Warner Bros. to Pump Up Its Effects Unit

Warner Bros.’ digital studios unit, formed six months ago to provide special visual effects for movies, television shows and theme park attractions, plans to add significantly to its current staff of 100 and will move on April 1 to a state-of-the-art facility in Burbank, the company said Thursday.

Tim Sarnoff, a Warner Bros. senior vice president and head of the new division--currently in Sherman Oaks--declined to say how much the studio is investing. But he said it intends to have “one of the largest facilities out there” dedicated to cutting-edge digital effects.

Warner’s commitment to an in-house digital unit is part of an industrywide trend. Rather than continuing to depend on independent special-effects firms such as Industrial Light & Magic and Boss Film Studios, several major movie studios have been creating their own divisions to handle them.

Sarnoff said the studio wants to have better control over its products, improve efficiency and create effects that can be used throughout Time Warner’s film, television and theme park holdings. He also characterized the unit as a safeguard against the financial squeeze at many independent effects houses because of the capital-intensive nature of the business.

The digital unit is currently working on two upcoming Warner Bros. feature films: “Eraser,” with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and “Mars Attacks!” a Tim Burton film starring Jack Nicholson. It is also creating a 3-D film for theme park rides in Australia and Germany.

Sarnoff said the unit will be involved in animated movie projects, but he declined to provide details. He said the division also plans to produce commercials.

The 65,000-square-foot Burbank facility, on a former Lockheed property, will house the entire division, including engineering and model shops and a screening room, Sarnoff said.