Vancouver Canada-based Global Mechanic has expanded its operations to the United States in order to serve its increased business in commercial, television production, and independent film work.
With the addition of a new east coast office, Global Mechanic is now able to run productions from both its Vancouver headquarters and its Boston studios. The new U.S. studios will be run by production industry veteran Matthew Charde. Matthew most recently spent two years at Euro RSCG MVBMS Partners as svp and director of Circle Studios -- the Multimedia & Entertainment group of Euro RSCG Circle.
While there, Matthew developed and produced commercials, programming and branded content (both broadcast and Web) for many of the agency's clients, including Campbell's, MINI, IKEA, Verizon and the Cartoon Network. Before working on the agency side of the business, Matthew served as the exec producer and general manager of Olive Jar Studios, a Boston and Los Angeles-based animation and special effects production company. While there, they delivered hundreds of commercials and network identities as well as numerous television pilot and series projects. Matthew will serve as the exec producer of Global Mechanic.
This expansion move comes at a time when Global Mechanic is experiencing dramatic growth of its commercial, television programming and independent film business. Says Charde, "Our presence in the U.S. will be a tremendous asset to the studio since we will be more fully able to service our clients with an east coast presence, while at the same time broadening creative and production opportunities for our teams in Vancouver."
Bruce Alcock and Ann Marie Fleming founded Global Mechanic in Vancouver in 2000. Alcock was a founder of Cuppa Coffee Studios in Toronto and Tricky Pictures (part of Backyard Prods.) in Chicago. Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Fleming has worked in all forms from shorts to features, including animation. Between the two of them, they boast nearly 30 years of award-winning broadcast design, commercials and films.
The Boston office will be based in the heart of the city's production community at 162 Columbus Ave., home of Finish Editorial and the Soundtrack Audio Studios. Says Don Packer, coo of Finish, "I am thrilled that Global Mechanic is opening up their new studios right inside our post facility -- it is a great fit. Our clients, abilities and sensibilities are a perfect complement to one another. With animation, live action, edit, composite, sound and hi-def film transfer all under one roof, the opportunities -- not to mention the convenience - are tremendous."
Recent Global Mechanic projects include: a nine spot broadcast campaign for Bell Mobility and Re-Think Advertising, television commercial work for Dove (Unilever) and Leo Burnett; the feature documentary by Fleming, THE MAGICAL LIFE OF LONG TACK SAM, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival; and the animated short by Alcock, WRONG NUMBER PHONE MESSAGE, invited to the Sundance On-Line Film Festival.
Global Mechanic (
www.globalmechanic.com ) is a bi-coastal animation and live action production company that makes television commercials, independent films and music videos. Techniques include design-based animation, mixed media, stop-motion/motion control, drawn and live action/special effects. Commercial clients include Anheuser-Busch, Bell Mobility, Proctor & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Mattel, BMW's MINI, Unilever, Hershey, Kraft, Mattel, Nestlé and Target.
