HOLLYWOOD — Production studio The Traveling Picture Show Company (www.travelingpictureshow.tv) has launched in Los Angeles. Formed by producer Kevin Matusow, who will serve as CEO, director Chris Woods, partner Kate Bacon, and producer Carissa Buffel, the new company will pursue a multi-media model encompassing live-action commercials, long- and short-form documentary work, scripted and reality television programming and new media. The company plans to offer a slate of production and post production services via a diverse roster of directors, an in-house visual effects team, music and sound design, and other talent.
Marie Soto has joined TPSC as an executive producer. Soto, whose background as an EP (@Radical Media, Riot, Belief Design) includes projects for Pantene, Lexus, Sony, LG TV and Motorola, will lead the company’s sales and marketing effort.
TPSC has forged strategic alliances with Unit Zero VFX as its in-house visual effects team and The Noise Deli out of London for music and sound design.
Technical director Attila Zalanyi and creative director Gavin Whelan will lead Unit Zero VFX, whose resume includes work on Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Green Lantern, Sucker Punch, 2012 and Iron Man 2, and commercials for Lexus, Lazy Boy, Sony PlayStation, Scion, and L’Oreal.
Based in London, The Noise Deli brings to TPSC the musical talents of Sally Johnson and Nick Rundell. Working with agencies Wieden + Kennedy, Saatchi & Saatchi, and many more, their work has been featured in spots for Chevrolet, Panasonic, Land Rover, LA Fitness, and Johnson & Johnson.
With commercial spots already produced for clients Scottrade and Bud-Light with St. Louis agency Cannonball, TPSC is already off to a fast start. Several other projects are currently in pre-production with Chris Woods helming. Unit Zero VFX will start work on shots for the new Stephen Sommers’ feature Odd Thomas, based on the novel by Dean Koontz.
Matusow’s background spans features, television, commercials and music videos. For the past eight years, he and producing partner Carissa Buffel have produced hundreds of commercials and music videos, along with award-winning documentaries. They most recently completed the feature film Touchback with Freedom Films set for an April release through Anchor Bay Entertainment. Their work continues with the Freedom Films’ action-war thriller Thunder Run, a full CGI-Motion Capture film starring Gerard Butler, Sam Worthington and Matthew McConaughey set to begin early 2012.
Woods is a seasoned commercial director and director of photography, with stints at Form, Atlas Pictures, Mirror Films and Momentum, the latter a company he co-founded. Best known for his work in action sports and lifestyle, his credits include commercials for Chevy, Jeep, Budweiser, Corona, Toyota, VISA, Mountain Dew, Michelob, McDonald's, Pontiac, Mattel and Hasbro. He has also served as second unit director on several feature films, including Forrest Gump, The Sum of All Fears, The Core and most recently Screen Gems’ Priest.
Woods said his decision to become a co-founder of TPSC was motivated by a desire to have greater control over the direction of the company and to pursue a more diverse career path. “I want to take it up a notch and take advantage of the changes that are happening in the industry,” he notes. “We believe we have created a model that will enable us to keep moving forward in a very competitive environment.”
Traveling Picture Show Company has established its production facilities in a studio complex on Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood.