Fireframe Studios from Finland has announced its involvement in the upcoming Arctic thriller The Ice. This project is developed in collaboration with Nordisk Film Production and is based on a popular novel by Norwegian author John Kåre Raake, known for his work on films like The Wave and The Quake.
Filming for The Ice is set to begin next year. The story unfolds in one of the harshest environments on Earth, the North Pole. The team describes the film as a thrilling combination of high-stakes political drama and human emotion, promising “ice-cold thrills” alongside “warm human drama.”
Mikko Kodisoja, founder and CEO of Fireframe, stated, “It’s an ideal co-production for us. Much of the film relies on virtual production, which is our specialty.” He emphasized that being involved from the start allows them to use real-time technologies to creatively solve problems quickly, whether it involves scene blocking or technical challenges.
COO Sampo Kallunki added that filming at the North Pole would require a significant budget, making virtual production the best option.
“We can shoot a large portion of these scenes in our studio,” he explained.
In addition to The Ice, Fireframe is also working on underwater scenes for another Nordisk Film production titled Kraken. This monster movie follows a marine biologist conducting research in a rural community near a fjord. She soon encounters strange occurrences and the brutal deaths of two teenagers. Pål Øie, known for The Tunnel, will direct.
Kallunki noted that while many studios rely on ready-made tools, Fireframe has built its technology from scratch. “We have experts who have worked with LED projections for ten years,” he said, highlighting their unique capabilities.
Fireframe aims to make virtual production accessible to smaller and medium-sized projects. “We are already recognized as a leading studio for this in the Nordics, and we are in talks with U.S. production studios,” Kallunki mentioned.
Currently, Fireframe is finalizing plans for the largest fixed installation greenscreen studio in the Nordics. This facility will include advanced camera tracking and stunt rigging systems.
Regarding co-productions, Kallunki shared that they are negotiating budgets ranging from €3 million to €40 million. Most of their in-house projects fall between €10 million and €25 million.
With its innovative approach to virtual production, Fireframe Studios is poised to make a significant impact in both the Nordic and international film industries.
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