Buoyed by a boom in motion picture and series production, and commitments from multiple international film productions and streaming series Rising Sun Pictures has expanded by taking charge of the building next to its main studio located in Pulteney Street in Adelaide. The new 5,167 square-foot space, which was acquired to house additional staff, includes a cinema-style screening room, sound proofed meeting and review facilities, and a workspace for up to 80 artists.
RSP is benefitting from Australia’s strong response to the pandemic, which has allowed film and television production to resume in near normal conditions far ahead of other parts of the world. International production and post-production work are also being drawn to the country by generous government incentives, which were expanded last year. Australia currently provides a 30 percent rebate for post, digital and visual effects production, which is enhanced by an additional 10 percent incentive on South Australian PDV work.
“Life is relatively normal here and that has enhanced Australia’s standing as a premium destination for filmmakers,” says RSP managing director Tony Clark. “We are seeing an incredible uptick in filming activity, accompanied by increased demand for visual effects. With great projects booked for the year ahead, we are adding capacity and talent, while ensuring we adhere to safety protocols.”
RSP’s new space is designed to allow artists and others to work productively in a socially distanced environment. The expansion includes the very latest LG air conditioner and increased fresh air circulation to maintain a healthy workplace. While the lighting has been designed for zero glare and with hot spot reduction to reduce eye fatigue and improve clarity for artists.
Last year, when the pandemic first appeared, the company made modifications to its main production studio to facilitate social distancing. It also upgraded its infrastructure to allow artists to work remotely when necessary and in compliance with industry-mandated security guidelines. As a result, the studio experienced only minor disruption during the initial lockdown. Since then, it has delivered several large-scale projects, including more than 500 visual effects shots for the New Line Cinema feature, Mortal Kombat, which will be released on HBO Max and in cinemas in April.
“RSP has come through the pandemic stronger,” says head of business development, Jennie Zeiher. “We are typically involved in productions based in America, the UK and New Zealand, so working remotely across multiple time zones is nothing new for us,” she says. “Our long-term forecasting indicates a huge rebound in production as countries reopen and people return to theatres. We are excited about the future and ready to take advantage of new opportunities.”
Rising Sun Pictures http://www.rsp.com.au