and ambitions for the project.

What was your initial reaction when Intel reached out to you about Nevermind?

It was incredibly exciting and validating to have Intel reach out about Nevermind. The Intel® RealSense™ camera technology is such a perfect fit for our long-term goals for Nevermind – as it allows us to seamlessly capture the biofeedback data we need and gives us new tools for creating an immersive experience. It has been wonderful working with Intel and the future of Nevermind is brighter than ever because of it!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Video game development is one of the coolest jobs ever – not only because you get to make video games (my inner 12-year old still can’t believe this is my actual job), but because everyone you work with has such a diverse background of skillsets, interests, and experiences. The video game industry can sometimes get a bad rap, but  – in my experience – it is one of the most interesting and supportive communities I’ve been a part of. It is a fertile field of innovation and exploration – and waking up every morning knowing that I’m part of something that can make people happy and help improve their lives is a privilege that never gets old.

What’s in the future for Flying Mollusk?
We’re currently focused on developing Nevermind and are planning to launch the full version around October 2015 (with some content being released via Steam Early Access between now and then). After Nevermind, we’ll continue to make edgy games for good leveraging the coolest technology out there to make unforgettable experiences that will also, in ways small and large, make the world a better place.

 

 

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight with Chip Mosher

We chatted with Chip Mosher of comiXology at HPC in Glendale.
We chatted with Chip Mosher of comiXology at HPC in Glendale.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Chip Mosher of comiXology from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Chip Mosher is the VP of Communications and Market at comiXology. ComiXology is a revolutionary digital comics platform that lets customers around the world buy and read comics, graphic novels and manga in their Guided View reading technology. They feature over 50,000 titles available from more than 75 publishers.

 

Hi Chip, tell us about yourself.

I’m an ex-patriot Texan living in exile in California.

Describe the industry you’re in.

I work in the comic book industry.

How did you first get your start in this industry?

Comic books have been a life long passion and have been working in the industry off and on since I was a teenager.

How long have you been with comiXology and what is your title?

At comiXology I am the VP of Communications and Market. I’ve been with the company for three years – two of which have been as part of the HPC Broadway family.

What does comiXology do, and how did it get established?

ComiXology is a revolutionary digital comics platform that let’s customers around the world buy and read comics, graphic novels and manga in our Guided View reading technology. We have over 50,000 titles available from more than 75 publishers.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Making people happy by selling them comics they love!

What do you see in the future for comic books?

The comic market in the U.S. has been artificially constrained because of distribution problems. There was never a Tower Records for print comics. So the industry has grown both print and digital as digital has raised the visibility of the medium. Comics is a 870 million dollar industry in the U.S. but it can be way bigger than that now that the distribution issue is solved.

What’s your favorite comic book?

The Walking Dead.. .of course!

When did comiXology move to Hollywood Production Center?

Twenty-five months ago Gina gave me a tour of HPC. She and Tina have lived to regret that day ever since. Seriously, I love it over here at HPC and am very happy with my office. It’s a joy to come to work everyday.

 

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to interview with us, Chip!

 

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight with Christopher Montgomery

We chatted with Chris Montgomery of Prodigy Talent at HPC in Glendale.
We chatted with Chris Montgomery of Prodigy Talent at HPC in Glendale.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Christopher Montgomery of Prodigy Talent from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Chris Montgomery is the Managing Member at Prodigy Talent. Prodigy Talent is a full service talent agency representing actors in television, film and commercials. They additionally  represent producers and financers for independent feature films. Chris has been extremely proud of his clients’ work this year, with them appearing in several Super Bowl commercials, HBO’s True Blood and more.

Tell us about yourself.
I was raised in the metro area of Denver, Colorado. I graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and then did my graduate work there, as well getting my JD (law degree) from there as well.

How did you get started in the entertainment industry?
After having several years in the political arena serving in the US House, the US Senate, a Governor and in the White House I was given a great chance to work with my best friend open a production company in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Soon, I found myself missing campaigning. And, talent representation is the campaign that never ends.  Where they say “DC is Hollywood for Ugly People” (my previous career) I figured working in real Hollywood would be more for me. Plus, this is the campaign that never ends!

What is Prodigy Talent?
We are a full service talent agency representing actors in television, film and commercials. Additionally we represent producers and financers for independent feature films.

When did Prodigy Talent come about?
After owning Prodigy Pictures for a while in Las Vegas, I found myself missing the campaign trail. But, I knew returning to politics was just not for me. Working with great and talented people in the field of representation allowed me to work in a campaign that never ended!

Are there any cool projects your clients have starred in recently?
This year we have had a lot of actors in commercials for the Super Bowl, we had actors on True Blood, on a variety of television shows and in major advertiser spots. This has been a great year for us. We have been truly blessed in 2014.

What’s your favorite part about your job?
Building a strong solid relationship with my actors and seeing them grow, seeing them go from a struggling actor to a booking and working actor.

You have accomplished so much in your career, what makes you so driven to succeed?
For me, I think it was just always instinctual. I have always been driven. We built a production studio, and released a film, during the Great Recession.  We opened the agency just as the economic recovery began.  Succeeding became the only choice during the recession!

If there is one person to thank for your success who would it be and why?
I have to say that there are two (2). First of all, my dad has been incredibly helpful to this endeavor.  I am very grateful to him. Secondly, to my late Grandmother who just passed.  She was a major influence to this.

What’s in the future for Prodigy Talent?
We are continuing to focus on our core beliefs.  We fundamentally believe that we can all do more together than we can apart. The film making process is synergetic, it is a mutual aid society. It takes so many of us working to a common goal to succeed. We want to continue to focus on our actors, our producers, and our team to keep doing what we do well. We have been so blessed this year, we want to stay on that path of gratitude and never forgetting why we are all here.

When did Prodigy Talent move to Hollywood Production Center?
We first moved into HPC2 in 2012. We came here at the suggestion of one of the producers we represent.  We found it to be the perfect home for us because there is so much of a community here. From production to casting.  Agents cannot be based “on lot” but here we have the feeling we are. To know that some great TV shows, movies and projects are just  down the hall, or on another floor really gives us such an advantage and gives us such a sense of community I cannot honestly think of us being anywhere else.

 

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to interview with us, Chris!

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News Movies/Television

Tenant Spotlight with Bryan Grant

Brant Grant is the CEO and Creative

We had the opportunity to catch up with Bryan Grant of Bryan Grant Studios from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Bryan Grant is the founder and Executive Creative Director of Bryan Grant Studios. BGS is globally recognized for their work in broadcast, theatrical and digital Motion Graphics, Branding & 3D Animation. With over 20 years’ experience they’ve had the fortune of working with clients across the country including leading networks, studios, agencies, celebrities, & producers like David Copperfield, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Universal Pictures, HBO, Nike, JWT, DDBO, Lexus & T-Mobile to name just a few. The full list can be found at bryangrantstudios.com. The studio’s work can be screened HERE.

Tell us a little about yourself, Bryan?
I went to Seaholm High school in Birmingham, MI & Columbia College in Chicago, IL. I studied film production and had the fortune of working with some incredible DP’s and film directors. In high school I was asked to teach the television production class, which was wild because a lot of my friends were my “students”. I later taught an animation course in college to help pay for my schooling. Most notably, I’ll never turn down some incredible BBQ.

How did you get started in the entertainment industry?
It’s funny.  I started at 14 when I opened my own video production company in Birmingham, MI. We became the #1 video production company for weddings & bar mitzvah one year later. I feel blessed to have always known what I wanted to do at a very early age.  Many years later after moving to Los Angeles my first client through BGS was Disney where we helped them animate one of their largest entertainment properties at the time.

Do you enjoy what you do?
I love what I do!  I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. I especially love what happens when we combine the latest technology in VFX & 3D with our creative vision to help produce one-of-a-kind creative for our clients.

Who would you say is your biggest client that you were you like, “whoa!”
I would say David Copperfield.  He was an idol of mine growing up.  In fact I would tape all of his television specials every year and watch them a million times over.  So when he approached me later in my adult life it was totally surreal and an amazing experience. I was tasked to brand his new production company Red Safe.  The branding premiered in Variety magazine 2 months later and we couldn’t be happier.

Where do you see the future for BGS?
It’s important for me to promote the company’s core values, which are integrity, loyalty and accountability. Our client’s value that along with our strong creative output.  I see BGS growing into one of the most influential design and animation studio in Los Angeles within 2 years.  Staying humble, innovative and inspiring will get us there.

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to sit down with us, Bryan!