Filmwerks, powering high-profile events, establishes ‘brick-and-mortar’ Gallatin location – Tennessean
A power and specialty structures provider for high-profile events — including the PGA tour, NFL games, UFC fights, political events and concerts for hundreds of big-name artists — is establishing its first brick-and-mortar structure in Middle Tennessee.
Filmwerks International Inc. works in the film, television broadcast and live events industries, providing power, structures, climate control, lighting and other needs to its clients.
The company leased a 27,000-square-foot building on Runway Court in Gallatin, which will provide distribution, maintenance and service needs in the Midwest.
Filmwerks staff has provided thousands of hours of live broadcast, its website states, noting the Super Bowl, the U.S. Open, NCAA Final Court, presidential elections and New York Fashion Week, among others. Staff has also powered concert industry events, including for the Zach Brown Band, Katy Perry, One Direction, Prince, Justin Timberlake, Kenny Chesney and more.
“We have a lot of great relationships in Nashville,” Vice President of Operations Aaron Frye said, adding that the company has worked “with a lot of local people” in Nashville previously, including to store equipment.
CEO Michael Satrazemis noted Filmwerks’ previous work with Nashville’s annual CMA Fest, held in June and later airing on ABC. The company also works on local sporting events, including hockey, among others.
Filmwerks has also partnered with other television broadcast networks including CBS, Turner, ESPN, Fox and NBC, according to its website.
“(We’ve) grown so much,” that it called for a need for a more central facility, Satrazemis said. The Nashville area was a “tremendous advantage to us” and “conducive to entertainment.”
Satrazemis explained that when searching the Nashville area for a new location, Gallatin made sense “economically” and they “fell in love with that whole area” driving around. It was also a plus to be near the Sumner County Regional Airport and maintain a working relationship between the Gallatin facility and its North Carolina base.
Filmwerks also recently constructed a building in New York, Frye said.
Filmwerks partners in production in North Carolina, New York, California, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Illinois and Nevada, according to its website. The company “boasts the most advanced and reliable entertainment equipment available,” with its power and technicians.
Satrazemis said officials expect job opportunities in technical, electric and mechanic roles to work on equipment.
Frye said the company is currently accepting applications for mechanic positions. They also anticipate the need for more support and administrative staff at some point and are “always” looking for drivers and technicians.
Those interested in applying can visit Filmwerks’ website for more information, he said.
Satrazemis said moving forward, officials hope to develop a “broadcast hub” in addition to serving the company’s own needs at the Gallatin facility. He also noted the property adjacent to the building would accommodate future growth as needed.
“(There’s) no telling where it could go,” he said.
Kelly Fisher can be reached at KPFisher@gannett.com, 615-801-3866 or on Twitter at @KellyPFisher.
Published 4:31 PM EDT Oct 1, 2019
