A Hollywood Moment
Giant, a working production facility
You might have seen it on your way to the airport or picking up a package at FedEx. A gem in hiding, it’s located in the drab industrial complex of office buildings that sits across the road from EUE/Screen Gems Studio on North 23rd Street. Near the end of a row of identical tinted doors, in suite 209, a small slice of LA life awaits.
The space is flooded with natural light and coupled with hardwood floors, high ceilings, and icy blue walls – it feels industrial in the hippest way. Chic leather chairs and sofas are scattered throughout the first few rooms. People trickle in and out, grabbing a latte to go or a settling down with a sandwich stuffed with free-range turkey and organic greens. You would never suspect that many of them are working on big-name TV shows and films, not only in the studio across the street but also in the production offices down the hall.
Welcome to GIANT, an organic coffee bar and art house entertainment venue inside Post 1200, a working production facility.
Jodi Kaufmann, who owns the space with her husband, SAM, says it’s not uncommon for studios in Los Angeles to have public spaces like Giant. She would know – the Kaufmanns have owned and operated a successful production company in Hollywood for more than twenty years.
“We wanted to bring more of that LA flavor to Wilmington by adding a coffee bar to our production facility,” she says.
It’s already become a favorite of actors and film crews working in the area – when actress Melissa McCartney and director Ben Falcone were in Wilmington to film Tammy, Jodi Kaufmann says they loved the space.
The Kaufmanns have only been involved in the Wilmington film scene since July 2012, when Post 1200 opened as the East Coast presence of their business, Kaufmann Media Group. With all the big productions coming from Wilmington, it seemed like a strategic investment.
As soon as Post 1200 was ready for business, the team jumped into a busy scene that involved helping on productions such as Revolution, We’re the Millers, Tammy, and Christmas in Conway.
When the film scene got a little dry at the end of the year, the couple decided to revamp their screening room to host public screenings of first-run theatrical releases and local indie films. The Kaufmanns have been able to use their contacts in the industry to get big names booked at Giant.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have friends from LA come in for events,” Jodi Kaufmann says.
Steven Fiore, a songwriter and performer with Universal Publishing Group, stopped by in February to play some tunes. Jim Kreuger, writer behind comic book legends such as Avengers, X-Men, Star Wars, and Batman, came for a screening of his award-winning short film They Might Be Dragons. He also led a workshop for aspiring writers.
Other workshops take place every weekend on subjects ranging from voiceover coaching to audition techniques, with help from Vanessa Neimeyer at NCasting, They’re kid friendly, too – some screenings offer a package that includes childcare, and Jodi Kaufmann says a summer camp that introduces local kids to the fun parts of filmmaking is in the works.
She says opening the café seemed like something that would lend itself well to the new offerings, providing concessions for screenings and events. But it’s attracted people in its own right.
The café pours organic coffee, with snack options ranging from popcorn to raspberry jalapeno bars and a small lunch menu.
So far, the newest part of the Kaufmanns’ East Coast adventure has been going well.
“It’s been wonderful. I have nothing but great things to say about the support from the community here,” Jodi Kaufmann says.
A healthy film community, she says, is about creative energy and passion.
“Filmmaking is about art and culture,” she says. “With or without the incentives, Wilmington will continue to make great films.”
COMING ATTRACTION
On April 18, Giant holds an event marking the twentieth anniversary of the release of The Crow, which was filmed in Wilmington. Plans call for a screening of the movie, costume contest, and Q&A with film crewmembers who worked on the project. To find out more about the event, which is a fundraiser for the upcoming CFI: Film Festival in May, or other Giant events, go to Giant’s website at www.giantculture.com.
To view more of photographer Will Page's work, go to www.willpagephoto.com
