De Lane Lea links with Aquarium in TV post push

Aquarium is moving into De Lane Lea’s Dean Street premises as part of the tie-up.

Head of sound and vision Michael Hamilton said it was a logical step for film specialist De Lane Lea, following last year’s decision to enter the TV post market.

“Aquarium will essentially be the TV department at De Lane Lea,” said Hamilton. “The set-up will be similar to a co-production and we will chase the same shows together, which Aquarium owner and sound supervisor Ben Baird will spearhead.”

“We see Aquarium as a long-term partner and we’ll be pooling resources, not fighting against each other,” Hamilton added.

Aquarium, currently working on ITV1’s Whitechapel (pictured) will retain its Wardour Street base, which will be used for pre-mixing, track laying and cutting rooms, and for corporate clients.

As part of the deal, it will have access to De Lane Lea’s engineering support and use of its peripheral facilities.

The arrangement with De Lane Lea follows Aquarium’s July deal to provide sound-mixing services at Dublin-based picture post facility Egg.

“After we moved some kit to Dublin, we were missing a large room to mix high-end TV drama so we had to find more space in London,” said Aquarium managing director Sean O’Shea.

“We are able to offer clients Ben Baird’s TV drama CV and his know-how, together with the infrastructure of De Lane Lea. So whatever a client needs, it is all there.”

O’Shea and Hamilton declined to comment on the precise terms of the deal, but O’Shea said he hoped the arrangement would result in “a close working partnership”. Both companies also said they would be keen to extend the arrangement, which currently runs to the end of the year.

In September last year, De Lane Lea formed an alliance with boutique grading operation The Look and editing facility Coach House Studios, an arrangement that will remain in place, Hamilton said.