Pov, Cool Films Get 'wild' Hair,

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INDUSTRY WRAPUPS

From the October 29, 2004 print edition

Media & Marketing Beat

POV, Cool Films get 'Wild' hair, form new video venture

Christine Hall

Houston Business Journal

Local production companies POV Editing and Visual Effects and Cool Films have merged to form a new venture called Wild Blue Pictures, a full-service film and video operation.

"Both companies add to the equation," says David Henry, president of Wild Blue. "As one unit, we also add depth to areas that the separate companies formerly only dabbled in."

Henry says the merger was an answer to the question of how to stay ahead in a city full of competitors.

W. Ross Wells, Wild Blue Pictures' senior director and editor, worked with Bill Moore, former head of POV, in the early 1990s. Moore is now post-production chief for the new firm.

Prior to the formation of the new company, POV had seven employees and Cool Films had five. No employees were lost during that time.

"Our old companies had a great run -- both more than 10 years," Moore says. "We all felt it was time for something new. Ad agencies are emerging from their long economic slump, and corporations are spending money on high-end communications again."

After considering the business model, Moore says it was a natural move to form a new company.

"Our industry has become increasingly fragmented and competitive, and so in the big picture, consolidation made sense," he says. "In this specific case, we had so much in common -- dedication to the craft, a belief in people over machines, a flat structure -- we just decided to go for it."

Wild Blue offers film and video production for broadcast advertisers, corporate communications, feature film, high definition and video production, five editorial suites, sound design, motion graphics and animation, a "Flame" visual effects suite and a 35-mm projection room.

The company occupies the space formerly held by POV on Old Katy Road.