Award-winning physical visual effects company The Kerner Group (originally Kerner Optical and Kerner Studios) has undergone a major restructuring to add 3D production services and several key executives from ILM and other industry leaders.
Based in the former Marin County, Ca. home of George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic, The Kerner Group was acquired last year by British entrepreneur Eric Edmeades, who is now CEO and majority owner. Edmeades co-founded Bristol, England-based mobile computing and wireless networking firm The ITR Group, where he was Managing Director for nine years before the company was sold to private buyers in 2006.
Since 2006, the Kerner team has been developing camera, camera rig, and optical technologies for 3D technologies, such as Kernercam 3D capture systems, beam-splitter rigs of varying sizes, available for broadcast or cinematic applications. The Kernercam 3D system was used in the production of actor David Arquette’s short 3D film, “The Butler’s In Love,” which will open the 6th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, August 5, at the Director’s Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles.
Japan’s NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc., is using Kernercam 3D systems for sports and entertainment programming, and one is being used by the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, based in Vancouver, CN.
The restructured company in San Rafael, Ca. now offers special effects, emerging 3D technologies and production services, model creation, and a variety of problem solving, applied research and prototyping services.
To oversee the restructured company, Edmeades first hired former 20-year Dolby Laboratories executive Tim Partridge, who led the development of Dolby 3D and for 10 years worked as a Dolby surround sound consultant on more than 100 films, including “Goldeneye,” “Willow,” and “The Fisher King.” Among the many positioned he held at Dolby was Executive Vice President of Products and Technologies.
Other Kerner staff includes:
* Brian Gernand, Senior Creative Director; oversees the newly formed KernerFX unit. Gernand began working for ILM in 1986 as a model-maker and his many awards and nominations for his film and TV work include VES, Saturn, and Satellite Awards.
* Greg Beaumont, Engineer, Kerner 3D Technologies unit. 25 years in ILM’s camera engineering department; co-designer of the new Kernercam 3D System.
* Geoff Heron: Practical Effects Supervisor. 20-year leading practical effects supervisor and special effects technician with credits that include “Avatar,” “Transformers,” all three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, “Star Wars: Phantom Menace,” and “Men in Black.”
* Rose Duignan, Executive Producer; contact person for all productions that come into The Kerner Group. 20-years at ILM as Production Supervisor and Director of Marketing. Former executive producer of ABC animated TV series; Director of Marketing for Tippett Studio and Rhythm and Hues; Development Director for both TV and film at The Osmond Company.
Regarding The Kerner Group’s restructuring, Mr. Edmeades said, “There are very few companies, if any, that can offer their clients the same level of creativity in the areas of production, 3D technologies, realistic visual effects, and model design that The Kerner Group can provide. Our team has a 30-year history of producing the highest quality content and technology possible for the entertainment industry. We are now leveraging that expertise and success to further expand The Kerner Group…”
Among the services at the new Kerner:
* KernerFX (previously ILM’s “Model Shop”): Physical effects for film, TV, and commercial production industries. Credits include “Terminator Salvation” (Visual Effects Society Award nomination) and the 2009 “Star Trek.” Kerner’s action miniatures are often more than 2,500 square feet in size, and have included the 35-foot long model of the “Black Pearl” pirate ship for all three “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.
* Kerner 3D Technologies: ILM’s engineers designed and built the “Empire Camera” (for “The Empire Strikes Back”) — a super high speed camera that uses the Vistavision format. This camera is available only through The Kerner Group.
* Kerner Studios: Several fully equipped (indoor and outdoor) stages, camera (2D and 3D) equipment. State-of-the-art production space, equipment, personnel skills, and decades of experience.