Local Association Connects Producers, Businesses

By Keith Davis

For many local media producers, it all began more than 20 years ago, in the age of huge rock bands, giant media events and a blossoming world of digital media technology. Some of them went into the music business, some into graphic production, some into broadcast media, and a few learned how to make their first computers do more than play games. They were media fans who wanted to produce bigger-than-life art.
During the 90's, they learned to tone it down, settle down, develop some angst, and hide their talent in a Spokane that moved slower than the rest of the world... or else do all of their work outside the region.
This century, however, things are different - there is an energy that harkens to that era of big art again, but many of Spokane's most talented artists, musicians, and media producers are still doing most of their work outside the region.
In an economy struggling to regain its footing after war and stock market crashes, a group of regional media producers have banded together to remind Eastern Washington business that the talent is here; that world class artists and producers live and work in THIS area, too!

Founded by local media technology expert, Dave McClave, Independent Media Professionals seeks to unite regional businesses with the amazing local production community. Many businesses who need marketing or communications media production, and want the high-end production values they see from national corporations are going outside the area, while they could be getting world-class production right here. Many also believe the cost is too high, and fail to even check rates.

Independent Media Professionals, or iMpro, is changing perceptions of both clients and producers; introducing regional producers to a world of local clients who really appreciate higher production values and the speed with which local independents can turn out product, while convincing local businesses that not only can they afford high-end production, they can get it right here!

This is not a story about new technology that will create thousands of jobs, or save hundreds of lives, but it is about KEEPING our talented musicians, artists, producers and actors in our region. It's about uniting two communities who should have never separated, and it's about enriching our region's self image.

iMpro operates as a partnership, with a contracted association of dozens of local producers who have been creating world-class media for a long time - it's time for them to reconnect with the local community, and it's time for new talent in the region to learn that they don't have to go to L.A. or N.Y. to make a splash in their field, or to even make a living in their field.

Submit Article