NewEnglandFilm.com

"The stuff dreams are made of…" says Humphrey Bogart at the conclusion of the classic film "The Maltese Falcon." Perhaps, then it is appropriate that Glenn Kesner, the creator of Turner Classic Movies a channel dedicated to preserving treasures as "Falcon," is one of three partners at the helm of a new media production company in Boston. Together with Jennifer Heffernan and Christo Tsiaras, they have founded Dream Alley Pictures, which aims to become a film and television production force locally and nationally over the next few years.

The company has set up shop in the heart of Boston, boasting offices adjacent to the fabled Orpheum Theater. ‘Dream Alley’ is not a misnomer. Sharing space with the reincarnated Massachusetts Film Bureau (Dream Alley donated the space to the MFB), it is located on a picturesque cobble-stoned street off of Boston Common and a stone’s throw from the Capitol Building.

The company is comprised of three divisions. First and foremost, Dream Alley will endeavor to develop content for film, television, and theatre and related ventures. This includes the financing of high-budget and independent, feature films. The company will also seek to act as a conduit for out-of-town productions and will offer free office space to any project with a budget over $5 million. In addition to feature films, Dream Alley will also finance and facilitate documentaries, television series, specials, and plays.

"Film production," Glenn Kesner explains, "can generate nearly half a billion dollars into the Massachusetts economy every year. The average film budget is about $55 million. When a film shoots entirely in one region, studios estimate that 40 percent of the budget is injected into the local economy. On top of the significant impact for the economy and jobs, film and television productions have a hugely positive influence on tourism and an area’s reputation long after a production wraps. Look what ‘Cheers’ still does for Boston years after the show has gone off the air." Dream Alley hopes to bring projects to Boston and New England that will have a lasting impact on the economy and the artistic life of the region.

Secondly, Dream Alley will offer editorial, design, and other pre- and post-production services. The firm has an in-house editorial and design division and will partner with editors, cinematographers, composers, and sound designers to work actively in all phases of the life of a production. This wing of Dream Alley can already claim one project to its credit as its director (and Dream Alley partner) Christo Tsiaras has recently completed editorial work on the Boston-set, independent film "Overserved."

"It’s a new day in Boston," Tsiaras says. "Most of us have gotten into this crazy business because of a deep felt passion. That’s the spirit Dream Alley Pictures puts forth in everything we do." Tsiaras and Dream Alley proudly awaits the premiere of "Overserved" the week of April 5th at Arlington’s Regent Theater.

Finally, Dream Alley will boast a strategic marketing company named Auracana. This division will focus on a variety of services from brand development and marketing for television and entertainment corporate clients to image campaigns and on-air promotions for non-entertainment firms.

The ‘Dream’ Team: Christo Tsiaras, Jennifer Heffernan, and Glenn Kesner.
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"We have far reaching plans for Dream Alley Pictures," Kesner says. "We hope to become a major producer of viable and successful projects for film, television and related venues. We also envision the Dream Alley Film and Arts Center to attract many different types of talent, from producers to artists, editors, composers and others who will call our unique and convenient downtown location home."

Glenn Kesner is Dream Alley’s creative director and Christo Tsiaras is its technical guru, but the firm’s third partner and head of business development, Jennifer Heffernan, was the inspirational force behind Dream Alley’s creation.

Heffernan has spent her career forming companies and bringing like-minded people together to get projects off the ground. Several years ago, she founded a media-event and planning center and eventually sold it to the New England Publishing Group. This sale opened many doors for Heffernan in the PR and advertising business. She soon joined a boutique advertising firm in Boston, which represented, among other things, film production concerns. This is where she met Christo Tsiaras and Glenn Kesner, and the idea for Dream Alley was born.

The other members of the team offer the invaluable production experience necessary for Dream Alley’s success. Kesner has a long history in television and documentaries, working for varied groups such as VH-1, CNN where he won a National Emmy for Best Documentary, and AOL/Time Warner, where he was responsible for the creation of Turner Classic Movies. And film editor, photographer, and designer, Christo Tsiaras has been at the forefront of the production community in Boston since 1982 working with clients such as The Disney Channel, CNN, USA Networks, the Boston Herald, and Animal Planet.

Regarding the company’s aspirations, Jennifer Heffernan states, "Even though Dream Alley is based in Boston, the vast majority of our work is national in scope. We plan to target corporate investors who, more than ever before, are seeking to back film and television productions. If we can produce a film like ‘Mystic River,’ something that not only will bring business to the area, but also have national reach and recognition, we will have achieved our goal."