By Robert Goldrich
DALLAS --Reel FX, a Dallas-headquartered design and CG animated content producer for feature films and commercials, finalized a deal last month to acquire digital effects studio Radium, according to the latter company’s cofounder/president Jonathan Keeton. Radium maintains studios in Santa Monica and San Francisco. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
The two companies–which maintain their respective identities in the marketplace–are in the process of merging their resources and capabilities, laying the groundwork for both to diversify. For example, Reel FX has been proactive in the development of intellectual property, particularly on the animation feature film front, noted Keeton. This represents new ground for Radium, which has provided digital effects services primarily to the commercial production business. Now as the ad industry goes beyond traditional spotmaking to encompass new forms of content, the intellectual property savvy of Reel FX could come into play for Radium, helping it to extend its reach beyond conventional work-for-hire scenarios when dealing with ad community clientele on new marketing/entertainment fare.
Conversely, Reel FX gains footholds in California, enabling its artists to tap into West Coast facilities that could open up new doors in Hollywood, for example. This breaking down of geographic barriers also applies to commercials as Radium can work more directly with Texas agencies, and Reel FX’s artisans can better liaison with agency creatives who are either based or shooting in California.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us,” said Keeton, who now becomes executive creative director of the services division of the combined organization. “Reel FX is a leader in technology and the development of intellectual properties. By combining our studios, we are creating a new entity capable of greater depth in all areas–a new entity where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
Dale Carman, cofounder of Reel FX, described Radium as being “one of the best creative shops in the nation. We’ve long admired its work for clients like adidas, GMC and Target. It is a fantastic opportunity to bring together two like-minded organizations to build something very unique for the industry.”
That like-minded spirit is reflected in the fact that both companies were founded by artists, including Reel FX’s Carman and Radium’s Keeton and creative director Simon Mowbray. Reel FX opened in 1993 while Radium was launched three years later.
Combined the companies have an artists pool of some 130 individuals, with the lion’s share coming from Reel FX. The CEO of the combined operations is Reel FX’s Steve O’Brien.
“Further developments will be announced as the companies complete the integration plans,” stated O’Brien, adding that “the combination of both organizations’ broad capabilities in advertising and entertainment positions us as a leading player in emerging media such as branded entertainment, online and viral campaigns and mobile platform marketing/entertainment.”
Damien Chazelle, Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons On The Return Of “Whiplash” To Theaters After 10 Years
Ten years after " Whiplash " took the film world by storm, Damien Chazelle's breakthrough feature is returning to theaters nationwide Friday.
In 2014, "Whiplash" was the ultimate indie movie Cinderella story — a Sundance discovery made by a 20-something that that would go on to become both a box office hit and an awards darling: It won three Oscars, including for J.K. Simmons ' portrayal of a semi-sadistic and ever quotable jazz ensemble instructor; launched Chazelle's directing career into the A-list stratosphere; and established Miles Teller as a next generation movie star. Now, audiences will get another chance to experience it on the big screen.
Chazelle, Teller and Simmons spoke recently about the re-release, their memories of the 20-day shoot (including when Teller accidentally broke his co-star's rib) and making something with staying power. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: What has it been like watching "Whiplash" settle into the culture in the past decade?
CHAZELLE: It's very cool, a little surreal. It doesn't feel like 10 years. It's fun to have a moment like this to relive it a little bit.
SIMMONS: It's sobering to know that I'm 10 years older. It's kind of shocking and kind of awesome that the movie actually holds up. I just saw it a few days ago in Toronto: That's a good piece of cinema.
TELLER: This is the first time I've ever had a movie re-released. I'm still fairly young into my career, but it's an incredible movie. The one thing that's frustrating for me is that people just yell out at me all the time, " not my tempo." So that's stuck around well.
SIMMONS: Maybe if you get the tempo... Read More