Post 9/11: the year in review - Post News - analysis of the video post production market - Industry Overview

Post, Sept, 2002 by Matthew Armstrong

Charlex, however; is one of the few companies that expanded in the past year; boosting its staff from 55 to 77 employees. This growth is attributed to the opening of a new 3D department last year; which accounts for a majority of the company's growth.

"The way we deal with changes is by making our company an attractive place for top creative people to come and work," says Weil. "Those are the people that will keep working on whatever is being done."

Don White has seen plenty change while operating Matchframe in the smaller markets of San Antonio and Austin. In addition to the aforementioned factors, larger corporations absorbed many of the regional companies and took their advertising business to headquarters out of state or country. To counter this, it has increased its sales efforts targeting regional work in every region of the country

While parts of its business have declined, other areas -- like its DVD authoring service -- are growing rapidly and its HD service holds much hope for the future. "It's still something you have to sell clients on, but it's getting there," says White. Additionally digital media services, such delivering 30fps, full screen footage over broadband for corporate and media clients, is gaining momentum.

When asked if 9/11 has changed business, White says, "In many ways, 9/11 brought back the power of television, and people became less reliant on the Web."

Established eight years ago, Edgeworx's goal was to remain small and rely on freelancers when needed -- a plan that has helped the studio remain stable.

The company has grown thanks to the power of the lower-cost desktop machines and a diverse client base of commercials, corporate and broadcast with a recent rise in its feature film work. "Because we don't have these expensive machines that you have to constantly feed, we can be a little more flexible. In the past year there were times when we had three large projects in here at the same time, and I don't know if that would be possible if we were just centered around one or two large machines."

Edgeworx bravely opened an office in London this past year and ironically attributes the downturn in the economy as a factor in allowing them to grow. "It's cheaper to get rents and we can attract a level of talent that we couldn't have afforded three years ago.

While remaining lean and mean, Tecson says they must remain creative in order to compete with the larger; high-powered facilities. "For ad agency clients, it's an uphill battle trying to compare with places that have In-femo and such. But we know that each generation of the desktop is getting faster and faster and with storage prices dropping, we can take on more longform projects."

BOLD NEW BOUTIQUES

The terror attacks actually inspired Rony Soussan to open his own visual effects house, Santa Monica's Realm. "September 11 just reminded me of how fleeting everything can be and how it can all just change in an instant. I just wanted to have my own place."

He saw the opportunity to maneuver as a boutique and strengthen the company's reputation for when the economy turns up. Part of his optimism comes from the growing need for post artists to act as creatives, to aid production and be problem solvers.