Molinare has closed the TV studio at its Foubert’s Place HQ and will replace it with one of the largest colour grading theatres in central London.
The move is the centrepiece of a £5m facelift, under which the 140m2 drive-in Studio 1 will be stripped out, redesigned and re-equipped. It will feature TV and film projectors, a cinema-sized screen and a Baselight colour grading system.
The 35-year old facility is also introducing a new audio floor and four Avid DS Nitris systems and installing a Xytech booking system.
“Following on from the success of working on The Damned United and Man on Wire, we see continued growth in the features market but the studio, with the loss of a couple of regular, returning contracts,
had stopped being profitable,” explained director Steve Milne.
“Ever since Mark Foligno and I bought Molinare in 2003 we have had the dream to grade in this amazing space. In a few months’ time, that dream will become a reality.”
The new theatre, which is still at the design phase, could be open by September.
The new audio floor comprises three 5.1 surround sound studios, two stereo suites and four edit/foley rooms. Audio reseller Scrub has supplied five additional Pro Tools HD/Icon D Command systems, while White Mark did acoustic and technical design.
The four DS Nitris systems were bought from reseller Root6 along with an Avid Unity upgrade. One has already been added to the company’s D’Arblay Street facility and the other three will be installed alongside three existing systems at Foubert’s Place. They will replace two old Sony linear online suites.
The investment has been made possible through a cash injection provided by Molinare’s majority owner Century Communications.
Molinare was recently awarded the contract to provide post-production services on the Ruby Films drama Small Island for the BBC. It has also completed multi-series deals with Uppercut Films and Shine, and is working on the Ecosse Films feature Pelican Blood.
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