Forbidden Technologies has developed an internet technology that will allow film editors, professionals or amateurs, to edit their work on conventional PCs anywhere in the world.

According to Stephen Streater, Forbidden chief executive, editors and producers will be able to access, view and edit footage from offices, homes or hotel rooms. No additional hardware or software is needed. The finished edit can be transmitted to any website or, indeed, to the more sophisticated ranges of mobile phone.

The system, called Forscene, was launched last week at the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam.

It could have considerable impact on companies such as Avid Technologies of the US which sell high-end editing suites costing thousands of dollars. Streater says he expects to sell time on the Forscene system at £1 an hour for amateurs and £5 an hour for professionals.

The system was developed in conjunction with the independent production house Mentorn, whose managing director, Charles Thompson, said it was “like putting a man on the moon for our industry”.

The film industry already distributes rough cuts of video footage over the internet, but Forscene is thought to be the first to allow editing without specialised hardware or software.

www.forbidden.co.uk