Light Iron acquires Offhollywood, gains NY presence
January 15, 2013

Light Iron acquires Offhollywood, gains NY presence

HOLLYWOOD — Light Iron (www.lightiron.com), the post company that specializes in on-site dailies, digital intermediate, archival, and data services for projects originating on file-based motion cameras, has expanded into the New York market with the acquisition of Offhollywood.

Located in SoHo, Offhollyood is also well versed in emerging technologies and workflows that affects motion picture production and post. The company is located at 580 Broadway and features a DI grading theater, DI grading suites, a digital lab, and an archive center.

Light Iron CEO Michael Cioni will move to New York to oversee the operations. Offhollywood will continue as a production service company, expanding its camera rental and support operations on the fourth floor of the same building. The company will also become the New York region’s exclusive provider of Light Iron’s award-winning Outpost Mobile Systems.

“[Offhollywood’s] founders Mark Pederson and Aldey Sanchez have built an impressive company that fully comprehends and embraces file-based workflow across production and post,” notes Light Iron’s Cioni. “As Light Iron absorbs Offhollywood’s post production operations, we will push capabilities even further by bringing new talent and new technologies that the New York television, feature, and fashion markets haven't yet experienced.”

“Light Iron is perfectly positioned to make a serious impact on the New York market,” adds Offhollywood’s Pederson. “They have built a formidable West Coast presence and have continued to innovate and lead while many post companies have downsized. We have reached a new era in production, where no camera package is complete without a tested post workflow. With this transaction, Offhollywood has access to both Light Iron’s Mobile Systems and their expert team, so we can equip our clients with the most advanced technologies and resources available anywhere.”

Light Iron and Offhollywood have intersected numerous times, as the principals of both companies were among the earliest adopters of file-based workflows when many in the post industry were highly critical of tapeless acquisition. Most recently, both companies supported the feature Texas Chainsaw 3D. Offhollywood provided cameras and stereoscopic 3D acquisition equipment and support, while Light Iron provided on-set data management, digital intermediate, and digital cinema mastering.

Light Iron is three years old and just opened a second Hollywood facility in September 2012 that is dedicated to its on-set Outpost services. Pederson and Sanchez formed Offhollywood ten years ago.

“This transaction also allows both of our companies even more opportunity to collaborate on testing and improving file-based workflow solutions for filmmakers,” Pederson continues. “I have zero doubt some interesting things will come out of Michael Cioni and I spending a lot more time together. And this really was the biggest motivation for us.

“Michael Cioni and I have known and respected each other for almost a decade. We have consistently shared the same opinions of where the post production industry is heading and we have certainly shared the same passion for digital cinema technology from acquisition to delivery. Both of our companies have been evangelizing 4K as the future since 2006, and now, seven years later, at the 2013 CES show – nearly every panel manufacturer showed 4K TVs.”