Santa Monica-based Company 3 is moving forward with its plans to open an office on the East Coast. As part of the Liberty Livewire Pictures Group, the telecine shop will share a space in New York with sister company and competitor R!OT Manhattan, while its own facility is constructed.

Principal/colorist Stefan Sonnenfeld says the setup is far from a conflict of interest. "Actually, when I started Company 3 I did the same thing with what was called Encore West in 1997," states Sonnenfeld. "It was next door to POP, which is where I was working. I literally moved next door into Encore West, built a room there with my equipment, and operated Company 3 until the facility was built."

"The reason it works is that we are sister companies," continues Sonnenfeld. "There are talented telecine artists [at R!OT Manhattan] that we know and like, and we're operating symbiotically until such time as we can move Company 3 people into the new facility. It worked out really well originally, and we hope it will again."

West Coast colorist Billy Gabor has relocated to New York and joins colorists Victor Mulholland and John Bonta. Gabor's recent commercial projects include Nike's "Play" campaign directed by Gorgeous Films' Frank Budgen and Tom Carty, and a series of Tylenol spots directed by Bob Giraldi out of Saatchi & Saatchi, New York.

At press time Sonnenfeld acknowledged that there would be additional hires in the New Year but was not at liberty to disclose names.