The North East is becoming well known all over the country for new projects and innovation in film, media and technology. The new, proposed developments along the River Wear will really put the North East on the map in the film industry and we really want to be a part of the success of Sunderland! Also, the incredible courses on offer in the local colleges and universities will mean we have fantastic options when it comes to growing our workforce.
Sensel Studio
Chris Simcock founded Sensel Studio in 2015, executing live events, architectural installs, and virtual productions globally, including feature films for 20th Century Studios, episodics for Amazon Studios and Netflix, Faceit eSports leagues, MTV music concerts, and brand launches for Macallan, Nike, and Virgin Media. The company launched Real Time Artists (RTA Pictures ®) in 2022, a next gen virtual production service delivering real-time workflows and pipelines for feature films and episodics.
What does your company do and when did you set it up?
Sensel Studio was set up over 8 years ago in London by Chris Simcock, the founding director. It was founded from a growing need for highly skilled virtual production, and in camera VFX operators for the film and media industry. We have traded successfully in London and worked on huge projects for film, Netflix and Amazon.
Why did you choose to set up an office in the North East?
The North East is becoming well known all over the country for new projects and innovation in film, media and technology. The new, proposed developments along the River Wear will really put the North East on the map in the film industry and we really want to be a part of the success of Sunderland! Also, the incredible courses on offer in the local colleges and universities will mean we have fantastic options when it comes to growing our workforce.
How did you meet Invest North East England?
We met Invest North East England (INEE) through an internet search when looking for resources available to make the transition from South to North East
What support did Invest North East England provide you?
Rachel, from INEE has provided the company with many, valuable introductions into relevant pathways in the region. She facilitated introductions to the City Council, PROTO in Gateshead and also NE Screen, all who have made finding our feet in the North East very smooth! If we had not reached out to INEE , I doubt we would have the contacts we have made, or the knowledge of the area that we have now. The pride from INEE in the region is contagious, and we have found ourselves really excited for all our future projects.
What are your future plans in the North East and what are you excited about?
We have some really cool projects in the pipeline! Our training sessions will launch in February 2024 which will give students really valuable, onsite specific training in VP and In-camera VFX. Our workforce is growing too and includes graduates and students from local colleges and universities. We are really looking forward to Sunderland becoming a hot spot for film and media production and we are excited to be a part of the success!