For six years between 2002 and 2008 I worked for The Moving Picture Company as a production systems engineer. MPC specialises in high end digital visual effects for film, television, pop promos and commercials, and has won many industry awards for it’s work.
Thus I am shocked to learn that the company which owns it, Thomson SA, have just filed for bankruptcy protection against it’s $3.8 billion of debt. Prior to Thomson buying MPC, it was owned by Carlton Communications. Thomson also owns amongst it’s broad portfolio, Technicolor, Grass Valley (famed for it’s telecine kit), a share of the MP3 patent, and Alcatel (who manufacturer ADSL modems and other telecommunications equipment).
I’m hoping that Thomson will pull through this successfully as they are simply too large and important a company in the industries they operate to fail. If nothing else, perhaps they should consider selling their share of the MP3 patent..
As a MPC employee, I can safely say this has no impact whatsoever on any of MPC’s staff or our clients. The Thomson filing in the US is merely a companion to the ’sauvegarde’ filing in France from a week or two ago which is part of a long, complex financial process to restructure the company’s debts as it continues the transition away from consumer electronics to media services. That news article looks more alarming than it is. Business as usual at MPC, some particularly cool projects in the works…