NEW YORK - In his search for a creating a data-centric DI workflow, Billy Baldwin, president of PostWorks in New York City, recently purchased Assimilate's Scratch system, bringing the speed and versatility found in digital video production to the film world. The PostWorks team of director of technology Matthew Schneider and systems engineer Corey Stewart tested the available option for data-centric DI solutions before eventually selecting the Scratch system.
"To build a streamlined process that wrangles with all the data becomes a huge priority and data management becomes a critical factor," says Baldwin. "In our review of other data-centric offerings, we found that Scratch had the most realistic approach to data management and indexing, as well as the best price performance value. The other DI systems were like a lobster trap - you can get the files in, but you can?t easily get them out."
Installed last February, PostWorks' Assimilate Scratch system runs on an HP xw9300 workstation. Baldwin says the studio uses the system to conform files as they come of the scanner. They can then pre-visualize for effects and analyze the files for grain structure, dirt and scratches. At the back end, the studio checks frame counts and performs final QC using the same look-up tables used in its other suites, helping to maintain consistency in the film's look and color.
PostWorks plans to use Scratch to pre-conform all film projects before they move on to other suites. To date, the studio has used the Scratch system on 2K DI projects that include the trailer for Sony Pictures Classics' "Junebug" and Lions Gate's "Fierce People," as well as on the indie film "Milarepa." PostWorks is also working on the restoration of concert footage for two rock 'n' roll icons.