Universal Pixels expands rental portfolio with SUMOLIGHT’s SUMOSKY

Universal Pixels (UP), a multi-award-winning rental supplier of HETV video equipment, today announces a strategic rental partnership with SUMOLIGHT, a leading provider of innovative lighting solutions for the film & TV industries.

SUMOLIGHT is renowned for its commitment to delivering cutting-edge lighting solutions and has gained a reputation for pushing the boundaries of technology in the field. The SUMOSKY IBL solution, a flagship product from SUMOLIGHT, is designed to revolutionise the way cinematographers and lighting designers approach production.

The collaboration aligns with the companies’ shared mission of advancing the possibilities of image-based lighting (IBL) and enhancing the visual storytelling experience. The acquisition will enable Universal Pixels to meet the growing demand for innovative IBL solutions in the ever-evolving landscape of film, television, and content creation.

UP’s In-Camera VFX Manager, Dan Edmonds comments: “We see image-based lighting as the next exciting technical progression in film and TV, and having spent the last 12 months looking at various products, SUMOSKY IBL is the stand-out investment for our business. Offering our extensive video playback expertise and working alongside the team at SUMOLIGHT to both develop the correct image output and simplify post-production workflows will be incredibly beneficial to UK productions. Not only is their product very well-made and quick to deploy – minimising crew costs and studio time – but during its short time on the market, it’s already in high demand.”

Tim Zur, CEO SUMOLIGHT Group, adds: “As an innovation-based manufacturer we started the rental side of the business with a specific goal in mind; to support invested clients, introduce new concepts to the industry, and ultimately, to move away from rental supply – first as production hire, then B2B, and finally by working with our trusted partner, Universal Pixels.”

“Brokered by our UK sales representatives 3LR, we are extremely pleased to be working with Universal Pixels as they recognise the value of the business and the products in it,” adds Simon Evans, CEO SUMOLIGHT UK. “We will continue to oversee product training and support, and expand product lines while UP deploys and maintains the products on set, with our unwavering support.”

The seamless decision-making process on both sides was influenced by the extensive collaboration on various productions and included thorough SUMOSKY integration testing with UP’s market-leading LED screens and operating systems.

“This product will bridge the gap between lighting and VFX, offering Gaffers a true colour for the first time. Unlike traditional LED video panels, SUMOSKY is a true RGBWW, and has been created by a prestigious manufacturer with real film pedigree,” concludes Edmonds. “Both Universal Pixels and SUMOLIGHT work extensively to give productions the same outcome and our shared values and vision show great promise for the future.”

SUMOSKY product demonstrations will be available at Elstree Studios in London, and private test shoots can be arranged.