Prime Focus - a Mumbai-based public company with visual-effects and 3D-conversion operations in Hollywood -- is opening an effects-and-conversions shop in London.

Martin Hobbs, formerly head of film production at MPC, has been appointed managing director of the new division.

“This is a bold statement of intent -- a new business model, launched with drive, energy, enthusiasm and experience at a pivotal time for the visual effects industry,” Hobbs said.

Omnilab Media and Oktobor, its award winning visual effects, animation and digital creative convergence studio, today officially opened their new Auckland-based Computer Generated (CG) animation studio - Oktobor Animation, which it has created and launched in conjunction with Backyard Animated Pictures (USA).

The opening was attended by His Worship The Mayor of Auckland, Len Brown, the Hon. Dr. Wayne Mapp, Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Omnilab Media Managing Director Christopher Mapp, Nickelodeon Animation Studios Senior Vice President and General Manager Mark Taylor and other key members of industry, government and the media.