Work is Pleasure
Bearcage Productions is the largest full-service film, video, interactive and television production house in Canberra. In fact, the Company is larger than most of its competitors with a client list that includes almost every Commonwealth Government department and agency, industry organizations, multinational companies, charities and major advertising agencies.
Since starting business in 1989, Bearcage has won more than 50 national and international awards for its work in corporate production, television advertising, film and documentary making. In addition, the Company is a past winner of the Telstra/ACT Small Business of the Year Award. Since 2004 Bearcage has been growing at an average of thirty per cent per annum.
Despite this phenomenal success, company co-founder and managing director, Michael Tear says “I am most proud of our people”. The Company is a family of twenty diverse and talented professionals drawn together by a common bond – they love what they do; according to Tear, “everyone adds their passion, experience and skill to the work we do”.
A Unique Business Model
Bearcage works to a unique business model. Unlike most in the industry, the Company does not focus on a single aspect of production, offering instead a team of experts across a range of disciplines – producers, directors, broadcast designers, sound engineers, writers, animators and editors connecting as a group to bring a unique perspective to every project. “We all have the capacity to contribute across all aspects of the work,” general manager Nunzio Gambale says, “and our interplay is critical to getting the job done."
Bearcage’s way of working has evolved over many years, “it breeds creativity and a positive group of people,” producer Rebecca Mackey says, “from highly creative to highly structured; it’s a bizarre combination, but it works.” Because there is so much talent and so many viewpoints in one place, Bearcage is able to pick up nuances within each project, which helps to create a better end product. “People can express themselves within the group forum,” according to creative director Serge Ou, “working this way helps keep us fresh.”
In the distinctive Canberra market, with its unique mix of Commonwealth Government agencies, big business and local companies, Bearcage is a perfect fit. The Company’s integrated service provides quality solutions whatever the scale. Producer Doug Merriman makes the point that the Company “works to national standards, but with the local limitation of budget,” this, he believes, “makes us more innovative, but also keeps us disciplined. We do things in clever ways, such as starting our directors as editors, so that they shoot with editing in mind”. Because such innovations makes the process quicker and more economical, senior designer, Heather Cocquio believes “our clients get good value, they get six brains instead of one”.
Bearcage has a reputation for extending itself beyond the security of “core business”. For example, in redeveloping the National Museum of Australia’s rotating theatre, Circa, which dramatically emphasises the significance of objects, Bearcage is marrying its proven film production expertise with elements of theatrical and lighting design,. The Company also sponsors challenging and exciting projects, including working with the ACT Choreographic Centre to integrate film into its national annual performance, Quantum Leap.
The experiences gained from projects like these bring an even greater depth to Bearcage’s work; for sound designer Nick Munnings it means that “we give creativity the emphasis and focus is deserves”.
"We love what we do"
Such a diverse group of talented and motivated people collaborating so successfully for so long does not happen on its own. The Company has worked hard over the last eighteen years to develop a culture that supports such an approach, a culture underpinned by values that everyone respects – teamwork, communication, discipline, learning and excellence; to be “a culture that invites us to do and be the best we can be as a production outfit, not as individuals,” according to writer Michael Cove.
Bearcage Productions places a strong emphasis on communication and discipline. Every new employee undergoes special induction training, every day begins with a meeting to discuss work in progress, every project ends with a whole-of-team debrief. Goals and directions are set for the Company as a whole and, importantly, people work in a physical environment that has been specifically designed for their needs. “Things are set up so that we spend less time worrying about the system” notes finance manager, Wayne Brown “and more time focusing on the creative content”.
The Company aims to help its people to fulfil their creative aspirations and ambitions; there is a company-wide personal development program, with clear career path goals that are reviewed twice a year. Craft-specific training at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School is encouraged, and staff are able to pursue personal projects outside of Bearcage work. For example, writer Michael Cove’s play Troupers, was recently produced by the Sydney Theatre Company, with Barry Otto in the lead role.
It is clear to any observer that the Bearcage Team members enjoy working together because, offering support to and drawing inspiration from each other. Because of the diversity of the work, they all declare “we love what we do”.