+ New York has a new visual FX company with the launch of Suspect, formed by exec producer Rob Appleblatt and visual effects designer Tim Crean - two members of the team that launched Guava last summer. Suspect opens its doors with spot work for Miller Lite, Smirnoff and Jolly Rancher.

+ Jonathan Smalheiser opened Manhattan-based editorial shop ChicKonKey. A former principal of New York's 3 Fingered Louie, Smalheiser recruited executive producer Robin Hall, andeditors Mike Douglas and Charlie Cusumano. Hall spent over 10 years at Crew Cuts, whileDouglas joins from MacKenzie Cutler and Cusumano comes on board from Mad River Post.

+ Christopher Willoughby and Leah Welsh - former principals of Santa Monica editorial, post and design house ARTiFACT - launched a Santa Ana/Santa Monica-based creative editorial and design company, Space Division. The company's clients include Kohl's, Olympus, Lincoln/Mercury and Land Rover.

+ New York startup Sound Music Productions has opened, specializing in composing music for TV commercials and film. Its primary target isagencies, says president Eric Berkowitz. SMP formally announced its line-up of 'name' musicians/composers including Danny Weinkauf of They Might Be Giants.

+ Barcelona-based production company The Lift has set up a new feature film department. Chairman Pablo Cruz says the department is intended to give the people who work with The Lift - from directors to agency folk to crewmembers - an opportunity to get into features.

+ Megatrax Production Music, which produces music for film, television, advertising and multimedia, has restructured itself into three clearly defined new divisions: Megatrax for Film & TV, Megatrax for Broadcast, and Megatrax for
A/V.