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Cinesite Wins High Profile VFX Slate

Cinesite (Europe) Ltd. has been awarded major visual effects and model contracts for a large slate of high profile films scheduled for release at the end of 2004 and 2005, including CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (Warner Bros.), HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (Warner Bros.), HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (Disney) and ALFIE (Paramount Pictures).

This represents a large volume of work for Cinesite, which has moved straight into previsualisation and development. Cinesite is currently the only supplier of visual effects to HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY and ALFIE, and is booked to complete a major award of work on CHARLIE and GOBLET OF FIRE. Cinesite is also completing all 500 vfx shots, visual effects supervision and supplying facility offices for the forthcoming Jerry Bruckheimer film KING ARTHUR, the first time that a major Bruckheimer production has been post produced in the U.K.

The high volume of large productions coming to Cinesite has lead to the workforce and capacity expanding by around 100%, since moving to substantially larger premises at Medius House, Soho last summer.

Earlier this year the UK Film Council and the DTI revealed the results of a report into the U.K. post-production industry, which indicated that the industry had helped to generate £1.39 billion for the U.K. economy and 15,000 jobs. Post-production now accounts for 25% of all production budget spending.

Steve Norris, British Film Commissioner and Head of the UK Film Council's International Department says, "Today's announcement is good news for the British film industry and shows yet more evidence of the significant contribution it makes to the overall U.K. economy. The U.K. post-production sector has a world renowned reputation and Cinesite's work on these fantastic productions shows that we are a force to be reckoned with."

Antony Hunt, managing director of Cinesite, adds, "What is particularly exciting about this new slate of films is that many will be utilizing multiple Cinesite services, including our highly successful model construction & photography business, Cinesite Models. Also, over the past few months we have considerably developed the 3D creative side of our business, completing complex 3D and character animation work on HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN and KING ARTHUR. This newly won work will be a further opportunity for Cinesite to demonstrate the high quality of our 3D work."

Cinesite ceo Colin Brown, recently appointed to the board of the UK Film Council and the newly established organization UK Post, which will serve to represent the interests of U.K. post production, says: "There has never been such a busy and successful year at Cinesite (Europe) Ltd. The volume of work and the quality of our output sets new benchmarks for the U.K. visual effects industry. My position, both as an avid observer of the global effects market and a board member of the UK Film Council, allows me a broad view in which real comparisons can be made on the success of the U.K. visual effects and post-production industry. As such, I can say unequivocally that we are chasing the Hollywood facilities. Long may the current buoyancy of the U.K. market continue."

Bill Desowitz's picture

Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.

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