Oxford Scientific Films
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Company type | Parent ITV Studios | |
---|---|---|
Website | oxfordscientificfilms |
Oxford Scientific Films (OSF) is a British company that produces natural history and documentary programmes. Founded as an independent company on 8 July 1968, by documentary filmmaker Gerald Thompson, it broke new ground in the world of documentaries, using new filming techniques and capturing footage of never before filmed activities of its various subjects.[citation needed] In 1996, Oxford Scientific Films was sold to Circle Communications, where it retained its own identity as a division within the company. The following year, Circle Communications was taken over by Southern Star Entertainment UK. Under the new ownership, Oxford Scientific Films produced multiple award-winning programmes and films[citation needed], including the Animal Planet series Meerkat Manor.
In March 2008, Southern Star merged its Sydney-based factual business division into the Oxford Scientific Films division, using the OSF name for specialist documentaries, and "Southern Star Factual" for its features and entertainment style documentaries. When Southern Star was sold to Endemol, Oxford Scientific Films was retained by parent company Fairfax Media. In 2011, Boom Pictures Productions obtained a controlling 70% share of the company.
History
Formation and growth
In 1967, Gerald Thompson, a film maker and
When they returned to the United Kingdom, Thompson sold them a quarter acre of his garden, at a steeply discounted price, to be the home for the new building. They formed Oxford Scientific Films, taking part of the name from Parks' existing company Oxford Biological Films. Thompson, Parks, Morris, Paling, and Thompson's son David, headed the new company, which began operating on 8 July 1968. Thompson remained at his position at Oxford University while the company building was being completed, while the other four travelled to America to make the film loops for Ealing. Thompson resigned from the university on 2 September 1969, to work at Oxford Scientific Films full-time.[1][2]
The company focused initially on filming nature at a microscopic level, including insect and aquatic wildlife. Using specialised equipment and camera techniques the developed themselves, the company gained fame for its ability to record never before seen footage of the natural world. Its cinematographers became experts in micro, macro, snorkel, slow-motion and time-lapse photography. As the company grew, it expanded into other innovating filming and post-production techniques, and moved from creating short loops to creating television programmes and series, commercials, and feature films.[3]
Southern Star acquisition
In September 1996, Oxford Scientific Films was purchased by film and television rights company Circle Communications for £3.9 million. £3.85 million of the purchase price was paid in cash, with the rest paid through a stock exchange.
On 4 December 2003, Oxford Scientific's extensive libraries of over 350,000 still images and over 2,000 of film footage libraries were acquired by Photolibrary. The acquisition was done as a share exchange, with Photolibrary acquiring shares in Oxford Scientific Films Limited, and Southern Star paying A$1 million to purchase a 46.46% equity in Photolibrary. Photolibrary retained existing employees of the library divisions, and continues using the names "Oxford Scientific" and "OSF" in promoting the libraries. Southern Star retained full control of Oxford Scientific Films production unit, and through that unit, continues supplying images and footage to the Photolibrary.[9][10][11]
In March 2008, parent company
Oxford Scientific Films today
Some time later, Oxford Scientific Films became part of the Twofour Group, which was acquired on 24 June 2015 by ITV Studios.[12]
Notable works
Oxford Scientific Films has produced numerous award-winning programmes and films. In 1998, its film "The Forbidden Fruit" produced for the
In 2005, the company launched
References
- ^ a b Christopher Parsons (Interviewer), Derek Kilkenny-Blake (Cameraman) (3 September 1998). Oral History Interview: Gerald Thompson – Chapter 8:Setting up Oxford Scientific Films (Flash) (Documentary). WildFilmHistory. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
- ^ a b Morris, Sean (21 September 2002). "Gerald Thompson: Pioneer of filming plants and small animals". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
- ^ Plank, Joselynn (1999). "OSF". Heroes of the High Frontier companion site. International Canopy Network, Evergreen State College. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
- Electronic Telegraph. Archived from the originalon 25 November 2004. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ ISBN 0-8122-1728-4.
- ^ Clarke, Steve (29 September 2003). "U.K. Arm Develops Drama, Docu Docket". Variety. p. B3.
- ISBN 0-9580152-6-0. Archived from the original(PDF) on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
- ^ "Evolution of the UK Independent Production Sector". Mediatique, BBC. September 2005. p. 8. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ a b "Southern Star Announces Merger With Oxford Scientific Films". 4rfv.co.uk. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
- Southern Star Group. 30 April 2004. Retrieved 29 August 2008. [dead link]
- Southern Star Group. 3 December 2003. Retrieved 29 August 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "ITV acquires Twofour Group". ITV Press Centre. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ Warren, Piers (January 2000). "Newsletter Number 7". Wildlife Film News. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ Bellafante, Ginia (10 October 2007). "'The Desert Has Lost Its Favorite Rose': Death Comes to the Whiskers Family". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 October 2007.
- ^ "The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations Summary". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ^ "Wildscreen 2006 Finalist Films". Wildscreen Festival. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ^ a b "OSF Award Winning Productions". Southern Star Group. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ^ "TV Programming & Promotion Showcase". New York Festivals. International Awards Group. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ^ "Meerkat Manor – The Cast and Crew". Animal Planet. Archived from the original on 9 December 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
- ^ Smith, Lynn (29 September 2007). "Tributes to the passing of a meerkat matriarch". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2007.