In a landmark achievement, a new initiative by Screen Scotland aimed at bolstering Scottish post-production and VFX studios has secured its first high-profile project: HBO Max’s The Penguin.
The PGF Project Post pilot funding initiative was established in response to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes, which resulted in a downturn in post-production. Designed to attract large-scale film and television productions to Scotland, the initiative has already made a significant impact.
The collaboration with HBO Max’s The Penguin, which delves into Batman’s Gotham, represents the pilot scheme’s headline win. This prestigious project was executed by the Glasgow-based production company FixFX.
Colin Kennedy, CEO of FixFX, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “It is a real privilege to have had our FixFX team working on such a high-profile show as The Penguin. It’s the perfect showcase for the kind of specialist beauty work that FixFX is gaining a reputation for.” He further elaborated on their role, highlighting their work with the Oscar-winning makeup team to refine their efforts and bring the character of Oswald Cobblepot – the Penguin – to life. Kennedy credited the support of Screen Scotland and the PGF Project Post fund for this opportunity.
David Smith, Director of Screen Scotland, shared his insights on the broader implications of the initiative. He explained that while Scotland has been a hub for the physical production of notable films and series, the PGF Project Post initiative marks a concerted effort to bring post-production work to the region. Smith pointed out that extensive projects like Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Douglas Mackinnon’s Good Omens 2 have utilised Scotland’s renowned crew and locations.
Smith acknowledged the importance of attracting post-production work, which can be executed anywhere globally. He said, “The post-production work on big film or TV projects can happen anywhere in the world, it’s not tied to any specific location and very specialised. With PGF Project Post we’ve worked with Colin and the team at Fix, as well as other Scottish facilities for the first time to win post-production work on films and series that didn’t physically shoot here in Scotland.”
He further remarked, “It is really encouraging that just in this pilot phase of the fund we’ve managed to attract projects of the scale and ambition of The Penguin to work in Scotland, enabling us to showcase Scottish post-production/VFX talent globally on a critically acclaimed series.”
The successful involvement of FixFX with HBO Max’s The Penguin underscores the potential of Scottish post-production and VFX talent on the international stage. The PGF Project Post initiative is a promising step towards revitalising the industry in Scotland, attracting high-calibre productions, and enhancing the global visibility of its creative and technical expertise.