Funding secured by Bristal-based visual effects studio follows government’s announcement to provide 1.5 billion pounds for arts sector impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
Bristol-based Moonraker VFX has just secured 500,000 pounds in funding from Creative England to produce their own original immersive, 3D content for big screens across the globe. This funding follows the government’s announcement to hand more than £1.5 billion to the arts sector in an effort to support their recovery from COVID-19. The funding will enable the VFX studio to build a dedicated team; their business should grow as a result of being able to license their own original content for the first time. The studio specializes in VFX and CG content creation for museums and visitor attractions, as well as TV, film and commercials.
Their new project, a “Moonraker Originals” IMAX film with spectacular visuals and immersive 3D moments, will allow audiences to witness meteors flying past them, or volcanoes erupting right before their eyes.
Simon Clarke, creative director at Moonraker, commented, “As a VFX studio, we have the technical tools and expertise to realize moving images that are often hard to capture in camera. This gives us an edge to take the audiences to worlds they could never imagine - so why not package this with a great story into our own film.”
The film will play to Moonraker’s strengths and legacy of work in the natural history and science-doc genre, with high scientific value and the potential to appear on digital education platforms with links to science curriculum. While the initial two-year project will be produced for the big screen, Moonraker anticipates spin offs in other formats, including television, augmented reality and Flying Theatres.
Creative England has a long history of empowering and investing in the creative industries nationwide. Tim Evans, head of investment at Creative Growth Finance, commented, “We’re proud to be part of this incredibly talented and creative team’s story. We’ve been particularly impressed with the diligent way that they have responded to the COVID-19 crisis, and the quality of their creative product. Our partnership with Moonraker follows a series of investments into ambitious and proven businesses making a name for themselves in the creative sector.”
Jon Grafton, managing director of Moonraker, commented, “We’re delighted to be working with Creative England on this project. They will be highly invested and proactive in helping us move forward and will be important partners on the journey.”
Simon Clarke, creative director at Moonraker, added, ”This is a hugely exciting time for Moonraker and the funding by Creative England is a real opportunity for us to drive forward our own original content and have a lot more creative and editorial control. Not only will this project create ongoing revenue through our immersive licensable 3D content for theatres across the globe, but the films will help showcase the Moonraker brand worldwide.”
Source: Moonraker VFX
