New London — Astor Place, a video-production studio in downtown that grew out of a former special-effects agency in Manhattan, has finally taken root with locals.

Co-founders Ralph Belfiglio and Peter Walsh said the company, which spent its first year largely working on projects of statewide or national scope, now is developing a name for itself among local institutions such as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Mystic Aquarium, Stoneridge retirement community and Nature's Art.

And the uptick is starting to show in the bottom line.

"In year two, our revenue more than doubled," Belfigio said. "All of a sudden we have really kind of broken into the local market."

The Nature's Art account was one in a series of breakthroughs for the studio. Astor Place created about half a dozen separate videos for the Montville tourist stop that were used in a major social-media campaign over the summer that helped spur a business boost, Walsh said.

The videos were shown outside the Montville gift shop to indicate what was inside the store, while other screens inside the shop demonstrated some of the attractions, such as a dinosaur park, that could be accessed by walking outside.

"In a few days, there were some incredible increases (in sales)," Walsh said.

Astor Place also worked with the city-based Quinn & Hary advertising agency to produce videos for the Coast Guard Academy to promote pledges to the planned National Coast Guard Museum in downtown. The videos helped potential donors become acquainted with various aspects of the Coast Guard and included interviews with cadets, officers and supporters.

The video for Stoneridge, which interspersed still photography, introduced potential tenants and their families to all the retirement community's amenities, allowing outsiders accessing the facility's website a glimpse at the people, activities and amenities to give a feel for the place before visiting. The reaction, Walsh said, has been positive.

The response from other like-minded businesses in the area has been equally positive, Belfiglio said, with a great group of local editors, programmers and graphics people helping supplement Astor Place's five-person staff, including Curt Ramm, a professional trumpet player who regularly tours with Bruce Springsteen and takes care of most of the sound work.

"It's just a great community of talented people in this area," Belfiglio said.

Belfiglio, former creative director at Waterford's Sonalysts Inc., once ran a special-effects agency in New York City that was close by to the Manhattan subway stop Astor Place, hence the name. He still hopes to open a branch office in Manhattan someday, but for now he likes the low rents and cool open feel of his State Street office, which is only a few steps away from the downtown train station.

Astor Place has expanded its footprint within the Harris Place building by taking over several office spaces to create a conference area and studio for product shoots, another aspect of the business that is taking off.

"We have clients who just keep sending us business," Belfiglio said. "Repeat customers have been a godsend."

l.howard@theday.com

Twitter: @KingstonLeeHow

What: Astor Place Inc.

Where: 165 State St., Fifth Floor

Principals: Peter Walsh, Ralph Belfiglio and Curt Ramm

Years in business: 2

Website: www.astorplaceinc.com

Phone: (860) 574-9009

Email: Walsh@astorplaceinc.com