VMI HD Feature Film Unit
Set up in 2005 to cater for the growing demands of budget feature films, VMI began offering a specialist service to producers to enable feature films to be made more effectively and at lower cost than before. Over the past 3 years, VMI have been actively involved with the production of more than 35 budget feature projects. These are usually in the £200K to £750K budget category and VMI can take an active role in ensuring that your production budget goes further than ever before with a raft of specialist services. The deferment charges scheme means that value-added services are provided without eating into any of your carefully managed budget up front and you benefit from paying for services from future film revenues.
The choice of the camera format and equipment is very large and only certain combinations permit the full use of low-cost post production tools. VMI can help to advise on the correct choice of equipment, lenses, frame rates etc to permit you to complete the post production using tools such as Final Cut Pro effectively and within budget, thus avoiding common problems such as the difficulty in using 24fps in post etc.
Test Shoot and camera test facilities
Many factors have a great influence on the 'look' of the film - The choice of camera format, acquisition frame rate, type of lenses, lighting, DoP, grade, colourist and also the final distribution medium (whether SD TV, HD or film print). VMI can provide equipment for HD test shoots to test a variety of cameras, lenses, viewfinders, filters etc without charge* to help you to with making these decisions.
Rushes Screenings
Rushes screenings are available in full HD quality in our custom built 19 seat air-conditioned Soho-based HD cinema are included for clients who have shot films using VMI HD equipment and have subscribed to the HD feature film screening package.
Off-line Screenings
Before the film off-line edit is 'locked off' ready for final conform and on-line, everything is changeable. The tempo, scene order and even scene inclusion are all critical to the success of the film. This way, crucial feedback from test screenings can ensure that essential changes to the programme are completed in cheap 'off-line' time, as opposed to expensive 'on-line' time.
HD Post Production
VMI can provide uncompressed HD edit and grade facilities at fixed rates. VMI can also provide Final Cut Pro (FCP) technical support and advice for clients performing their own edit. We can also provide a 'boutique' service based on FCP HD finishing to grade, finish and master HD projects from FCP media drives. This means that you can benefit from using inexpensive HD edit systems for the greater part of the edit, yet still have the confidence that the grade and technical standards of the project will not suffer- see post section.
Distributor Screening
Making the film is only the first step of the process and without suitable distribution, you will never make money from making films! VMI can help - by making the screening room available for distributor screenings, you can hold intimate screenings with distributors and be confident that they are seeing the images in full HD resolution. A hospitality area provides space for refreshments and a central London location makes it easy.
VMI Broadcast Finance Assist Scheme for shorts and pilots
We are mindful that future talented film makers will be made from those making short films today. As such, VMI continue to support film makers with the VMI Broadcast Finance Assist scheme. The scheme subsidises low-budget short films with a bursary to offset some rental costs - Please enquire for an application form.
Feature Film Investment
VMI's core business may be the rental of cameras and production facilities but the VMI Film unit exists to make feature film investments. The fund seeks to invest in feature films which are in the budget range of £200K - £750K and shooting on HD. Successful films will attract an investment in the form of either part deferrals on production facilities charges or alternatively a points investment in the film. Investments are always given in kind with production facilities supplied by VMI and can include any or all of the following: HD Camera hire, Grip, HD VTR rental, Off-line Edit, Audio Dub, HD Conform, HD On-line, HD Grade, Screening Facilities. Due to the nature of this function, each project is treated on a case by case basis.
Fixed deferred charges for HD feature film screening package
VMI believe in making things easy. Our clients tell us that the screening services for off-line cut approvals HD viewings for distributor screenings are really useful to them. VMI have a scheme whereby a fixed price for all screenings is fully deferred.. You only begin paying for the screening service (recouping in first place) when money for the film has started rolling in. The deferment fee for this service is a fixed £4,000 and includes up to 8 screenings and includes all costs including HD VTR rental** and basic refreshments.
* Availability permitting, this offer is for films/programmes in pre-production which are committed to using VMI equipment
** Currently allowable formats included within cost include DVCPro HD and HDCAM. HDCAM SR and HD-D5 VTR costs are not included.