DIVE, a division of Shooters Post & Transfer, hosted a grand opening party on May 28, 2008 to unveil its new state-of-the-art Digital Cinema Suite and celebrate its $2.5 million expansion. Local dignitaries and film industry officials including Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, attended the grand opening celebrating the growth of the company and its new movie division.
“We are delighted to celebrate the official opening of our new screening room which is a state-of-the art tool for movie producers in the industry,” said Dave West, President. “We are also very excited about our expansion in Philadelphia where we have been headquartered since 2001. Philadelphia has a long history of being the center of great movies and our new facility will attract even move films.”
Led by veteran Visual Effects Supervisor Mark Forker, the new screening room and expansion project upgrades the company’s technology and facility in Philadelphia. Aside from the digital cinema suite, DIVE is adding new digital, motion picture equipment.
DIVE’s expansion comes on the heels of last year’s passage of state legislation to provide $75 million in credits to offset taxes incurred by companies in the film industry operating in the Commonwealth. DIVE invested $2.5 million for improved infrastructure, such as equipment for visual effects, compositing, digital finishing, color enhancement and output. The Digital Cinema Suite contains a wall-sized projection screen for viewing, with movie theater-style seating, and additional state of the art computers and monitors for editing. The company also bought a Thompson Spirit 2k Telecine; a da Vinci Resolve color corrector; five Discreet Inferno / Smoke 2ks; a high-speed SAN; 10 VFX/graphics workstations; and other equipment.
“This is a great day for DIVE and for Shooters Post & Transfer,” said Governor Edward G. Rendell.
“Bringing new business and new films to the Commonwealth was the intent of the legislation. Philadelphia has always had a rich history in movies and it’s a great way to showcase our great city and the Commonwealth.”
“DIVE is a well-respected visual effects and film finishing house which is now poised to grow and expand in Philadelphia,” said Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office. “Philadelphia is already attracting top-notch filmmakers and producers in the industry and this expansion serves to attract additional new business to the Commonwealth that formerly sought visual effects elsewhere. This is an excellent example of how well the tax credits are working.”
DIVE is currently working on 10 films including “The Road” and “Happy Tears,” which stars Demi Moore. The company is led by Mark Forker who most recently served as the Visual Effects Supervisor at Digital Domain in Los Angeles. For 12 years, Forker served as a digital compositor and visual effects supervisor on such films as “Apollo 13,” “Titanic,” “Cinderella Man,” “Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Star Trek: Nemesis” and “Zoom” while at Digital Domain, the visual effects company founded by James Cameron and Stan Winston.
Some of DIVE’s past projects include editing, dailies, ADR, title work, color-correction, visual effects, sound design and/or second unit work for the following films: “Jumper,” “Cover,” “Homecoming,” “RED,” “The Happening,” “The Lovely Bones,” “Tooth & Nail,” “Two Days in April,” “The Big Bad Swim,” “Shadowboxer,” “The Big Bad Swim,” “Teeth” (lead actress Jess Weixler was recognized at the Sundance Film Festival), “Royal Kill,” “Still Waters,” “New Orleans Music in Exile,” “Deep Sea Blues,” “Cugini,” “Book of Caleb,” “Haggard,” “The Final Patient” and “Consequences.” DIVE also has worked on a few short films, including “Holy Sapien,” “Three A.M.” and “Sara & Dee.”
About DIVE:
Based in Philadelphia, DIVE (www.the-dive.net), is a new visual effects and film finishing house led by veteran Visual Effects Supervisor Mark Forker – most recently Visual Effects Supervisor at Digital Domain, Los Angeles. The new company will focus on providing the film community with visual effects, digital intermediates, and titles. For more information, contact: Mark Forker or Andy Williams at 267-514-7700
About Shooters Post & Transfer
Shooters Post & Transfer (www.shootersinc.com), blends talent, technology, and customer service to provide a superior level of quality and creativity. Shooters’ client base consists of ad agencies, production companies, filmmakers, television and cable networks, political consultants, PR firms, and corporations. The company is located in Historic Old City Philadelphia. Capabilities include Spirit 2K film transfer w/ Bones data, da Vinci 2k Plus w/Colorist Toolbox; Resolve Digital Cinema Suite, five Inferno/Smoke2k suites, seven Avid non-linear edit, four final cut suites, CGI and graphic design, Flame, three surround sound audio suites, audio recording studio, film, HD and video crews and studio. The company also produces Food Network’s “Dinner: Impossible.”
