There are currently three MRMC Milo cranes based in the Eastern half of North America. Two of these are in Canada and the other is based in Atlanta, Georgia. While this large region is fertile ground for creative visual effects in feature films, broadcast television and music videos, recent economic and political events have created a 'moving target' in terms of where the bulk of production is likely to occur. The US dollar is weaker at present, and 'tax credits' for film production vary, and are regularly reviewed, in the States and Provinces of the USA and Canada.

This creates a challenge for the Milo operation at WF Whites in Toronto, Canada. With seven years of successful shooting behind it, and a dedicated operating team, it continues to serve local production demand, and boasts an impressive reel including work on 'Chicago' and 'I Robot', and a large number of 'high end' commercials and music videos. The team in Toronto have also worked in various other locations including Florida, Vancouver, and one long distance trip to New Zealand.

The team working under motion control cameraman Jerry Andrews believe they have to look further afield at present for work which in previous years has come directly to Toronto. They believe they have developed a highly efficient approach to location work, and can service a wide area of the Eastern USA and Canada, by road. The Milo system and all accessories travels in a purpose-designed trailer, and can offload the Milo with up to 54 feet of precision track directly into any studio or location with road or track access. The Toronto Milo boasts a 'lifting frame' system which allows the Milo to be moved quickly, with its track attached if necessary, around studio floors, streets, sidewalks, and other open ground.

A four-day, five-location shoot in 2004 in Pittsburgh, Pennysylvania epitomises the efficiency and adaptability of their operation, and they hope that the details released here will help to stimulate further interest from potential US clients.

Pittsburgh-based New Perspective Media ( www.new-perspective.com ) contacted the Toronto Milo team when they decided to pitch a VFX concept for the 2004 Institutional Campaign of Pittsburgh University. This involved shooting multi-layered scenes in five different locations within the Pitt U. campus; three interiors and two exteriors, in four days of production. Producer Bill Medica and director Tom Schneider were reassured by the detailed pre-production discussions, setting achievable targets and resolving a number of VFX issues before the arrival of the team. The spot was shot in HD format using a Panasonic Varicam.

(Note you can also view the making of footage by clicking here: http://www.drivenvfx.com/html_pages/pitt.html )