With new hire Mark Farmwood, Graham and Ula Copeland, from left, have set up shop in a new space in Northside. Photo by Jonathan Spiers.
A production company’s move from Manchester to Northside has given a glossy finish to a redeveloped building.
Glossy Productions has moved into a 4,200-square-foot space at 1905 Westwood Ave., filling in the final piece of the 36,000-square-foot commercial building refurbished by Leigh Properties over the past year.
The production company’s new studio joins Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co. and print shop ARC, both of which moved in from nearby Scott’s Addition last fall, as well as fellow tenants Allied HVAC Distributors and Binswanger Glass.
Glossy’s move from a 900-square-foot editing suite in the Manchester Pie Factory building brings the Westwood building to full capacity. Leigh Properties’ construction arm, Aragon Group, renovated the space for the studio and signed the company to a long-term lease, said Graham Copeland, who runs Glossy with his wife, Poland native Urszula (“Ula”) Copeland.
The Copelands said they had outgrown their space in Manchester and were exploring options around town when they found the Westwood property.
The larger space allows the Copelands and their newest hire – director and photographer Mark Farmwald – to expand their production and post-production areas with a 2,500-square-foot studio space, separate editing suites and a lounge where clients can observe filming on a television.
The space includes editing suites and a lounge area for clients. Photo courtesy Ula Copeland.
Along with editor Anna Kolantis, the full-time staff of four moved into the space this month, resuming filming for commercials and other video work that was previously filmed on location or in studio space they rented.
“We’re very happy we found this space,” Ula Copeland said. “It’s all in one. Right after we shoot, we can edit.”
While Glossy has done work for local clients such as VCU Engineering, McGeorge Toyota and Bon Secours Richmond – the studio filmed the health system’s “Fandemonium” spot for the Washington Redskins training camp last year – Farmwald said Glossy’s focus is on picking up more national clients.
Glossy’s national accounts have included Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Sabra Dipping Company and Nationwide Insurance. But the studio also keeps busy locally, recently filming some sessions of the monthly Creative Mornings networking series.
The studio has enough space to stage two sets simultaneously. Photo courtesy Ula Copeland.
Ula Copeland described their in-town and out-of-town work as about 50-50.
“We’re a well-traveled production company,” she said.
Despite the interstates nearby, the studio enjoys a quiet space within the former industrial building’s thick concrete walls. The space features 20-foot ceilings, roll-up truck access for loading and unloading equipment, and plentiful parking behind the building.
The group elected to keep the building’s concrete floors and original sliding fire doors.
“It tells the story of the building,” Ula Copeland said.
With other tenants like Blanchard’s Coffee, the building has immediate interstate access. Photo by Jonathan Spiers.
Formerly in the travel industry, Ula changed careers after meeting and marrying Graham, a Hanover native and VCU grad. A scuba diver with a master’s degree in marine biology, Ula got involved in Graham’s previous studio before the husband-and-wife team founded Glossy in 2011.
Familiar with Farmwald from previous work together, the couple recruited the director-photographer from New York City, where he was art director for bath and beauty brand Molton Brown. He has also done work for clients such as Walmart, Boar’s Head and Belk.
Glossy’s relocation north follows suit with another production company, Spang TV, which is putting the finishing touches on its new studio space off Chamberlayne Avenue.
With new hire Mark Farmwood, Graham and Ula Copeland, from left, have set up shop in a new space in Northside. Photo by Jonathan Spiers.
A production company’s move from Manchester to Northside has given a glossy finish to a redeveloped building.
Glossy Productions has moved into a 4,200-square-foot space at 1905 Westwood Ave., filling in the final piece of the 36,000-square-foot commercial building refurbished by Leigh Properties over the past year.
The production company’s new studio joins Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co. and print shop ARC, both of which moved in from nearby Scott’s Addition last fall, as well as fellow tenants Allied HVAC Distributors and Binswanger Glass.
Glossy’s move from a 900-square-foot editing suite in the Manchester Pie Factory building brings the Westwood building to full capacity. Leigh Properties’ construction arm, Aragon Group, renovated the space for the studio and signed the company to a long-term lease, said Graham Copeland, who runs Glossy with his wife, Poland native Urszula (“Ula”) Copeland.
The Copelands said they had outgrown their space in Manchester and were exploring options around town when they found the Westwood property.
The larger space allows the Copelands and their newest hire – director and photographer Mark Farmwald – to expand their production and post-production areas with a 2,500-square-foot studio space, separate editing suites and a lounge where clients can observe filming on a television.
The space includes editing suites and a lounge area for clients. Photo courtesy Ula Copeland.
Along with editor Anna Kolantis, the full-time staff of four moved into the space this month, resuming filming for commercials and other video work that was previously filmed on location or in studio space they rented.
“We’re very happy we found this space,” Ula Copeland said. “It’s all in one. Right after we shoot, we can edit.”
While Glossy has done work for local clients such as VCU Engineering, McGeorge Toyota and Bon Secours Richmond – the studio filmed the health system’s “Fandemonium” spot for the Washington Redskins training camp last year – Farmwald said Glossy’s focus is on picking up more national clients.
Glossy’s national accounts have included Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Sabra Dipping Company and Nationwide Insurance. But the studio also keeps busy locally, recently filming some sessions of the monthly Creative Mornings networking series.
The studio has enough space to stage two sets simultaneously. Photo courtesy Ula Copeland.
Ula Copeland described their in-town and out-of-town work as about 50-50.
“We’re a well-traveled production company,” she said.
Despite the interstates nearby, the studio enjoys a quiet space within the former industrial building’s thick concrete walls. The space features 20-foot ceilings, roll-up truck access for loading and unloading equipment, and plentiful parking behind the building.
The group elected to keep the building’s concrete floors and original sliding fire doors.
“It tells the story of the building,” Ula Copeland said.
With other tenants like Blanchard’s Coffee, the building has immediate interstate access. Photo by Jonathan Spiers.
Formerly in the travel industry, Ula changed careers after meeting and marrying Graham, a Hanover native and VCU grad. A scuba diver with a master’s degree in marine biology, Ula got involved in Graham’s previous studio before the husband-and-wife team founded Glossy in 2011.
Familiar with Farmwald from previous work together, the couple recruited the director-photographer from New York City, where he was art director for bath and beauty brand Molton Brown. He has also done work for clients such as Walmart, Boar’s Head and Belk.
Glossy’s relocation north follows suit with another production company, Spang TV, which is putting the finishing touches on its new studio space off Chamberlayne Avenue.