Two postproduction and visual effects houses on opposite coastsaWestern Images, San Francisco, and Rhinoceros Editorial and Post, New Yorkaare banking on the latest telecine technology to give them a leg up in the competitive digital business.
The two facilities were among the first to take delivery of Sony’s new FVS-1000 Vialta 24-frame telecine earlier this year. And both firms contend that the unit, paired with a da Vinci 2K color enhancement system, is more than just an incremental advance in the art of converting film to videoait puts them ahead of the pack.
Both Western and Rhinoceros have long histories in film and video, and both have evolved in recent years into full-service visual effects, CGI, design and digital postproduction facilities. Rhinoceros is part of the Multi-Video Group, Ltd., New York. Other companies under the Multi-Video banner include the New York-based firms Rhinoceros Visual Effects and Design (which the company owns in association with Gravity, Tel Aviv); Cool Beans Digital Audio; Wall to Wall Films; and Wax Music and Sound Design.
The Vialta solidifies Western Image’s position as a leader in the Bay Area by upgrading its telecine capability; while on the East Coast it makes Rhinoceros a full-service design, editorial and completion house by adding telecine to its high-definition suite, executives from the companies say.
The decisions to go with Vialta were relatively easy for each shop. "We believe the Vialta has superior image acquisition technology," states Ken Solomon, executive producer/director of business development at Western Images.
"We’ve looked at all the other systems out there," he continues. "The image acquisition is state-of-the-art technology that gives the art directors, the creatives and everyone more information."
David Binstock, founder/CEO of the Multi-Video Group, says image steadiness was a big factor in choosing the Vialta. "We thought it would be awesome, offering very high resolution, and better steadiness than many of the others," he explains. "Some of the other telecines use line array. They scan one line at a time as the picture is in motion. The Vialta pulls down a frame, registers the frame and takes a picture of the full frame, so you’re getting a rock-steady image."
