About Us

Background
Management Team
Staff

BACKGROUND

Louisiana Media Services is a full-service post-production company. The idea for the company began with a conversation between long-time collaborators Nick Thurlow (Sonic Magic CEO) and Jordan Kessler (Nu Image Post-Production V.P.). Both were en route to investigate opportunities for new post-production facilities in Louisiana. The decision to collaborate on the construction of a top tier post-production facility in Baton Rouge seemed a natural opportunity.

Being based in Louisiana enables our clients to take advantage of the state's aggressive tax credit program. Louisiana's program is one of the most competitive in the United States and offers the film industry financial incentives and flexibility, as the tax credits are transferable. This program can help producers save up to 35% on post-production simply by having their work performed in Louisiana.

The lack of a large-scale post-production facility in Louisiana was both an indicator of larger trends and an opportunity. Film production in Louisiana has grown tremendously in recent years and the future holds even greater opportunity for the state and the film industry. Louisiana is moving beyond come-and-go production, and LMS's investment is an indicator of our confidence in the direction and stability of the market. More insightful tax incentives, entrepreneurial activity, and aggressive efforts to incite Louisiana's business development and infrastructure investment are creating an exciting environment for the entertainment industry.

LMS can support your project through the entire post-production phase. Our primary focus is facilitating post-production for film and television. However, because of our reputation and experience in Los Angeles and Louisiana, we also offer production services through our sister company LAMP, Louisiana Media Productions, to clients who need professional production support. While LMS is a young entity, the partners and their staff have extensive experience in production and post-production. We continue to grow with our business opportunities and train up a strong local workforce.

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MANAGEMENT TEAM

The core management team at LMS includes executives with successful backgrounds in the film and banking industries, as well as experience with start-up operations.

Jerry Gilbert, President

Jerry Gilbert comes from a broad background in sound and film. From an early music career performing with symphony orchestras to mastering CDs such as Pink Floyd's “The Wall”, John Coltrane's “Blue Train”, and The Who's “Tommy”, to setting up studios in Moscow for MCA/Universal during the fall of the Soviet empire, Jerry has constantly searched out opportunities to expand on his interests. An avid film buff, Jerry started in sound for film by running studios for Alan Ett and began mixing films while running Ground Control Studios. Founding Sonic Magic in order to further his creative aspirations, as a mixer and supervising sound editor Jerry has contributed to over 100 films, including Saw, Brick, Narc, Thumbsucker, Who Killed the Electric Car, Zodiac, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, See No Evil, Turistas, and Conversations with God, as well as the TV show Robot Chicken.

Moving to Baton Rouge in the Spring of 2007 to co-found LMS with Jordan Kessler and Nick Thurlow, Jerry has overseen postproduction for films such as A Good Man is Hard to Find, Way of War and Mama, I Want to Sing!, while still supervising editorial and/or mixing features including Cleaner, Blonde Ambition, My Mom's New Boyfriend, and War, Inc.

Jordan Kessler, CEO

Former VP of Post-Production at Nu Image, Jordan has move than 40 major film credits and recently completed post on nationwide releases, including Wicker Man and Academy Award nominated, The Black Dahlia. He dove headlong into the film business in Louisiana and was involved in more than 20 films during their production and/or post-production phase during his first year in Baton Rouge.

Nick Thurlow, CFO

Joining Sonic Magic in September 2002, Nick put the next stage of development into motion for the company. Since that point, the company has seen a growth rate of 50% per year for the four years following and has since been named CFO. Prior to his move to the film industry Nick spent twelve years in investment banking in London, Africa and New York. While continuing his success with Sonic Magic and Upload Films in Los Angeles, he is guiding LMS and her sister company LAMP into new territory in Louisiana.

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STAFF