Production Company Looks To Expand Studio's Client Base With Added Services and Technology

Bret Stern Production, the Norwalk-based entertainment production company led by filmmaker Bret Stern, has acquired SoNo Studios, Southern Connecticut’s largest full-service state-of-the art sound stage and TV studio. The stage features full lighting grids, camera packages (RED, Sony XD, Canon, and others) and production offices. The stage is also home to a complete grip truck for location shoots, and its new post suites feature latest versions of Final Cut Pro, Adobe Creative Suite, Maya, Pro Tools, Lightwave and other must-have creative tools.
‘’I had been using the stage for years when it was known as Stage 18, and always felt that it was an undervalued production resource, especially when you consider Connecticut’s generous 30% tax break for filmmakers,” Stern says. ‘’When the opportunity came up to buy the space I jumped at the chance to remake it into a state-of-the-art facility comparable in every respect to the mid-sized production facilities in New York City.”

Located less than an hour by car or train from New York City, the emergence of Sono Studios coincides with the closure of several New York-based production spaces such as Sony Studios and Horvath Studios. According to Stern, that dearth of quality mid-sized production facilities in New York City, as well as the economy in general, has lead more producers to look outside the five boroughs for production resources.

SoNo’s recent clients include Louie, the new show staring comic Louis C.K. on FX Network; “dLife,” a weekly show on CNBC; and a series of webisodes for Yellow Tail wine via Wilton, CT-based ad agency The Ryan Partnership.

‘’One of the things that makes SoNo special is the many options we offer clients,” Stern adds. ‘’If they have their own talent and gear and just need a professional studio to shoot or production offices to work out of, we can do that. If they need specific gear or crews or post-production talent, we can do that too. We’re completely adaptable to whatever the client needs.”

The heart of SoNo Studios consists of a 4,000 square foot sound stage with a three-wall cyclorama and 16-foot high ceilings (big enough to drive a car onto) that’s perfect for feature films, TV or advertising, especially greenscreen shoots and virtual sets. The stage also features a full lighting grid and board with dimmer packs and catwalk, silent AC/heat and a loading dock/drive-in door access. Other amenities include new production offices, client lounge, dressing rooms and a working kitchen.

For more information: www.sonostudios.com; www.bsppro.com.