Prime Focus Group, a publicly traded, Mumbai-headquartered postproduction company, has expanded into North America with the acquisitions of Post Logic Studios, Hollywood and New York, and Frantic Films VFX, which maintains offices in Los Angeles, Vancouver, B.C., and Winnipeg.
Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed, and the transactions are pending any and all applicable regulatory approvals. The structure of these acquisitions is yet to be finalized.
The latest Prime Focus purchases continue the growth of its global footprint. Last year the company–which operates six studios in three different cities in India–bought a 55 percent controlling interest in The VTR Group (encompassing London post house VTR, editorial/post house Blue, visual effects arm Hive and standards conversion/duplication business The Machine Room) and finalized a management buyout of London effects boutique Clear (which then absorbed Hive). At that time, as reported by SHOOT (9/22/06) Prime Focus turned its acquisition sights to the stateside market, a goal which has now been realized with the Post Logic and Frantic Films VFX deals.
Prime Focus Group plans to continue operations of both Post Logic Studios and Frantic Films as independent facilities. Post Logic is known for delivering high level digital intermediate, color science and post services to independent and studio feature clientele. Recent Post Logic projects include American Gangster, Phoebe in Wonderland, Smart People and Elite Squad. The bicoastal shop is also active in commercials.
The Frantic deal includes not only the visual effects company but also its R&D division, Frantic Films Software, that develops and markets effects software solutions. However, NOT part of the Prime Focus acquisition are Frantic’s live-action production/post facilities and a TV commercial division that will continue to operate independently out of Winnipeg and Toronto.
Namit Mahlotra, founder of Prime Focus, noted that Frantic (with such feature credits as Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer, Superman Returns and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium) and Post Logic “will facilitate a gateway for Prime Focus Group into all of the major studios. Both companies also have strong R&D divisions that have developed proprietary technologies and processes for film color management, visual effects and pipeline collaboration which will benefit the organization as a whole.”
Post Logic CEO Larry Birstock said, “We look forward to being part of the successful Prime Focus Group organization and to taking advantage of creative synergies across continents and across disciplines to deliver a new model for the future of digital postproduction.”
Frantic co-founder Chris Bond noted that Prime Focus “will allow us to expand the Frantic Films presence in North America with additional staff and resources to take on even larger projects than ever before. We also anticipate working closely with Prime Focus Group companies across North America, India and the U.K. to broaden our pipelines internationally, and offer our film VFX clients an expanded slate of post services.”
How The Hollywood Awards Calendar Has Been Affected By The Wildfires
Hollywood's awards season has all but come to a rare halt as the wildfires continue to disrupt life and work in the Los Angeles area. There are near daily updates from the Hollywood guilds and organizations that put on awards shows as the industry navigates the ongoing crisis.
Here's an overview of the major upcoming awards shows, from the Oscars to the Grammys, including updated dates for nominations.
Producers Guild and Writers Guild award nominations
Postponed, no new dates announced
The Writers Guild of America nominations were to be announced Jan. 8, a date that was pushed to Jan. 13 and then postponed indefinitely. The Producers Guild of America nominations for feature films were to be announced on Jan. 10, which was pushed to Jan. 12 and then postponed to an unspecified date this week.
Academy Award nominations
Jan. 23
The Oscar nominations have been twice-delayed — they were initially slated for Jan. 17, then Jan. 19, before being delayed again. The delay in the announcement accommodates an extended voting deadline, as many Academy members have been affected by the wildfires.
The nominations will be announced via a "virtual presentation," eschewing press on site.
Critics Choice Awards
Jan. 26
Originally slated for Jan. 12, the awards were set to take place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, only miles from the Pacific Palisades neighborhood where fire was raging.
The awards will be broadcast live on E!, hosted by Chelsea Handler.
Grammy Awards
Feb. 2
By virtue of announcing their nominations back in November, the Grammys' schedule has largely been unaffected by the wildfires. Some... Read More