LONDON — Notorious DIT, Molinare Creative Group’s (molinare.co.uk) DIT and lab division, is expanding its operations to the Northwest of England where it’s opening a new facility in Liverpool. The expansion comes as part of a larger strategy to strengthen the company’s ties outside of London and support regional film and television productions located in Liverpool, Manchester and Yorkshire.
Based at the Liverpool Innovation Park, the new Notorious DIT facility will provide its whole suite of services, including DIT, data management, lab, and on-set and near-set services for productions filming in the region. The expansion is stage one of the group’s plans for Liverpool. Working closely with the Liverpool Film Office, the Molinare Creative Group is set to expand its offering further to include offline editorial, ADR and finishing post production services.
Liverpool has served as a backdrop to some of the UK’s biggest dramas over the past 12 months, including Paramount+’s Sexy Beast and A Gentleman in Moscow, and BBC’s Time and The Responder. The region is fast becoming the biggest film and TV hub outside of London. Molinare Creative Group’s plans for growth are in line with the efforts of Liverpool Film Office, which announced its plans to support over 1,000 diverse new entrants into the screen sector over the next three years.
MD Michael Pentney
Further to setting up operations in the region, Notorious DIT will work with Liverpool Film Office to increase opportunities for home-grown talent. This will initially involve running training sessions and on-set work experience, focusing on DIT and lab. As the group develops its presence in the region, the ambition is to set up final post training facilities, nurturing local talent and enabling real-world experience.
“Notorious DIT is a born and bred Newcastle company with a legacy of working across the Northwest,” states Michael Pentney, managing director at Notorious DIT. “Setting up a permanent hub is an important moment for us, it feels like we’re coming home. Not only are we able to provide a more consistent service, having a presence in Liverpool means we can cultivate talent and be a positive part of change. This is an exciting time, and I can’t wait to get fully immersed into our new Northern family.”
“There is a great wealth of talent, facilities and landscape beyond that of the M25,” adds Nigel Bennett, CEO of Molinare Creative Group. “Whilst London, and specifically the impressive streets off Carnaby Street, have been Molinare’s home for over 50 years, there is so much more of England that we as an industry should be utilizing and exploring. Lynn (Saunders) and her team at Liverpool Film Office have done an incredible job of building a vibrant film and TV industry in Liverpool, and with their impressive growth plans, I’m excited to be on this journey with them.”