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www.postmagazine.com 4 POST MAR/APR 2023 BITS & PIECES VUFINDER STUDIOS OPENS VIRTUAL-PRODUCTION FACILITY IN POLAND WARSAW, POLAND — VuFinder Studios (www.vufinder.co) is a new virtual- production facility in downtown Warsaw that's bolstered by an internal team of Unreal artists. A part of OTO Group, the studio's first productions were done as OTO Film before breaking off separately, transferring some of its experts and experience to the newly-established company. VuFinder Studios is equipped with an immersive performance stage that blends the physical and virtual worlds. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, 3D envi- ronments can be interactively displayed on over 800 square meters of fully modular LED volumes in realtime. The setup also include camera-tracking technology and advanced graphics servers. The new virtual-production space offers considerable advantages, including the ability to easily change settings, thereby reducing the need to travel, and ultimately, a project's carbon footprint. The studio has already served as host to more than 20 commercial shoots spanning approximately 50 days. Projects include work for BMW, Veet, Calgon, Vanish and Cillit Bang. VuFinder Studios is headed by CEO/EP Łukasz Tomasz Koltunowicz, whose career includes 16 years in the film industry. Melania Kulczycka serves as client director, having managed various projects and worked with virtual simulations for the Ministry of Defence. In addition to the management duo, VuFinder Studios is home to a team of Unreal artists, VP supervisors, producers and technical support. The crew's ex- perience ranges from virtual production to film production, game development and virtual reality. "Virtual production has completely changed the game of film production," states Kulczycka. "The interest in our services is unbelievable — now is definite- ly the right time to launch. With constantly-evolving technology, we are able to create locations that were not accessible before, all while being more afford- able and still high-quality. Launching VuFinder Studios also gives OTO Group a competitive edge, broadening our variety of services." For more "Virtual Production" news, turn to page 26. BIG BAMBOO POST LAUNCHES IN HAWAII WAILUKU, HI — Big Bamboo Post (www.bigbamboopost.com) is one of Hawaii's first Dolby-certified audio post production studios, having recently opened on the island of Maui. Founded by veteran sound engineers Johnny Wilson and Bennett Yashon, the studio offers sound design, sound editorial, ADR, mixing, Foley and original music composition. The studio provides sound services for all types of media, including film, television, games, advertising, vir- tual reality and live events, and its first project involved providing ADR services for the new HBO series White House Plumbers. Wilson and Yashon have been planning Big Bamboo's launch since 2019. Wilson, who is an accomplished composer, supervising sound editor and re-re- cording mixer (and Maui resident) was frustrated by the lack of a local source for Hollywood-caliber sound, which forced him to travel to Los Angeles to finish projects, including the recent films Go for Broke and Maui. "I would much rather have completed that work in Hawaii, but there was no place with surround-sound capability," Wilson recalls. "Ben and I discussed var- ious options and chose to build our own studio, drawing on our mutual areas of expertise. It would benefit us personally, and the Maui film community. It was the perfect solution." The focal points of the new facility are its two mix stages. Studio A is a Dolby Atmos Premier 9.1.6 mix stage, built as a floating room to keep it isolated from external noise. It is certified by Dolby Laboratories for Atmos theatrical sound mixing. Studio B is a Dolby 7.1 mix stage with a vocal booth for live recording. The two stages are networked to facilitate project sharing. Big Bamboo Post also features office space for visiting productions, along with a conference room and other amenities. Wilson's background includes credits as a supervising sound editor or re-re- cording mixer on dozens of films and television shows. He has also composed original scores for independent features, shorts and episodics. Yashon's experience is centered on sound for live events, including concerts, theatrical pro- ductions and cor- porate events. He previously spent 10 years as man- aging director of Event Horizon Audiovisual. Overseeing operations is project manager Cudra Clover. She brings a diverse background in live sound, music, fine art and immersive entertainment. The studio's staff also includes engineers Tamara Johnson and Dale Everingham. In providing remote ADR services for White House Plumbers, Big Bamboo worked under the direction of supervising sound editor Brent Findley, MPSE, CAS, AMPS. "Having worked with Johnny in the past, I knew to look him up for ADR," recalls Findley. "He and the crew at Big Bamboo went above and beyond in taking care of not only my needs from a technical standpoint, but also the needs of our high-profile talent." Big Bamboo expects to draw projects both from local film and television productions, and from outside producers working in Hawaii. The studio is also equipped to service clients remotely. Additionally, the company has its eye on opportunities outside film & television. BITS & PIECES www.postmagazine.com 4 POST MAR/APR 2023