Company 3 and Method Studios Join Beast Editorial in Chicago
July 27, 2012 by Screenmag
Chicago’s Beast has moved across the river the new offices in the Tribune Tower where it will be joined by post production houses of Company 3 and Method Studios, part of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group. Melissa Thornley, Beast’s executive producer will be managing director.
“I can’t say enough good things about the talent and creativity in this town,” says Stefan Sonnenfeld, President of Deluxe Creative Services Group and founder of Company 3. “Chicago’s creative community rivals those found on both the East and West Coasts and if our businesses should be anywhere it’s Chicago. I am excited to build our presence and team with the amazing resources this city has to offer.”
While Beast already has a long established presence in Chicago, Company 3 and Method Studios will provide a local offering utilizing the best in regional and national talent. By co-locating, the businesses will offer more efficient end-to-end project management and a seamless workflow.
“It is pretty rocking awesome in every way, shape and form,” Thornley says.
With changes at their former office building, Thornley said the company looked at a move as a chance to create an ideal situation for all three companies.
“It was an opportunity for the companies to co-locate,” she says. “So we stopped looking for Beast only.”
The brand new state-of-the art facility on the 22nd floor provides the three sister companies with amazing views and a beautiful outdoor terrace space. Method Studios brings a comprehensive visual effects offering for both features and commercials and will house two suites for client-attended sessions plus a hub of CG workstations, for compositing, finishing, CG and design. Company 3 has a full-scale color bay and a second, fully calibrated, room with ‘virtual’ capabilities to allow clients the freedom and flexibility to work with any Company 3 colorist in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta or London. Beast offers six edit/finish rooms and the editorial talent of Beast’s already established Chicago roster.
Beast is currently up and running in the new space, Thornley says, with Method and Company 3 in build-out.
“We’re ramping up those companies more gradually,” she says. “Company 3 is not even officially here until the end of August.”
Founder of Beast in Chicago, Angelo Valencia remains Senior Creative Director. Method is relocating two of its top West Coast talents: Executive Producer Krystina Shales Wilson and Gil Baron, Method’s longest-serving employee since 2000, joins Method’s Chicago team as Creative Director.
“Being at the Trib Tower is incredible,” Thornley says. “It’s a fun time for us. I dig it and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
All the build-out should be finished and the talent in place by the end of August and Thornley says the opening party is 99.9 percent set for mid-September.