Stockholm production house EPA International floored friends and foes alike with the announcement they would be ceasing operations as of August 31, 2002. Internal disagreements were blamed for splitting up the company founded by Henrik Ihre, Johan Rheborg, Henrik Lagercrantz, Axel Laubscher and Calle Åstrand. Meanwhile Stockholm post house Meka-niken has ceased operations for the summer to regroup following the departure of manager/editor Peter Törnestam to rival Stockholm post operation Chimney Pot.

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On a brighter note, several top Finnish agency minds have joined forces to create Bob Helsinki, described as an all terrain communications agency. The new shingle is a salute to both Finnish agency naming traditions and thoughtful Bobs Marley and Dylan. Marko Parkkinen left his gig as MD of Euro RSCG Helsinki to join with former SEK & Grey creative and strategic SVP Jukka Kurtilla and former Hasan & Partners creatives Kari Eilola, Anu Igoni, Jon Granstrom and Petri Pesonen to form Bob Helsinki. Officially launched as of May 30, 2002, Bob Helsinki has already announced its first clients: Vianor, the largest tire chain in the Nordic market and Nokian tires for the Scandinavian, Russian and elements of the German market.

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A number of new presences have emerged on the Los Angeles post-production scene. Spot Welders has opened Fresh, a Venice- based editorial company, with former Spot Welder editors Meagan Bee, Ben Darling and Bipasha Shom and executive producer Tommy Murov on staff. In turn, Venice's Cutting Room launched Room, a VFX, editorial and post company. Room is made up of Italian-born executive creative director Flavio Campagna, director/TV consultant Anastasia Pappas, creative directors/designers TJ Webber and Ladzarus, senior producer Sabine Mance, producer Jill Heinrich and founder/director Victor Ginzburg. Meanwhile, Santa Monica's Red Car has announced a strategic alliance with Hollywood-based music video and feature specialized Park Place Editing.

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On the East Coast, New York's Nice Shoes launched Guava, a VFX and design boutique. Outfitted with inferno, two flames, smoke, 5D Cyborg and four Mac design stations, Guava's core talent include New Zealand-born VFX artist Amber Wilson (previously of New York's Liquid Light), Australian VFX artist Alex Catchpool and Mary Joy Catchpool (previously with Sydney's Tank) and former Nice Shoes VFX artists Tim Crean, Greg Cutler and Mark Wilhelm. Managing director Edward Patrowicz, executive producer Anne Skopas, and producer Robert Appelblatt also moved over from Nice Shoes.

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Former Neue Sentimental Films USA president Helene Rohr has founded Volksboutique, Venice, focusing on eclectic assignments including commercials, documentaries, art shows, parties, music production and promoting local creative projects. Volksboutique will also furnish production services for European clients in the US while initially repping three directors across Europe: Klaus Obermeyer (repped by Flying Tiger Films internationally except for Europe - see directors on top in May Issue of Boards), director/DP Chris Woods and production designer J.P. Flack.

Webfiles:
EPA> http://www.epa.se
Mekaniken> http://www.mekaniken.se
Fresh Edit>http://www.fresh-edit.com
Cutting Room> http://www.cuttingroom.com
Nice Shoes> http://www.niceshoes.com
Red Car> http://www.redcar.com
Volksboutique> http://www.volksboutique.com