Cinesite (Europe) wins visual effects deals for slate of blockbusters

Cinesite (Europe) have announced that they have been awarded major visual effects and model contracts for a large slate of blockbusters scheduled for release in late 2004 through to late 2005.
The films include 'Charlie & The Chocolate Factory' (Warner Bros), 'Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire' (Warner Bros), 'Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy' (Disney) and 'Alfie' (Parmount Pictures). This represents a large volume of work for Cinesite, which has moved straight into previsualisation and development.
Cinesite, currently the only supplier of visual effects to 'Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy' and 'Alfie', is booked to complete a major award of work on 'Charlie & The Chocolate Factory' and 'Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire'. Cinesite is also completing all 500 visual effects 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 UK.
The high volume of large productions coming to Cinesite has led 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 UK post production industry, which indicated that the industry had helped to generate £1.39 billion for the UK 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 said: "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 UK economy. The UK 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."
Managing Director of Cinesite, Antony Hunt, said: “What is particularly exciting about this new slate of films is that many will be utilising 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 & The Prisoner of Azkaban (Warner Bros.) and King Arthur (Bruckheimer). This newly won work will be a further opportunity for Cinesite to demonstrate the high quality of our 3D work.”
Leading UK film model division Cinesite Models, based at Shepperton Studios, completed work earlier this year on the model build and unit direction for Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban also in 2004 completed a major model build for Phantom of The Opera.
Cinesite’s physical effects business Effects Associates recently worked on 'Thunderbirds' (Working Title), 'Wimbledon' (Working Title) and 'Hellboy' (Sony Pictures), and is currently completing 'Cave' (Lakeshore).
Cinesite CEO Colin Brown, recently appointed to the board of the UK Film Council and the newly established organisation UK Post, which will serve to represent the interests of UK post production said: “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 UK 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 UK 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 UK market continue”.
Cinesite, www.cinesite.co.uk
(SP)