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“The fact that Anna Valley invested so heavily in the new BP2V2 shows it has its finger on the pulse” environment for me. Subsequently, at Red Digital Cinema and afterwards, I worked with cinematographers, crew, film studios, VFX and post houses. I ultimately became so involved with the filmmaking community and companies throughout the production process, that my learning and support evolved naturally in terms of new technologies, production standards, CSR within production and so on.” Several roles have proven especially significant. Her time as senior marketing manager, EMEA at Pinewood Studios-based Red Digital Cinema saw her spearhead a host of domestic partnerships and experiential initiatives. Nowak also worked as head of marketing at Ncam Technologies, whose pioneering real-time visual effects solutions have been utilised for acclaimed productions including Solo: A Star Wars Story and Outlander . Most recently, having established her own consultancy in New Chapter Production – in addition to representing other like-minded companies such as Megapixel VR in virtual production – she served as business development director film & TV for 80six. In the wake of this role, recent world events have confirmed to her that VP is approaching a vital tipping point. “The pandemic and related restrictions have definitely accelerated the trend,” she says. “It has encouraged a new outlet for creative exploration, along with remote production methods, controlled environments and the elimination of travel. Se7en and The Social Network director, David Fincher, has described LED stage shooting as the evolution of projection, which leads me to believe it would have happened eventually – but on a slower and smaller scale. Instead, the advancement of technology
SKILL SET Anna Valley has used virtual production tehcniques for a variety of broadcast productions and events
and investments by multiple vendors have kick-started a digital revolution of a magnitude not seen in cinema for 100 years.” In order to ensure it has the tools and facilities to engage with this brave new world of production, Anna Valley has started a fresh phase of investment, beginning with its largest purchase to date in VP technology. From LED screen and display leader Roe, the company has acquired 896 Black Pearl BP2V2 ‘film- centric’ LED panels, with a 2.8mm pitch – equating to 224 sq m and a total investment of around £1.9m. Anna Valley has also purchased hanging and stacking bars, along with various curving plates from Roe, while a separate relationship with a batch partner will allow the company to boost its capability to 1500 panels when needed for larger productions. “The first version of Black Pearl was created for The Mandalorian ,” says Nowak, name-checking Disney+’s boundary-pushing ‘space western’ series. “The fact that Anna Valley has invested so heavily in the new version, BP2V2, shows it has its finger on the pulse and wants to provide what’s in demand. But it is also aware that various products will be required for different effects, informing future developments.” KEY COLLABORATION Along with her experience of VP and other cutting-edge technologies, Nowak has an acute focus on diversity, set to help Anna Valley increase the percentage of women and other groups in its workforce. As well as having extensive involvement with Women in Film and TV (WFTV UK) and gender-diversity organisation, Rise, Nowak is an ambassador for female-focused digital magazine Cinegirl .
“Participating in these organisations means a lot to me, as they represent women and diversity in the industry – a cause I relate to strongly,” she says. “And these groups don’t only wave the flag for women – they also encourage industry collaboration, growth, education and training, inspiration, camaraderie and access to information that would otherwise not be possible.” All of these aspects inform Nowak’s “holistic approach” to her career that majors in “taking a technical mindset into creative applications”. But a more straightforward love of the work should not be underestimated – as can be gleaned from her selection of a most memorable moment from her career to date. It finds her “lost in a forest in Budapest” at the last minute, looking for cinematographer Gavin Struthers, who was working on a scene for Series 1 of Netflix’s The Witcher . “It was spring, but the forest scene was a winter one, so there was snow everywhere,” she recalls. “I was carrying enough Peli cases for what felt like half the crew, but nothing was going to stop me fulfilling my promise to not only support this cinematographer, but also bring a smile to their face. You should love what you do, and you should love the impact that has around you. It’s that feeling I want to achieve in what I work on.”
MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS Anna Valley has put significant investment into VP technology
annavalley.co.uk
55. JUNE 2022
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