Hybrid studio offers
integrated services for feature film and broadcast color, visual effects and
emerging technologies.
integrated services for feature film and broadcast color, visual effects and
emerging technologies.
HOLLYWOOD—Cognition,
a hybrid post production facility, visual effects studio and creative campus,
has launched in Los Angeles. The company is led by writer, producer and
entrepreneur Brian Pope, and features a high profile management team that
includes veteran colorist Dave Hollingsworth (The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey, The Adventures of Tintin) along with former Digital Domain VP and
creative consultant, Jeff Barnes.
a hybrid post production facility, visual effects studio and creative campus,
has launched in Los Angeles. The company is led by writer, producer and
entrepreneur Brian Pope, and features a high profile management team that
includes veteran colorist Dave Hollingsworth (The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey, The Adventures of Tintin) along with former Digital Domain VP and
creative consultant, Jeff Barnes.
Cognition aims to serve as a local alternative for Los
Angeles-based studios, independent producers and others seeking visual effects
and post-production support for motion picture and television projects. It will
tap into Southern California’s large talent pool, while pursuing an innovative
business model based on leading edge technologies, flexible staffing, adaptable
workflows and controlled costs.
Angeles-based studios, independent producers and others seeking visual effects
and post-production support for motion picture and television projects. It will
tap into Southern California’s large talent pool, while pursuing an innovative
business model based on leading edge technologies, flexible staffing, adaptable
workflows and controlled costs.
Located near Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, Cognition
currently offers high resolution color grading and editorial finishing via
SGO’s groundbreaking Mistika platform, as well as visual effects supervision
and production.
currently offers high resolution color grading and editorial finishing via
SGO’s groundbreaking Mistika platform, as well as visual effects supervision
and production.
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| Brian Pope |
The company is in the process of expanding its existing
3,000 square foot facility through the construction of a multi-million dollar,
13,000 square foot addition. With completion expected by fall, the facility
will feature a pair of 4K digital cinema finishing theaters, a scalable visual
effects pipeline, an emerging technologies research center and creative office
space, all arrayed in a campus-like environment.
3,000 square foot facility through the construction of a multi-million dollar,
13,000 square foot addition. With completion expected by fall, the facility
will feature a pair of 4K digital cinema finishing theaters, a scalable visual
effects pipeline, an emerging technologies research center and creative office
space, all arrayed in a campus-like environment.
Cognition’s service offerings will grow to encompass on-set
and remote dailies, visual effects concept and design, on-set supervision,
animation, graphics and deliverables. The company is aggressively developing
cutting-edge capabilities in such technologies as photogrammetry, augmented
reality and other new emerging fields as tools for previsualization, location
scouting, visual effects production and other applications, helping to further
blur the already diffuse lines between pre-, post- and primary production.
and remote dailies, visual effects concept and design, on-set supervision,
animation, graphics and deliverables. The company is aggressively developing
cutting-edge capabilities in such technologies as photogrammetry, augmented
reality and other new emerging fields as tools for previsualization, location
scouting, visual effects production and other applications, helping to further
blur the already diffuse lines between pre-, post- and primary production.
The creative office space is earmarked for production
companies, editorial operations and others who want to develop their projects
in a collaborative, communal environment.
companies, editorial operations and others who want to develop their projects
in a collaborative, communal environment.
“Cognition represents a smarter way
to produce movies and television,” says Pope. “Our business model positions
production and what was traditionally called ‘post’ to be much more
intimately—and interactively—linked, where producers and directors work in
close proximity to the people producing the visual effects, color work and
distribution packages. We believe the seamless integration of production with
services such as color and VFX is not only a more organic way to fulfill the
complex needs of today’s filmmakers, but will also serve to keep more work in
Los Angeles and deliver a stronger, more innovative end product.”
to produce movies and television,” says Pope. “Our business model positions
production and what was traditionally called ‘post’ to be much more
intimately—and interactively—linked, where producers and directors work in
close proximity to the people producing the visual effects, color work and
distribution packages. We believe the seamless integration of production with
services such as color and VFX is not only a more organic way to fulfill the
complex needs of today’s filmmakers, but will also serve to keep more work in
Los Angeles and deliver a stronger, more innovative end product.”
Hollingsworth, who serves as Director of Operations,
previously occupied the post of Head of Picture/Senior Colorist at Park Road
Post Production in Wellington, New Zealand. There he managed an operation
featuring two DI theaters, six mastering suites, a VFX department and various
support facilities. He was also part of the team that designed, built and
implemented the award-winning, high frame rate, 3D pipeline used on The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey. His
credits include more than 50 films, among them The Adventures of Tintin, District
9 and The Lovely Bones.
previously occupied the post of Head of Picture/Senior Colorist at Park Road
Post Production in Wellington, New Zealand. There he managed an operation
featuring two DI theaters, six mastering suites, a VFX department and various
support facilities. He was also part of the team that designed, built and
implemented the award-winning, high frame rate, 3D pipeline used on The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey. His
credits include more than 50 films, among them The Adventures of Tintin, District
9 and The Lovely Bones.
Hollingsworth says that Cognition is responding to a demand
for a more responsive and creative approach to post production. “We are heavily
focused on the DI and visual effects service side,” he says. “I believe we can
challenge the market by providing filmmakers with a flexible approach that
maximizes time for creative exploration.”
for a more responsive and creative approach to post production. “We are heavily
focused on the DI and visual effects service side,” he says. “I believe we can
challenge the market by providing filmmakers with a flexible approach that
maximizes time for creative exploration.”
Barnes is a past chairman of the Visual Effects Society and
co-founder of CafeFX and The Syndicate. He has built and supervised creative
teams that have contributed to more than 90 studio-released feature films, as
well as numerous commercials and special venue projects. Credits include Pans Labyrinth, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Sin City and Armageddon.
co-founder of CafeFX and The Syndicate. He has built and supervised creative
teams that have contributed to more than 90 studio-released feature films, as
well as numerous commercials and special venue projects. Credits include Pans Labyrinth, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Sin City and Armageddon.
Barnes says that Cognition is offering new pathways for
visual effects production. He sees the company working with projects from the
early stages of storyboarding and conceptualization through final execution.
“Producers and directors are looking for a fresh approach to visual effects and
emerging media,” he says. “Our model is based on building teams, pipelines
coupled with in-house alliances that are tailored to the individual project,
and thoroughly integrated with other aspects of production and post.”
visual effects production. He sees the company working with projects from the
early stages of storyboarding and conceptualization through final execution.
“Producers and directors are looking for a fresh approach to visual effects and
emerging media,” he says. “Our model is based on building teams, pipelines
coupled with in-house alliances that are tailored to the individual project,
and thoroughly integrated with other aspects of production and post.”
About Cognition
Cognition is a visual imaging studio, media laboratory and
creative campus. Founded in 2015 by Brian Pope, the studio empowers filmmakers
and other creative parties by providing them with the resources, both artistic
and technological, as well as the collaborative environment they need to
produce great work.
creative campus. Founded in 2015 by Brian Pope, the studio empowers filmmakers
and other creative parties by providing them with the resources, both artistic
and technological, as well as the collaborative environment they need to
produce great work.
Cognition is located at 900 N Cahuenga Blvd., Suite B, Los
Angeles, CA 90038. [323] 874.4487 www.cognition.la
Angeles, CA 90038. [323] 874.4487 www.cognition.la
Creative Director
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