SANTA MONICA, CA - Ascent Media has brought its UP Satellite service to the Twin Cities, with the Minneapolis-based digital production studio Met/Hodder becoming the latest company to serve as a host site. Introduced last year, the technology allows advertising agencies and other users of telecine services to collaborate remotely and in realtime with colorists at Ascent Media facilities in Southern California and New York.
"We are very happy to support our clients in Minneapolis by bringing the UP Satellite service to their city," says Stefan Sonnenfeld, president and managing director of Ascent Media's Company 3. "This service has received an enthusiastic reception everywhere it has been introduced. It has helped our clients save time and money, but more importantly, it has proven to be a great asset to the creative process by enabling creative professionals to work together, regardless of geography."
UP Satellite uses a secure satellite connection, provided by Ascent Media Network Services, to transmit broadcast quality digital video from Ascent Media post facilities to host sites located in cities nationwide. To accommodate the new service, a virtual telecine suite has been set up at Met/Hodder that includes a calibrated monitor and proprietary Ascent Media technology. Clients at Met/Hodder can observe ongoing telecine work in realtime while communicating with the colorist via speaker phone or video conference.
Met/Hodder was selected as an UP Satellite host site due to the close proximity to Minneapolis' advertising agencies and its reputation for providing high quality creative services. "They have a gorgeous facility and are well respected within their industry and community," says Francesca Cohn, VP of strategic development for Ascent Media Creative Services. "They make an ideal strategic partner."
Michael Aaron, supervising editorial producer at Minneapolis agency Fallon Worldwide notes that the cost of sending an agency team to the West Coast for a week can easily top $10,000. "We view UP Satellite as a vital conduit that puts high level creative resources at our fingertips," Aaron says. "It gives agencies and editorial houses that are 'geographically-challenged' a new option."
UP Satellite provides access to colorists at the Ascent Media facilities Company 3 (Santa Monica and New York), Encore Hollywood, and Riot (Santa Monica). In addition to Met/Hodder, host sites are located at Charlieuniformtango (Dallas), Whitehouse (Chicago), Brickyard (Boston), Universal Images (Southfield, MI), Post Blur (Cleveland) and Greybox (Richmond, VA). Additional sites are planned for Miami, Atlanta, and Portland.