Case Studies
Issue No. 8 - December/ 2002/january
Kojo Arrives in Hollywood
Ownership structure promotes Kojo Group subsidiary's rapid expansion
John Chataway doesn’t look or act like a movie mogul—he doesn’t appear to smoke cigars for a start, and certainly isn’t prone to bluster. But this cinematographer and erstwhile cameraman is one of the co-architects of a multitalented production house that is busy building up a presence in Hollywood’s home town, having already conquered Australia.
The Kojo Group, headquartered in Kent Town, began life as Kojo Productions in July 1991 when John joined with business partner Kent Smith to form what was expected to be a video production company. John had considerable multimedia and events experience, Kent had Mitsubishi as an existing client, and their complementary skills soon held the car-maker’s attention. For six years Kojo held the Mitsubishi contract, doing almost 200 audiovisual events around the country. It was Kojo’s big break, but the Mitsubishi arrangement was bound to be temporary.
“We knew that to have one client giving us more than 50% of our business was dangerous,” John says, “so we actively pursued other work and started building a loyal client base in SA.
“We were confident with the new digital technology that was emerging and we realised that the editing field was about to undergo a huge change.”
In the mid-90s Kojo had a relationship with an editing firm whom John invited to join in an approach to the new editing methods. They declined, so an amicable parting occurred and Kojo set up its own post production facility in January 1996.
“We set up Oasis Post in partnership with a young creative editor, Dale Roberts,” John says. “We freely gave away one third of that business to Dale.”
Giving the talented young man a share in the business, plus creative control was intended to motivate him and cement his loyalty, but it had the very significant bonus of growing the new division quickly, such that its turnover now rivals tha...
