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Bay Area Sound Stages Are Back by Doniphan Blair
Although getting a tad tired after a long opening night, Tim Partridge is leading the charge at 32TEN along with Greg Maloney. photo: D. Blair
With the reopening of two large sound stages, 32TEN and @Bayshore, both with mixed typographical names no less, the Bay Area is production-ready. . Beyond Pix just opened its renovated Bayshore Studios in San Francisco, now called @Bayshore, while 32TEN restarted the large green screen, production and effects tradition of San Rafael in late-January.
32TEN premiered with a lavish opening party midweek, March 15th, replete with searchlights, fabulous food, local media mavens and displays of its deluxe refurbished stage, meeting and makeup rooms, effects studios and the announcement of new educational programs.
Launched in early 2012 by longtime film industry pros Tim Partridge (previously of Dolby) and Greg Maloney (extensive visual effects experience), 32TEN Studios is both a stage rental and an action miniature/practical effects company, see CineSource article. Located at 3210 Kerner Boulevard, the historic site of first ILM and later independent Kerner Optical, it reinstated the promise of its famous predecessors which had fallen on hard times under the previous owners. The last big shop in Marin, along with Skywalker Ranch, 32TEN is amply endowed with the facilities, equipment and talent to service major motion pictures but also independent films, TV programs, commercials, multi-media and more.
The old Bayshore Studios before Beyond Pix's massive renovation. photo: courtesy Bayshore
“It’s been a tough 5 years for our industry as a whole," noted Ray Santiago, founder of Beyond Pix, a leading San Francisco production company specializing in production, post-production, broadcast and interactive, long established in North Beach's Media Gulch.
"But I see a rebound gaining momentum, a new groundswell of film and video companies have opened during the last 6 months. It makes sense to preserve the Bayshore Studio space for local companies to leverage as the rebound continues.”
For 17 years, until the recession and industry slowdown, Bayshore Studio played a vital role in San Francisco’s production scene under former owner Tom Banducci. Hosting local, national and international commercials, music videos and indie features, the stage was used by the likes of Metallica, Charles Schwab and Senator Dianne Feinstein. Closed and slated for demolition in late 2011, Santiago decided to jump in and restore it.
“The re-opening of the old Bayshore Studio is an enormous asset to our community,” remarked Janet Coleman, owner of JCX, an expendables vendor in the nearby Mission district with over 20 years of provisioning the community. “It’s never good to lose such an important resource. Beyond Pix has a great reputation for being honest and fair, as well as giving back to the community, so we totally support their endeavor.”
The Oakland Contingent (lft-rt): A lovely lady, whose name I neglected to note (sorry); Piper, a world-touring rapper and up-and-coming actor; and Ami Zins, ex-Oakland film commissioner, now part of 32TEN's education program. photo: D. Blair
With more than 6500 square feet and a 50x50 foot stage, with cyclorama (or cove) green screen, it's the only full-service sound stage in the City. In addition to a facelift, it will operate a little differently, making itself available in a variety of formats from fully equipped and staffed to day rental as a dry stage. An opening party is planned for mid-April.
A full fledged party blew down on Thursday March 15 right in 32TEN's 80x80 foot stage, also cyclorama, with newly repainted green screen. Not the even larger stage of the last incarnation of Kerner Optical 200 yards away, it is in the old wooden ILM building which also houses a deluxe 154-seat theater and numerous other facilities. The foodie-level food and libations were flowing, the forty-foot jib was floating about, and the special effects folks were hard at work inserting attendees into shots from films like "Pirates of the Caribbean, the effects for which were created right in the old Kerner or ILM.
The best media minds of our media generation were represented including some celebs. Who precisely? Well, I arrived late and heard of few but with no actual siting so I will leave it up to you to attend the next party and find out. Suffice it to say that a wide variety of pros and artists were attendance, including a large Oakland actor, rapper and film commissioner contingent, and that 32TEN prooved it would continue the Apollinarian-Dionysian tradition, long established by Kerner Optical, of both having fantastic parties and creating superlative art.
Even some scribblers were in attendance including CineSource's old editor, David Hakim (right) and scriptwriter Chris Caswell. photo: D. Blair
To maintain such paragons of artistry, 32TEN has launched a pre-college summer film program in conjunction with the Academy of Art. Spearheaded by Vince De Quattro, who taught at the Academy after working in visual effects at ILM, Kerner and elsewhwere, it will be an immersion into all aspects of digital filmmaking in two-week summer programs.
32TEN also launched a professional workshop series designed to help filmmakers, game designers, and other industry professionals further their technical and theoretical skills. The first workshop, entitled “From Green Screen to Silver Screen,” on March 31st will walk participants through all the basics of digital post-production visual effects and be led by de Quattro.
The 32TEN event was partially sponsored by DTC, Snader, and others as well as Reel Directory, whose directors Lynette and Doug Freeman are shown here. photo: D. Blair
After a long season of up and down in the Bay Area production scene, with some specialty shops and talents doing quite well but many suffering or going out of business, the reopening of these two important stages signals a real turning point in the local industry as well as the fact that the Bay Area is ready for any production Hollywood or MumbleCore can throw at it.
Although a one notch larger stage would be optimal for massive commercial productions, the beauty of both 32TEN and @Bayshore is that they are run by open-minded, friendly folk and that the facilities are entirely adjustable to whatever a director and production designer can dream up.