Meet the Sponsors of the LBB & Friends Beach 2023: GPN

For our company snapshot piece, we want to create a profile that pinpoints exactly what makes your company unique right now in 2023. We want to know about the culture and the competitive edge that you bring as well as finding out how the company has evolved over the past couple of years as new tech and changes in the market have disrupted the industry.

Q> When and why was your company founded?

GPN was founded in January of 2003. The intent being to provide production companies with an international network of production service companies that have proven histories of solid production experience and reputations for reliability, partnership, accountability and professionalism. At our essence is the ability to provide our clients with a ‘safety net’ when producing projects globally.

Q> Give us an elevator pitch for your company!

GPN represents a network of production service companies and tabletop studios that extends into over 100+ countries. All of whom have been vetted and are known for the quality of their work and collaboration.

Q> What sets your company apart from others in the industry.

GPN was the first company of its kind to seek out, and represent, the most credible and accomplished service companies available in each of the countries we access.

Q> How big is your team and where are your key locations?

GPN has sales personnel in the US, Europe and Asia, along with a great marketing and art direction team . Our key sales efforts are based in the US and Europe.

Q> How would you describe your company culture?

Our culture and philosophy is simple and straight forward. Each company/country within the GPN network is responsible/accountable to the ‘whole’. As a result our clients are secure in knowing that the GPN brand, and network, provide quality and consistency wherever they may need to travel globally.

Q> Who are some of the key members of your team that our readers should know?

Harry Tracosas / Founder and Julia Weichinger / General Manager are the two key players within GPN. Both have long and credible reputations within the international production community spanning over 60 years combined.

Q> How do you foster creativity within your team?

Each person within the core make-up of GPN has a separate and equal voice and is encouraged to express their thoughts and opinions openly. Given the range of ages, experiences – professionally and personally, and culturally, it’s imperative that collaboration and opinions be open and encouraged.

Q> How does your company address sustainability, and diversity and Inclusion internally?

We are members of GreenTheBid and AdGreen .

The companies we represent prioritize sustainability by reducing environmental impact and preserving resources. We collaborate with like-minded companies to minimize pollution, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions. Our goal is carbon neutrality, achieved by partnering with conscious and responsible organizations worldwide. Our mission is to reverse climate change and create a safe ecosystem for future generations. Our partner, Shady of The Talkies in Egypt, was recently nominated as a green crew hero.

Our network reaches out into over 100 countries.

We represent nearly 60 companies worldwide, of every size, including many women-owned businesses, all colors of skin are represented in our cooperative, every type of religion, and endless languages - yet we are one, each standing for the other, that's what makes us so unique and strong, and this is how our clientele benefits from us.

Q> What are some of the most interesting projects that your company has worked on in the past year?

Land Rover – Above and Beyond

Production Service Company: The Talkies - Morocco

Siemens – Curiositiy

Production Service Company: Mamma Team Spain

BMW KM3 – Life In The Fast Lane

Production Service Company: Nafta, Estonia

KFC – Origins - Croustillant

Production Service Company: The Film Place, Poland

Q> What are some of the biggest challenges that your company has faced?

This may be obvious, and I am sure many will agree, Covid was a huge 2+ year challenge. We managed to push through and survive but it got ugly for a while. Then, on the heels of Covid came the Ukranian-Russian war which still effects the conversation with some clients who are still concerned about producing in Eastern Europe

Q> What are some of the most important lessons that you have learned while running your company?

Having owned and operated a production service company in Miami from 1987 thru 1998, Walk On Water Productions, I learned then, and since then with GPN, that each and every client, large or small, large budgets or small, a repeat client or new one, that each and every day is a new beginning. GPN begins every day as it is our first.

Q> How do you ensure that your company stays competitive in 2023?

We simply take no one and nothing for granted. We keep our eyes and ears open and we do not worry about what the competition is doing. We are true to the core beliefs with which we started with in 2003. And have been maintained for the last 20 years.

Q> What are some of the most exciting new developments that have taken place at your company recently?

Julia Weichinger has taken over as GM of GPN as of January 2023. I am still involved with clients on a daily basis and have on going participation with Julia, the entirety of the network, and the GPN core team, but Julia is the one bringing in new life and future opportunities.  

Q> What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the advertising industry in 2023?

There are and there will be always new challenges to take. And so we will be able to give proof again of how incredibly flexible we can operate, even and especially when we are under high pressure! This is what makes us film people different from other industries. 2023 started very well for us, more content is getting produced globally than ever and GPN is the extended production arm delivering high class services to every producer.

Q> Looking forward, what are your key goals and ambitions for the year ahead?

We want to continue to make life easier for our clientele, while at the same time finding new ways to simplify the workflow to speed up.