Diversified agency APA, which represents both talent and production, has expanded its footprint with the launch of a new office in London, and simultaneously announced the representation of the Pinewood Studios Group as an exclusive client.
Physical production veteran Andy Weltman has signed on as managing director of the agency’s new digs, located in the Soho district.
A 30-year physical production veteran and former exec VP of Pinewood International, Weltman has worked with such filmmakers as Peter Weir, Wolfgang Petersen and Steven Spielberg.
“The production business has virtually exploded since we first launched the [below-the-line] division two years ago,” says APA president/CEO Jim Gosnell. “Our new international office in London is a natural evolution of this growth — one that not only will address physical production, but our overall business worldwide. I’m thrilled to have someone as seasoned, as well-respected and as plugged in as Andy at the helm as we meet the needs of our clients.”
“Having spent the better part of my career representing the production interests of both British and U.S. film companies, I’m excited to be heading up APA’s International division,” says Weltman. “This new chapter enables me to help bridge the gap between Hollywood and the U.K. from the other side of the Pond.”
At Pinewood, Weltman ran the studio’s U.S. operation and promoted its international facilities in London, Atlanta, Toronto, Berlin, The Dominican Republic and Malaysia. Prior to that, he was EVP of the British Film Commission.
Based in Los Angeles, APA also has offices in New York and Nashville.
Matt Birch, senior VP and the agency’s co-head of physical production, stresses that opening the London office is an organic expansion for APA. “This isn’t just putting our sign on another agency,” he says. “It’s a real office with APA employees. We’ll be recruiting more agents in the next few months. Our ultimate goal is to rep all categories, including talent, out of all of our offices.”
Nick Smith, commercial director at Pinewood comments, “Having worked with Andy over the past few years, I am delighted to be able to continue our association via APA. Our clients are seeking solutions to the challenges of tax-efficient location filming, and Pinewood in co-operation with APA aims to offer them a pan-European solution.”
APA reps several studios, production service companies and soundstages around the world, including Cinecittà Studios in Rome, Truenorth in Iceland and Norway, and Serbia’s Work in Progress.
Over the years, Pinewood has been the U.K. home to several tentpole productions, including the James Bond films, and the “Superman,” “Avengers,” “Star Wars,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchises,
Pictured above: Andy Weltman in APA’s Soho office in London
