Nashville's diverse geography, moderate climate, transportation infrastructure, modern amenities, and skilled mass communications crews make it an attractive destination for film companies, but some would declare it's the concentrated work of two Brentwood-based visionaries that are putting Music City on the map of production teams.
Managing partners Jeff Molyneaux and Brian Loschiavo, alongside West Coast partner Pastor Alvarado, founded Riverside Entertainment in 2015 and handcrafted it into a full-service development and production company with offices in both Nashville and Los Angeles.
"We intentionally focused on branded and long-form content," explains Jeff. "We wanted to find a road less traveled to bring more opportunity and exposure for local crew, and not present as a threat to the more established companies in town that were already specialized in music videos."
He says having partner Pastor Alvarado based in Los Angeles enabled them to create a sense of security for coastal clients looking for a production partner in Nashville. "They quickly experienced how talented, professional and collaborative our city is, and then the work spoke for itself."
The company's team of 20-plus internal team and dozens of contract specialists creates video content/commercials for well-known clients; for example, promos for ABC's The Golden Bachelor, CMT, Disney+ and Hulu; commercials for Google, Lexus, Ram Trucks and Nike; branded spots for Cadillac, MTV, Ford, Chevy, Whirlpool and Sony; along with television shows and feature films, such as the acclaimed Bluebird Cafe 2019 documentary Bluebird.
Riverside’s in-house production team is equipped to bid, staff, manage and deliver any size production, Brian says, leveraging its vast network of producers and crew, both domestically and internationally, to provide industry-leading production quality at scale.
Jeff is quick to give a nod to up-and-coming graduates in the field. "We wouldn’t be where we are without local talent. Many of our best collaborators are Nashville natives and graduates of MTSU, Belmont, TSU and other local programs," he says.
"We evangelize about Nashville crew all over New York and LA, and are endeavoring to bring more film, TV and commercial production here."
Brian says the quality of life and sense of community in Brentwood is unmatched. "We’re grateful every day to be raising our children here and forming life-long bonds, both personally and professionally (shout-out to our pickleball crew at Lifetime!)," he adds.
"With both of us having kids at Kenrose Elementary, it has given us a real appreciation for the school system here and knowing that they're getting one of the best educations in the country," adds Jeff.
He says they're also grateful for their banking partners, Courtney Theis and Pinnacle Bank, for their support and guidance in navigating the unknown with COVID-19, and in their expansion and growth as a company.
The Riverside Entertainment team is about to begin a capital raise to expand their film and television division with projects targeting Middle Tennessee and the Heartland, as well as a film fellowship program with several strategic, local partners.
Jeff says they're also expanding their commercial division with an exciting new roster of directors.
Regarding artificial intelligence and technological advances, this crew has used virtual stages for a variety of productions. Brian says while AI helps them hone internal efficiencies, they're careful to prioritize ethical integrity for the creators and IP.
Nashville has the infrastructure, talent and cultural draw to be the next major hub in the United States, declares Brian. "One of our biggest hurdles is competing with tax incentives in neighboring states, but with so many entrepreneurial thought leaders now in Tennessee, we’re optimistic those barriers will be short-lived. Our aim is to be a unifier in driving a more coordinated effort between the business, financial, legislative and creative communities."
Riverside Entertainment is an award-winning development and production company specializing in commercial, unscripted and scripted content, with a priority on mid-budget, filmmaker-driven projects. In addition to Bluebird, past and current titles include the Jesse Eisenberg and Adrien Brody thriller Manodrome and music doc Midland: The Sonic Ranch (CMT), as well as Nashville-based series Making Modern with Brooke and Brice (Magnolia) and Disney Insider (Disney+).