Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Kurland and Matt Wyatt.
Adam and Matt, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
AK:
Matt and I are both filmmakers. We met back in film school at USC and over a number of years spent working independently – I was directing and producing documentaries and commercials in NYC, while Matt was working in comedy in LA and then later as a director-level creative for Disney’s Interactive division. We reconnected in 2011 while working on a special project for ESPN. During that project, we realized how well we worked together and that we had similar ideas and approaches to filmmaking. That led us to deciding to create our own production company together: Daughter & Sons.
Since 2011, Daughter & Sons has grown from a small production arm for our development projects into a full service production studio for commercials and branded content as well as narrative and documentary projects for digital and broadcast. It was during this period of expansion that we realized that it made sense for me to move from NYC to LA full time, and that we needed to find a space to accommodate our growth.
As has become increasingly obvious in the last couple of years, finding a great space in LA is not that easy. It took us a minute, but eventually we had tremendous luck in finding a big warehouse space right on the border of Atwater Village, Glassell Park and Glendale. At the time it was more space than we thought we needed; originally we were looking for simple creative office space. But after sitting down and discussing it, we arrived at this vision of what would become a production space that feels communal and open vibrant. Essentially, we created our own ideal environment; the kind of place we would want to work in. A place that puts all the necessary tools of production at our fingertips, infused with comfort and an aesthetic that makes us feel good about going into the office.
After a few different spatial designs, we settled on carving out a 2,000 sq. ft. area for the sound stage/photo studio, plus additional space for a green room, hair and makeup room, and dressing room. The remaining space became the Daughter & Sons offices, as well as additional office space for some other production partners. We’re fortunate to know some great people in the industry, and ended up bringing in two stellar companies who share a similar ethos of collaboration to work alongside us in the SIBLING space.
The SIBLING stage rental business has been mostly through word of mouth thus far. We started out with a select pool, opening the space up to friends and other filmmakers we’re close to. This let us “beta test” the space, making sure we ironed out the kinks and created the kind of studio that really functioned as people needed it to. Now that word has grown beyond that initial group, we’re meeting all kinds of incredible talents in the field and really building a community of SIBLING-affiliated filmmakers. Coming to this as we did, from backgrounds as producers and directors, it’s been fascinating to get a look at the other side of the process, to watch projects come to life in our space. We really value and respect those endeavors, and we try to do as much as we can to foster people’s projects. Since our producer-brains naturally think about all aspects of production at this point, we’re able to help troubleshoot for clients and assist them throughout the process.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
MW:
Ha. Well For the most part. Neither of us had any construction or commercial design experience before we began this project. We had to give ourselves a crash course, because the SIBLING birthing process basically taking a giant raw, uninsulated metal shell and turning it into a place that not only wasn’t an industrial sauna, but felt like the type of place that we as filmmakers would want to hang out and shoot work. Not an easy task, but we got it done and we’re proud of what we accomplished. And NEXT time we build out a 6,000 sq. ft. warehouse, we’ll be ready…
SIBLING – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
AK:
SIBLING is an offshoot of our production company, Daughter & Sons, which was formed back in 2011. D&S is a production company that we founded because we wanted to find a way to produce work that we wanted to make and create a certain culture surrounding that work. We specialize in documentary and commercial projects but in the past year have begun to expand beyond that; we recently created a series of spots for Fox Sports utilizing a VR technique known as Mixed Reality. We also represent a roster of directors who we support in their commercial, narrative and experimental projects.
When we formed SIBLING, we wanted it to be a place where filmmakers that we knew and respected could feel at home, whether they were using the space for shoots, working at a desk for the day, or just stopping by to have a cup of coffee and talk (and/or hang out with one of the several very cute dogs who call SIBLING their second home). We wanted it to feel like a warm, inviting place. A collaborative, creatively inspiring oasis in a city that can be very isolating and an industry that doesn’t always engender camaraderie.
At the end of the day, what’s most important to us is that we are known for being a filmmaker friendly place; producers, directors and production executives keep coming back for that reason.
What sets you apart from others?
AK:
We really wanted SIBLING to be place that we would want to spend time in ourselves. That was something that we stressed. We’re not the biggest studio in LA. We’re not the cheapest studio in LA. But we are one of the few studios in town that is focused on providing a space that is evokes a certain sensibility. A place that creates great experience without taking itself too seriously.
We did a lot of designing ourselves but we also worked alongside Production Designer and Furniture Designer David Browne from Studio Browne to build tables and to pick and advise on a lot of seating in the studio. David has an incredible eye and did a phenomenal job and I think that together we came upon something that feels really familiar without feeling cliché and derivative.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
MW:
For SIBLING, it’s our repeat clients. When people come back time and time again for shoots that means we’re doing something right.
Contact Info:
- Address: SIBLING, 3352 N SAN FERNANDO RD, LOS ANGELES, CA, 90065, UNITED STATES
- Website: http://www.siblingla.com/
- Phone: 323.561.3033
- Email: [email protected]
Processed with VSCOcam with a8 preset
Image Credit for photo of Adam & Matt: Ryan Schude
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