Julia Weichinger is the GPN’s General Manager and Owner. For the past years she has worked very closely with leading production houses in London, Berlin, Hamburg and Paris, connecting their producers with independent service production companies all around the world. As the Global Production Network goes tabletop, we ask Julia about some behind the scenes of this decision and the key values behind the whole network.
Jakub Laskus: What is GPN? How does it work and operate?
Julia Weichinger: The idea of GPN is to make our client’s life easier. If a producer needs to shoot abroad, in a country he has never been in before, GPN is there to assist with a contact. GPN provides a safety net for our clients, getting together the best people from around the globe for their next production. We are every client’s expanded production arm.
At GPN, we provide a comprehensive network that simplifies the process of fulfilling various needs. Each company that we represent has a proven track record of satisfied customers, which demonstrates our deep knowledge of them. Although the companies within our network may compete, we believe that we can all benefit from stronger relationships. We understand that our clients may have specific loyalties, and we value and respect those relationships. In fact, we love working with loyal clients because the longer we collaborate, the smoother the process becomes. Even when faced with high pressure situations, our established relationships ensure that we know each other well. Ultimately, we strive to bring this collaborative and supportive approach to the market.
A few weeks ago, we expanded our network by partnering with the top-notch tabletop studios globally, aiming to enhance our offerings in this field.
GPN was established two decades ago, primarily catering to the American market. I joined the team 11 years ago, and since then, I have come to realize that clients’ needs and preferences vary across continents. Therefore, we also perceive ourselves as cultural translators to bridge the gap and cater to the diverse requirements of our clients.
Jakub: If I could clarify one thing, what do you mean by clients? Are you thinking about agencies, marketers, or both?
Julia: We serve a diverse range of clients who seek our expertise and dependability. These clients include production houses, agencies, clients directly, TV stations, and long-format productions.
When a producer is shooting in a new country for the first time, they may feel unsure about the best course of action. They can reach out to their colleagues for advice, but if they need to shoot in a place like Egypt, not everyone may have current experience or knowledge. While one can search online, the plethora of adverts can be overwhelming. In such cases, our clients can contact us and ask, “Julia, who is your partner in Egypt?” I can provide them with an introduction to the best-suited company that matches their requirements. I can also provide information about their expertise, client history, and other relevant details.
This approach can save our clients a significant amount of time and money that they would have spent on extensive research. By providing a quick and effective solution, our clients have access to the best studios and production houses and do not need to invest their own efforts in researching.
Jakub: Ok, yeah, that makes sense. Security is a necessity from the client’s perspective. What was the intention behind bringing tabletop studios to the group?
Julia: There are two points. One was the fascination of tabletop itself, because it’s such an interesting topic that you can find everywhere. You have no idea what’s actually behind, but when you get a look, it’s a whole new world opening up. It’s really very mouthwatering, you know? If you open up a showreel… I would like to take a bath in that! Really, I’m serious! I can smell it. But, yeah, you really create emotions, you know? And to really create emotions is so thrilling.