A Mt Mellum studio shoot
Television and video production company Sound Images has built up a strong client list since setting up a full production studio at Mt Mellum more than 28 years ago. Recently they expanded their facility, moving the offices, video editing and graphics suites into their new Maple Street, Maleny head office.
Its directors, Tony and Kerrie Lawrence and Richard Davies told the Hinterland Times about the pleasure of working in a high tech industry, high above the Sunshine Coast.
Sound Images produce TV and cinema commercials, corporate & training videos , interactive DVDS, and programs for cable TV for clients all around the country – Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast. In their 28 years they’ve designed, filmed and edited literally thousands of productions for an impressive mix of clients, ranging from large corporations and government departments to small emerging businesses.
They also give back to community, donating their time to produce television commercials and fund- raising promotional DVDs for groups like the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Sunshine Coast Health Foundation.
Sound Images new production office off Maple Street, Maleny
“Life is never boring “, says managing director, Tony Lawrence. “We not only help small businesses punch above their weight, but we are always involved in interesting and challenging projects , it could be the production of commercials with actor John Wood for Living Choice, an interactive training DVD for the Queensland Police Service or the CMC, or patient education DVDs for Laser Sight Centres.”
Living and working on the Hinterland has never been a problem for this small group of film-makers, however the company vehicles do clock up many kilometres in servicing their clients. Creative Director Kerrie Lawrence regularly drives to Brisbane to take a brief with husband Tony. Once Kerrie has drafted a script outline, it is often a treat for the client to find an excuse to come to Maleny to talk over the film shoot.
The Sound Images production team - Kerry, Tony, Rebecca, Richard and Dan
That’s the time when Sound Images director of production, Richard Davies comes into the picture. Richard has had to keep up with an ever-changing video industry of technical wizardry. These days high definition video is the industry standard and Richard has some of the most sophisticated camera and editing equipment in his kit.
“In the end we are story-tellers”, says Richard. “Telling the message that the client wants told, and using the best technology of the day to achieve it.”
“We can fly the crew into Melbourne or Sydney”, explains Kerrie, “compete with the local marketplace, and produce a better quality product at a better price than a local team. For this reason we have a long term, loyal client base, interstate.
Richard explains with enthusiasm the amazing promotional videos produced over the years for the many Juniper resorts, using architects models set up and filmed in the two storey studio at their Mt Mellum facility.
“We assembled a mock-up model of the resort , complete with golf course, swimming pool and condominiums. The model detail was of such high quality that we were able to use a lipstick camera on a boom arm and do travelling shots over the model facilities. When those scenes were cross-dissolved with live, generic shots, say of girls diving into a swimming pool or someone playing golf, you would swear you were there at the actual resort.”
Some clients will spend tens of thousands of dollars on sophisticated shoots that require the casting of talent, makeup artists, set stylists, props, and specialist lighting crews – a hive of activity organised by Tony and directed on location by Richard.
“What has become easier after 28 years,” says Kerrie, “is that the technology has made our lives up here on the hill a lot easier, particularly with our communication to the outside world. TV Commercials are no longer copied onto broadcast tape formats and physically delivered to the TV stations all over the country. These days, large electronic files are emailed to the national television broadcast centres at night.
“One of the biggest changes is in sound,” adds Richard. “We still have a voice booth at the Mt Mellum studio where voiceover talent would come to put down an audio track. This rarely happens these days. Through the Web, you can track down the type and style of voice you want and email them a script. Then, within a day, an email can come back with an attached MP3 file of the voice.”
“We’ve seen many changes in television and video over the years”, says Tony. “There’s a trend towards more web-based product, but there’s still quite a demand for DVD, and of course a combination of both. We see internet television as part of the future, and fortunately it’s no great technological challenge for us to deliver product for the internet or on DVD”.
After 28 years in business, we have a fantastic library of vision, with high definition ‘library’ footage covering virtually any subject you can think of. Occasionally, we’ll produce an entire DVD, just from vision in our library” adds Kerrie.
“What hasn’t changed over the years”, adds Tony, “is good old fashioned service – a commitment to delivering on our promises. Our culture at Sound Images has always been to ‘under promise and over deliver’ , and we just don’t miss deadlines”.
As for the future the Sound Images directors believe in steady as she goes.
“We are very happy with where we are and we don’t have big growth plans,” says Tony, with a nod of agreement from Richard and Kerrie.
” We simply love what we do and enjoy being a boutique industry in a boutique environment.”
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