Northwest Vision and Media, create the bigger picture
Flix Are The One
FOR fifteen years, Manchester editors, Leo Casserly and Nigel Senior, have counted Postman Pat and Rupert the Bear among their closest pals. But now they’re playing with the big boys!
“We’ve landed our first major commission from the BBC, and it’s brilliant!” beams Leo Casserly, his amiability no doubt coming from his years in kids TV.
The friends’ post production house, Flix Facilities, has earned an enviable industry reputation, with latest hit Roary The Racing Car currently making its mark. But now the duo have stepped up yet another gear, with major new primetime BBC series, The One Show.
The Manchester post production house are editing all filmed segments from the Northwest for the new magazine show, broadcasting now on BBC 1 at 7pm, five days a week.
This is the latest in a long line of triumphs for the company, and now they can add to that winning Northwest Vision + Media’s Facility of the Month award. Managing Director Leo couldn’t be happier.
“Things couldn’t be going better,” Leo reveals from Flix HQ. “It feels great to be highlighted as Facility of the Month, it’s nice to be recognised for all the work we’re doing and to show just what we’re all about.”
Flix rose from the ashes of redundancies for Leo and staff editing partner Nigel Senior at Cosgrove Hall in 1992. Deciding to branch out on their own, they initially serviced Cosgrove Hall for post production exclusively. As their reputation has developed, other broadcasters have discovered Flix and now the business is running at full capacity.
Leo has been amazed at how fast Flix has grown. “We started out with minimal help,” he explains. “15 years later we have a staff of 24! We still have a tight relationship with Cosgrove Hall and are still servicing them for post facilities, but we’re now also doing work across the board of broadcasters.” To accommodate this boom in business, five years ago the second Flix site was opened, in Manchester city centre.
Flix covers the whole spectrum of post production support. They provide offline and online editing, audio prep and finishing, graphics and CGI. Leo is keen to work with a wide variety of clients. “We specialise in film and TV broadcast, we do commercials as well, and some corporate work,” he says. “Basically anyone who needs post production facilities can come to us as a one-stop shop.
“The Manchester post-production scene is fairly competitive, but we’re holding our own,” reveals Leo. Indeed Flix are, having offline/online editing and CGI animation contracts with long standing children’s favourites Rupert the Bear, Postman Pat and new hit Roary the Racing Car on their books at the Cosgrove Hall offices.
Documentaries and factual programmes are the bread and butter at the Manchester site. At the moment Panorama are busy cutting together a new episode, and a new series on health, Am I Normal? is also currently being edited for broadcast on BBC 2 later this year.
The programme is being produced by Manchester-based producer Eamon O’Connor for Liberty Bell Productions. Eamon is Flix’ most loyal client, having used their facilities exclusively for the last five years while working for Liberty Bell with Five, Channel 4, ITV and the BBC.
The newest addition to the Flix stable is The One Show. Fronted by Adrian Chiles, the studio-based show will cover features and human interest stories from around the UK. “We’re doing post production work on the Manchester films. Three, five minute film inserts a week, from start to finish for the next six months,” says Leo.
“The films are an eclectic mix from all over the country, designed to give a flavour of their region. Some films will be from Bristol for example, some will be from the North East, and some will come from Manchester.
“It’s a direct commission from the BBC to us, so we’re very proud of that,” he adds, looking forward to the exposure the programme will get on BBC 1.
As technology evolves, Flix are also making sure they’re at the cutting edge of technical equipment. They are one of a few companies who have recently invested in a Harding machine, designed to safeguard against epileptic reactions to screen flickering, and are the pioneers of a brand new service, Flix Live.
Leo clarifies: “Without getting too technical, Flix Live is a facility to send programmes to any part of the world electronically and securely. It’s a step beyond sending tapes via couriers, cutting down time, and we’re using it extensively already. Flix Live has proved a great success so far! All the time it’s getting faster and with better quality.”
Looking ahead, Leo sees an expansion into new genres on the horizon. “We’d like to move into the drama genre, to complement our current core business of animation and current affairs. We are interested in expansion,” he says. “But I wouldn’t want to get too big. Our clients value the personal service they get at Flix. They are loyal to us and we’re very loyal to them. I wouldn’t want to lose that.”
Rupert and Pat can rest easy, as Leo and Flix are proud of staying loyal to their old pals. But you can never have too many friends! Flix are growing up and making new ones far and wide.
Contact Flix Facilities
Leo Casserly, Managing Director
leo@flixfacilities.com
Manchester City Centre site
E: Manchester@flixfacilities.com
T: 0161 834 8808
Chorlton site
E: mail@flixfacilities.com
T: 0161 882 2525
