The Third Floor and Framstore to Offer Previs Services in London

The Third Floor, one of Hollywood’s leading previsualization companies, is joining up with London- and New York-based visual effects house, Framestore, to provide European directors with top-tier previs expertise.

The new venture, called The Third Floor – London, will see the two companies sharing staff, tools, skills and – at least initially – headquarters at Framestore’s Wells Street office.

The Third Floor has a reputation in Hollywood for delivering highly-creative, digital preproduction services for A-list directors like J.J. Abrams, James Cameron, Tim Burton, Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg; with a list of blockbuster credits including Thor, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Avatar, Star Trek and Iron Man 2. The company’s name was coined while it’s founders were previsualizing Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith on the third floor of George Lucas’ creative HQ, the Skywalker Ranch.

“We’re excited to offer the best storytelling tools and talents to inspired directors throughout Europe…” said Chris Edwards, The Third Floor CEO and creative director. “Our partnership with Framestore enables us to help directors and their entire crews maintain and realize their vision from early development through to the final visual effects through a collaborative and efficient process.”

“This is a genuinely exciting venture that will be a serious boost to the burgeoning European film market,” said Framestore CEO William Sargent. “I have long been an admirer of The Third Floor team and was extremely impressed by their previs work on Spielberg’s War Horse.”