Visual Computing Labs (VCL), the visual effect (VFX) and animation studio of Tata Elxsi, a part of the Tata Group, has brought on board three veterans of special effects from Hollywood to set up a visual effects studio in Santa Monica, US.

Oscar winner Joel Hynek, British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) nominee Tricia Ashford and motion picture trailer expert Treva Blue join VCL and manage, oversee and operate the Los Angeles studio. According to the company, the three will lead VFX production for VCL in the US and work in tandem with VCL’s studio in Mumbai.

The studio in Santa Monica is designed for US film and television production companies, specially shaping its services to suit client needs through all stages of production. “The entertainment industry, be it in India or the US thrives on the quality of creative talent and it is our endeavour to leverage upon the best of both worlds and deliver world class results in VFX and animation,” said Madhukar Dev, MD, Tata Elxsi, while announcing the launch of the US studio in Mumbai on December 1.

Tata Elxsi has already set up studios in Tokyo and the UK, but these have been for the embedded product design and industrial design services. The US studio will officially be inaugurated on December 7.

According to Pankaj Khandpur, creative director, VCL, three are full time members and they will begin work on the first project in January 2010. Khandpur declined to name the movies that they have already managed to get for the US studio. “The studio will specifically cater to the VFX requirements of Hollywood productions. We are looking to pitch for the higher end of the value chain in the visual effects space,” he said.

“Unlike India, the industry in the US works with several vendors because they want to get the work done fast. Most of the work will be done from our studios in India,” said Khandpur.

According to him, the company is planning to add more people, but it will certainly be on a project to project basis. “It will be a floating population.”

VCL is now working on two full length animation feature film — Arjun the Warrior for UTV Motion Pictures and a second one for a European production house. VCL created the Walt Disney Pictures-Yashraj Films co-production, Roadside Romeo last year and has also done digital work for the 2007 Spiderman-3.