Rainmaker Digital Pictures unveils HDTV capabilities.
Rainmaker Digital Pictures, a post/effects studio in Vancouver, B.C., has unveiled plans for what it bills as being Western Canada’s first HDTV postproduction facility. In phase one of an expansion into the HD services realm, Rainmaker will add HD telecine, HD conversion and dubbing and HD tape-to-tape color correction to its facility menu this month.
As HD implementation is underway in the U.S. and Canadian broadcasters are beginning to work with the new wide-screen, higher definition format, industry demand is starting to build for HD programming, which leads in turn to a developing market for HD production and post. "I think our timing is perfect. We’re currently bidding several HD jobs, and I expect we’ll have our first HD projects in-house very soon after opening the facility," says Rainmaker general manager Barry Chambers.
The cornerstone for Rainmaker’s transition to HD was laid in ’98, when the company installed Canada’s first C-Reality, an advanced Rank Cintel telecine designed to operate at higher resolutions required for both HD- and film-resolution work. With a few modifications and additional hardware, Rainmaker’s C-Reality will become fully HD capable, with the ability to scan film images and transfer them to digital video at the prevalent 24P HD standard. The C-Reality, which has been in full-time operation at Rainmaker since mid-’99, will still be able to run in standard definition (SD) television mode as well as in HD.
The HD-enhanced C-Reality will be complemented with a DaVinci 2K, the high-resolution version of the DaVinci Renaissance color correction system that is used in all of Rainmaker’s telecine suites. Other components of the hi-def expansion include a pair of Sony HD-Cam WF500 digital video recorders to handle the recording and playback functions, and a lengthy list of HD-capable peripherals such as sync generators, test sets, scopes, converters and other equipment needed to tie the elements together and properly interface them to Rainmaker’s current operations.
"The conversion to HD is not unlike the changeover to digital that our industry went through a decade or so ago," says Rainmaker president Bob Scarabelli. "It’s not a case of simply installing a machine or two-HD will involve rebuilding a whole new infrastructure for our facility, piece by piece, layer by layer."
Rainmaker intends to add more HD services in the coming months; online editing and visual effects solutions are currently being assessed. In the meantime, the facility will continue to offer its full menu of SD post services in addition to its new slate of HD offerings. "The market transition to HD will probably be a gradual one," Scarabelli says. "We expect to be operating in both SD and HD mode for the foreseeable future. But our clients know they need to start thinking about HD now, and we’re ready to lead them step by step through the process."
The introduction of hi-def services is only one aspect of a building program currently underway at the company’s site. Rainmaker recently acquired an additional 10,000 square feet of space on the main floor which is currently being renovated to house new production workspaces, an engineering shop and a new screening theater, which is due to be completed in February. In addition to 16 and 35mm film projection and Dolby surround sound, the theater will feature a state-of-the-art HD video projection system.
Headquartered in Vancouver, with an autonomous sister effects/ post facility in Burbank, Calif., Rainmaker’s Canadian operation offers services for film, TV and new media that include film processing, digital video post, digital visual effects and DVD authoring.V
Endeavor Group Sells Professional Bull Riders, On Location and IMG To Parent of WWE and UFC
The parent company of WWE and UFC is buying Professional Bull Riders, On Location, and IMG from Endeavor Group in an all-stock deal valued at $3.25 billion.
The deal is part of Endeavor's efforts to shed some of its assets as it looks to be taken private in a proposed transaction with private equity firm Silver Lake, which was announced in April. Ariel Emanuel, who serves as CEO of Endeavor, is also executive chair and CEO of TKO.
Professional Bull Riders is a bull riding league that has more than 200 annual live events, approximately 1.25 million fans, and reaches more than 285 million households in more than 65 territories. On Location is live event company for more than 1,200 sporting events, such as the Super Bowl, Ryder Cup and NCAA Final Four. IMG is a distributor and producer of sports content, packages and sells media rights and brand partnerships, and provides consulting, digital services and event management to clients such as the National Football League and National Hockey League.
Parent company TKO Group said Thursday that the acquisition from Endeavor Group will complement its existing businesses as well as broaden its reach in the premium sports market.
"PBR, On Location, and IMG are industry-leading assets that meaningfully enhance TKO's portfolio and strengthen our position in premium sports globally," TKO Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro said in a statement. "Within TKO, they will help power the growth of our revenue streams and position us to capture even more upside from some of the most attractive parts of our sports ecosystem: media rights, live events, ticket sales, premium experiences, brand partnerships, and site fees."
As part of the deal, Endeavor will receive about 26.14 million common units of TKO... Read More