Second Quantel iQ set to treble volume at MotionFX

As part of its continuing expansion into pioneering digital film production, MotionFX has invested in a second Quantel iQ system.
The London-based film and video specialist is combining the Digital Intermediate (DI) power of the iQ with Thomson Viper FilmStream digital cinematography cameras to provide high quality, fast turnaround digital film capabilities aimed at the independent film community.
“The iQ and Viper combination is ideal for scene-to-screen digital work and our clients have benefited from the cost-effective, streamlined workflow it enables us to offer,” said John O’Quigley, MotionFX Director of Operations. “This latest expansion will meet the increasing demand we are already experiencing from the independent film sector and our existing client base.
“The iQ systems are at the hub of our operation and embrace our business model, which is designed so that we can offer anything the client wants. We bought the second iQ because the first one is very busy and we are now able to run multiple projects simultaneously across both systems.
“The iQ and the Viper together have enabled us to build a completely unique and cost-effective acquisition and post-production workflow. On the production side we are aiming to work mainly with independent film-makers, while our Digital Intermediate services using the iQ and our vfx suites are open to the whole spectrum of cinematography, ranging from 35mm commercials and promos to full feature films. With the iQ we can meet all of our clients’ requirements – creative, budget, source material, technical, quality, resolution, distribution format – at a fraction of the cost.
“The second iQ will deal with the trebling in volume of post-production work we are being asked to undertake. It allows a boutique operation like ours to do high volume, quick turnaround work without lots of workstations, people and space.”
Quantel technology will be at the hub of MotionFX’s scene-to-screen work on Dragonfly Film’s ‘Silence Becomes You’, currently being shot in Lithuania. MotionFX is co-producing the film, which is written and directed by Stephanie Sinclaire, Artistic Director of the King’s Head Theatre in London. The film is the world’s first full feature film shot entirely on the Viper camera in FilmStream mode. MotionFX is to complete all postproduction work on the film, including full DI grading on the iQ, and all vfx work, by the end of March.
MotionFX is also using the second iQ for full Digital Intermediate work on a medium budget feature film being released later this year.
New equipment at MotionFX includes not only the second Quantel iQ DI system, but also several Eyeon Digital Fusion vfx and Maya 3D workstations, a further two Viper cameras twinned with two S-Two DFR digital film recorders, and a 2K digital screening facility for client-attended viewing, grading and editing sessions.
(GB)