OAK PARK, Mich.—Editorial company Red Car and Detroit area postproduction facility GTN have reached an agreement whereby GTN will handle Detroit representation for Red Car’s roster of editors. Conversely, Red Car will be able to package into its projects any or all of GTN’s services, spanning visual effects, telecine, HD finishing and audio, when appropriate.
The deal gives Red Car a facility foothold in the coveted Detroit advertising market, while GTN gains an ensemble of creative editorial talent to offer to its clientele. The presence in Detroit expands Red Car’s geographic reach; Red Car also maintains shops in New York, Chicago, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Dallas, San Antonio and Buenos Aires. Among Red Car’s agency clients are such high-profile firms as Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore.; Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco; Deutsch New York; and Deutsch LA.
GTN’s services include—in addition to the ones mentioned above—compositing, editing, 3-D, audio post, distribution and digital asset management. Its client roster comprises Detroit area agencies such as BBDO Detroit, Troy; Campbell-Ewald Advertising, Warren; chemistri, Troy; and Doner, Southfield. As well, GTN just completed an upgrade of its frontline visual effects technologies.
For GTN, the deal with Red Car comes on the heels of a management buyout. Last month, president/CEO Doug Cheek became the principal shareholder in GTN. The coming together with Red Car represents GTN’s next step in moving forward. "By creating this relationship with Red Car, we are responding to ongoing requests by our customers to add additional creative capability to our already capable editorial staff," explained Cheek. "Detroit is already a popular location for nationally known editors. For Detroit creatives seeking to expand their choices in creative editorial and visual effects, this makes sense. We just made it a lot easier for them to enjoy the best of what Red Car and GTN have to offer."
GTN already offers Avid Media Composers, and Red Car president Larry Bridges plans to install his collaborative tool, AVA, to enable work to be viewed in different cities and countries. Separately, GTN maintains its own collaborative/digital asset management system, which operates on a private high-speed network and is already used by Detroit area agencies, including BBDO.
"Our business is growing in Detroit—it’s a sign of the economy," related Bridges. "We will now enjoy a base of operations within the walls of a company with highly respected resources. Joining forces with GTN, so strong in all aspects of finishing and visual effects, gives us a bidding opportunity that no other U.S. editorial company has."
Per the agreement, GTN Avid editor Chris Chynoweth will also be represented on the Red Car roster. He joins an editorial lineup that includes Bridges, Steve Armstrong, Tom Acito, Shira Ankori, Sean Berringer, Bob Carr, Glenn Conte, Luis Lacau, Marc Alchin, Gustavo Codella, Beth Cramer, Jonathan Edwards, Jerry Fried, Chris Gipson, Marc D’Andre, Greg Sunmark, Chris Homel, Jeff Landsman, Greg Letson, Michael Bartoli, John Maloney, Rob Watzke, Sam Sneade, Susan Munro, Clark Eddy, Adam Sobocienski, Bob Morrow, Chris Elliot, Tommy Tortoriello, Christophe Williams, Eliane Katz, Pablo Barbieri and Carla Muzykantski.
