It seems like a lot of great things begin in garages. Apple started in a garage. So did Google, and HP. Many of my favorite bands also first rocked it out in their garage. With the sheer number of garage success stories (have you ever heard of a company starting in a garage and not making it?) it's no wonder John Munro wants to start a studio in his.

Studio 380 in Nevada City, California (weird huh) is poised to become a veritable media mecca for video, photography, and other creative projects. Set to open next month, the 1600 square foot space (more a commercial garage really) features a green screen, Sony digital cameras (the article didn't say which) and both Mac and PC editing bays. The studio will also feature a full compliment of lights, and miscellaneous equipment.

Studio 380 is a good example of a growing trend in the production biz. When I was younger, Salt Lake City (my hometown) really only had 3 places capable of doing television quality production work. Now, all three have disbanded, and their former employees have branched out to form a dozen smaller companies. These days, television quality production can happen in a garage or basement. The lower cost of equipment, cameras, and editing suites make it affordable for upstart studios to become a reality. These new smaller shops can operate more affordably, and pass those savings on to their client.

Don't get me wrong, there will always be a place for big studio work. But many production houses tend to adopt a "smaller is better" mentality, and Studio 380 is a fine example of that. Now they just need someone to design them a website.

Click READ for a link to the Union News article.