Archive for August, 2008

Mammoth HD Footage Library posts the 2008 HD Show/Demo Reel

Featuring new additions to the MHD Royalty-Free Collections/Single Clips and Rights-Managed Footage Libraries. New material featured – lifestyle, sports, world locations, scenics, wildlife, time-lapse and Underwater/Ocean Life. more

London, England, August 27, 2008—Bottletop, a UK-based charity that empowers young people worldwide through sexual health education and HIV prevention, has chosen Avastor’s HDX800 triple interface FireWire drives to store all of its London-based recordings for its Brazilian influenced CD. Bottletop has received high praise from a variety of well-known personalities, ranging from former U.S. President Bill Clinton to ex-United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan for its creative approach to the non profit sector. Its music arm initiates cross-cultural collaborations, bridging the gap between exciting musical styles from across the world. more

Freescale LDMOS Technology Allows Harris to Manufacture its Most Compact and Power-Efficient UHF Transmitters

AUSTIN, Texas/CINCINNATI, August 26, 2008 — Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, announced that it will integrate technology from Freescale Semiconductor, a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors, into its new TV transmitters for terrestrial broadcasters. Using Freescale’s laterally diffused MOS (LDMOS) UHF technology will enable Harris to produce its most compact and power-efficient UHF transmitters. more

New system to be used for production of animated commercials, establishing a more efficient workflow to increase productivity and reduce project times

MONTREAL, Canada, August 26, 2008 – Maximum Throughput Inc. (www.max-t.com), developers of multi-user media management and editing applications and high-performance media servers and storage solutions, announces that Aardman Animations, a world leader in animation for feature film, television series and commercials, has taken delivery of its third Maximum Throughput Sledgehammer HD!O file server and real-time, multi-format video device. XFTX, a Maximum Throughput reseller based in London, is providing sales and integration support for the project. more

Bergen, Norway, August 26, 2008 Vizrt Ltd. (Frankfurt Prime Standard, Oslo Main List: VIZ)

ALFACAM, the leading European HDTV provider and EURO1080, a member of the ALFACAM Group installed Vizrt graphics software solution in ALFACAM’s and EURO1080 HDTV OB vans for coverage of the Summer Games.

A pair of Viz Trio Character Generator systems were purchased by ALFACAM. The systems were used in two of ALFACAM’s many OB-trucks. Viz Trio offers 2D and 3D character generation and allows an operator to create seamless context-enabled graphics, making it ideal for sporting events. more

Flexible, Customizable Multi-Resource Scheduling Software Solution

WAYNE, Pa., August 26 2008 — Quintiq announced today that QVC, Inc., one of the largest multimedia retailers in the world, has selected its Multi-Resource Scheduling (MRS) solution to integrate the network’s scheduling and planning needs into one single system. more

Post Logic Studios, a division of Prime Focus Group, has completed a digital intermediate (DI), along with multiple post services, for the forthcoming war drama project from HBO Films, “Taking Chance.� Starring Kevin Bacon, the movie will air on the HBO network in 2009.

Directed and executive produced by Ross Katz and shot by cinematographer Alar Kivilo, “Taking Chance� is the true story of Marine Lt. Colonel Michael Strobl, who volunteered to accompany the body of a soldier killed in Iraq back to his hometown. Post Logic Studios performed the DI for the project, including film scanning, color correction, final conform and film out, with colorist Lou Levinson working closely with the director and cinematographer to maintain the range of looks sought by the production team. more

The Brief:
VFX Supervisor/Lead VFX Artist Nic Seresin of Smoke & Mirrors New York (SMNY) creates the stunning, yet purposefully retro VFX for two amusing :30 spots highlighting the Thinkpad and Ideapad of Lenovo’s line of products.
Troll features two men seated in an airport lounge fixated on their laptops. Curiosity impels the older man to ask his neighbor if he’s using a Lenovo Ideapad. The younger, more laid back man responds “yes” and demonstrates his one key recovery for lost work. Reluctantly, the older man presses a button producing an opening to another realm, beckoning a four foot troll. The grotesque figure offers condolences and a fruit basket for lost work. more

New York City, August 26, 2008 — 40 years after the August 30, 1968, release by Mary Hopkin of the international smash hit song “Those Were the Days,â€? Morgan Visconti continues his parents’ legendary musical heritage. Morgan, the son of Mary Hopkin and Tony Visconti, is a co-founder of– and composer with – NYC and LA-based HUMAN, one of the world’s most acclaimed original music production companies, with clients that include such major advertisers as Levi’s, Nike, Coca-Cola, Sprite and American Express. more

“The TimeFactor and ModFactor offer so much flexibility in a compact pedal.�
– Kevin Hunter, guitarist.

Looking for the perfect combination of versatility, performance and portability, guitarist Kevin Hunter has added the Eventide TimeFactor and ModFactor stompboxes to his repertoire. Hunter, the former guitarist for Jive Records recording artist Lesley Roy, is currently working on a project with producer Hal Willner (Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams, Marianne Faithfull). more