Archive of the Content Delivery Category

NEW YORK, NY – March 14, 2012 – Brevity, a NYC start-up serving the broadcast and production communities, today announced the appointment of industry veteran Mike Jackman to Senior Vice President of Business Development.

“With 25 years of experience in motion picture and television operations and servicing, production, post production and development, Mike Jackman has already proven himself to be a valuable asset of the Brevity team,” said Jake Bronstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Brevity. “Not only is Mike driven and effective, but he also contributes such a high level of energy and enthusiasm coupled with exceptional professional experience, that we know he’s going to propel Brevity’s success forward faster than we could have imagined.”

As SVP of Business Development, Jackman will be responsible for business development, special projects, partnerships and international sales.

“Brevity is a disruptive technology with the potential to change every workflow it touches in such a good way,” said Jackman. “Many of the people I’m introducing to Brevity are my colleagues from many years in the industry. I’ve shared the same pains as they have and really enjoy sharing a solution that actually fixes problems we’ve been trying to solve for years.”

Prior to joining Brevity, Jackman spent four years at Deluxe Entertainment Services as Vice President and General Manager of Deluxe New York and most recently Regional Vice President of Business Development, where he was charged with identifying critical opportunities for acquisition, investment and joint venture. Previous to that Jackman was the Senior Vice President of Post Production for The Weinstein Company overseeing postproduction on over sixty films.

Jackman serves on a number of boards including the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), Scenarios USA and as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New York Production Alliance, a group of entertainment professionals who’s charter is to promote and create job growth in New York City and New York State.

ABOUT BREVITY
Brevity provides breakthrough technology that offers for the first time the ability to simultaneous transcode while transporting video at incredibly fast speeds- over any network- Internet, fiber, or data satellite. Founded in 2010 by Jacob Bronstein and Abdul Sulieman, Brevity transforms media production and distribution workflows and redefines the time, cost, and efficiency required to support M&E operations. Brevity is working with leading networks, studios, content providers, sports teams, and production houses to redefine media production and distribution around the world.

Coordinated Services Offering puts Integration and Efficiencies into Game Development

(Burbank, CA/London, UK) Testronic Labs, Kuju Entertainment, and Doublesix Digital Publishing, sister companies of the Catalis Group, have unveiled FullCycle, an integrated, quality-focused services package for the development, digital publishing, and testing of video games. Kuju Entertainment is one of the world’s leading independent game developers; Doublesix Digital Publishing has pioneered the development and publishing of digitally distributed games, and Testronic is the recognized global leader in quality assurance and compliance for games and a host of other industries. The combination of services under these affiliated companies will create an end-to-end development cycle for the games industry, which can streamline the entire process and increase savings for customers.

FullCycle is a one-stop-shop that allows all the services necessary to make a game to be provided as a single product – including design, development, production, localization, testing, publishing and marketing. It can handle all the relationships with digital distribution channels, hardware manufacturers and suppliers, and provides efficiency, faster turnarounds, creative continuity and improved workflow. Previously these were services that major media companies, IP rights holders and investors would need to source separately and with significant overhead.

Alastair Harsant, Vice President of Games Services Operations for Testronic Labs, notes, “Simply put, our clients absolutely cannot afford to miss any of the milestones and quality assurance benchmarks that are mandatory for success in game development. FullCycle ensures the highest level of operational efficiencies with the combined strength of Kuju, Doublesix, and Testronic. Creating a one-vendor pipeline means straightforward communication throughout the process and the full coordination of the development, testing and delivery pipeline. FullCycle will lead to greater visibility at that critical point of hand-off from development to testing teams as we take on greater responsibility.”

Testronic, Doublesix, and Kuju are recognized industry experts who are respected for confidentiality and security. The companies are part of the Catalis group, a world-leading outsourcing provider that focuses on high-end technical services relating to the creation of digital content for the entertainment and digital media industries. The companies of the Catalis group operate from ten locations throughout the US, the UK, Poland, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Japan. The breadth of services and capacity is highly beneficial to industries at work across vast geographic areas. Jeremy Lewis, CEO at Catalis, said of the announcement of FullCycle , “It took time and planning to develop these companies into highly functional, tightly integrated collaborators. We invested the time, money and intellectual capital to make FullCycle a viable offering, and we are pleased to unveil it during The Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA.”

Seth Hallen, CEO of Testronic, noted, “Working closely with our colleagues at Kuju and Doublesix, we have put the most powerful development and testing pipeline into existence in the industry. Putting testing expertise into the process earlier allows our experts a proactive role in the pre-alpha phase of the development cycle, and allows us to forecast any potential challenges while enabling better test approaches. That saves money, time, and improves functionality. After collaborations with our sister companies on a number of projects, we see this as an evolutionary step in development and as a valuable service to our clients.”

Adrian Hawkins, COO of Kuju, concluded, “Kuju has built its reputation on a high-level of technical and creative expertise and Testronic is one of the most respected companies in testing and consultation. We see the collaboration on FullCycle as an important development that will advance the industry with efficiencies and significantly improve the experience of those wishing to bring games to market. Whilst the integration of services are important for a number of pragmatic reasons like time and money, we consider it crucial to the next phase of the industry and to the professional treatment of Intellectual Property.”

About Testronic Labs
Testronic Labs’ high standards have been protecting clients and safeguarding the consumer experience since 1998. As the leading global provider of quality assurance, compliance, and localization services for a notable array of industries; including media, entertainment, games, education, e-commerce and consumer electronics, Testronic Labs ensures efficient and secure delivery of the highest quality consumer deliverables. Based in Burbank, CA; London, UK; Diepenbeek, Belgium; Warsaw, Poland; and Tokyo, Japan, Testronic Labs offers an unparalleled history of next-generation innovation and service excellence across the entire digital media industry.

For further information, visit www.TestronicLabs.com.

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Media Contact:
Chris Purse, 818.303.8088
ignite strategic communications
chris@ignite.bz or mimi@ignite.bz

New high definition (HD, 2K, 4K, 5K+) royalty-free stock footage time lapse clips and photos in Verona, Turin, Genoa, Italy have been added in different categories (City, Celestial and Marine) on HDtimelapse.net website.


Some of the locations from Verona, Italy are Verona Aerial View, Italy, Adige River, Ponte Nuovo del Popolo, Ponte Navi, San Fermo Maggiore, Santa Anastasia Church, Torre dei Lamberti, Chiesa di San Tomaso Cantuariense, Veneto Region, World Heritage Site, UNESCO, Stone Wall Bridge (Ponte di Pietra), Santuario della Madonna di Lourdes, Verona Arena (Arena di Verona), Roman Amphitheatre in Piazza Bra, Baroque Palazzo Maffei, Piazza delle Erbe, Ancient Town Hall, Lion of St Mark Column, Verona Cathedral, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare, Duomo di Verona, Via Mazzini, Christmas Lights, Shopping Street, sunset.


Some of the locations from Turin, Italy are Turin Aerial View, Mole Antonelliana, Po River, Alps, Monviso, Monte Rosa, Piedmont, Italy, National Museum of Cinema, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Ponte Vittorio Emanuelle I Bridge, Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio, Monte dei Cappuccini, Chiesa di Santa Maria del Monte, Chiesa Cattolica Parrocchiale S. Massimo, Tempio Israelitico.


Some of the locations from Genoa, Italy are Genoa Aerial View, Cattedrale San Lorenzo, Genoa Cathedral, Santa Maria Assunta, Seaport, Mediterranean Sea, Palazzo Rosso, Liguria, Il Matitone, San Benigno Torre Nord, Highway Genova-Ovest, WTC Building, Teatro Carlo Felice, Terrazza Martini Tower (Piacentini Tower), Genova Piazza Principe Railway Station, Piazza Acquaverde, The Lighthouse of Genoa (Faro di Genova), Lanterna, Il Bigo in Old Port (Porto Antico), Container Terminals, Cruise Ship Maneuver, sunset.


A few new formats has been added on HDtimelapse.net website such:
QFHD (Quad Full High Definition 3840×2160 – 16:9 aspect ratio)
4K (4096×2160 – 1.9:1 aspect ratio)
5K+ (5616×3744 – Image Sequence)
Photos Pack (5 x Original Resolution).


HDtimelapse.net library contains 7500+ time lapse video clips from 128 locations in 40 countries.


Time Lapse royalty-free stock footage here: http://www.hdtimelapse.net

Immersive Entertainment Demos, Product Premieres, and Oscar-nominated Talent

(Burbank, CA) Createasphere’s Spring Entertainment Technology Expo – the top gathering of entertainment and media professionals, technical innovators, and content experts on the West Coast showcasing emerging media trends in production, post, animation, VFX, advertising, and streaming content – wrapped a full day of innovative technology reveals, trend-setting keynotes, and informative immersive demonstrations on March 1st at the LA Center Studios. The event kept attendees booked with end-to-end events and opportunities throughout the day and into the evening reception.

Taking the stage in the Beaudry Theater, Oscar-Nominated Jeff Cronenweth, ASC, opened up to the audience about his experiences as Director of Photography on visually stunning feature films including “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” “The Social Network,” and “Fight Club.” In an engaging conversation moderated by Peter Caranicas, Deputy Editor for Variety, Cronenweth shared his point of view as one of today’s leading visual storytellers, a talented artist who blends technology and creativity to produce amazing images. With a career that also includes over 500 music videos, from Celine Dion to Nine Inch Nails, and top rated commercials in addition to major motion pictures, Cronenweth dug into the how and why behind the scenes in his career. The Keynote was followed with an extended Q&A with the DP.

Creative visionary and technologist Ed Lantz, founder of Vortex Immersion Media and recognized transmedia, fulldome and digital media expert, delivered an eye-popping keynote to a standing-room only audience in the Vortex Dome. Vortex creates immersive entertainment venues in spots around the globe as well as a number of related products and services that serve a growing immersive entertainment community. Recently, Vortex built an immersive dome theater for Super Bowl XLVI and a number of other marquee clients. The Vortex Dome is an R&D development site for Vortex, semi-permanently in place at LA Center Studios. During the presentation, Lantz focused on the growing role that immersive entertainment will play in the future for studios, networks, venues, and content creators across the spectrum, and was followed with presentations of real-world immersive projects.

Increasingly, Createasphere’s Entertainment Technology Expos are seen as a go-to venue for the announcement and first-looks at new products from leading manufacturers. HP Workstations and Intel made their Hollywood debut during a hands-on intensive with its groundbreaking HP Z1 Workstation.

Canon presented the first public screening of “When You Find Me,” a 25 minute short – produced by Ron Howard, directed by Bryce Dallas Howard (“The Help,” “The Twilight Saga – Eclipse”) – shot in 2K. Following the screening, cinematographers Andre Lascaris and Bruce Dorn (who screened his film, “Playing with Fire”) joined Canon’s Tim Smith in demonstration and exploration of the C300.

Upcoming for Createasphere in 2012 is a broad spectrum of in-person events, education, and online engagement including its community news portals; ProVideo Coalition and DAMCoalition; the DAMMY Awards, Digital Asset Management Conference in New York and The Hague; Executive Marketplace in Chicago and Los Angeles; Post Production Master Classes in New York and Los Angeles; and the Entertainment Technology Expos in Los Angeles. The next Entertainment Technology Expo is set for November 7th and 8th, 2012 at the Burbank Marriott.

For further information about Createasphere offerings and events, please visit www.createasphere.com, or call 818.842.6611.

About Createasphere
Createasphere is the premier business development partner for technology enabled entertainment, marketing, and communications organizations. We advance careers and technologies by connecting world-class professionals globally online and in person.
Createasphere was founded in 2001, and over the past decade has grown into a global company that in 2011 produced seventeen events over three continents as well as five websites. Createasphere became part of Diversified Business Communications in 2008, and now drives their entertainment, media, technology strategies and properties division. Currently, Createasphere produces the Entertainment Technology Expos in Los Angeles; the Digital Asset Management Conference in New York, Los Angeles, and Europe; The DAMMY Awards in New York; the Executive Marketplaces for Houses of Worship in Los Angeles and Chicago; Post Production Master Classes in New York and Los Angeles, and the online news and content portals ProVideoCoalition.com and DamCoalition.com.

Connect with Createasphere on:
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/createasphere/120410987973181)
Twitter (https://twitter.com/createasphere)
LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/company/createasphere)
Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/createasphere)

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Media Contact:
Chris Purse, 818.303.8088
ignite strategic communications
chris@ignite.bz or mimi@ignite.bz

Growing Footprint Supports International Services For Games and Testing

(London, UK) Testronic Labs, the global leader in quality assurance services for film and television, games, websites, hardware, and software, has announced the completion of an expansion of their central London facility. The bigger footprint at the Testronic Borough High Street location includes new testing environments and offices.

The expanded environment was needed to meet the increased needs of Testronic’s European Games operations, which has seen sizeable growth in testing offerings. Games Services will now be headquartered in central London, alongside the Testronic Software Testing team. With the convergence of many entertainment technologies, this move enables Testronic to efficiently support new platforms, devices, and content.

“We are proud of our growth in Europe, and specifically in Games Services, which has led to the expansion of our London facility,” noted Seth Hallen, CEO of Testronic Labs. “With our increased presence in London, we can offer an even higher caliber of service to our Games clients. Our work with a wide array of customers has pushed our present capacity to its limit, and this expansion will allow us to continue to grow and better serve the needs of our Games clients.”

Games Services London has kicked off the expansion with several large triple-A titles. Alastair Harsant, Vice President of Operations for Games Services, concluded, “It is exciting to be asked to work on the most challenging games and projects. The expansion of the Borough High Street facility supports our continued growth in the industry and will allow us to support the future technologies that are crucial to all of our clients.”

The renovation and expansion will be completed in early March, 2012.

About Testronic Labs
Testronic Labs’ high standards have been protecting clients and safeguarding the consumer experience since 1998. As the leading global provider of quality assurance, compliance, and localization services for a notable array of industries; including media, entertainment, games, education, e-commerce and consumer electronics, Testronic Labs ensures efficient and secure delivery of the highest quality consumer deliverables. Based in Burbank, CA; London, UK; Diepenbeek, Belgium; Warsaw, Poland; and Tokyo, Japan, Testronic Labs offers an unparalleled history of next-generation innovation and service excellence across the entire digital media industry.

For further information, visit www.TestronicLabs.com.

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Media Contact:
Chris Purse, 818.303.8088
ignite strategic communications
chris@ignite.bz or mimi@ignite.bz

Booth # SL5624
Digital Rapids is bringing our complete range of media transformation and workflow technologies and solutions to the 2012 NAB Show, in booth number SL5624 (Lower South Hall).

Digital Rapids connects content to opportunity, providing innovative solutions, technology and expertise that enable media organizations and professionals to bring live and on-demand video to wider audiences more efficiently, more effectively and more profitably. more

SpinetiX, a Swiss digital signage manufacturer, is pleased to announce that its hyper media player technology will be distributed in the US through Convergent Media Systems, a Sony Company. Their hyper media players will be available to view in the US on March 6-9 at the Sony Booth, #623, at DSE Expo 2012.

SpinetiX has appointed Convergent Media Systems as Certified Distribution Partner for the US for all its products. Convergent will be distributing the SpinetiX HMP200 and the new SpinetiX HMP130 Hyper Media Player. The HMP130 was specifically designed and built to operate with the on-board Fusion digital signage software.

“The appointment of Convergent Media Systems as distribution partner reflects our growth in the US. The Convergent team has great experience with helping their dealers and integrators on small and large digital signage installations, and the company offers training, a call center and high level technical support services,” says Serge Konter, Marketing Manager at SpinetiX.

Bryan Smith, Channel Manager at Convergent Media Systems adds: “Our dealer-network offers SpinetiX products as single screen installations or as part of large-scale and complex digital signage projects. We find SpinetiX technology to be easy touse, flexible and it comes with a limited lifetime warranty, which our clients just love.”

A day before DSE, Convergent will host a digital signage training on SpinetiXHyper Media Player Technology in Las Vegas. More information will be available on www.convergent.com/spinetix.

www.spinetix.com

Collaborates with Carmichael Lynch and harvest Directorial Duo The Hoffman Brothers to Deliver Post Production for Third Series of ‘Dog Tested. Dog Approved’ Campaign Promos


Minneapolis, MN (February 28, 2012) – Drive Thru, a full-service production and digital post production house, recently partnered with ad agency Carmichael Lynch and production company harvest to deliver four clever new Subaru spots that conceptualize outdoor activities dogs might enjoy if they owned a Subaru, in addition to a “behind-the-scenes” video directed by “Ziggy” the dog. All four spots, directed by the Hoffman Brothers, mark Drive Thru’s third consecutive year contributing post production to Subaru’s ongoing “Dog Tested. Dog Approved.” campaign and aired during Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl VIII on Super Bowl Sunday.


“We’ve worked on the campaign every year since its inception, and are proud to be a part of such a successful, exceptional creative collaboration again,” said Bob George, Owner of Drive Thru.


Beth Wilson, Executive Producer of Drive Thru, added, “When Carmichael approached us with the job, we were ecstatic, especially because we knew it would involve out-of-the-box creativity. It was really a joy to work with Carmichael, harvest and the Hoffman Brothers to create such a unique, alternate world where dogs engage in everyday human activities like sunbathing, skiing or playing the guitar.”


Each spot follows venerable canines Kasey, Daisy, Paris, Penny and Stella as they travel by Subaru to embark on a variety of outdoor adventures. In “Camping,” Stella attempts to serenade fellow canine friends on her guitar at the campfire, but her lack of talent evokes a wolf’s howl – sending all of the dogs into a huddle in the Subaru, locking the car door behind them. “Ski Trip” features canine action on the slopes, but in the end, Paris the poodle is left frozen in fear atop a black diamond slope as the canine crew heads home in the Subaru without her. After a day at the beach surfing, picnicking, sunbathing and more, the dogs drive away in their Subaru in “Beach.” “Jackknife” exposes Kasey’s poor driving skills to the pack as he tries to gently back the canoe into the lake, eventually crashing, even with direction from Daisy and Stella.


Mick Uzendoski, Creative Offline Editor of Drive Thru, shared, “Creating a real story and giving these dogs believable human movements that were consistent with looks from previous years proved to be a tremendous challenge, especially considering tight deadlines and environmental factors. We had to sift through thousands of shots to build a cohesive story that would really convey the dog’s perspectives. Once we framed the stories, it was a matter of putting the final humanizing touches on the dogs and editing around the occasional cameraman or dog trainer in the shot.”


Assisting as an additional DP on the initial shoot in California last December, Uzendoski collaborated the Hoffman Brothers on set to anticipate camera reflections and ensure there were a variety of angles to help the Drive Thru team in post. To capture a wide range of footage for selection, the production team shot the five dogs with three different Panasonic P2 cameras. The Drive Thru team then culled the footage and completed a significant amount of rig removal and editorial finishing, online and offline. They tapped their Apple Final Cut Pro, Autodesk Smoke and Autodesk Flame to edit, finish and deliver all of the spots and “behind-the-scenes” video for the web and broadcast in two weeks.


About Drive Thru
Drive Thru is a full-service production and digital post house specializing in creative editorial and visual effects for commercial projects throughout the Midwest and beyond. Based in Minneapolis, MN, Drive Thru has a reputation for high quality work built over nearly 25 years of partnerships with top ad agencies in the region. Founded in 1985, Drive Thru is led by partners Mark Setterholm and Bob George. Drive Thru is equipped with state-of-the-art tools, including the latest in 3D technology, and maintains a talented roster of artists working in a boutique environment to provide the highest standard of creative editorial, visual effects, color correction by CO3 virtual and finishing services. For more information, call 612-338-4656 or visit www.drivethrutv.com.


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Project Credits


Agency: Carmichael Lynch
Executive Creative Director: Randy Hughes
Associate Creative Director: Ellie Anderson
Associate Creative Director: Michael Rogers
Group Creative Director: Brock Davis
Director of Integrated Services: Joe Grundhoefer
Senior Integrated Producer: Freddie Richards


Production Company: harvest
Directors: The Hoffman Brothers
Executive Producer: Bonnie Goldfarb  
Executive Producer: Rob Sexton
Producer: Billy Jones


Editorial Company: Drive Thru Editorial
Offline Editor: Mick Uzendoski
Assistant Editor: Nick Miller
Smoke/Online Artist: Derek Johnson
Flame Artist: Bob George
Executive Producer: Beth Wilson
Assistant Producer: Zack Whitley


Audio: BWN
Mixer: Carl White
Producer: Annie Sparrows

Unit Carries on Established Live-Link TraditionLas Vegas, NV – Studio Technologies, a world-leading manufacturer of dependable, individualized solutions for broadcast applications, is pleased to introduce the new Live-Link Jr. Remote Camera Interface System at the 2012 NAB Show (Booth C3747). Carrying on the successful tradition set by the original Live-Link system, Live-Link Jr. offers a generous feature set coupled with excellent audio quality and a compact form factor optimized for ENG and uplink vehicle applications. Providing everything needed for a single-camera live event, Live-Link Jr. delivers performance flexibility, ease of use and support for high-quality on-air (program), talent cue (IFB) and intercom audio. more

Manchester based dbn Lighting has supplied a custom LED and control solution to the city’s Whitworth Art Gallery which will run for three months as part of the “Cotton : Global Threads” exhibition – a compelling story about the production, consumption and global trade in cotton.

The light work is designed by artist Liz Rideal and involves the illumination of nine large windows on the top storey at the front of the building, with video material from a film – ‘Light Curtain’ – which is played back via a media server also supplied by dbn.

Challenges included having to fit all the necessary LED lighting equipment to light the windows into a 30 cm deep space, keeping each window’s physical lighting installation completely self-contained within its recessed space.

dbn’s Nick Buckley is project managing. dbn has worked for the Gallery several times in the past, and this project started last year when they were asked to look at how the windows could be lit from inside to create the specific colouration, texturing and effects that Rideal had in mind.

A number of options were explored, from which they chose the most practical and reliable, involving Chroma-Q DB4 LED battens and Chroma-Q ColorSplit fixtures – the latter offer a double bank of RGBA LEDs.

First, the windows were all masked precisely with frosted gel.

There are four of each type of fixture per window. The ColorSplits are positioned at the bottom of the window on the ledge with diffuser lenses lighting the lower half of the surface area. They are focussed and angled to minimise any hot spot areas.

The DB4s are rigged onto crucifix shaped pieces of scaffolding, and highlight the top half of the window. The metalwork is propped into the window area with scaffold-jacks and all contained within the 30 cm depth of the window frame.

Each window is about three metres high and 1.5 metres wide, and all the lighting fixtures have been optimised to produce the smoothest, most even coverage of the target surface.

The installation took two days to complete, and was diligently executed. Another requirement was that it did not damage or impair the glorious Victorian fabric of the building – which is listed – in any way. However, dbn is used to working under these exacting conditions.

Limited power was also a challenge, but one of the beauties of using LEDs is that the entire installation runs on three 13 Amp sockets ….. with plenty of headroom.

Rideal’s films are also being projected onto two screens in front of the building each evening, bringing the vibrancy, suggestion, detail, colour, textures and movement of cloth production and the creation of saris to the imagination of viewers.

The same footage is played back via a Hippo Critter media server through the LED units, animating the windows and enhancing and extending the visual impressions, perception and experience of the work to encompass the whole building.

Says Nick Buckley, “It is a real pleasure to be working with Luke Lovelock and his team at Whitworth Art Gallery, in a real combined effort as well as with Liz Rideal, whose work is accessible and highly acclaimed. It took some ‘out of the box’ thinking to achieve what she wanted, but the results create something completely unique and different for public enjoyment.”

For more press info on DBN Lighting, please contact louise Stickland on +44 7831 329888, +44 1865 202679 or EMail : louise@loosplat.com. To contact DBN direct, please call +44 161 273 4297 or check www.dbn.co.uk.