It’s fitting that Studio 108 relocated to Manchester, Richmond’s creative frontier. While other media company’s might opt for strictly-business corridors around RVA, Studio 108 has taken its film and video production operations to the south bank of the James River, an up-and-coming arts district that has yet to undergo major urban rehabilitation.
The decade-old production company recently relocated to New Manchester Flats, a mixed-use green development that was formerly a factory complex. With the whistle of a distant train in the background harkening to the industrial age, the spaces now are dedicated to the creative class of artists, residents, and entrepreneurs.
“Although [we are] now located in the New Manchester Flats factory, in the heart of the art and design district, our philosophy is decidedly un-factory like,” explains Jack Hartmann, director and owner of Studio 108. “Our vision has always been to give each and every client the total attention of every member of the company.”
When a client brings a project to Studio 108, says Hartmann, they don’t get the impression that theirs is just another job being hustled through production, post, audio and composition.
“They know that everyone involved is devoting all of their creativity and efforts solely to the client,” he notes. The studio offers boutique-style attention to detail with the resources of a major production facility.
The shop’s expansive shooting space allows for large-scale productions, with multiple suites for editing, compositing, motion graphics, color grading and 3D animation.
Boasting audio facilities that are second to none, Studio 108 also offers a contemporary loft ambience (18-foot ceilings, varnished concrete floors, exposed steel beams, granite countertops in the kitchen) throughout its rambling production space, changing room and area for makeup.
The result-Studio 108 routinely cranks out national, regional and local commercials, music videos, corporate communications, short films and features.
“One of the most exciting things happening right now involves web content, social media and application development for mobile applications for iPhones, iPads and anything else,” explains Tyler Snidow, director of business development and production.
“There’s been a tough issue facing production companies in recent years. Scores of clients have need for production for web content or for use in social media or viral videos. The problem has been that even though those productions require the same resources as a typical commercial production, the budgets are often half of what a television spot would be,” says Snidow.
Studio 108 has developed a formula for handling these types of projects that involves key strategic partners.
“These projects can be completed in a fashion that doesn’t sacrifice production value, heightens creativity, and utilizes highly skilled and nimble crews to execute them,” she explains.
Look for Studio 108, and their ever-evolving mind for media, at 15 East 4th Street, Suite 108, or at www.studio108.com.