Director and visual effects supervisor Bruce Nicholson-a 20-year (78-98) veteran of Industrial Light+Magic (ILM), San Rafael, Calif. where he was part of a team that helped earn effects Oscars for Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Empire Strikes Back-has joined Pinnacle Studios, Seattle. In between ILM and Pinnacle, Nicholson worked at Northern Californias Tippett Studio, supervising effects for the Michael Bay-directed feature Armageddon.
Also coming on board Pinnacle is Meg Partridge in the newly created role of exec. producer for the overall operation, reporting directly to president Warren Franklin. As an independent artisan in the Bay Area since 80, Partridge has worked as a director/producer of documentaries (i.e.-the Oscar nominated Portrait of Imogen about photographer Imogen Cummingham) and most recently as a producer of new media projects (i.e.-Web sites, CD-ROM, kiosk production and design) for such companies as Hewlett-Packard, Compaq and multimedia ad agency CKS.
The two hires help realize the corporate blueprint Franklin-himself a former ILM executive-mapped out for Pinnacle when he joined as its president in Sept. 97. His goal was to diversify the post/broadcast graphics and design facility into visual effects for commercials and longform. Additionally, he sought out directorial talent that could helm projects-most notably spots-encompassing live action and effects.
Nicholson brings both directing and effects supervision expertise into the company fold. In the spot arena while at ILM, he served as director on a Nokia cellular phones campaign in 97, and visual effects supervisor on ads for Armorall, Eveready Energizer batteries and Nissan. The latter was Pigeons out of TBWA/Chiat/Day, Los Angeles, which debuted during the 97 Super Bowl telecast. On the feature side, Nicholsons credits include acting as optical supervisor on Dragonslayer, Poltergeist, Return of the Jedi and Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom, compositing supervisor on Willow and visual effects supervisor on Star Wars Special Edition, Ghost and Field of Dreams. And at press time, Nicholson was in the midst of visual effects supervisor duties for Pinnacle on Reindeer Games, a feature being directed by John Frankenheimer.
Nicholson becomes the second hybrid visual effects supervisor/spot director on Pinnacles staff. Back in 97, the company brought in effects supervisor (i.e.-Friday the 13th, Part VII) and director Dale Fay (SHOOT, 9/12/97, p. 7). At Pinnacle, Fay has helmed spots for such clients as Home Depot for The Richards Group, Dallas. He also directed an image trailer for Cinemark Theatres, Dallas.
Other Pinnacle hybrids include director/designer Will Hyde who is established in the spot and broadcast design disciplines, and director/editor Jack Barrett. And the studio recently bolstered its 3-D CGI stock with the hiring of digital animation supervisor Mike Necci (SHOOT, 11/27/98, p. 7). Pinnacle also continues to maintain Hubcap, a design/editorial boutique.
Franklin noted that the creation of the exec. producers post for Partridge was necessitated by the companys broadened base of services. We needed someone, related Franklin, to oversee all aspects-commercials, features, visual effects, digital animation, broadcast design and postproduction services; and just as importantly help to integrate those creative and production services so that ad agencies can, when appropriate, tap into effects, design, directing talent and postproduction in different combinations. Franklin estimated that about 60% of Pinnacles business comes from commercials, with feature and broadcast market work accounting for 20% apiece.
In retrospect, one aspect of Franklins master plan that didnt pan out as expected was expansion through satellite offices. Originally Franklin envisioned opening a Pinnacle office in Southern California and possibly other markets as needed. Briefly, the company maintained such an office on the Raleigh Studios lot in Hollywood. But it became pretty apparent that with todays technology, it wasnt necessary, said Franklin. We are able to send everything on our FTP site over the Internet to our clients for review and approval. Franklin noted that Pinnacle, for example, has worked regularly in this fashion with Dallas ad agency The Richards Group.
The only other pressing geographical matter to figure out is sales representation. Independent rep firm Novick & Associates, Los Angeles and San Francisco, is handling Pinnacle directors/effects supervisors Nicholson and Fay for spotwork out of West Coast agencies. Franklin said that Pinnacle is looking at representation prospects in Chicago and New York.
