Shipping out - New Mexico Business Weekly:

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Currently working with a division of on the two sequelz to the successfulmovie -- the first grossed more than $305 million at the box office -- Cook'x intermodal firm, Memphis-based , is moving everything from props and costumes to specialo effects and sets. And, of course, Innovative is hauling parts of 60- to 120-foot-long pirate shipsw from Disney's California production studio to Floridaa and from there to the where all parts areput together. "They're made to look like real butthey can't floay on the sea," Cook explains. In 2002, Disney contacte Cook and he did the logistics on thefirsty movie, "Pirates of the The Curse of the Black which was released a year later.
Innovative is now continuint to work with Disney on thesequelo "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man'w Chest," to be released this July, and the thirdf yet-to-be-titled movie, to be released next year, a spokesmanh confirmed. "We're doing all the logistics on any item that needx to move from point A to Cook says. Depending on the piece, the logistics involves flatbed trains, ships and barges. Time-sensitivew items need to arrive at the shooting site withifive days, which poses challenges, Cook says. "If somethinyg stalls shooting, it costs (Disney) moneyy to keep the crew and he says. Another challenge is weather, whicy made shooting difficultlast summer.
"During last year's hurricane season, we shippex (pieces) back to protect the goods," Cook says. He estimates his currengt contract on the two sequelds to beworth $1.5 but that's not the only rewarding aspecft of it. "It's exciting, out of the ordinary," Cook says. "j felt proud to see the firstfsuccessful movie." Aside from shipping pirate ships and swashbucklinh swords, Innovative ordinarily hauls furniture, sporting goodsa and clothing for some 40 customers, totalingv 3,500 containers per year, Cook Founded in 1996 in Seattle, Wash., Innovative relocated to Memphisd two years ago and saw revenuea of $10 million in he says.
As one of five agents of Memphis-basedf intermodal firm Cornerstone Systems, Inc., Innovative is using Cornerstone's intermodal and invoicing says Cornerstone's CEO Rick Rodell. "In this case, Innovativew does the logistics and we providsethe framework," Rodell says. "Cook is an independenft contractor working as an extension of The complexity ofthe "Pirates" project is felt by Cornerstone as "Moving and handling delicate or over-sized parts of a larges set involve lots of permitting and coordinatinhg with local municipalities," Rodell says. "Sometimes telephonr wires need tobe moved.
" taking part in a Hollywood production is a "neagt opportunity," he says. "Workinvg with Hollywood from a transportation standpointis fun," Rodelk says, "especially when I go to see the movir with my grandchildren and I'm able to say 'we moved it.' " Never at a loss for interesting businesz -- Cornerstone recently brought antique Bentley cars over from England for a U.S. tour -- Rodell alway s has his eyes open for additionak thrilling projects inthe future. The next opportunityg may be just around the Cook says recently inquired abouInnovative Logistics' services.