NEW YORK—London-headquartered visual effects, animation and post house Framestore CFC secured space in New York last week to begin construction on a new facility, which is scheduled to open for business in January.
Jon Collins, an eight-year Framestore veteran, will relocate to New York to serve as managing director there. He started at Framestore as head of production, and most recently served as facilities director, with his sphere of influence primarily in the commercial market.
"Everything we do is about listening to clients, forming relationships and collaborating," Collins said. "The larger [U.S.] projects come over to us in London, but the smaller jobs don’t. We have to make an effort and come to America. I’m showing I’m one hundred percent behind it—even in my lifestyle—to do this in New York."
Joining Collins in relocating from London is Stuart Robinson, who developed and headed Framestore’s Front system, an Internet-based review-and-approval and production services system. The New York office will connect to the London headquarters via the Front system; Robinson will head this effort, and multitask with additional responsibilities including serving as a producer, sales representative and facility engineer.
Plans call for the relocation of a core team, including one Flame artist and three CG artists, although it hasn’t yet been decided who will make the move. Others may visit for select projects, and the London company will be available to supplement the New York capabilities for large jobs.
The London company is know for commercials, television and feature work. Notable recent spot work includes Johnnie Walker’s "Fish" (SHOOT, 7/18-31, p. 20) and Xbox’s "Mosquito," both via London agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and directed by Daniel Kleinman of Spectre, London.
Framestore’s TV program work includes visual effects for Emmy winners such as the Discovery/BBC series Walking with Dinosaurs and the Hallmark special Dinotopia. Currently in production for features are visual effects for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Troy and Thunderbirds.
The company will reside in the Tribeca section of New York, sharing space held by editing shop Mad Mad Judy, which primarily handles feature work, as well as some commercial editorial. Collins explained that Framestore intends to share infrastructure and the machine room—which will be expanded—with Mad Mad Judy, and bring in a Discreet Flame and Alias’ Maya for CG.
Collins aims to start small, and build as needed to service clients. The next phase may be to hire local talent, but in the beginning he only wants to use Framestore employees. "We want to first establish this as Framestore," he explained.
London-based Framestore head of production Helen MacKenzie will take on some of the responsibilities previously handled by Collins in the U.K.
