Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/28735
E OR DIE Another large part of HSR’s television work is ADR; The Walking Dead, Califor- nication,The Simpsons, Criminal Minds and House, are just some of the series they provide this service for. And in addition to its thriving commercial business, HSR also does a ton of audio for animated feature film work. Not long ago HSR added a graphic arm in Motive, an established company in its own right.“Now both sides of our company can take care of what is needed, from sound design, stock music, mixing, voiceovers, bottom thirds and top thirds and maps, shoots and logos,” he says. Motive also gave HSR entrée into the world of new media, thanks to its inter- active division.“We create apps for private clients, their Websites and provide branding packages,” he says.“We recently completed an integrated marketing cam- paign for a health and wellness client which focused on people living with rheuma- toid arthritis.” So while contending with economic downturns and people working in their bed- rooms, HSR has survived. How has Schwartz dealt with what he refers to as a cre- ative democracy? “You can mix in your bedroom, but is it the same? They still have to come to a facil- ity to re-lay and do the deliverables.We know a lot of people do that, and we have to compete with them, and sometimes we win because clients want to have everything in the same place, and we have insurance and security in place, so god forbid something happens — if somebody loses or screws up a tape or falls down while working on your show — we are covered.Those sound like minimal things, but they can put a company out of business.” As 2011 really gets going, Schwartz looks at the next generation: his two daughters. Alexa, who is operations manager of the facility, and Zoe, who is head of sales, to take them into the next decade.“We are preparing ourselves for the next chapter.” CRAWFORD MEDIA SERVICES Crawford Media Services (www.crawford.com) in Atlanta has been a fixture in our indus- try since 1981.They have survived recessions, economic downturns and the trend from big post houses to boutiques and back again many times. It has seen the industry change from analog to digital, from SD to HD, from tape to data, and it has welcomed the growth of 3D stereoscopic work. What has remained a constant for the company is its ability to see the trends and needs of the industry as they develop, and its ability to offer those services under one roof. And while many independently-owned post companies have gone away thanks to the democratization of tools, Crawford has stayed strong. Kathleen Fitch, senior VP/COO, post production at Crawford, acknowledges “the barrier to entry has been lowered, so more people can buy systems, but we can buy systems cheaper as www.postmagazine.com April 2011 • Post 41