Shooters Post & Transfer Taps Veteran Effects Supervisor Mark Forker to Lead DIVE

New Company Will Focus On Visual Effects/Post Services for Independent Filmmaking Community

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Shooters Post & Transfer (www.shootersinc.com), the award-winning visual effects, design and post production facility here, announced the launch of DIVE (www.the-dive.net), a new visual effects and film finishing house led by veteran Visual Effects Supervisor Mark Forker - most recently Visual Effects Supervisor at Digital Domain, Los Angeles. With Forker at the helm, the new company will focus on providing the film community with visual effects, digital intermediates and titles. Forker will also continue to provide visual effects supervision services to studios and filmmakers via his existing relationships with visual effects facilities worldwide.

"At a time when the box office and independent film markets are experiencing a tremendous shift to an all digital work flow, and visual effects being a part every film, we felt it was time for us to hire someone with Mark's expertise and talent to position us in this new world of motion pictures," Ray Carballada, Shooters Post & Transfer COO says. "The launch of DIVE and the fact that it will be helmed by such a prominent and respected name in the filmmaking community as Forker's sends a clear message to producers and directors that the company is serious in its commitment."

"With independent films a big issue is always the post budget," adds Carballada. "In DIVE we have developed a model to provide independent filmmakers a level of finishing that in the past was unattainable. They also face many difficult creative choices when it comes to visual effects and finishing. With Mark they have a resource they can turn to that can provide studio level picture expertise."

Fresh from a twelve year run at Digital Domain, the seminal visual effects company founded by James Cameron and Stan Winston, Forker has contributed his talents as a digital compositor and visual effects supervisor to such films as Apollo 13, Titanic, Cinderella Man, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Star Trek: Nemesis and most recently in the theaters, the kid superhero comedy Zoom. Despite his high-profile credits, however, Forker admits to being excited about working with independent filmmakers and smaller projects in general.

"Increasingly, I've found that some of the most satisfying jobs I've worked on were smaller in scale," Forker explains. "Independent filmmakers tend to spend more time working on the creative and often need someone with experience to help them realize their vision from the post side of things. When Ray told me that several independent filmmakers had already approached him, I was immediately interested in being a part of it."

Forker notes that geographical location no longer holds the same professional importance it once did. A transplanted New Yorker, Forker moved to Los Angeles when that city was the center of the film world, a perception that he says has now markedly changed.

"In the last five years, I've worked on productions all over the world and actually very few in Los Angeles," says Forker. "These days the film world is expanding to include filmmakers from all over the globe. Production happens everywhere and during post, files can be uploaded and downloaded to accommodate the location of the director or the effects artists. There are great filmmakers living all over the world and we're going to reach out to the whole community."

For Forker, the decision to relocate to Philadelphia was carefully considered, but one that was made easier as he came to know the capabilities of Shooters and the vision they have for the future.

"I've known Ray Carballada for many years," he says, "and I've watched Shooters grow steadily into the impressive company they are today. Knowing what I know, it was a complete no-brainer for me to come aboard. They are creative risk-takers, but they always have their clients' best interests at heart. They'll step out onto limbs to make things work, and usually succeed. I'm happy to be a part of what they're building. This is a big move for my family and me, but it's something we all wanted to do. Plus, we're looking forward to experiencing all four seasons again too."

About DIVE:
Based in Philadelphia, PA, DIVE (www.the-dive.net), is a new visual effects and film finishing house led by veteran Visual Effects Supervisor Mark Forker - most recently Visual Effects Supervisor at Digital Domain, Los Angeles. The new company will focus on providing the independent film community with visual effects, digital intermediates, and titles. For more information contact: Mark Forker or Andy Williams at 267-514-7700

About Shooters Post & Transfer
Shooters Post & Transfer (www.shootersinc.com) blends talent, technology, and customer service to provide a superior level of quality and creativity. Shooters' client base consists of ad agencies, production companies, filmmakers, television and cable networks and corporations. The company is located in Historic Old City Philadelphia. Shooters supports all available high definition (HD) formats. Capabilities include film transfer with data and HD output, HD color correction with Defocus and Toolbox, five fire (HD) suites, CGI and graphic design, flame, five non-linear offline suites, three digital HD surround sound audio suites, audio recording studio, film, HD and video crews and studio.