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BBC POST PRODUCTION NOMINATED FOR 4 RTS AWARDS

5 November 2004: BBC Post Production has been nominated for four awards at the annual Royal Television Society (RTS) Craft and Design Awards, which recognise the work of professionals behind the scenes in programme production. In addition BBC Outside Broadcasts has been nominated for a Lighting, Photography & Multicamera work Award for its coverage of the Open Golf Championship 2004 for BBC Sport.

BBC Post Production has been put forward for two Visual Effects Awards, the first for collaborative work with BBC Broadcast on the title sequence for BBC Sport’s coverage of the Olympic Games and a second for its model work for BBC Two’s ‘Horizon: Last Flight of Columbia’. In addition BBC Post Production could win an award for tape and film editing in the entertainment and sitcoms category, for its work on a musical extravaganza episode of BBC Three’s ‘Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps’. Dubbing Mixer Martyn Harris from BBC Post Production in Bristol is part of a team put forward for a Sound Award for BBC One’s ‘Massive Nature: The Crossing’ programme, which captures the dangerous lives of Wildebeest.

The Olympic title sequence follows a torch bearer through ancient sites of Greece, as he reignites the Olympic flame. It features a giant swimmer rising out of a wave, a runner generating a sandstorm, a discus thrower emerging from particles of rock and a gymnast spinning through the air before disappearing in a glint of light. The athletes were filmed both on location in Greece and against green screen. BBC Post Production 3D matched moving athletes and attached custom particle effects using Maya, to create the impression they emerge from the elements. Shake was used for compositing the discuss thrower and Inferno for the rest of the effects and final polishing.

Ian Simpson Digital Effects Supervisor, BBC Post Production says: “We’re thrilled to be nominated for an RTS Award. The project drew on a whole range of digital effects techniques to recreate dynamic photo-realistic images of larger then life athletes in action and the team was able to play to its strengths, creating 2D and 3D elements to combine with live footage action.”

For BBC Two’s ‘Horizon: Last Flight of Columbia’, Mike Tucker, Visual Effects Supervisor at BBC Post Production produced 20 minutes of footage of the space shuttle breaking up and exploding as it attempted re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere. Two 8 foot replicas of the shuttle plus a full size section of the craft’s wing were made and shot to capture the re-entry and the effects of hot gases breaking through the aluminium skin into the wing, before it exploded.

Mike Tucker was previously nominated for an RTS Award for his work on a 999 programme, where he created effects for the destruction of a F16 jet over Bosnia.

The episode of BBC Three’s ‘Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps’ nominated for an award, goes back in time to when main characters Janet and Jonny first met. The episode involves extensive use of flash backs and also includes parodies of current pop videos. Editor Mark Lawrence from BBC Post Production used lots of whip pans and zooms to create seamless links between scenes.

Mark says: “The fantasy aspect of the narrative combined with the music video element meant traditional rules of continuity could be flouted, giving us almost carte blanche in terms of creativity and the tools we could use in the edit. I’m delighted to be up for such a prestigious award.”

Winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony at the London Savoy on 30 November.

-ENDS-
About BBC Post Production
BBC Post Production, a division of BBC Resources, offers award-winning creative solutions using the latest graphics technology. BBC Post Production facilities are the largest of their kind in the UK. Located in London, Bristol and Birmingham its extensive range of services include 3D animation and digital effects through to editing, audio and telecine. Using the most up-to-date technology in comfortable and inspiring surroundings the team bring talent and experience to a range of productions, trails and promos. Further information can be found at: www.bbcresources.com/postproduction.

For further information, please contact:

Georgie Hollett, PR and Communications Executive, BBC Resources
Tel: +44 (0)20 8576 2350
Mobile : +44 (0) 783484 5612
Email : georgie.hollett@bbc.co.uk

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