Mar 24, 2016

Double negative of Vfx company is shutting down studio in Singapore

Double Negative, a leading visual effects firm that won an Oscar last month for its work on Ex Machina, announced today that it will cease all operations at its Singapore studio. The shutdown will take place by May 20, 2016.

Double Negative's Singapore facility was opened in 2009, and had contributed vfx work to films such as Godzilla, Man of Steel, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay parts 1 and 2.

The company explained its reasons for closing in a written statement from Alex Hope, managing director and co-founder of Double Negative. “Closing a facility is never an easy choice,” said Hope. “However we must be responsive to the requirements of our clients and ensure global operation is well balanced to meet their needs. The changing global dynamics of the film industry has focused the growth and development of our operations elsewhere in the world.”

Double Negative was acquired in 2014 by Indian conglomerate Prime Focus World. The studio underwent a round of layoffs last fall, during which around 80 employees were let go, prompting some industry observers to speculate that the studio might close soon.

While Double Negative is closing in Singapore, its facilities in London and Vancouver, as well as its newest one in Mumbai, which was opened last June, continue to recruit and hire new employees. Over 50 positions at those locations are currently listed as open on the company's jobs page.

The company has said that while it is closing the Singapore facility, “our first priority is our staff.” It has stated that it will work with the Singaporean government to ensure that the Singapore staff is either transferred to Double Negative's other facilities or given training and placement at other firms in Singapore.