Description: Media company covering film, TV and
integrated marketing solutions
Founders: David Collins, 37, and Michael Williams, 47
Location: Boston
http://www.scoutvision.com
Traveling Act: Though working as location managers on
big-budget films paid well, Collins and Williams grew tired of
living out of suitcases and hotels. The two (along with another
partner, who has since left) were inspired to find their own
projects, spawning their dictum "important stories well
told."
Beantown Biz: Started in 1994, Scout operated from the
guest room of a Boston bungalow as a location file company,
providing photos and information on specific locations. The
partners soon became a budgeting, scheduling, locations and crew
resource for films shooting on the East Coast.
Wives' Tales: The Queer Eye for the Straight
Guy concept was born at a Boston art gallery, where Collins
heard a wife loudly berating her husband. "She said, 'Why
can't you look like them?' pointing to three [stylish]
guys." The three men surrounded the husband and offered some
friendly, helpful advice on his appearance. Collins remarked to his
friends, "That was kind of like the queer eye for the straight
guy."
Thinking Men:Queer Eye's success and the
Academy Award Williams won for producing the documentary The Fog
of War have Scout's phones ringing. Marketing tie-ins
abound: Scout Tracks, their record label under Capitol Records, has
released music from Queer Eye; a Queer Eye book is also out. As Scout
evolves into more of a creative think tank, Collins attests,
"Our core is great stories--that's very much where we are
and [where we] will continue to stay."