MOLINARE FORMS

Molinare Creative Group

In line with expansion and diversification into games and advertising, Soho-based post-production facility Molinare, has become Molinare Creative Group, designed to streamline the company’s business lines and bolster services to provide an end-to-end solution to the post-production industry.

Affiliated audio post production facility, Pip Studios, has been brought into the group, providing clients with localisation mixing, and services for the film, TV and Gaming communities.

Cooke Optics has announced that 60mm, 90mm and 150mm Macro/i FF 1:1 lenses are now available to order as a full set. The set of three spherical complimentary macro lenses are performance matched to the S8/i FF, Varotal/i FF, and S7/i FF and feature the iconic Cooke Look. Each lens has expanded focus scale marks for shooting as normal focus standard prime lens, with the ability to close focus down to 1:1 macro with a maximum aperture of T2.5. These unique macro lenses are equally at home for principal photography and table top product close-up shots.

At 1:1 macro, the close focus of the 60mm lens front measured from the sensor plane is 46 mm (1.8 in.). For the 90mm, the 1:1 close focus is 92mm (3.6 in.). For the 150mm, the 1:1 close focus is 162mm (6.4 in.).

With a small front diameter of 87mm, the new Macro/i FF lenses have been created for a wide variety of situations and today’s compact digital cinema cameras. Being compact, however, has not compromised strength, durability, or their exceptional image aesthetic.

As part of the new structure, Molinare Creative Group has acquired Digital Dailies and DIT company, Notorious DIT. Founded by Michael Pentney, Notorious DIT’s list of credits include The Gentlemen, Peaky Blinders and Heartstopper. Pentney will remain as the company’s MD and it will retain its branding. Operating as a separate division of the group, the investment signifies Molinare’s on-going commitment to providing a seamless service from shoot to final delivery.

In addition to the investment, Molinare has launched two brands, Sound Warriors and Voice Molinare, which provide external audio services for the games, advertising, TV and film communities.

Molinare TV & Film will continue to focus on delivering high quality post production services for the film, scripted/ unscripted TV community, including dedicated, offline facilities, picture and audio finishing, QC, mastering and delivery.

Nigel Bennett, CEO, Molinare commented, “The introduction of Molinare Creative Group reflects years of on-going work to develop, grow, and restructure the well-regarded Molinare brand. The new structure allows us to be clearer with what services we provide, the creatives who will be working on them, and where they are rolled out.”

Michael Pentney, MD, Notorious DIT added, “Since starting Notorious, we’ve had the privilege to work on some of the biggest dramas, films and factuals in the world. As we continue to grow, partnering with Molinare will enable us to realise our ambition. It was integral for any partner of ours to have the same ethos as us – fearlesslyindependent and willing to take risks to provide the most efficient solution for beautiful results.”

Bovingdon Airfield Studios: Independently-owned film and TV production complex, Bovingdon Airfield Studios, has presented a masterplan for the further development of its studios, building upon a 20-year history as a blank canvas for film shoots.

The site owners plan to rebuild the iconic WW2 control tower within the next few years, to be surrounded by an office accommodation hub for productions to base themselves from.

“Within our masterplan vision we would like to evolve the site to become a complex with a total of 240,000sq/ft of sound stages, 200,000sq/ft of production offices, 100,000sq/ft of workshops and 60-acres of multi-surface backlots,” says Bovingdon Airfield Studios managing director Harvey Mash.

“Our site has been designed with sustainability and user-friendliness being at the centre of our design brief.”

Bovingdon Airfield Studios currently comprises three permanent sound stages, three temporary stages, production workshops and extensive multisurface backlots.

The studio has been home to multiple production companies with past credits including Bohemian Rhapsody, Star Wars Rogue One and Sam Mendes’ multi-Academy, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award-winning WW1 drama 1917. Other recent productions include See How They Run, plus the soon-to-be-released Masters Of The Air and spy thriller Argyle

Since 2017, Bovingdon Airfield Studios has also been home to ITV’s largest UK sound stage – the home of the hit production Dancing On Ice, and an ever-expanding list of primetime entertainment series.

Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (WBSL):

Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden has some exciting releases this summer. The Flash (WB) was filmed extensively at WBSL on several stages, as well as the studio backlot, which was transformed into the DC fictional city Central City. The production used WBSL’s on-site dailies facility and all set lighting and rigging was serviced by Warner Bros. Set Lighting & Rigging, including some iconic UK locations such as Hatfield House, Knebworth House and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Barbie (WB) was also filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, where the iconic Barbie dreamhouse was created on its stages, as well

Ealing Studios:

The UK’s renowned Ealing Studios has received planning permission from Ealing council for a new expansion that will add over 50,000sq/ft of facilities.

This includes a 14,000sq/ft stage, 10,000sq/ft of new workshops and 35,000sq/ft of additional offices. The expansion includes £20m of local investment and qualifies under the Net Zero Carbon Scheme.

Ealing Studios is dubbed the world’s oldest film studio and celebrates its 120 th anniversary this year. Recent films to shoot at the studio include as several other sets, turning the studios suitably pink. Again, production lighting and rigging was provided by the teams at Warner Bros. Set Lighting & Rigging.

In other news, two more apprenticeship schemes have been launched as part of the WBSL Reach Apprenticeship programme, Warner’s dedicated studio apprenticeship opportunity. Applications are currently open for a facilities apprentice and a marketing apprentice, both brand new roles at WBSL. Offering a start in the world of film and TV, the scheme aims to provide a route into the industry without needing a specialised degree while gaining invaluable experience among experts in the field.

Shinfield Studios:

The British Film Institute (BFI) has awarded £600,000 over three years to a Berkshire-based Skills Cluster to make the industry more accessible and help train and develop film and TV production crew. Slough-based Resource Productions CIC, Shinfield Studios and the University of Reading have recently partnered to create the cluster, which led to the successful bid for funding.

All groups within the cluster will work closely together to help identify skills shortages and coordinate training opportunities for production crew in the local area. The aim is to build a larger local skills base and help people find viable routes into the screen industry, whilst also providing

The Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol:

The Bottle Yard Studios has been awarded the 2023 Global Production Award for Best Sustainability Initiative, at a prestigious ceremony that took place during the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.

The award was made in recognition of the 1MWp community-owned rooftop solar array that powers TBY2, the Bristol studios’ new £12m expansion facility, which opened last Autumn. The array consists of more than 2,300 PV panels and is believed to be the largest community-owned rooftop array in the UK, and the biggest rooftop PV system in the UK studios sector.

Councillor Kye Dudd, Bristol City Council cabinet member for climate, ecology, waste and

MBS Group:

A recent break in production schedules provided The Wharf Studios, London, with an opportunity to host a weekend of Illumination Training. Facilitated by studio operator The MBS Group, as part of its work to create opportunity within the film and TV industry, the Illumination Training programme provides individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities with hands-on, industry-specific tuition.

The latest cohort, which included students from Ghetto Film School London and Barking & Dagenham College, were given an expert introduction to a range of film lighting and grip effective career development support. The scheme will create opportunities for new entrants to the workforce from underrepresented backgrounds, as well as individuals up-skilling and over-50s jobseekers returning to work.

Recent developments include the on-going construction of Shinfield Studios. On completion, this brand-new, state-of-the-art production facility is set to become the fourth largest of its kind in the UK. With part of the site already open, it has started to attract some of the world’s most famous film and TV production franchises.

Nick Smith, joint managing director, Shinfield Studios, says, “Shinfield Studios will be a significant new facility in the UK and we’re mindful that we have a part to play in helping to encourage the next generation of production talent.” endorsement for The Bottle Yard Studio’s new TBY2 facility – which will create 1,000 jobs for our city – and it further positions Bristol as a world-leader in sustainability, setting new industry standards and benchmarks.” energy, said, “The Global Production Awards recognise the very best around the world working in the film and TV industry. Receiving the Sustainable Initiative Award is a major equipment, by gaffer Ian Barwick and lighting tech/board operator Dan Walters, delivered in The Wharf’s ‘real world’ studio environment.

A run of Illumination Training sessions has also been taking place at a selection of MBS Group operated studios in North America, including the iconic Radford Studio Center in Studio City, Los Angeles, plus Silvercup and Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York. The highlysuccessful programme continues to introduce a new generation of technicians to a broad range of film production equipment and techniques.

Radford Studio Center, which has been home to generations of landmark television

Indie Zero:

Indie-Zero film studios has announced that planning permission has been granted by the Royal Borough Of Greenwich for repurposing its current three-acre site to create a zero-emission, state-of-the-art film studio hub. The 4,000sq/ ft Studio E is already complete and available for dry hire, and comprises 56Db sound proofing, 20,000Kg grid at 27ft min height, 85ft x 45ft clear studio space, drive-on access, green room, production offices, on-site art department and set construction services provided by Helix, as well as 80 parking spaces.

Indie-Zero founder and CEO, Brian Dowling says, “With the current skills shortage and the need for sound stage studio space, Indie-Zero’s plans tackle both of these issues simultaneously.

“I want Indie-Zero to be a globally-significant shows, including Gunsmoke, Gilligan’s Island and Seinfeld, is set for a $1billion makeover, to expand its facilities with a raft of major upgrades across the lot that will deliver a significantly-enhanced stage footprint and captalise on digital opportunities. but community-focussed screen industries production hub that provides future generations with a career kickstart. Our aim is to establish a world-class, one-stop shop here in SE28 which is now 20 minutes from Soho via the new Elizabeth Line, as well as other burgeoning creative hubs to the east of London.”

The Global Production Award follows TBY2’s recent success in receiving the second-highest score out of 12 studios in the first cohort of BAFTA Albert’s new Studio Sustainability Standard. It was one of five studios that received a ‘Very Good’ rating, the highest grade achieved in the group. Launched in 2022, the global, voluntary scheme was designed by BAFTA Albert alongside global engineering and consulting firm Arup, to help studios measure and reduce the environmental impact of their facilities.

In partnership with major studio infrastructure creator, Hackman Capital Partners, The MBS Group, is also preparing to launch the brand-new Eastbrook Studios London. Due to open its doors at the beginning of 2024, Eastbrook is London’s largest studio campus, with 12 stages totalling over 250,000sq/ft, plus a wealth of supporting production infrastructure.

Screen-based businesses that have already signed up for space at Indie-Zero include film production and editing companies, a creative production agency and a film medical services outfit and the site can still accommodate another dozen companies prior to full expansion.