PHD has been launched in Los Angeles as a collective led by visual effects industry veterans John Hughes (founder of VFX shop Rhythm and Hues) and Helena Packer along with film/TV/commercials director Kevin Donovan. A full service postproduction house working across VR/AR, independent films, documentaries, select TV projects and commercials, PHD also offers clients live-action production services. The company has offices in Los Angeles, India, Malaysia and South Africa.
PHD can provide all related services from soup to nuts, including live action production, postproduction, color grading, off and online editorial, visual effects, and final delivery. The company has already worked on various projects including two public service spots for the Climate Change organization 5 To Do Today, and multiple PSAs for WildAid.
PHD also collaborates with world class still photographers, including Kristian Schmidt, best known for his stunning underwater work, and Vern Evans, who is heralded for his soulful portraits.
Hughes said, “In a sense, our new company is a reconfigured version of R&H, but now we are much smarter, much more nimble, and much more results driven. We have very little overhead to deal with. Our team is among the best in the world, and has worked on hundreds of award winning films and commercials, many of which have featured highly acclaimed digital animals, such as the Oscar-winning Life of Pi.”
Packer added, “The word ‘value’ is of utmost importance to us when it comes to our clients. PHD is a highly efficient new company – we have digital artists here in Los Angeles, as well as in India, Malaysia and South Africa. Our combined team has extensive experience in prepping, shooting and handling all aspects of production and postproduction for visual effects. The team is based upon creating world-class, VFX storytelling with the hands-on involvement of all the principals on every project. Because of our vast network of worldwide talent, we are able to produce stunning results in the most efficient, timely, and cost-effective manner possible.”
Hughes led Rhythm and Hues (R&H) for 26 years, earning three Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects (Babe, The Golden Compass, and Life of Pi) as well as four scientific and engineering Academy Awards. R&H was famous for creating its own proprietary software used to generate photo-realistic character animation and visual effects.
Packer was inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 2008 for her creative contributions to filmmaking as an accomplished VFX artist, supervisor, and producer. Her expertise extends beyond feature films to episodic TV, stereoscopic 3-D, and animation. Packer has been a VFX supervisor and Flame artist for hundreds of commercials and over 20 movies, including 21 Jump Street and Charlie Wilson’s War.
Donovan is particularly well-versed in action and visual effects. He directed the feature film, The Tuxedo, and is currently producing the TV series What Would Trejo Do? Donovan has shot over 700 commercials during the course of his career, and is the winner of six Cannes Lions. He has filmed projects in Thailand, Romania, South Africa, Brazil, Hong Kong, Kenya, Spain, India, Taiwan, France, Canada, China and Tanzania, in addition to numerous other projects across the U.S.
