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Martin accepted a training position in Austin beginning in November 1978. Ever since attending the State's 4 week Austin orientation in 1969, Martin had planned to join the music scene in Austin. His position enabled him to work with the DHS Media Services Division. Their video director was Bruce Scafe who produced the first Austin City Limits segments - view Bruce's early ACL clip. Martin hosted a segment of the DHR video news magazines Telejournal. View a clip.
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Phantom Productions, inc. evolved from Highland Sound company in the late 1970's.
Here the vehicles show both the Highland Sound and Phantom logos.
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Mixing room in Austin in 1978
DHS Personnel & Training staff at retreat Indian Lodge, Fort Davis, Texas
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1980's
First
Austin on-location job upon moving company to Austin was at St. David's Episcopal
Church
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View video of Peter producing in Cedar Creek Studio
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Martin took the position of Chief Engineer at Austin Custom Records. New generations productions staff also located at Austin Custom Records offices.
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While continuing Phantom Productions, Martin formed a new company with Peter Butcher. Peter and Martin had met while working on NGP projects. Using Peter's European resources, Music, Etc. worked to secure new music from recording studios in the US and promote them to international publishers and record companies. Peter and martin also enjoyed success during this time charting Leslie Gore's "It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To " on the US Billboard charts. See more
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Martin & Cayce Cayce Cage at Housewives Choice gig
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While working for Texas DHS in 1984, Martin came across smoke drifting across MoPac, traced it down to house on fire and helped alert the occupant.
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Martin in Austin mix down room 1984 |
Alpine Presbyterian church 1980s
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Martin in van recording Kim Meyers on 2222, Austin, Texas in early '80's
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1984 DHS Ruidosa, New Mexico retreat with the El Paso Personnel and training staff. Martin was the State Office Training Liaison.
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In 1984 Martin met Chris and she joined the music business
on the first date with dinner and then an evening with British producer Peter Butcher at "Rollingwood
Recording" an Austin recording studio.
While working with the DHS Staff Development Division in Austin, Martin was liaison to the DHS Media Division (briefly hosted DHS' Telejournal video newsletter to staff). The Video Director was Bruce Scafe (See letter). Bruce produced the first episodes of the Austin City Limits. This provided great video production experience. Terry Licona was an intern at Austin City Limits and eventually took ACL to where it is today.
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Phantom
to this point was primarily providing on-location recording to musicians.
We realized that one of the ways we could be more helpful to the musicians
we were working with, was to begin handling the day to day tasks that enabled
the artist to pursue their music. This evolved into a role as Artist Manager.
Martin & Chris with Mark Luke Daniels during promo photo session after signing an artist management agreement
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In order to better promote the artists we were managing, we added video production to our audio recording capability. This picture is from a music video shoot in Marble falls, Texas.
Chris shooting video for PPI
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Chris at San Antonio Fair Trade show
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Chris being interviewed on the KXAN Morning show regarding employing musicians throughout the year.
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Martin & Chris with Mark Luke and Andy Murphy at Midem in Cannes, France
At the Lowe's Hotel in Montie Carlo Martin & Chris sign Mark Luke to publishing contract with Montie Music Group
See more about Mark Luke
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Montie Music Publishers hold the worldwide rights to Richie Valens music.
Following a joint LA produced Phantom/Montie Music album for Mark Luke, he was signed to a seven album deal with Gene Simmons (KISS) on Simmons' own custom RCA label. Take a look at the contract!
Go to mark Luke CD order page View Video clip
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Chris, Martin signing contract with Metal Band Skullduggery
Phantom's first computer Epson Geneva
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Chris left the Texas Department of Human Services Child Protective Services headquarters to manage Phantom Productions, I(nc. full tile. She's pictured here working the phones and using one of our early Macs.
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Art & Bill
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Louie & Carol
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Martin's Texas DHS office Winter's Building, Austin • view video 1
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Martin's Texas DHS office Winter's Building, Austin
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Martin's Texas DHS office Winter's Building, Austin |
Martin presenting certificate to Texas Department of Human Services retiree Jean Morris. As Chief of Services for the TDHS, Martin managed the Dept's headquarters management training staff; the Basic Job Skills Centers in Houston and the Dallas / Ft. Worth area and provided Liaison education services to the 10 TDHS regions comprised of over 100 trainers.
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Martin provided management training and team building to Texas DHS, MHMR, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, as well as organizations. Here's a write-up from Martin's ITC presentation.
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Martin exited the Texas Department of Human Resources in May, 1990 after 22 years with the State of Texas (note smile on Martin's face). Bob Hays (left, former Director of Staff Dev for DHS), Martin & Chris (right)
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Martin and Chris proposed the ACC Music Business Degree Program, completed the surveys justifying its worth and bringing the program to fruition. View more
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Picture of Phantom edit suite late 1980s |
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In the late 1980's and early 90's Phantom moved more into video, shooting in the new SVHS format with 2 or more cameras
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Phantom's video editing equipment
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Phantom's mastering equip
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Phantom's 3/4" video duplication deck |
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Phantom's video editing in 1990 |
Chris shooting SVHS video for Phantom at one of Austin's clubs
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Martin & Chris with Joan & John Cambridge and Joan's mother
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1990's
1990 Phantom Phacts Video (8 part)
part
1 part 2 part
3 part 4 part
5 part 6 part
7 part 8 RealPlayer
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Martin & Chris with Phantom's UK guitarist John Cambridge
Garard, French music rep with Chris & Martin at SXSW
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In 1990 Chris met with Canadian entertainment producers who suggested Phantom should move into the corporate entertainment market. After initiating several bookings with David Perkoff, Chris & Martin met with David and began offering support services to David Perkoff Music Click this link to view more about David Perkoff Music.
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Phantom's 30th Anniversary
 
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Housewives Choice recording in Chris & Martin's living room
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Phantom
produces Music Videos. Here's Tracie Lynn in a video
produced for her song "The Silence." View
Video 
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In 1989, Martin was looking for a unique birthday present for Chris. The result was a Hot Air Ballooning class at Austin Community College. The class was taught by Dan Sherrill who had catered our wedding from Railroad Bar BQ. Martin video taped the class as a memory and Dan asked if we'd want to produce a Crew Training tape for hot Air Ballooning. We did and the tape (now a DVD) has sold in all 50 states and in 15 foreign countries. It is the crew training standard for many events around the world.
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Dan then asked us to document his Harris Branch balloon fest, the 1991 and 1992 Baltimore Preakness Balloon races and the Guanajuato, Mexico event (pics & video below). Subsequently we were asked to document the Poteet Strawberry Festival Balloon Race which resulted in an ongoing relationship with the Strawberry Festival to document their primary festival every couple of years.
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Chris & Martin's Hot Air Balloon video production also took them to Washington DC for the Andrews Air Force Base Kodak ballooning event, the United Kingdom hot air balloon factories and additional events around Texas. Here are some video clips that include some of the scenes and a few clips from the final production. All Phantom's Hot Air Ballooning video are available at this link. Phantom's Hot Air Ballooning DVD's
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Chris & Martin initiated into hot air ballooning after first flight
Chris & Martin with Central texas hot air ballooning folks
Confederate
Air Force (Phantom) Document Russian YAK flight
Chris & Rusty caught on fence
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Andrews AFB to videotape Kodak AAFB hot air balloon races
Andrews AFB to videotape Kodak AAFB hot air balloon races
Chris was escorted around Andrews AFB to video Phantom's production
Chris at ACC balloon class
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Chris & Martin videotaping Esther's To Go for City of Austin employees
 
Phantom videotaping Del Poling for his series the Four Year Old Syndrome
Del
Poling (Florida) Four Year Old Syndrome (5 part bound video series) (Phantom Productions, Inc.)
Martin videotaping Maryland Preakness balloon event
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Hot Air Balloons over Austin Willie Nelson concert on Lady Bird Lake - view video
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Martin shooting video from hot air balloon. Either Chris or martin would shoot from the air while the other one went with the chase crew. See Phantom's hot air ballooning videos at this link
Martin shooting video from hot air balloon being launched - click for more ballooning
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Chris & Martin in Guanajuato, Mexico
Martin with hot air balloon pilots in Guanajuato, Mexico during Phantom's documenting the event
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Phantom was contracted to shoot a time lapse hot air balloon launch for NASA MCET. The opening sequence appeared in a series of NASA educational satellite broadcasts; then was made available on CD to schools & the National Air & Space Museum
NASA
MCET |
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Some additional links of interest
Entertainers • Actors Letters • Marfa, Texas |
