A decade of doing things differently
As Universal Pixels (UP) marks its tenth birthday, LIVE gets talking with some of its manufacturing partners about the projects that stand out and the values that underpin UP’s exponential growth
the overall production better,” explains Alan Head, business development manager at Panasonic. That approach has also been evident on other major productions. Robbie Williams’ tour provided opportunities to explore live colour grading, while work with artists including Dave has involved developing camera solutions around specific creative requirements. The relationship creates opportunities for Panasonic to see its technology applied in ways that can inform future development. “What’s particularly rewarding is seeing the people behind those productions continually push the technology and challenge us to think about what’s possible,” says Head. ROE Visual also points to the value of honest technical feedback in its relationship with UP. “We love working with the UP team because they really appreciate our products and the engineering behind them, but they’ll also tell us where something could be better,” says Dave Morris, UK and Ireland sales director at ROE Visual. “We listen to that feedback. We don’t always know best, and partnerships like this are invaluable when we’re designing the next generation of Tier 1 products.” A recent example came with Anna Vissi’s Athens production, in which UP deployed ROE Visual Vanish V8 Touring as part of a technically demanding video design. ROE supported the project by providing the relevant certification to meet health and safety requirements, describing UP’s delivery as ‘a fantastic feat of engineering’. While technical collaboration is an important part of these partnerships, the manufacturers also recognise the principles behind UP’s development as a business. For Brompton, one of the most significant aspects has been Universal Pixels’ commitment to sustainability and ethical business practices, including its achievement of B Corp certification. “They have been in the vanguard of moves towards sustainability as an important part of their business model,” says Rob Fowler, director of business development at Brompton Technology. “I admire the way they haven’t shied away from this when extra costs were incurred.” Brompton also points to the commercial decisions that have accompanied UP’s growth. Investment in quality equipment, fair staff remuneration and consistently high standards of preparation and storage all require resources, particularly in a very competitive rental market. “They have succeeded in delivering the highest quality at a time when competition on price in the sector is fierce,” says Fowler. “They haven’t compromised their principles and they were right to recognise that there are still enough clients
t’s ten years already? It seems like yesterday that I pulled up at a tight car park and visited their first unit.” For Luke Marler-Hausen, director of strategic projects at Leyard, Universal Pixels’ (UP) tenth anniversary brings back memories of the company at the beginning of its journey. Having known founders Phil Mercer and Gareth Jeanne for years, he was familiar with their experience, industry knowledge and the importance they place on building strong relationships. A decade later, UP employs more than 40 people, operates internationally and works across music, theatre, film and television. Throughout its expansion, the company has remained an independent video specialist, concentrating its investment and technical expertise on a single discipline. Marler-Hausen believes it has maintained the approach and values established in those early days. “The management team are well known in the industry and have built a strong history of trust and capability. They have successfully carried that same ethos into a growing company and team.” Leyard’s relationship with UP has developed beyond individual projects, with UP contributing to Leyard Europe/Planar’s product development and strategy – one example of how collaboration between manufacturer and rental partner can benefit both. Brompton Technology has also worked with UP since its earliest years. Having known the people behind the company for decades, Brompton was familiar with their emphasis on integrity, quality and reliability. The early Depeche Mode tours stand out among its formative projects with UP, demonstrating the young company’s ambition and ability to handle major international productions. More recently, Oasis Live ’25 has provided another example of UP’s relationships with manufacturers being put to work on a substantial international tour. Across 41 dates in 14 countries, the production featured Panasonic cameras and Absen LED technology. For Panasonic, the tour was particularly significant because UP incorporated its relatively new Auto Framing technology into a demanding touring environment. “They’re always looking beyond simply capturing an image and asking how technology can help make We love working with the UP team because they really appreciate our products and the engineering behind them
Powered by FlippingBook