A P.E.I. company is getting federal and provincial money to help support the launch of a new software product for use on the sets of film, television and advertising productions.
The money comes to Onset Communication Inc. to “develop, build and market a new wireless communication tool for the film industry.”
The company is promising to develop and commercialize its proprietary tablet application that allows directors, producers and other crew members to communicate with each other instantly via tablet video feeds.
ACOA’s Business Development Program, is providing a $160,000 repayable contribution. Prince Edward Island is providing a $16,000 non-repayable contribution through Innovation PEI.
The announcement says the money will help Onset’s “team of programmers develop a new tool using innovative technology that could soon reach film sets around the world.”
“After three years of development, I finally feel like I am in the race to get my product to market,” said Brian Sharp, CEO of Onset Communication Inc.
Onset Communication Inc. was one of the original resident companies at the PEI Startup Zone, and has also recently received investment support from Island Capital Partners.
Onset will build, test, market and release a beta version of Visual Assistant. It allows crews to connect with all members on set with real-time video, immediate playback and integrated communication tools.
The company is promising to deploy its technology on film and TV sets this summer in PEI, Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax.
“The Onset Communication Inc. team is a great example of the talent and innovative thinking to be found in our province’s highly-skilled information and communication technology sector,” said Charlottetown MP Sean Casey. “By helping creative people work more efficiently, this new visual assistant tool could be of immense value to the Canadian film industry and beyond.”
