Studio 31 is popular as one of the quieter production spaces in Vancouver… I figured it was time to dive in head first and make it the number one sound stage.    This latest project was so daunting, I have been putting it off for years.  I had a faulty monoglass installation from 10 years ago that needed to be stripped out and resprayed.  The studio had to be emptied,  covered in poly and sprayed with fibreglass impregnated with glue and black paint.  You can only imagine how messy this endeavor was.  Not only is the sound quality improved, but this added R20 insulation to the new roof which now totals about R40… yet again reducing our carbon footprint.   Monoglass is also inert and guarantees a minimum of 37% recycled content which is good for the environment.The studio was completely enveloped with Poly

this was the first half of the process – pulling down the faulty insulation.

Although the spraying was messy, itchy, sticky and dripped black paint for a couple of days,  the sound quality of the shooting space is now perfect for my video rental clients.  This will be further perfected with the removal of the garage door and installation of  sound proof steel doors… more blogs to follow.

A total of 4.5″ was applied to the ceiling (over double the listed amount in the above chart)

Here is the ‘Precious’ music video filmed at the studio.  Except for the obvious location shots,  everything was filmed ‘in house’ from the kitchen and office space to the shower and of course, the amazing wrap-around high key cove.

My friends a Jungle media did a great job producing this video on a very tight budget.  It was filmed entirely on Red cam and this compressed video does not begin to do it justice. . . keep your eyes open on Much Music for the real deal!

Well maybe not exactly. . . it was more a hellish year building this kitchen starting with heated flooring and working on up.  Good news is its done and ready to be used. The Cabinetry was all custom thanks to my friends at David Lane Office Furniture. I’m so glad i didn’t go the Ikea route. . . what a quality difference!

With the exception of the fridge,  all the handles run horizontally.  I wanted a very linear look.  The cabinets are tall and narrow contrasting the handles.  The countertops, are all ‘Silestone’ with quartz. . . one of the toughest countertops that never needs sealing – I got them at a great deal as offcuts from a Vancouver apartment project.

As my dad used to say “now you’re cooking with gas!”.   The instant heat is amazing to cook with and brings life to the kitchen.  The stainless steel looks fabulous against the dark cabinets and floor, but the combination has proven to be quite a challenge to keep looking clean.

Here’s the reverse angle.  The slate wall was brought from China, it’s hard to believe that it is cheaper to produce and ship from half way round the world than to buy locally (about 1/2 $).  The flat screens channel cable and video surveillance in every room. . . I’ll never miss a moment of Top Model or Heroes!

For reference,  here’s the kitchen i endured for the last 12 years,  This Reno was a welcome change!

Porsche has recently taken over Vancouver on on the same level as a small movie production. Helicopters have been filming Cars racing over Granville street bridge, Neighborhoods are closed off for street scenes, and the studio was packed with grips, directors and assistants for an all night shoot. Apparently this will be an 18 minute commercial, but i’m not sure where it will air. Production started at 7pm and went to 10 am the next day . . . talk bout a long night! You can see it all in this high speed video:

Heres a quick walkthrough starting at the end of the street. At around 1am I ate dinner with the crew on the street in front of a neighbors building. . . that felt a little surreal eating candle lit steak in a makeshift outdoor diner on 5th ave. For such a big production, thankfully they were well organized and had some really great people. You get a sense of how hard they were ‘working’ in this video: