Locksmith Launches London studios
The 5,000 square-foot Primrose Hill studio, which is spread across three floors, will be home to 70 artists, staff and crew and is the first dedicated CG-feature studio of its kind in the UK. Locksmith is in part backed by UK post-production firm Double Negative (Godzilla) and has a multi-year deal with Twentieth Century Fox for U.S. and global distribution. The company wants to deliver one movie every 12 – 18 months.
The firm is currently in production on their first feature Ron’s Gone Wrong, which will tell the story of a walking, talking, digitally connected bot that sweeps the world becoming every kid’s new best friend. When an eleven-year-old boy ends up with one that doesn’t work, however, he must try to teach it. The film is due for release November
Locksmith Animation’s Co-CEO’s Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart said, “The studio gives a home to Locksmith’s high-flying ambition to create a major new strand of CG animated movies here in London. It’s a wonderful building – but it’s the artists it houses that are our greatest assets. We hope it will add to the appeal of London as a world-class destination for the best animation talent working today.” Elisabeth Murdoch is co-founder and chairman of the company.