The story of Lotech Media Ltd began in Christchurch, 2001. Co-founder Simon Barker was finishing a graphic design course and James Leonard was at University studying Political Science, we didn't know each other but both loved video and had seen VJ's performing at music festivals and wanting to get involved. Whilst visiting a mutual friend he mentioned that he had a VJ set at an upcoming ourdoor festival in the Southern Alps , however he wasn't able to attend. At the same time we both asked to take his place, and so he took us to meet the VJ co-ordinator, Tim Budgen. Both having never actually VJ'ed before, Tim wisely suggested that we should team up and perform together. We'd only just met but yes please! Our set was late at night, and as the weather got proper Alpine frosty, the gear started failing. Unfazed we had a ball taking turns playing with what was working, whilst the other coaxed equipment back to life. As our set finished with high fives we excitedly talked of 'getting a space and starting a VJ collective'. 'We'll call ourselves Lotech despite taking a hitech approach and 'just perform with computers, no more tapes' (the 486 had run perfectly all night!). On Monday, Simon rang the landlord of empty 2nd floor office space above the skate shop where he worked, we signed a lease and moved in the following weekend. James finished his arts degree, and a post graduation course at Chch Broadcasting School, then Lotech moved to Auckland and we worked in Television production. Still true to our roots, we spend weekend performing as VJ's at hip hop and dance music gigs. In 2011 we won the contract to run the screens at ‘Party Central’ on Queens Wharf for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and started making a name for Lotech in the live event industry. And then in 2016 we did the onset screen playback for the Warner Bros Shark film MEG. Now working across events, film and broadcast you'll find us where-ever clients are looking for creative screen content and playback.
