As the tide of each year rolls out, the shape of the production community shifts. Companies open, merge and sometimes close. Here we take a month-by-month look at some of the major moves of '05.

January> London-based directors Jon Hollis and Stuart Douglas kicked off the New Year by opening Nice Shirt Films. The pair, both formerly of @radical.media, London lead the company along with managing director Richard Martin.

February> In the month of love, Santa Monica production companies 24:7 and Notorious Pictures came together to launch Notorious 24:7. The prodco is led by 24:7 executive producers Jay Boccia and Neale Ferguson, and executive producer Marc Smerling and head of sales and marketing Ezra Burke, both from Notorious.

May> Founders of London prodco Brave Films, Emily Bliss and Michelle Stapleton, parted ways in May and Bliss rebranded the company as Home. Roz Houchin was appointed executive producer to lead the director roster.

June> Shortly after, Stapleton launched her own commercial production company, Wanted Films, in London.

Meanwhile, Diane McArter, formerly of shuttered Santa Monica prodco Omaha Pictures, and James Studholme from London's Blink joined forces to form Furlined.

July> Director Michael Grasso and executive producer Fran Wall launched Santa Monica-based production company Snug. Grasso parted ways with Omaha's McArter, while Wall left her executive producer gig at Cielo Films.

Belgium-based production company Roses Are Blue opened in Venice Beach, managed by executive producers/partners Tom Weissferdt and Michael Sagol. Executive producer Bert Hamelinck continues to run the company's Belgian office.

Production company Lucky Elliot launched in London in July. Headed up by managing director Mark O'Sullivan, the company services advertising, film and branded content sectors.

August> In Toronto, along with head of sales Amanda Cohen, former newnewfilms executive producer Geoff Cornish launched Suneeva to represent directors such as Tom Kuntz, David McNamara, Barbara Kopple and Jacobs/Briere in Canada.

Creative director Mikon Van Gastel and executive producer Saffron Kenny launched A Very Small Office, a New York-based, design-driven live-action studio. With founders hailing from Imaginary Forces, AVSO specializes in developing brand strategy, brand storytelling, live action and design.

September> Several new companies popped up in September, including LA-based Savant, formed by Joby Barnhart and Jamie Miller, both former staffers at Smuggler and Villains.

After three years in partnership with Partizan in the London market, and one year operating out of Partizan's Notting Hill digs, New Zealand-based prodco The Sweet Shop opened its own London offices.

Also in September, Dina Mande, founder of director workshop Group101Spots, and executive producer Steve Gould, former freelance line producer, opened commercial production company Subliminal. In addition to the new company, Mande continues to run Group101Spots, which recently opened a New York chapter.