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.”
Oscar Nominees Delve Into The Art Of Editing At ACE Session
You couldn’t miss Sean Baker at this past Sunday’s Oscar ceremony where he won for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Editing on the strength of Anora. However, earlier that weekend he was in transit from the Cesar Awards in Paris and thus couldn’t attend the American Cinema Editors (ACE) 25th annual panel of Academy Award-nominated film editors held at the Regal LA Live Auditorium on Saturday (3/1) in Los Angeles. While the eventual Oscar winner in the editing category was missed by those who turned out for the ACE “Invisible Art, Visible Artists” session, three of Baker’s fellow nominees were on hand--Dávid Jancsó, HSE for The Brutalist; Nick Emerson for Conclave; and Myron Kerstein, ACE for Wicked. Additionally, Juliette Welfling, who couldn’t appear in person due to the Cesar Awards, was present via an earlier recorded video interview to discuss her work on Emilia Pérez. The interview was conducted by ACE president and editor Sabrina Plisco, ACE who also moderated the live panel discussion. Kerstein said that he was the beneficiary of brilliant and generous collaborators, citing, among others, director Jon M. Chu, cinematographer Alice Brooks, and visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. The editor added it always helps to have stellar acting performances, noting that hearing Cynthia Erivo, for example, sing live was a revelation. Kerstein recalled meeting Chu some eight years ago on a “blind Skype date” and it was an instant “bromance”--which began on Crazy Rich Asians, and then continued on such projects as the streaming series Home Before Dark and the feature In The Heights. Kerstein observed that Chu is expert in providing collaborators with... Read More