Bob Bekian

Bob Bekian

Robert "Bob" Bekian (born May 13, 1962) is an American entrepreneur and producer. He is the owner of Spotburner, Inc. and Loyal Studios. Bekian is known for developing high definition production facilities that specialize in creating digital content for broadcast, feature films, commercials, music videos, and web-based content.

Early life

Robert "Bob" Vartan Bekian^[1] was born in Cleveland, Ohio,^[2] and grew up the Mar Vista suburb of Los Angeles. His mother, Cathy, was born in Pennsylvania and his father, Shane (Farsi: "Shahen") was born in Meshad, Iran to Armenian parents who emigrated to Iran during the Armenian Genocide. Bekian's father was a mechanical engineer who founded the company ‘Westaire Manufacturing’ in Los Angeles. Bekian’s mother received her master's degree from the University of San Francisco. Bekian attended Venice High School and graduated in 1980. He then attended California State University Northridge where he graduated in 1986 with a B.A. degree in communications, and a minor in marketing. While at CSUN, Bekian was President of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.^[3]

Career beginnings

From 1975-78, Bekian was a professional skateboarder, riding with the Z-Boys of Dogtown.^[4] He concluded his skateboarding career with a European tour in 1978 where he appeared on British and French Television demonstrating vertical ramp and freestyle skateboarding.

Bekian then worked as a kitchen manager for five years at the Enterprise Fish Company^[5] in order to pay his way through college. After college, Bekian joined Aramark and Cintas as district manager and sales manager. In 1998, Bekian was recruited as Vice President of Comtel Pro Media,^[6] which, at the time, was the largest Sony media distributor in the world. Bekian grew the company from $8 million in sales to $30 million in five years. The company was then purchased by Michael Krasny, the founder of Computer Discount Warehouse, and Jonathan Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox. Comtel would later be acquired by Edgewise Media in 2008. Bekian remains on the advisory board of Edgewise Media.

Business career

After the sale of Comtel Pro Media, Bekian began his first venture, Pro HD Rentals,^[7] Inc, providing 75 HD camera systems and technical support to the major networks and film companies.

As digital production and editing began taking off, Bekian built his first digital green screen sound stage in Burbank, California, and founded Loyal Studios. This was later followed by the construction of 2 additional studios in Santa Monica, and Burbank. Clients that frequent the studios include Heidi Klum, Edward James Olmos, Billy Crystal, Snoop Dogg, Nicole Scherzinger, Ray J, David Beckham, Don Cheadle, Paris Hilton, Brett Ratner, Gerard Butler, Olivia Wilde, and the L.A. Lakers.

Pro HD Rentals, Inc., was acquired by the Toomey Media Group in August, 2013 for an undisclosed amount.

Spotburner

Spotburner.com was launched in 2014, by Bekian as a digital production and marketing company. The first project produced was the launch of the Luxury Brands channel through the company, Compralux. The company has produced commercials in 2015 for Auto Gallery Lamborghini, Japanese Coca Cola, RC toys and Dodge.^[8]

Personal life

In 1990, Bekian married Sonia Wendt, a Los Angeles Unified elementary teacher. She is currently a real estate developer, broker, and flipper. Their first son, Shane, was born on March 16, 1995, and attends the University of Arizona. Their second son, Bryce, was born on June 5, 2000, and is ranked regional junior golfer. The family lives in Thousand Oaks, California.

Film and television credits

Producer (9 titles)

• The Mourning Hour (Associate Producer - credit only) (post-production) - 2011^[9]
• "Vitals" (Associate Producer) - 2015^[10]
• "The Soul of Blue Eye" (Producer) - 2014^[11]
• "La La Land" (Associate Producer) (S1 Ep1: "Tuck You") - 2012^[12]
• The Shorez (TV movie) (Associate Producer) (pre-production) - 2011
• Scream: The Inside Story (TV documentary) (Associate Producer) - 2011^[13]
• "Brotherly Love" (Short) (Associate Producer) - 2011^[14]
• The United Monster Talent Agency (short) (Associate Producer) - 2010^[15]
• American Dragster (TV series) (Associate Producer - 1 episode) - 2006
  • Episode #1.1 (Associate Producer)^[16]

Actor (4 titles)

• "Vitals" (Prisoner) - 2015^[10]
• "The Soul of Blue Eye" (Ahmet Ertguhn) - 2014^[11]
• "Turning The Page" (Sergeant) (TV Mini-series) - 2013^[17]
• Madoff: Made Off with America (Gunman #1) - 2011^[18]

Thanks (6 titles)

• "13 Nights of Elvira" (Special Thanks) -^[19]
• "Turning The Page" (Special Thanks) (TV Mini-series) - 2013^[20]
• Workshop (TV series) (The Actor's Resource) (special thanks) - 2009^[21]
• A Unicorn in the Garden (short) (special thanks) - 2009^[22]
• Holding Trevor (very special thanks) - 2007^[23]
• Hollywood's Magical Island: Catalina (documentary) (special thanks: Comtel Pro Media) -2003^[24]

References