Academy and Emmy award winning visual effects and virtual production studio Pixomondo (PXO) is launching a London division this month with Alex Webster appointed as head of studio.
Most recently the managing director of Framestore pre-production services in London, Webster will focus on facilitating the growth of PXO’s virtual production services in Europe, working closely with the wider PXO management team.
PXO currently has three LED volumes either fully operational or under construction in Canada, located in Vancouver and Toronto and operated in conjunction with production equipment rental specialist William F. White International.
Potential locations for the new U.K. facility are under review pending client consultations. It will be closely integrated with PXO’s existing German operations, located in Frankfurt and Stuttgart.
Webster said, “Over the last few years I have witnessed first-hand the speed with which the integration of VP (virtual production) with visualization is reshaping the VFX industry. PXO is driving innovation in this space and making VP central to its workflow, becoming one of the most agile and creative studios working in the industry today. I’m thrilled to be working in close collaboration with the whole PXO team to design and build a state of the art integrated VP studio, which will combine teams in concept art, previs, virtual art and in-camera VFX with a brand-new LED volume in the U.K.”
At Framestore, Webster built FPS, the company’s pre-production division to more than 120 employees, specializing in previsualization, virtual production, techvis and postvis for clients in film, episodic and experiential media. Prior to that he was managing director of The Third Floor London and executive producer at VFX boutique Electric Theatre Collective, where he established its sister production company Friends Electric.
Webster’s earlier beginnings include the roles of deputy head of production at MPC, head of content at The Mill, where he spearheaded original content creation as part of Mill+, and managing director of Oscar winning animation studio Passion Pictures, overseeing the company’s operations in London and New York.
Jonny Slow, PXO CEO, said: “We have our roots in Europe, and Germany remains a central and crucial part of our VFX production and artistry capabilities. Adding a London presence to complement this strong foundation, focused on virtual production and run by Alex, will ensure that we can continue to expand our offering to clients, and service the significant amount of demand for these services in the U.K. and Europe.”
Slow added, “London is second only to Los Angeles for physical production services and home to a significant number of hugely talented crew, experienced in high-end TV and Film production. Virtual production demands that we locate ourselves close to these facilities and talent. A significant push during 2020 from the U.K. Department of International Trade to make the U.K. a virtual production Centre of Excellence, as well as investment from Mayfair Equity Partners, has allowed this part of our plan to be accelerated.”
Slow recently relocated back to London to assist with the launch after almost a decade in Los Angeles and three years at PXO.
The London launch represents the latest step in PXO’s push to grow interactive pre-production services for large feature and episodic projects. By working closely with producers from the first stages of the art process, PXO unlocks value for productions, empowers filmmakers to innovate and push creative boundaries while delivering cost-effective results more rapidly, and with reduced execution risk.
Allen Simpson, acting chief executive at London & Partners, the business growth and destination agency for London, commented, “We are thrilled Pixomondo has chosen to expand their European operations to London. The U.K. capital is home to a thriving film and TV production industry, including a host of cutting-edge companies at the forefront of innovation in visual effects and virtual production. Investments from companies like Pixomondo are a testament to London’s position as a global hub for creative industries and we look forward to welcoming them to the city.”
