By Myrna Tobisoo, April 27, 2007
Orbit Digital, a provider of mobile post-production equipment and services, detailed its role in supporting post-production on Revolution Studios' sci-fi thriller "Next," which opens in U.S. theaters today.
"Next" is the first studio feature film to be cut entirely in
Avid's compressed (DNxHD) resolutions, according to Orbit West's director of sales, Chad Andrews. Working under the direction of Bruce Markoe, Revolution's head of post, Orbit collaborated closely with Avid to design, test and perform R&D which has paved the way for various films to subsequently employ Avid's DNx resolutions.
Currently, Orbit is supporting HD workflows on numerous films including The Bourne Ultimatum and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Orbit provided Next with three Avid Media Composer Adrenaline HD systems and a LP Unity with over 11 terabytes of storage. Orbit also provided technical support to the production.
Working closely with Markoe and editor Christian Wagner (whose recent credits include Tony Scott's Domino and Michael Bay's The Island), Orbit's managing technician Seth McCook streamlined the integration and support process.
Director Lee Tamahori and cinematographer David Tattersall captured their live-action footage using Panavision's
Genesis camera
. The master tapes were cloned incorporating
Technicolor's printer light system for color management and digitized into Avid media using the DNxHD 115 codec.
At Revolution Studios' editorial facilities in the Lantana Media
Center in Santa Monica, associate editor Leigh Folsom and other members of Wagner's editorial staff used Adrenaline Avids to sync the sound files received from the set. Wagner's Adrenaline system was configured with a 62" rear-screen 1080p monitor and a Sony 2K projector. HD cuts and dailies were projected directly from either the Avid or an HD deck onto a larger screen in his cutting room, making the most of the HD workflow.
Last year, Orbit Digital announced its merger with PostWorks, New York. While Orbit's principals and staff members continue operating Orbit's existing facilities in Los Angeles and New York, and PostWorks facilities also continue their normal operations, the companies are closely coordinating their efforts to provide complete post-production services, including film processing, telecine and 2K DI finishing, complete audio services and customized, location-based post solutions.
.
|