Bob L. Smith
Founder / Post Creative Director
As founder and post creative director, Bob L. Smith has forged an innovative presence that works through the team strategy model of placing all creative’s under one roof to collaborate and inspire their partners. After leaving San Francisco in 1985, Bob sought after a new model of creative interaction. He wanted to throw out the old model of production and post by including all creatives from concept through finish in post.
This vision has developed into a model that engages all artists; Writers, Art Directors, Directors, DP’s, Editors, Composers and Motion Artists from the conception of the project to finish. To empower all to share their ideas will create a new interaction and influence each artist to rethink their approach to their craft and process.
Drawing from a huge talent pool in San Francisco and LA, Bob has found that living outside of the major markets, but being wired in with all the top creatives, has allowed him to create a niche that set him, his music and his new approach to Post Production apart from the pack.
His new big venture is the launching of Bongo Post + Music, a Full Service Post Production facility. From the moment you walk in and see the UK designed architecture to the SOHO/Art Gallery looking hallways you know that you have stepped into an adventure. The editing suites, Motion Design, Music Studios and 5.1 Surround Mixing suites were designed by the UK architects, Recording Architecture of London, who built Lenny Kravitz, Sade, and Peter Gabriel’s studios and 80% of the UK and India Post Houses.
Known within the industry as Bongo Bob, hence the company name Bongo, his story is as varied as his personality. Bob started out in Sacramento playing ethnic percussion and by making trips to SF to learn Afro Haitian drumming and spend nights at The Fillmore watching Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Miles Davis. He developed a unique and worldly essence to his musical palate. After studying at the SF Conservatory of Music, playing in New Wave bands and electro acoustic classical hybrids, and learning drum programming, Bob developed a unique perspective of the world that made working with visuals an easy transition.
Smith's work with film composer Mark Isham on The Hitcher in the early 80's was his inspiration to write music for picture. "Working on that film turned my head around," he recalls. "Then I did a Gallo wine commercial in '86 and realized how creative commercial work could be. I discovered that I really enjoy composing visually; sounds just seem to come alive more with visuals attached. I've been lucky in my musical career; I've worked in every genre of music, from playing Afro-Cuban music for Haitian dancers to playing in arena-sized rock bands, with acoustic folk musicians and disco dance records in between. And, of course, I studied classical and opera at the Conservatory. All that background allows my palate to be deep and varied."
His work with legendary producer Narada Michael Walden on projects for Whitney Houston, The Starship, Clarence Clemons, Lionel Ritchie by day and working with Joe Satriani on his epic release “Surfing with the Alien” at night, while playing in all sorts of oddball new wave groups, gave him the jumpstart he needed to start producing and writing on his own. His production credits for Virgin, Polygram, Warner Bros, Disney, etc. set his life in motion to arrive at the gates of visual sound design for commercials and documentaries. His work can be seen on the NBC Olympics, Beverly Hills 90210, Beverly Hills Cop II, and The Little Mermaid to mention a few.
Bob Smith oversees all Post Production and Production services at Bongo Post & Music. These services include but are not limited to Post: Editorial, Motion Graphics, Sound Design units, Film Production: Directors, Cinematographers, Production Services and Creative Consulting, Vertical Market Productions: Viral Marketing, Web Video, Webisodes and all Creative Services provided to the Advertising, Corporate and Creative communities.