Guy Spiller spent his childhood fascinated with cameras not to mention the grandeur of television. He found himself acquiring television cameras and gear, then a mobile production truck for live remote programs. It was the year 1973. Live video and video cameras for production were assuming a big new role in media but film production was still king.
When Spiller rented warehouse space to park and store the truck, he was already growing tired of the grind on the road. Then a fateful happy discovery. Word began to spread of what he and the cameras and gear could produce.
More than a few video clients began migrating their way to work (literally) in the truck. These were the days of two inch editing machines. More and more clients came. And the rest is, well, teleproduction history in Virginia. But working in the truck wasn’t cutting it. Spiller moved gear to the warehouse, sold the truck, built a control room and studio. BES (Broadcast Engineering Systems) was in business.
Right from the start, the space was bustling and busy, knocking out studio rentals, set construction, video & film production and post production services. BES directors and DPs and supporting crews shot and produced thousands films and broadcast spots for regional and national clients. In turn, independent producers, directors and advertising agencies and corporations came calling year after year.
The 80s and early 90s saw continued success, with many ‘firsts’ such as the first one inch editing and first D2 format post and non linear editing systems.
And in early 1995, BES was sold to William ‘Bill’ Meade and the bustling new era began with Bill and Christi, his daughter, at the helm providing leadership. Long time veterans in the production industry in the region, the pair began forging a new path forward in commercial and corporate video production, for retail, healthcare, automotive and institutional clients as well as governmental bodies and the military.
Bill passed away in 2019 but his spirit lives with us all at BES Studios. His daughter Christi Garrett, who literally grew up in the business at Bill’s side has taken the reins as President & Executive Producer. Garrett and her team continue the tradition today from a new 13,000 square foot studio complex just outside downtown Richmond on the banks of the James River. With the same love of the business and the best team wrapped into a new elegant studio complex, BES stands ready for another 40 years.
