Star role for Mere Mortals

Feb 26 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

A DIGITAL media and film company has capped a bumper 12 months – which saw it work on the most successful British movie of the year – by recording a 30% climb in revenue and laying out plans for international growth.

In the aftermath of Slumdog Millionaire’s haul of eight Oscar’s earlier this week, Newcastle-based Mere Mortals, which produced work for director Danny Boyle’s film, said it was targeting ongoing expansion at home and abroad despite the recession.

The company produced on-screen graphics for Slumdog Millionaire, making it the third Danny Boyle film in its portfolio under the DNA Films banner following post-production work on Sunshine and 28 Weeks Later.

Hours before Slumdog Millionaire dominated the Oscar ceremony in Hollywood, Mere Mortals also celebrated as it picked up a Royal Television Society award for work on a TV commercial to attract foster carers, called Foster a Future, for Newcastle City Council.

Managing director Steve Walmsley said: “Yes, it was celebrations all round this weekend. We were delighted to pick up another RTS award [and] we all sat up late on Sunday night too to see Slumdog Millionaire sweep the board at the Oscars.

“Our work on Slumdog Millionaire was a fast turnaround job over the Christmas holidays 2007/8 because DNA Films knew from experience we would deliver. We’ve worked together on three movies now and look forward to a continued relationship on Danny’s future projects.”