Archive: Business & Technology

Veverka Brothers Productions, an independent film company, has joined the growing ranks of technology and digital arts businesses that are locating in downtown Ithaca. Veverka Brothers recently opened offices and post-production facilities in the Old Cigar Factory Building, which is located at 112 The Commons.

Veverka Brothers is currently completing post-production on its first feature length film, China Rebirth, which documents the current impact and future implications of China’s growth on the rest of the world. China Rebirth is scheduled to be released this fall and will be screened locally, nationally and at international film festivals.

Veverka Brothers Productions joins other companies such as BSU Electronics Manufacturing, Concept Systems Incorporated, TRC Energy Services, Ancient Wisdom Productions and Gorges Websites, among others, that have chosen to locate in downtown Ithaca. In Veverka Brothers case, the company chose downtown because of the proximity of many other professional, technical and retail businesses, its central location to both Cornell University and Ithaca College and their pools of creative and technological talent, and the opportunity to be in the center of the community that company owners Jeremy and Jesse Veverka grew up in.

The Veverkas shot China Rebirth entirely in high-definition digital video and are editing the film on Macintosh computers. Their downtown post-production facility includes two editing suites. The company also plans to use local musicians for the film’s musical score, which is expected to be broad-ranging, given that it was shot in nine different countries in Asia, as well as the United States.

Downtown Ithaca Alliance Executive Director Gary Ferguson says, “Veverka Brothers Productions is an excellent example of the types of companies that are rediscovering downtown Ithaca, and downtowns across the country. These are two young professionals with both creative and technological talent, who want their company to be located in an area that offers commercial, retail, residential and entertainment opportunities all within walking distance of each other. Downtown Ithaca was the only logical choice for them, and the same is true in many other downtowns across the country. Even their neighbors in the Old Cigar Factory Building are a reflection of what can be found on a larger scale within downtown’s borders.”

The Old Cigar Factory is another of downtown Ithaca’s mixed-use buildings, with retailers, professionals, artists and residents making up its occupants. It’s owned and managed by the Ithaca Renting Company.

Veverka Brothers Productions will have China Rebirth information displays set up on the Ithaca Commons  on Thursday, July 23, 2009,  from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Cayuga Street Pavilion, and on Saturday, July 25, 2009, from noon to 4:00 p.m. on the Bernie Milton Pavilion.

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