Unbeknownst to many residents, one of the most successful television production
companies in the country was started, has grown and still remains in the city of
Somerville. Powderhouse Productions, whose headquarters is located on Elm Street, is
behind some of the most popular shows on TV.
Just of few of the programs on their roster include Mega Engineering aired on Discovery
Channel, DOGS 101 aired on Animal Planet, The Works on History Channel and Kids by
the Dozen aired on TLC. The company derives its name from a Revolutionary War
gunpowder storehouse that is located less than a mile from the corporate offices.
These highly successful series recently earned the company 8 Telly awards, which are
annually given out to honor outstanding local, regional, and national cable TV
commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online film and
video. Powderhouse picked up hardware for three projects, DOGS101, The Works and
its online video channel, SHOETUBE.TV.
The company was co-founded in 1994 by award winning filmmaker Tug Yourgrau and
veteran producer Joel Olicker. Olicker, a Somerville resident at the time decided that he
wanted to live and work in the same place. “At that time we were just beginning to see
the transformation in Davis Square,” said Olicker. A decade and a half later, the
company still remains in the heart of the city. “We love Somerville”, Olicker added.
Over the last 15 years the company has grown from a small production company
producing one show at a time, to now producing multiple series continuously. Their
reputation for quality productions has helped with expansion and acquiring deals with
major networks. It is common practice within the television industry to watch
programming across all networks to search for the next hit show.
Powderhouse got its first big break with the show Engineering the Impossible. The
single episode production portraying large scale futuristic technological developments
eventually lead to the series Mega Engineering on Discovery Channel.??Olicker was
quick to credit the Massachusetts Film Tax Credit with their growth and success. The
credit entitles companies who shoot at least half of their movie or spend at least half
of their production budget in the Commonwealth-are eligible for a tax credit equal to
25 cents for every new dollar of spending they bring to Massachusetts. Since its
inception in 2006 “We have tripled our revenue and productions and doubled the size of
our staff”, said Olicker.
The company currently has over 110 employees all located in Somerville. With the
tremendous success and growth that Powderhouse is having it may eventually require
having satellite offices in New York and Los Angeles. Olicker, however remains
steadfast in his plans to keep the company local.
Being based in Boston also provides benefits to the specific type of programming that
Powderhouse specializes in. With some of the leading scientific institutions in the
world based in the Boston it is a hotbed for experts in the scientific areas explored in
the award winning productions. Members of area hospitals, universities and companies
are routine contributors to the shows.??
Powderhouse’s new series Superfetch will debut in October on Animal Planet. The
Saturday night series stars Youtube sensation Zak George, an unconventional dog
trainer, who coaches dog owners to bond with their pets by attempting hilariously
ambitious tricks. Much of the reality shows’ filming took place in and around
Somerville.?
companies in the country was started, has grown and still remains in the city of
Somerville. Powderhouse Productions, whose headquarters is located on Elm Street, is
behind some of the most popular shows on TV.
Just of few of the programs on their roster include Mega Engineering aired on Discovery
Channel, DOGS 101 aired on Animal Planet, The Works on History Channel and Kids by
the Dozen aired on TLC. The company derives its name from a Revolutionary War
gunpowder storehouse that is located less than a mile from the corporate offices.
These highly successful series recently earned the company 8 Telly awards, which are
annually given out to honor outstanding local, regional, and national cable TV
commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online film and
video. Powderhouse picked up hardware for three projects, DOGS101, The Works and
its online video channel, SHOETUBE.TV.
The company was co-founded in 1994 by award winning filmmaker Tug Yourgrau and
veteran producer Joel Olicker. Olicker, a Somerville resident at the time decided that he
wanted to live and work in the same place. “At that time we were just beginning to see
the transformation in Davis Square,” said Olicker. A decade and a half later, the
company still remains in the heart of the city. “We love Somerville”, Olicker added.
Over the last 15 years the company has grown from a small production company
producing one show at a time, to now producing multiple series continuously. Their
reputation for quality productions has helped with expansion and acquiring deals with
major networks. It is common practice within the television industry to watch
programming across all networks to search for the next hit show.
Powderhouse got its first big break with the show Engineering the Impossible. The
single episode production portraying large scale futuristic technological developments
eventually lead to the series Mega Engineering on Discovery Channel.??Olicker was
quick to credit the Massachusetts Film Tax Credit with their growth and success. The
credit entitles companies who shoot at least half of their movie or spend at least half
of their production budget in the Commonwealth-are eligible for a tax credit equal to
25 cents for every new dollar of spending they bring to Massachusetts. Since its
inception in 2006 “We have tripled our revenue and productions and doubled the size of
our staff”, said Olicker.
The company currently has over 110 employees all located in Somerville. With the
tremendous success and growth that Powderhouse is having it may eventually require
having satellite offices in New York and Los Angeles. Olicker, however remains
steadfast in his plans to keep the company local.
Being based in Boston also provides benefits to the specific type of programming that
Powderhouse specializes in. With some of the leading scientific institutions in the
world based in the Boston it is a hotbed for experts in the scientific areas explored in
the award winning productions. Members of area hospitals, universities and companies
are routine contributors to the shows.??
Powderhouse’s new series Superfetch will debut in October on Animal Planet. The
Saturday night series stars Youtube sensation Zak George, an unconventional dog
trainer, who coaches dog owners to bond with their pets by attempting hilariously
ambitious tricks. Much of the reality shows’ filming took place in and around
Somerville.?
 |  |  |
Powderhouse Productions explodes on to the scene
by Roland Hansen
by Roland Hansen
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