Vintage

Memphis Business Journal          August 8 – 12, 1994   Tale of the Tape Tells Cities’ Strengths, Histories By Kerissa Hollis  

Cole Smith Hopes City Productions Can Tap Into Education, Tourism Markets  

In traveling from cit to city, Cole Smith noticed a certain void in his journeys.  When he arrived in a city he knew little about , he found he had trouble locating detailed information about the city or area.  That sent him to his local library, where he did research and discovered there was no handy source of information of U.S. cities.  That realization led to the birth of Smith’s company, City Productions, Inc.  Smith began working on the concept for his company back in 1990, and the business was incorporated in 1992.  Located Downtown, City productions creates videotaped profiles of cities around the country and markets them to Chambers of Commerce, schools and libraries.  The first city represented in a City Productions video was (no surprise) Memphis;  the tape was released in March of last year.  The video is oriented toward tourism, focusing on such local attractions as Graceland and Beale Street. 

Cole says after the Memphis video came out, he started working on educational videos about state capitals. “It kind of propelled us into a different mold, rediscovering cities form more of a historic standpoint,” says Smith.  In addition to the Memphis video, the company has produced three other tapes, on Nashville;  Little Rock and Hot Springs, Ark.; and Branson, Mo.  The tapes run about 45 minutes to an hour.  “We start out with the early development of the city, but we end up with some touristy things to do,” he says.  Currently, City Productions is in the midst of completing a video about Atlanta and a four-tape series on the 50 state capital cities.  It really is an educational tool.  We’re finding that more and more schools are picking it up,”  he says of the series.  “We’re primarily focusing on education, and we’ll be focusing more and more on education.”

In addition to the four-tape series, Smith says he intends to produce an individual tape about each capital city. Videos about state capitals will include information about the state flag and state bird.  The tapes retail for $19.95 each.  “We’re looking at volume versus trying to sell a few for large amounts,  says Smith.  He says convention and visitors bureaus and Chambers of Commerce in the various cities have been receptive to having videos made. Some cities have even requested that City Productions make an abbreviated version of his tape for use as tourism and development aids.  The company is currently making six additional videos for Atlanta.  Smith sees his business growing in the realm of tourism as well as education, and he says the two are intertwined.

“That’s the biggest adversity we’ve had to overcome.  People say, “that’s a travel tape.’  It’s not just a travel tape.  It’s a travel educational tape,”  Smith says.  “If we can educate young people and have information in libraries, it will magnify tourism.”

Besides finding heir way into schools and libraries, City Productions tapes are sold at bookstores, museums and tourist attractions.

Smith says he has had trouble convincing buyers that consumers will purchase the tapes. “We’re hoping, as time goes on, people will see there is a consumer side to it,” he says.  

For charting future growth, he says he is looking to libraries and schools for some guidance as to what they need.

On the agenda for things to come are cities in the Southwest.  Smith is also planning to do a second video on Memphis, focusing on the historical aspects of the city. 

Smith says he is also talking with broadcasting syndicates about getting television stations to pick up programming.  Long-range plans include establishing a television network.  “My ultimate goal from City Productions is to have a network for travel and educational programs, “ he says. International work is also a possibility down the line for Smith, but for right now, he says he still has several U.S. cities to cover first.