Linas Jodwalis’ new design-driven studio, Almost Gold, is striking gold with its collaboration with two well-established visual media experts, and will open its doors (literally) by Dec. 1.
Almost Gold’s 2,200-sq. ft. office at 1821 W. Hubbard, in the expanding Fulton Industrial Corridor, is in the final stages of a build-out and remodeling that Jodwalis is mostly handling himself.
“I learned how to do this from a long line of do-it-yourselfers, so I’m used to the work,” he says, of his knocking out of walls, dry walling, refinishing the oak and cement floors and installing the kitchen.
Design director Jodwalis has teamed with director Matt Egan and executive producer Tom Leonard to deliver “motion graphics, visual effects, live action for advertising and entertainment, from concept-to-completion, for agencies and clients direct,” he says.
Currently, Almost Gold has two projects in production. “One is a national spot and the other is a music video for a famous musician,” he says.
Jodwalis and Egan, whose careers have been intertwined for a decade, joined forces in July, 2014 to create and produce campaigns for national Belk retail stores. Executive producer Tom Leonard, who brings decades of successful business and strategy to the company, teamed up with them this past July.
Jodwalis and Egan first worked together at Digital Kitchen where Lodwalis was director of 3D and Egan an editor. They also knew Leonard from DK. Later, Egan was editing at Filmworkers Club while Lodwalis was art director/3D head at Filmworkers’ division Vitamin Pictures.
Egan began his career at Cutters as an editor, went to DK and now-defunct Foundation Content, where Jodwalis’ design talents were also being utilized. Among Egan’s credits are spots for Target, Jim Beam, Kellogg’s, Nintendo and POM Wonderful.
When Egan and Lodwalis were at Filmworkers, they produced a trailer “Chicago Fire/PD” writer/producer Derek Haas’ book, “The Right Hand.”
Over the years, Lodwalis and Leonard’s paths crossed “and we always maintained our relationship,” says Lodwalis. “Tom’s years of specialized visual media strategy and business “makes him the perfect business backbone for the company.”
When the new office is completed by Dec. 1, Almost Gold will be hiring staff. “We’ll be looking for skilled 3D artists, compositors and new AfterEffects Mia designers,” Lodwalis says.
