jumP LA Celebrates Turning 10
Award-winning bi-coastal creative editorial boutique, jumP, are celebrating 10 years since opening its LA office. Offering world-class editing and seamless vfx, jumP has carved out a reputation for consistently delivering powerful and visually inventive results across commercials, features, short films, music videos, and emerging media content.
The company first opened its doors in New York in 1997 and was set up by editors and industry stalwarts, Michael Saia and Barry Stilwell, through their ambition to create a fiercely talented shop with a leaner, boutique feel. jumP is now helmed by company Partners and Editors, Saia and Luis Moreno.
By 2009, jumP found itself increasingly working onsite in LA to meet the demands of its rapidly growing client base there. Making the decision to become bi-coastal that same year, it swapped hotels and temporary workspaces for a bespoke space with ample support and robust systems.
jumP has now successfully been operating bicoastally for the past 10 years under one strong offering. Despite initial warnings that ‘the streets of LA are littered with the carcasses of NY companies who tried to open shop’, jumP has grown into a strong team of 32 employees across its two offices. It counts top-tier brands, agencies, and directors amongst its collaborators including Maybelline, Dior, YouTube, Apple, and Lexus.
Reflecting on the company’s growth, partner and editor Michael Saia comments: “It’s been terrific. It feels, as it should, like one seamless company: NY and LA. We work together on projects; editors move between the offices and work on both coasts like each is home – exactly like our original vision. We knew that finding the right editors to staff the LA office would be our biggest challenge in setting up. While one original jumP LA editor – David Trachtenberg - is happily still with us, before long – just as in NY – some of our most prolific talent came up through the ranks. Erwin Fraterman was a messenger (perhaps the only messenger in LA without a car) and has now grown into one of the most inventive editors I know. Kristin Yawata started in client services and her development as an editor has been stunning. Thom Reimerink was an apprentice when we discovered his interest in VFX and has, with dazzling speed, become a VFX/flame artist for all of jumP LA’s work as well as much in NY. All in all, and with EP Therese Hunsberger at the centre of it all, the LA operation has never felt more solid and poised for the future.”
Partner and editor Luis Moreno comments: “It is a very happy moment for us to see jumP LA celebrate its tenth year. It has been a great learning experience to watch it grow. We would like for this team to continue building on its successes and maintain the quality of the work they have been able to achieve. We are committed to the craft of editing - that has been the key to our longevity. The editorial industry is constantly shifting. Our goal is to push ourselves to meet all of the new challenges head-on, with a lot of energy and creativity. Being nimble and adaptable is our focus and we are constantly experimenting with new technologies, new ways of working and pursuing more eclectic projects. As we look towards the next twenty years, we are excited for what lies ahead.”
Executive producer at jumP LA, Therese Hunsberger, comments: “When you work with such a close-knit group, such as ours at jumP LA, you feel the true strength of a team. This kind of receptive, community atmosphere is rather rare to find in such a well-established company, and even more so to the extent in which jumP takes care of its employees. Michael and Luis are very gracious with promoting from within and ensuring a supportive work environment. We make many decisions as a collective group and truly work as a team on all projects. Beyond that, when clients walk through the door, they are greeted with that sense of family and welcomed into our group. I think that’s a huge factor in why we see so many of the same faces walk through our doors time and time again.”
Editor Erwin Fraterman comments: “Our LA team has expanded in the best ways over the past year. In addition to Therese as EP, we’ve bolstered our team with editor Katie Cali, lead assistant editor Roy Herbert and two apprentice editors, Jillian Sarao and Anja Boltz. The NY and LA offices are working more seamlessly than ever. This joint process has led to more than just a streamlined workflow; it feels like the jumP family has expanded and we have grown closer as a community between the two offices.”
