Creative Handbook
Creative Handbook is a privately held web-based directory connecting film and television production companies with vendors, service providers, and equipment across five major U.S. production markets. Founded in 1989, it monetizes through vendor subscriptions and advertising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersToluca Lake, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Creative Handbook does
Creative Handbook is a privately held production resource directory serving the U.S. film and television industry. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Encino, California (Los Angeles area), the company operates a web-based directory platform that connects production companies with vendors, service providers, locations, stages, equipment, transportation, costumes, props, post-production facilities, and event venues. The platform is organized by five major U.S. production markets (California, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, and New York) and by detailed subcategories within each region, functioning as a regional and categorical index of production resources.
The core product is the Creative Handbook Production Resource Directory, a self-service website where production professionals browse and search vendor listings. The underlying technology is a standard web-based directory with regional and categorical organization; there is no evidence of proprietary technology, mobile applications, APIs, or integrations. The company additionally maintains a social media presence (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram) and participates in industry trade shows such as Cine Gear Expo and the NAB Show.
The business model is dual-sided in concept but revenue-monetized on the supply side. Vendors and service providers pay annual subscription fees for directory listings, and the company sells advertising placements including featured listings, logo displays, and banner ads. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based, with vendors directed to call for rates. The company operates with 11-50 employees, has no disclosed external funding, and maintains a single-office footprint.
Creative Handbook firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Creative Handbook
- Legal name
- Creative Handbook
- Website
- https://creativehandbook.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Creative Handbook is a privately held web-based directory connecting film and television production companies with vendors, service providers, and equipment across five major U.S. production markets. Founded in 1989, it monetizes through vendor subscriptions and advertising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Creative Handbook industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entertainment Production Directory
- NAICS
- Directory and Mailing List Publishers (513140), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Search & Business Directories (BPAMAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Production Design & Art Department Services (Sets, Props, Scenic) (MPADAFAG), Studios, Stages & Location Services (Facilities, Location Scouting/Permits) (MPAAAMAG)
Keywords
Where Creative Handbook is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toluca Lake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Creative Handbook business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Directory Listings: Vendors and service providers pay to be listed in Creative Handbook's directory, gaining visibility among film and television production companies searching for production resources.
- Advertising: Featured advertising placements and sponsor positions throughout the website, including logo displays, featured listings, and banner ads visible across all regional pages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Directory listing with contact information |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Creative Handbook product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Creative Handbook operates an online production resource directory that connects film, television, commercial, and documentary production companies with vendors and service providers across five U.S. regions (California, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, and New York). The directory is organized into categories including Locations/Stages, Equipment, Transportation, Costumes/Wardrobe, Props/Sets/Graphics, Post Production, Events/Venues, Production Support Services, Associations/Shows/Marketing, and Film Commissions. Vendors pay to be listed in the directory and gain visibility among active production buyers, while production companies use the directory to research and contact local service providers.
Product overview
Creative Handbook is a production resource directory platform for the entertainment industry. The core offering is the Creative Handbook Production Resource Directory, which serves as a searchable listing service connecting film and television productions with vendors and service providers. The platform organizes listings across categories including locations/stages, equipment, transportation, costumes/wardrobe, props/sets/graphics, post-production, events/venues, production support services, associations/shows/marketing, and film commissions, available across multiple regional editions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Creative Handbook Production Resource Directory An online directory platform connecting film and television productions with vendors, service providers, locations, and equipment across multiple U.S. regions including California, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, and New York. Organizes listings across categories such as Locations/Stages, Equipment, Transportation, Costumes/Wardrobe, Props/Sets/Graphics, Post Production, Events/Venues, Production Support Services, Associations/Shows/Marketing, and Film Commissions. Used by production companies to find and contact local vendors, and by vendors to gain visibility among production buyers.
Companies that use Creative Handbook
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Creative Handbook technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Creative Handbook partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Cine Gear ExpominorCreative Handbook is featured as a sponsor/exhibitor at Cine Gear Expo events in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. The partnership provides visibility among film technology professionals and production companies attending the trade show.
- NAB ShowminorCreative Handbook maintains presence at the National Association of Broadcasters annual show in Las Vegas, reaching broadcast and media industry professionals.
Scale indicators2 records
Creative Handbook competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ProductionHUB: Largest online directory of film, TV, and commercial production services and crew across the US. Directly competes with Creative Handbook on directory listings of vendors, crew, locations, and equipment with similar revenue model.
- Backstage: Long-running casting and creative-services directory serving film, TV, and theater productions. Comparable directory model serving the same entertainment production buyer base, though with stronger emphasis on talent and casting.
- Mandy.com: Network and directory for film, television, and theatre professionals offering crew, talent, and services listings. Closely comparable directory business model targeting the same buyer segment as Creative Handbook.
Emerging players
- Stage32: Online community and marketplace for creative professionals in film, TV, and theater, with directory-style features and job listings. Comparable audience of production professionals with partial overlap in vendor and crew discovery.
- Slated: Online marketplace connecting film projects with financiers, producers, and crew. Overlaps with Creative Handbook's directory model in connecting productions with industry resources, though with a stronger emphasis on financing and packaged projects.
Broad incumbents
- IMDbPro: Amazon-owned industry resource offering professional profiles, contact information, and project listings across the entertainment industry. Functions as a broader directory for production professionals with significantly larger scale and content depth.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Creative Handbook social profiles
Digital presenceCreative Handbook financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Creative Handbook leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Creative Handbook funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Creative Handbook M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Creative Handbook
What does Creative Handbook do?
Creative Handbook operates an online production resource directory that connects film, television, commercial, and documentary production companies with vendors and service providers across five U.S. regions (California, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, and New York). The directory is organized into categories including Locations/Stages, Equipment, Transportation, Costumes/Wardrobe, Props/Sets/Graphics, Post Production, Events/Venues, Production Support Services, Associations/Shows/Marketing, and Film Commissions. Vendors pay to be listed in the directory and gain visibility among active production buyers, while production companies use the directory to research and contact local service providers.
Is Creative Handbook a public or private company?
Creative Handbook is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Creative Handbook founded?
Creative Handbook was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Creative Handbook based?
Creative Handbook is headquartered in Toluca Lake, United States, in the North America region.
How does Creative Handbook make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Directory Listings are the primary driver. The others are advertising.
Who are Creative Handbook's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ProductionHUB, Backstage and Mandy.com. Emerging players are Stage32 and Slated. IMDbPro is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Creative Handbook have an API?
No public API is recorded for Creative Handbook.
What industry is Creative Handbook in?
Creative Handbook's product category is Entertainment Production Directory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAAAE, Local Search & Business Directories, with a secondary code of MPADAFAG, Production Design & Art Department Services (Sets, Props, Scenic). Its NAICS code is 513140 and its SIC code is 7819.