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The Company: Studio West Management
Headquarters: Hot Springs, South Dakota
Website: Click Here
Myspace: Click Here
PK Productions/Myspace: Click Here
Phone: 605-745-5008
Email:
As Creative Director and Principal for Studio West Management, Karla LaRive brings over 15 years of experience in entertainment management in theatre, live events and concert promotions to the Black Hills region. Ms. LaRive began her career working off-Broadway as a production manager in New York City, eventually returning to Los Angeles to produce shows for the Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe markets.
Since 2004, Studio West Management has been responsible for bringing cable television projects, Investigating History Who Killed Crazy Horse for Bill Kurtis Productions (History Channel); Cowboys/Wild Mustangs featuring Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary Founder, Dayton O. Hyde (Outdoor Channel); and Comanche Warriors for Digital Ranch Productions which premiered on the History Channel November 27, 2005 which she also served as location coordinator.
Additionally, Ms. LaRive produced the gala premiere of Hidalgo at the Historical Hot Springs Theater on March 5, 2004, the First Annual Hot Springs Film Festival Classic Biker Movies in August 2004, the Black Hills premiere of Napoleon Dynamite by producer and Edgemont native, Sean Covel, and was a Presenter/Moderator at the South Dakota Festival of Books screening of Napoleon Dynamite with producer Mr. Covel in September 2005.
As a Media Relations Liaison to the BLACK HILLS WILD HORSE SANCTUARY and FORD MOTOR, Studio West Management staged the website launch in May 2005 at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary for Save the Mustangs in conjunction with Ford Motor Company, Take Pride America, Bureau of Land Management, Dayton O. Hyde and actress/animal advocate Stephanie Powers. www.savethemustangs.org. And ran the publicity campaign for PASTURES OF BEYOND, Arcade Publishing Western Regional Book Signing Tour with author, Dayton O. Hyde.
Project: "Comanche Warriors"
Producer: Digital Ranch Productions, Los Angeles
Network: History Channel
SD Locations: Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
and 777 Bison Ranch
Shoot Dates: October 4-7, 2005
Air Date: November 27, 2005
www.digitalranch.tv
Project: "Save the Mustangs" Web Launch
with actress Stephanie Powers
Producers: Ford Motor Company,
Take Pride America
and the Bureau of Land Management
SD Locations: Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
Shoot Date: May 19, 2005
www.savethemustangs.org
Project: "Cowboys!"
Producer: BEI, Inc. Productions, Los Angeles
Network: Outdoor Channel
SD Locations: Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
Shoot Dates: October 6-7, 2004
Air Dates: February 2005, May 2005
www.cowboystv.com
Project: "Who Killed Crazy Horse?"
Producer: Bill Kurtis Productions, Chicago
Network: History Channel
SD Locations: Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
Shoot Date: September 23, 2004
Air Date: January 2005
www.historychannel.com |
| Interview By: Larry Knudsen |
Tell us about yourself?
My maternal family was from North Carolina and comes from a background of Eastern Cherokee, Scots-Irish and English heritage, and my paternal family were Ashkenazi Eastern European Jews that immigrated to the United States in 1948.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I am the oldest of four daughters. My parents had met in college while attending theatre classes, married and moved to Southern California in the late 50's.
My husband , a union theatrical stagehand (roadie) and I make our home the southern Black Hills of South Dakota where we are raising our active 10 year old.
Tell us about Studio West Management?
Studio West Management began as an idea in 2004 at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. There I began to work closely with National, State and Regional production companies and, many regional Native and Non-Native performers. As media and location representative at the Sanctuary, I helped bring film and television projects to the 11,000 acre ranch an already established film location. Film-makers enjoy the natural beauty and large wild mustang conservation area backdrops for their projects. The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is located near Hot Springs, in the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota. www.wildmustangs.com,
Some of the projects shot on location at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary include; HIDALGO/Disney Pictures, CRAZY HORSE/TNT Movie, COMANCHE WARRIOR/The History Channel, WHO KILLED CRAZY HORSE/The History Channel, COWBOYS | Wild Mustangs/The Outdoor Channel, NHK Japan Public Broadcasting and, INTO THE WILD the 2006 film directed and screenplay by Oscar winning actor, Sean Penn, Paramount/Vantage Road Pictures. The film sequence shot at sunset with Emile Hirsh features the mustangs.
In 2005, we formally became Studio West Management, an indigenous management representation and public relations office and began offering services to the television, film and music industry which include location scout, casting services, management representation and public relations. Studio West Management is a subsidiary of PK Productions, LLC, South Dakota.
What brought your attention to the Black Hills, what first drew you to them?
My husband's roots are from the Black Hills and in 2001 we purchased a home that had been in his grandparent's for 55 years. It has been a great place to raise our child. Today, I am continually inspired by the beauty of the Paha Sapa and its people.
What methods to you use to bring production companies to the Hills?
Much of what we do now is based on our accessibility to market and promote our services through the Internet. I am listed at many databases and have my own website to help cross promote with other location scouts and producers. www.studiowestmanagement.com
Some of the websites I use are: www.FilmSD.Com, www.FilmBlackHills.Com, www.Myspace.com/, www.imdb.com, and many more.
Are their financial or any other initiatives to bring production to South Dakota?
Yes, South Dakota has a Film Tax Incentive which was passed in 2006 by Governor Michael Rounds. We are a right-to-work State and there are no new general permits required. However, it is customary to submit a letter of request for film permit usage on Tribal Lands. The State offers Location Scouting and no corporate or personal income tax. For more go to: http://www.filmsd.com/filming/default.aspx?id=16
Are you originally from Las Vegas?
No, I an originally from LA. But, in the 1990's I worked for a New York theatrical producers based in Los Angeles We would rehearse and travel full size Broadway theatrical musicals to and from Las Vegas and other gaming venues. I spent a lot of time in Las Vegas.
When did you first pursue your career in New York?
My first visit to New York was with my mother in 1978 and returned years later to pursue a stage industry career. My first job as a production manager at the Manhattan Punchline Theatre on Theatre Row West 42nd Street eventually led me an opportunity to work for General Managers on Broadway musicals and National touring companies. The office was located on the 38th floor of the Minskoff Tower Building in Times Square. This experience became a valuable one - it gave me the foundation and discipline I continue to use today in the industry.
You are also a talent management company; do you cast/staff productions locally?
Yes, I love casting and have had the opportunity to cast locally for principal and extras roles in films. I assist outside companies both administratively and creatively needing casting services for their projects. We have a rich pool of Native and Non-Native performers in our region and film-makers seek out this kind of cultural diversity.
What would you tell someone who would like to get into film would be the first steps?
Now days, the Internet gives many of us first time film-makers the ability to be seen quicker in a larger arena. But, I am a real believer of learning your craft. Whether it is directing, acting or operating the camera; learn your skill. If you live in an area that has production or film classes to offer, that's a great start. I began in college theatre and worked up slowly. And, like many, I never gave up on my dreams. |
