Framestore
William Sargent and Sharon Reed established Framestore in 1986 on Chancery Lane in London. They began with three friends to build a small visual effects house. Tim Webber joined the company two years later in 1988. He led the push into digital film and television production. Webber developed virtual camera systems that changed how scenes were constructed. Mike Milne started a CGI department in 1992 to add computer-generated imagery animation. The studio acquired Computer Film Company in 1997 to expand its scanning technology. This merger brought early morphing techniques used in films like The Fruit Machine.
Framestore opened its first satellite office in New York City during 2004. That location focused specifically on advertising work for international clients. An Iceland office followed in 2008 before closing and reopening as RVX. Montreal and Los Angeles offices launched together in 2013 to handle growing demands. A third US location appeared in Chicago by April 2017. The company now employs roughly 3,000 staff across multiple continents including Melbourne and Mumbai. These global hubs allow teams to create historically accurate backdrops for projects like Darkest Hour out of Montreal facilities. Production capacity expanded significantly through these strategic geographic placements.
Cultural Investment Holdings Co acquired 75% of Framestore in November 2016 for £112.50 million. The Shanghai-based firm took control while the original founders remained involved in operations. Framestore worked on major titles such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them after this deal. Beauty and the Beast also received visual effects support from the newly owned studio. In November 2020 the company announced it had acquired Deluxe's former creative assets. Method Studios and Company 3 joined the Framestore family to expand post-production capabilities. This aggressive growth strategy transformed a London startup into Europe's largest production house with thousands of employees.
Framestore won its first Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 2008 for The Golden Compass. They secured the BAFTA Award for that same film during the year. Tim Webber served as VFX supervisor on Gravity which required three years of work by his team. The team won both BAFTA and Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects at the 86th ceremony. Blade Runner 2049 earned them another set of awards in 2018 including a special visual effects honor. Their R&D team spun off Filmlight which received four Scientific Academy Awards in 2010. The studio has collected 14 Primetime Emmys alongside multiple Cannes Lions and Clios for advertising work.
Filmlight emerged from Framestore research and development teams to become an independent technology firm. The company created an attempted photorealistic computer-generated Audrey Hepburn for a Galaxy chocolate advert. Body doubles, motion-capture data, FACS systems, and Arnold rendering software mimicked the actress twenty years after her death. This advertisement drew press attention for cutting-edge technology used in commercial contexts. Ethical implications arose regarding using a person's likeness posthumously for commercial purposes. The project highlighted how far digital recreation had advanced while raising questions about consent and legacy.
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Common questions
Who founded Framestore and when was it established?
William Sargent and Sharon Reed established Framestore in 1986 on Chancery Lane in London. They began with three friends to build a small visual effects house.
When did Tim Webber join Framestore and what role did he play?
Tim Webber joined the company two years later in 1988. He led the push into digital film and television production and developed virtual camera systems that changed how scenes were constructed.
Which companies did Framestore acquire to expand its capabilities?
Framestore acquired Computer Film Company in 1997 to expand its scanning technology. The studio also acquired Deluxe's former creative assets in November 2020, bringing Method Studios and Company 3 into the family.
What awards has Framestore won for Best Visual Effects?
Framestore won its first Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 2008 for The Golden Compass. They secured BAFTA Awards for Gravity at the 86th ceremony and another set of awards for Blade Runner 2049 in 2018.
How many employees does Framestore employ across multiple continents?
The company now employs roughly 3,000 staff across multiple continents including Melbourne and Mumbai. These global hubs allow teams to create historically accurate backdrops for projects like Darkest Hour out of Montreal facilities.