Newbury company hopes for Oscar success
The Social Network and Restrepo were edited and improved on Quantel systems
A NEWBURY-based video production systems company is preparing to bask in the glory of Oscar success after two films it has worked on have been nominated for a total of nine Academy Awards.
Both The Social Network, which received eight nominations, including for best picture, best actor and best film editing, and Restrepo, which was nominated as best documentary feature, were edited and improved on Quantel's systems.
The Social Network, a film about the creation of social networking website, Facebook, has already triumphed as best drama at the Golden Globes and has raked in more than $200m (£1.25m) worldwide, while Restrepo won last year's Grand Jury Documentary Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Restrepo follows a platoon of American airborne soldiers in Afghanistan and was edited and improved on the Pablo video editing system built and designed by Quantel, based in Turnpike Road.
Quantel spokesman Roger Thornton said: “We're delighted that both The Social Network and Restrepo have been nominated for Academy Awards, and proud that our technology played such a central role in helping both films look as good as they do on screen.
“We wish them both all the best on February 27th, there'll be more than a bit of Newbury in Hollywood that day!"
He said that every bit of their systems are designed and built in Newbury.
One of the people responsible for the editing of Restrepo, the award-winning colourist John Dowdell, said: “The film is the closest you could get to experiencing war without actually being there, living with the soldiers as they swing between boredom and fear. I'm proud to have been part of making it, and without the Pablo it would not have been near as powerful.”
A Pablo system costs anything between £120,000 and £250,000, depending on the setup and resolution capabilities.
Quantel has also recently won a contract to supply the BBC with video editing and playout equipment for its new flagship studios in London.
Quantel will supply the equipment to be installed at Broadcasting House, which will become the live network broadcasting centre for the corporation, the home of journalism, audio and music, the World Service and London local television, a contract thought to be worth in excess of £10m.
