PRODUCTION NEWS

MARK MILSOME FOUNDATION CALLS FOR CULTURAL CHANGE IN FILM AND TV INDUSTRY

As the fifth anniversary of the tragic on-set death of respected British cameraman Mark Milsome approaches, Samantha Wainstein, chair of MMF, the charitable foundation set up in his name, has called for long overdue cultural change to protect crews working in the British film and television industry. The Foundation is asking for the industry establishment, including BECTU, PACT, PGGB, and all industry guilds, to unite to create lasting change. Since its inception, MMF has had continual dialogue with crews. In 2020, it commissioned a detailed survey to gauge opinion on their working conditions and then created a Health & Safety Passport course in 2021. Whilst individual crew members have responded positively to the course, as far as the established industry goes, nothing has changed.

MMF will launch Black T-Week on 18th November, when film and television crews across the UK will honour their late colleague by wearing T-shirts exclusively designed by celebrated French cinematographer Benoît Delhomme AFC ASC. Delhomme and Milsome worked together on The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and The Theory Of Everything, and the DP has lent his passion and talent to this MMF initiative, creating a design with the simple yet powerful words, “Because Mark” and “Inspire Change”.

DEDOLIGHT’S 3-PART LIGHTSTREAM FAMILY

Dedolight has announced the three-part, Lightstream family of scaleable products for working with reflected light. The reflectors are available in five sizes, with five surfaces that have different reflective characters, with motorised options also available.

All of the reflectors are activated with efficiency by the company’s parallel beamoptical systems, from 1200 Watt parabolic, with a vast range of focussing lights, all the way down to 8 Watt.

Dedolight parallel beam intensifiers are used to increase light output by focussing the light into a reflector, Users can simply attach the parallel beam intensifier to a focussing Dedolight and increase the light output by more than 500%.

The company has now announced the complete system for Dedolight Lightstream as a three-part family. The Dedolight Lightstream for drama shows, provides the illusion of infinity lighting, even in confined spaces. Dedolight Lightstream Lite is an eight reflector kit, which can be activated by a single light, from 150W down to a 40W bicolor LED, meaning that complete sets, including background, can be lit. The Dedolight Lightstream Table Top offers endless creative options, including 15 different reflectors, two small 8W Ledzilla lights, enhanced by the Parallel Beam Intensifiers.

SCREENSKILLS TRAINEE FINDER WEBINAR

Trainee Finder is ScreenSkills’ industryrespected entry-level programme, which places trainees with less than a year’s industry experience on paid placements with films and children’s and high-end TV (HETV) series.

Screenskills has created an hour-long webinar featuring information on how Trainee Finder supports trainees and what makes a great candidate. Trainee Finder is for candidates with some, but not more than a year’s experience in the industry

The webinar features film trainee finder lead Celia Small, HETV trainee finder outreach manager Joanna Booth, as well as trainees themselves – a mix of former and current trainees from a range of departments – who share their first-hand experience of Trainee Finder and offer advice for people who want to apply as well as hints and tips for anyone just starting out. The webinar is available on the Screenskills website.

BFI LAUNCHES 10-YEAR VISION FOR UK SCREEN CULTURE AND INDUSTRY

BFI chair Tim Richards and chief executive Ben Roberts have published Screen Culture 2033, the BFI’s new 10-year strategy signalling a fresh approach to benefitting the public and industry through to its landmark centenary in 2033.

This new vision sets out how the UK’s lead organisation for film and the moving image will transform access to its unique and valuable collections, cultural and education programmes, and use policy and research work, alongside a new BFI National Lottery Strategy and Funding Plan to build a diverse and accessible screen culture that benefits all of society and contributes to a prosperous UK economy.

Working in unison with Screen Culture 2033, the new BFI National Lottery Strategy 2023-2033 will guide how it will invest approximately £45 million a year of National Lottery ‘good cause’ funding over the first three years of the 10-year strategy period.

At the heart of Screen Culture 2033 and the BFI National Lottery Strategy are three core principles which both guide the BFI’s own activities and cut across every area to be supported by National Lottery funding. These are: equity, diversity and inclusion, so everyone can develop a meaningful relationship with screen culture, regardless of their background or circumstances; UK-wide, so that everyone across the four nations of the UK should be able to experience and create the widest range of moving image storytelling; and environmental sustainability, from reducing the BFI’s own carbon emissions to supporting wider industry efforts to get to net zero.

PINEWOOD STUDIOS CELEBRATES 60 YEARS SINCE DR NO & OPENS THE SEAN CONNERY STAGE

James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli attended a private event at Pinewood Studios to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dr No and the official opening of The Sean Connery Stage.

Sir Sean’s granddaughter, Saskia Connery, opened the stage on behalf of the Connery family, and previous cast and crew from a number of 007 films joined the celebrations.

The Aston Martin DB5 and Rolls Royce Phantom III as seen in Goldfinger were on-display inside the 18,000sq/ft stage. The Rolls Royce was the actual car as seen on-screen, whilst the Aston Martin is a replica of the model that featured gadgets including an ejector seat in the film.

The Sean Connery Stage stands close to the entrance to the studios, with a new entrance feature, and is located on the corner of Goldfinger Avenue, named after the famous scene in the film where James Bond (Sean Connery) activates the ejector seat in the Aston Martin DB5.

Dr No, the first official James Bond film, was shot at Pinewood Studios with Sean Connery in the lead role and opened in cinemas across the globe on 5 October 1962.

ARRI HONOURED WITH ENGINEERING EMMY

At the 74th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards ceremony ARRI was honoured with the Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award.

With this prestigious accolade, the Television Academy recognises the company for its more than a century of designing and manufacturing camera and lighting systems as well as its development of systemic technological solutions and service networks for a worldwide complex of film, broadcast, and media industries.

This year’s Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award winner was decided by a jury from the Television Academy consisting of television engineers.

The Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award already marks the fifth separate occasion that the Television Academy has recognised ARRI. Most recently, ARRI was presented with an Engineering Emmy for its SkyPanel family of LED softlights in 2021 and for the ARRI Alexa camera system in 2017.

WARNER BROS. DE LANE LEA MOVES TO NEW FACILITY IN SOHO

Warner Bros. De Lane Lea (WBDLL) has announced it will be moving from its current home on Dean Street to Ilona Rose House, Soho Estates, a new development on Greek Street. Located over three floors of the building, the post production house will be home to the UK’s largest mixing stage.

The 32,000sq/ft premises benefit from being purpose-built, enabling the design to be planned from the outset, providing clients with a seamless experience.

Kim Waugh, EVP worldwide of post production creative services, said,”This new home for our team of multi-award-winning talents will bring another level of service to the post production world in London. The size and quality of the stages are exceptional, and I’m delighted we are remaining within the heart of Soho’s vibrant and creative community.”

Some of the highlights include the UK’s largest mixing stage, featuring 4K DCI laser projection with Dolby Atmos and IMAX monitoring, a suite of 45 networked and acoustically-treated cutting rooms with programmable lighting systems, three further mixing stages and two large DCI grading theatres including 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos monitoring.

ROSCO PROMOTES RAMOS TO SALES DIRECTOR

As sales director for EMEA, Steve will lead the Rosco sales activities for the region in the company’s live entertainment and film, television & broadcast markets.

Steve Ramos joined Rosco in 2005 as its UK sales representative. Since then, his roles and responsibilities have expanded steadily, including positions in the company’s marketing department and its Rosco Architectural division.

“Steve’s commitment to Rosco and our customers is second to none,” said Cristian Arroyo, Rosco vice president of global film, television, and broadcast market. “His leadership has not only taken Rosco to record revenue figures in EMEA, but he was especially effective as we navigated the uncharted waters of the pandemic. Steve’s vast experience, his long- lasting relationships with our EMEA customers, and his deep knowledge of Rosco products will enable him to set our sales strategies – not just for an encouraging present, but for a very bright future as well.”

NEW IMPROVED FLOW FOR EURO CINE EXPO 2023

Held once again on the Motorworld complex, Euro Cine Expo 2023 will benefit from a new and improved layout, designed to complement and enhance the flow and event experience for exhibitors and attendees.

The new event footprint aims to improve the connectivity of the halls & spaces and promote a natural and convenient flow for visitors and exhibitors, whilst increasing capacity and functionality.

Among the many developments being made, Euro Cine Expo 2023 will be focusing on the visitor experience improving the registration zone and adding special feature areas. The 2023 event will incorporate a dedicated “Virtual Production Zone”, as well as a “Skills Zone” where the next generation will be able to benefit from the guidance available from

HUGH WHITTAKER NEW VP OF SET LIGHTING & RIGGING AT WBSL

Hugh Whittaker has been appointed VP of set lighting and rigging at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (WBSL). He will provide leadership and direction for day-to-day operations, whilst also maintaining WBSL’s awardwinning standards.

Whittaker joins WBSL from Panavision, where he spent over 30 years as a director of the UK and EMEA teams. Throughout his career, he has received awards from the British Society Of Cinematographers, the Guild Of British Camera Technicians, and the Production Guild Of Great Britain.

Emily Stillman, senior vice president, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden commented, “Our amazing set lighting and rigging team are a vital part of the operations here at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, going above-and-beyond to provide productions with everything they could need. We’re so excited to have Hugh join us, his wealth of experience in the industry will help take this service to a new level and help support the production journey.”

MATTHEWS ANNOUNCES C-STAND SHOULDER KITBAGS

Matthews, known for its go-everywhere C-stands and other grip gear, now has a more efficient way to transport them to a set or location. The C-Stand Shoulder kitbag takes the awkwardness out of carrying up to two fixed or turtle-based C-stands, in either 20” or 40” sizes.

The C-Stand shoulder kitbag features a triangular design packed with ample ABS honeycomb and high-density, closed-cell EVA foam padding, for protection against bumps and jolts. Its rugged black, water-resistant ballistic nylon and polyester exterior unzips butterfly-style, to reveal a generous inner compartment in highvisibility Matthew’s signature red lining. Within it, padded dividers separate stands, whilst convenient hook n’ loop fabric straps prevent shifting of the contents.

For easy access, the Kitbag offers dualdirectional easy-glide zippers. Additionally, quick catch magnetic grip handles, and a padded shoulder strap ease set-up and tear down.

With internal dimensions of 57” x 20.5” x 4” shoulder kitbags fit virtually every Matthews C-stand including both sliding and spring-loaded fixed-based versions as well as Turtle-base varieties. The C-Stand shoulder kitbag is available through Matthews dealers worldwide.

industry professionals from around the world and will include information on universities and apprenticeships.

By maximising Motorworld’s indoor and outdoor spaces, Euro Cine Expo 2023 will continue in its vision to deliver a festival style environment with on-site restaurants, food trucks, and areas to socialise where everyone can gather and network.

NANLUX INTRODUCES EVOKE 1200B BICOLOUR LED SPOTLIGHT

Nanlux has announced the release of Evoke 1200B, in its next evolution in bi-colour LED fixtures.

Incorporating a product philosophy refined over the past 30 years, the Evoke 1200B is a new tool for cinematographers and gaffers in film & TV production, and the company hopes it will prove a game-changer in bringing a “beyondanticipation user experience” for large film crews who demand subtle, yet precise lighting.

The Evoke 1200B offers high-quality light in the same category by adapting 2×1200W Bicolor LED chips in dot matrix format. It features high light efficiency with a luminance level of 5600K up to 61,030lux@3m (with reflector RFNLM-26), comparable to that of a 1.8kW PAR or 2.5kW HMI Fresnel.

Developed with professionals in mind who care about colour quality in filming, Evoke 1200B features colour rendering capability highlighted by CRI, TLCI and TM-30 scores.

COOKE OPTICS INVESTS IN FACILITIES AND STAFF FOR GLOBAL GROWTH

Cooke Optics has announced its major investment in two facilities and several new staff appointments to support its on-going global growth.

Crest Rise, a 600sq/m production facility, located near to its existing factory in Leicester, UK, was specifically-commissioned to facilitate a fast introduction of the new S8/i FF T1.4 range, with the aim of achieving annual outputs significantly in excess of any previous Cooke product range.

Cooke is also opening a new Creative Centre located at Chaowai Soho, in the Chaoyang district of Beijing, headed by technical sales manager, Anson Gil Mercado. It incorporates an in-house studio where customers can test a wide variety of Cooke lenses, as well as meeting rooms and a lounge area for events. Daniela Kesselem has joined Cooke in the new role of chief product officer. Her extensive experience includes roles as director of product management at Leitz and Schneider Optics. Peter Dorai joins Cooke as director of sales for India, Africa and the Middle East, whilst Carey Duffy moves to the new role of director of product experiences, after over six years as director of sales for Europe. Jaimie Cluer has joined the sales team in the role of European account manager, and Chris D’Anna joins in the new role of technical sales representative in Cooke’s new Burbank, LA, office.