The Mill (post-production)
Encyclopedia
The Mill is a post-production
and visual effects
company launched in 1990 with offices in London
, New York
and Los Angeles
.
The Mill's Film special effects subsidiary, Mill Film, won an Oscar
for its work on the film Gladiator
. The Mill was the first UK-based post-production company to set up offices in New York. The Mill is respected for high-end visual effects
and is usually well represented at the numerous Advertising and Visual Effects awards ceremonies world-wide each year. The film unit closed in 2003, but as of 2009 has since been reopened due to the success of its work on television commercials
and music video
s. Some of the major advertising campaigns include Sony, Nike, Levis, Honda and Adidas.
The Mill also produces visual effects for several television dramas, including the revived BBC
science fiction
series Doctor Who
and its spin-offs, Torchwood
and the first two series of The Sarah Jane Adventures
, as well as Merlin
and Demons
.
The Mill also owns online advertising approval, archiving and distribution site, BEAM.TV
According to its annual report, in 2005 The Mill had revenue of £32.5 million and operating profit of £5.2 million. In April 2011, The Mill was acquired from private equity firm The Carlyle Group, by Barclays Private Equity
for £119 million.
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
and visual effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
company launched in 1990 with offices in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
The Mill's Film special effects subsidiary, Mill Film, won an Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for its work on the film Gladiator
Gladiator (2000 film)
Gladiator is a 2000 historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel and Richard Harris. Crowe portrays the loyal Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed...
. The Mill was the first UK-based post-production company to set up offices in New York. The Mill is respected for high-end visual effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
and is usually well represented at the numerous Advertising and Visual Effects awards ceremonies world-wide each year. The film unit closed in 2003, but as of 2009 has since been reopened due to the success of its work on television commercials
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
and music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s. Some of the major advertising campaigns include Sony, Nike, Levis, Honda and Adidas.
The Mill also produces visual effects for several television dramas, including the revived BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and its spin-offs, Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
and the first two series of The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British science fiction television series, produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC, created by Russell T Davies and starring Elisabeth Sladen...
, as well as Merlin
Merlin (TV series)
Merlin is a British fantasy-adventure television programme by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps. It began broadcasting on BBC One on 20 September 2008. The show is based on the Arthurian legends of the wizard Merlin and his relationship with Prince Arthur but differs from...
and Demons
Demons (TV series)
Demons is a pilot episode of a proposed drama series, initially competing to run as part of the CBS primetime schedule during Fall 2007. Demons was created by Barbara Hall, who also created Joan of Arcadia. The pilot starred Ron Eldard and Harold Perrineau. The pilot was not picked up by the network....
.
The Mill also owns online advertising approval, archiving and distribution site, BEAM.TV
BEAM.TV
Beam was established as an in-house FTP process following the making of the film, Gladiator. This simple process enabled director Sir Ridley Scott to immediately review and approve visual effects work being completed by The Mill in London – while he was still shooting in Malta...
According to its annual report, in 2005 The Mill had revenue of £32.5 million and operating profit of £5.2 million. In April 2011, The Mill was acquired from private equity firm The Carlyle Group, by Barclays Private Equity
Barclays Private Equity
Barclays Private Equity is the Private Equity division of Barclays Capital, the Investment Banking arm of Barclays plc. BPE have seven offices across four countries. Started in 1982 they have invested in over 350 businesses including Admiral Group and Dial-a-Phone. Typically €500m is invested per...
for £119 million.