LOS ANGELES – VFX and virtual production studio Pixomondo (PXO) is launching a new London division this month, and has appointed Alex Webster as its head of studio. Most recently the managing director of Framestore Pre-Production Services in London, Webster will focus on facilitating the growth of Pixomondo’s (pixomondo.com) virtual production (‘VP’) services in Europe, working closely with the company’s wider management team.
Pixomondo 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 UK facility are under review. It will be closely integrated with the company’s existing German operations, located in Frankfurt and Stuttgart.
Photo: Alex Webster
“Over the last few years, I have witnessed first-hand the speed with which the integration of VP with visualization is reshaping the VFX industry,” says Webster. “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 UK.”
At Framestore, Webster built FPS, the company’s pre-production division, to more than 120 employees. 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 career includes the roles of deputy head of production at MPC, head of content at The Mill and managing director Passion Pictures.
“We have our roots in Europe, and Germany remains a central and crucial part of our VFX production and artistry capabilities,” states Jonny Slow, PXO CEO. “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 UK and Europe.”
Slow adds that London is second only to Los Angeles for physical production services, and home to a significant number of talented crew members.
“Virtual production demands that we locate ourselves close to these facilities and talent. A significant push during 2020 from the UK Department of International Trade to make the UK a virtual production Centre of Excellence, as well as investment from Mayfair Equity Partners, has allowed this part of our plan to be accelerated. I very much look forward to working with Alex in the years to come.”
Slow recently relocated back to London to assist with the launch after almost a decade in Los Angeles and three years at PXO.