HotBox Studios ltd

Hotbox Studios began in 1999 as a group of four students producing a film for the Hampshire Constabulary - working as a collaboration of freelancers under the name 'Hotbox Productions'.

Mark Hatchard was studying for his Higher National Diploma in Multimedia Broadcast Graphics & Animation at Farnborough College of Technology (FCOT). The Hampshire Constabulary approached the college, Mark was selected by FCOT to direct, Guy Wigmore, Richard (Tricky) Lee, and Robert Smith worked with Mark in producing the film.

2000 began with 'Street Knowledge' - a thirty minute fly on the wall documentary - opening at Southampton's Police training college.

Following the completion of Street Knowledge, and their studies at FCOT, Guy, Tricky, Rob, and Mark headed their separate ways...

Rob began working at Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT) as a web designer, lecturer, and as a freelance web designer.

Tricky headed to the University of Westminster to study graphic design and animation.

Guy headed off around the world, seeking inspiration for a film to produce, although primarily - to see the sights.

Mark headed to the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA - part of Bournemouth University) to study computer visualisation and animation. Alongside Mark's studies Mark worked on a freelance basis producing animation, graphics, websites, photography and video, again under the name 'Hotbox Productions'.

The four kept in contact, although didn’t collaborate again for a few years...

In April of 2001, Mark Hatchard - now joined at times by Phil Larby - setup a vision mixing suite. Following this Hotbox Productions could regularly be found projecting film, animation and live video feeds at events across the UK.

In September of 2001 'Wayne McGregor | Random Dance' contacted the NCCA - interested in a collaboration. Mark Hatchard, Edmund Kohen, Duncan Price and Ellie Korlander began production of animation and visual effects for the 'Wayne McGregor | Random Dance' 10 year anniversary piece 'Nemesis'.

2002 began with Nemesis premiering at Sadlers Wells (London, UK) to rave reviews:

"Nothing quite like Nemesis has ever been seen on the dance stage" The Guardian on Nemesis

Nemesis has since toured worldwide.

Following the success of Nemesis Wayne McGregor | Random Dance contacted Mark Hatchard - interested in an ongoing collaboration. This collaboration led to production of animation and visual effects for two further pieces in 2002:

BodyScript by Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, animation and visual effects by Mark Hatchard and Seth Dubieniec.

Ice Floe by Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, animation and visual effects by Mark Hatchard and Edmund Kohen.

Production also began on Alpha by Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, animation and visual effects by Mark Hatchard, Seth Dubieniec, Mohamed 'Mo' Sobhy, Matt Middleton, and Anders Lanlands.

It was in the midst of these productions - whilst working at the Big Chill Festival in the summer of 2003 - that Mark and Seth began conceiving an interactive installation known as ATMOS...

2003 began with Alpha premiering at Chancellor Hall (Chelmsford, UK). Alpha has since toured internationally.

In February of 2003 - halfway through the third year of their degrees - Mark and Seth pooled their resources, formalising the collaborative effort known as Hotbox Productions into Hotbox Studios Ltd.

Not long after this the prototype of ATMOS was completed and presented at Bournemouth University.

In the summer of 2003 Hotbox Studios' relocated to Dorchester (Dorset, UK). From this new location Hotbox Studios began production of animation and visual effects for:

Light Atlas by Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, animation and visual effects by Mark Hatchard and Seth Dubieniec.

Pills Thrills by The APE Theatre Company, animation and visual effects by Mark Hatchard and Seth Dubieniec.

Mark and Seth also began writing a proposal and building a website in the hope of gaining funding for the further development of ATMOS.

2004 began with the submission of the ATMOS proposal to the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).

As Hotbox Studios began to grow, Robert Smith (one of the original founders of Hotbox Productions back in 1999) began discussing the possibilities of further collaboration with Hotbox Studios. In early 2004 Hotbox Studios welcomed Robert Smith as the company's web design and software development director.

Around the same time Seth Dubieniec decided running a company wasn’t for him and stood down as a director of Hotbox Studios.

In 2005 under Robert Smith's direction Hotbox Studios produced a variety of new websites, and further developed those created in previous years. Examples including: Wildlife Management Services, Watford Ladies F.C., DC Site Services, and Basingstoke College of Technology. Rob also directed the production of a new Hotbox Studios website which was launched in September 2005.

Hotbox Studios collaborated with Wayne McGregor | Random Dance in producing animation and visual effects for:

'Amu' by Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, animation and visual effects by Mark Hatchard in collaboration with the visual artist Shirazeh Houshiary.

Amu opened in September 2005 at Sadlers Wells (London, UK):

"Extraordinary new collaboration … fundamental and huge … a work impossible to categorise" The Guardian on Amu

"The impact, bravery and power of the work is undeniable" Daily Telegraph on Amu

Amu has since toured internationally and won the Best Choreography (modern) category in the 2006 Critic's Circle National Dance Awards.

Following the success of Amu Hotbox Studios collaborated with Shirazeh Houshiary in refining the animation and visual effects produced for Amu into Veil – an animation for gallery and museam presentation.

Hotbox Studios worked on numerous other projects including event visuals performance at the Breakthrough Weekender’s opening night in Leister Square’s Marquee Club (London, UK).

2006 begun with the first presentation of the Veil animation within Shirazeh Houshiary’s exhibition at the Lehmann Maupin Gallery (New York, US).

Hotbox Studios collaborated with Wayne McGregor (directing) in producing animation and visual effects for Dido and Aeneas (Henry Purcell). Dido and Aeneas opened in June 2006 at Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Italy).

Under Robert Smith's direction Hotbox Studios produced websites for a variety of clients including Shirazeh Houshiary and The Air and Sea Association.

Hotbox Studios released the first version of the company’s innovate Individual Learning Plan (ILP) software.

Hotbox Studios worked on numerous other projects including a master class with Chris Charles from Wayne McGregor | Random Dance as part of the collaboration between the National Film and Television School (NFTS) and The Place Theatre.

Hotbox Studios collaborated with Wayne McGregor | Random Dance in producing animation and visual effects for:

'Un[t]old' by Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, animation and visual effects by Mark Hatchard and Seth Dubieniec.

'Digit01' by Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, refinement of animation and visual effects and film production for the 2007 restaging by Mark Hatchard.

Hotbox Studios produced websites for Retail links, Dental Nurse Training Services, BETA, BCOT Business Unit, and Lapdeck.

Hotbox Studios produced logos for DC Site Services and Dental Nurse Training Services.

Hotbox Studios released PAAM in March 2007 - the first clients being DC Site Services and Festival Republic.

Hotbox Studios also sponsored Team Flamingo - an Exeter based mountain bike team! Team Flamingo competed in the Nightrider12 event at Plymouth's Newnham Park on April 28th 2007 to raise money for 'Force' (Cancer Charity). They came in 3rd - a podium finish!

2008 began with the launch of the long awaited and much needed new DC Site Services website - Hotbox Studios created the first DC Site Services website in 2001!

'Shroud' was presented at the Lisson Gallery - an animation by Shirazeh Houshiary produced with the assistance of Mark Hatchard from Hotbox Studios.

Chillfest Ltd became the third PAAM client - using PAAM for the year round recruitment, application handling, administration, offsite and onsite management of over two hundred and fifty volunteers and staff at the Big Chill Festival.

Hotbox Studios also started developing Hotbox Events...

The new Hotbox Studios website was launched in early 2009! The long overdue overhaul to the company’s website developed over the winter 2008-2009, intended to simplify and clarify Hotbox Studios’ online presence.

'Dido and Aeneas' opened at The Royal Opera House, London. Hotbox Studios worked with director Wayne McGregor in 2006 producing animation and visual effects for 'Dido and Aeneas' - first presented at Milan's Teatro alla Scala. 'Dido and Aeneas' was then broadcast on BBC 4 TV on Friday 22 May, and on BBC Radio 3 on Saturday 20 June.

Hotbox Studios new sister company Hotbox Events was launched in March 2009. Hotbox Events is the new home for the Festival CATs and HATs; volunteers run by Hotbox Events on behalf of Festival Republic at the Latitude Festival, Reading Festival and Leeds Festival.

Hotbox Studios worked closely with the company’s web clients, producing new sites and continuing to develop those created in previous years. Examples including: Ascot Drummond, Air and Sea Association, Retail Links, DC Site Services, and Basingstoke College of Technology.

Hotbox Studios upgraded the company's hosting infrastructure (websites, databases, and online software). In mid-March Hotbox Studios installed three new servers and additional security hardware (Dell servers, Dell Switches, and Cisco Firewalls) within our new UK based data centre (Maidenhead).

Throughout 2009 Hotbox Studios and our sister company Hotbox Events has been a proud sponsor of Amy O'Loughlin. Amy has spent much of 2009 training to compete in the the Gore Bike Wear TransWales 2009 Mountain Bike Event which took place in Wales in August. All here at Hotbox send huge congratulations to Amy for making it through TransWales 2009, let alone achieving a podium finish!

If you would like further information about any of the above, would like to discuss a project or idea you are working on, or would like to chat about something Hotbox Studios is involved with - please contact us.