Let’s make something wonderful together.
Local News is a full-service production company and creative consultancy. We look through a surreal lens to create new visions and solve challenges with empathetic thinking.
OLIVIA GASTALDO (CO-FOUNDER)
Olivia is a visual storyteller, amateur botanist, wanna be chef, and lover of all things Ghibli. As a child, Olivia grew up between the west and east coasts of the US, in San Diego and in New York City.
They were born into a multicultural family, a blend of indigenous Mexican and European heritage. On both sides of their family, Olivia was blessed to be surrounded by excellent poets, photographers, and storytellers. Olivia was raised by two artists who valued creativity and resourcefulness above all. They shared their love for the arts through soul + blues music, photography, interior design and a deep respect + admiration for the natural world. When Olivia was ten years old, they were diagnosed with Leukemia. During treatment, Olivia would devour as many films and video games as possible. Those universes helped them heal and motivated them to create their own worlds through film. Olivia attended catholic school for a large majority of their childhood, and was frequently caught debating the teachers and nuns on just about everything. When Olivia moved to San Francisco at eighteen they discovered a true sense of community and acceptance in the vibrant bay area arts scene. From San Francisco, Olivia went on to live and establish themselves as a filmmaker in Los Angeles. Olivia’s approach to film is holistic, yet intimate. By referencing deeply personal experiences, they mix a variety of their creative interests immersing their audiences into unique, quirky worlds.
When not on set, Olivia can be found adventuring around California, cooking without recipes, and striking up sincere conversations with folks they meet along the way.
QUINN GARRETT MARTIN (CO-FOUNDER)
Quinn is a writer, director, designer, and creative problem solver who loves telling stories across formats.
He started in the business at age 8 as an actor, but when he was accidentally placed into a film class at the LA County High School for the Arts he found his life-long passion. He then studied Experimental Filmmaking and Writing at San Francisco Art Institute and assisted production executives at American Zoetrope, archiving a rare jazz collection, and remastering Coppola films. He then built content and cultural strategy for League of Legends at Riot Games. His films have been exhibited and recognized at the LA Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and San Francisco Film Festival.
Quinn recently worked with Media Arts Lab for Apple, at the intersection of producing content, creative development, and promotion. Notably on Apple Music: Up Next, The Oprah Conversation, and Billie Eilish's “The World’s A Little Blurry.” He also oversaw creative development and production as the Lead Producer building out two upcoming Apple Original Content series surrounding music and the creative process titled The Spark and Play, Pause, Delete.
He currently holds a Creative Executive position with Twitch incubating the future of interactive entertainment in lifestyle, gaming, sports, and music content.
We practice a production methodology based on mutual respect, thoughtful communication, and intentional creative.
