Director Michael Maes, a visual storyteller known for his work in the food and liquid space–represented by Quriosity Productions, the minority-owned creative boutique founded by executive producer Qadree Holmes in 2013–has opened a purpose-built production studio in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood.
Designed specifically for high-end food, beverage, and quick-service restaurant (QSR) production, the new studio doubles the footprint of Maes’ previous space and offers clients a comprehensive, end-to-end production environment that can be customized to their ever-changing needs for production consistency, efficiency, and creative excellence.
Other features of the new facility include: dual stages for simultaneous motion and still photography production, a state-of-the-art kitchen directly adjacent to the main stage, a second full kitchen, extensive refrigerated and frozen storage, and a complete suite of professional food styling tools and appliances. Additionally, a motion-control robot arm enables precise cinematography, while robust in-house power, full still-photography gear, and dedicated prop storage can support productions of virtually any scale.
The studio also includes a large conference room, a premium client lounge with live stage feeds, and upgraded amenities designed to create a comfortable, collaborative environment. Street-level double-door access, rear parking, and proximity to major transit routes–including O’Hare International Airport, I-90, and the CTA–make logistics seamless for both local and national productions.
“The real benefit here is that it is a larger space that can accommodate larger shoots,” Holmes said. “Clients want to have a production home, especially in the food, beverage, and restaurant space. Once they create a brand look, they don’t want to work with 20 different companies; they want to ensure they can work with a director or photographer who understands it and helps manage their brand assets. And it’s nice being able to go back to a vendor or a resource that actually has that historical knowledge.”
The studio is particularly well-positioned to serve brands looking to leverage Illinois’ competitive production tax incentives–offering a base credit of 35 percent, with potential increases up to 40 percent for production within Chicago. That, combined with Maes’ expertise and Quriosity’s integrated production capabilities, means the new space presents a significant option for brands seeking both creative consistency and cost efficiency.
Maes and Quriosity have collaborated with food and beverage brands including McDonald’s, Kraft, Coca-Cola, Tyson, Bel Brands, MolsonCoors, Kellogg’s, Bojangles’ and Denny’s.
“We love being part of a neighborhood again,” Maes said. “We started off on the north side and have come full circle. We built this space for brands to make it a place they can call home. It was designed not just to be functional, but also luxurious. We tried to make it so that it’s not just a place where you would work, but a place you’d want to hang out.”
