SprocketHeads LLC: Carolyn Robinson turns filmmaking passion into career.

• Author: Kenshalo, Rachel
• Position: TOP WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES - Cover story

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Carolyn Robinson doesn't consider herself an entrepreneur in the traditional sense of the word. The co-owner of SprocketHeads LLC, Alaska's only high-end film production and production services company, isn't necessarily in it for the riches.

"I've never thought of myself as an entrepreneur in terms of starting SprocketHeads, but more along the lines of it being the only option I had because I wanted to stay working in my craft and live in Alaska," explains Robinson. "If women are interested in making great sums of money, I am definitely not the person from whom they should seek advice. My advice to young women: figure out what life you want and then create it."

FILMMAKING PASSION

Robinson was fortunate in that regard; she discovered her passion for filmmaking at an early age. The long-time Alaskan was on a summer break from college when, as a part of her job with the Anchorage Mayor's office, she was tasked with filming an assembly meeting. Though lesser film buffs might have found the assignment a bit mundane, Robinson describes the feeling of being behind the camera as "walking on clouds."

Robinson graduated from the University of Oregon with a double major in French literature and film. She spent several years working Outside in music television and as international producer at Discovery Channel. Ultimately, Robinson couldn't stay away from Alaska for long and co-founded SprocketHeads in 1995 with her husband, Steve Rychetnik, who is the company's director of photography.

SprocketHeads produces high-end commercials, network programming, documentaries, feature films and music videos. SprocketHeads and Robinson have undertaken projects like the Discovery Channel's award-winning program "In the Company of Whales," which was narrated by Patrick Stewart. Robinson also produced Time Warmer/Turner Original Productions "Alaska's Bush Pilots." The documentary is a nationally syndicated and internationally distributed. One of Robinson's most memorable projects is a public service announcement she produced about the work of rescue dogs at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

"I called in some favors and worked with Friends of Pets," Robinson recalls. "The PSA did quite well award-wise, but the payoff for me personally was the attention given to how heroic dogs can be when given the chance. FEMA even called and requested dubs for all their workers in the canine unit."

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