NEW YORK — Digital Arts owner Axel Ericson believes in the coming mass adoption of 4K/Ultra High Definition (UHD) technology in the feature and TV communities so strongly he has opened one of the first true-4K post facilities on the East Coast.
Digital Arts’ (www.digitalartsny.com) new theatre offers the latest 4K color grading and finishing capabilities, with state-of-the-art audio technologies. The theatre offers 27 seats, a Christie 4K projector with a 17-foot 4K mesh screen from Image Screens, DI via Assimilate Scratch and DaVinci Resolve, 7.1 audio, quad Pro Tools systems and Facilis Terrablock storage. It’s ultra modern while still giving off a vibe of old Hollywood.
Ericson, who back in the day was an early adopter of HD in New York, believes strongly in the 4K workflow and has painstakingly put together an environment that not only houses high-end gear offerings, but one he says “should inspire you to do great work.
“In designing these facilities I knew we had the opportunity to start from the ground up in our approach to image, sound and the creative working environment itself,” he says. “Through a careful set of choices and a no-compromise approach to detail, Digital Arts sets a new milestone in New York. We are establishing new standards of excellence to fulfill the potential of today’s digital production technology through our new post production infrastructure.”
Digital Arts’ services have already attracted a number of high-profile projects. The company provided the audio facilities for veteran sound mixer Lee Dichter to complete Woody Allen’s upcoming feature Blue Jasmine. Digital Arts was home to HBO’s music documentary Beyoncé: Life Is But A Dream, and completed the audio design and mixing on the feature Hide Your Smiling Faces, directed by Daniel Patrick Carbone.
The company, which spans 12,000 square feet, also performed the DI color grade on the feature Plus One, attended by director by Dennis Iliadis and cinematographer Mihai Malaimare Jr.
Digital Art’s realtime 4K, 2K and HD color correction and finishing facility maximizes the image quality of digital cinematography. It delivers new levels of productivity through advanced and efficient, file-based workflows for the very latest digital cameras. The infrastructure features extensive color science, including ACES, across Assimilate Scratch and DaVinci Resolve grading platforms. Digital Arts also provides complete workflows, including digital dailies grading, editorial, DCP mastering and LTO-6 archiving.
Speaking about the capabilities of Digital Arts’ new DI theatre, Ted Schilowitz of Red Digital Cinema, says, "Red is paying close attention to those post production companies and DI grading and finishing houses that really understand the importance and value of true, high-fidelity post, finishing and delivery. One of those DI facilities is Digital Arts, right in the heart of NYC. It's great that Axel and his team are driving the technology with a full-on 4K DI grading bay that can also serve the needs of those shooting Red today and deliver both HD and 4K versions with the same toolset.”
Ericson has carried the same meticulous attention to detail into designing what he calls “a landmark audio mixing environment.” Sharing the same theater setting, the company’s state-of-the-art, Dolby-approved, re-recording dubstage includes 7.1 and 5.1 surround/stereo audio mixing using the latest Meyer Sound EXP cinema series speakers. Quad ProTools HDX2, with four satellites, and double 32-channel D-Control ES Icon consoles enable sound mixing teams to work collaboratively together. Services also include editorial, sound design, ADR and voiceover recording.
“Digital Arts’ new dubstage is a world-class facility,” says Lee Dichter, Woody Allen’s long-time sound mixer. “During my career I have worked in environments where every detail has been tuned to perfection. To my delight, I discovered that Axel understands the art of sound mixing, and has designed a truly inspirational room. There's an impressive clarity, power and transparency to the audio it delivers. I found it a great experience while sculpting the dialogue tracks, and bringing out the subtle intimacies of the performances, in Blue Jasmine, Woody Allen's new feature.”
Digital Art’s creative talent pool includes acclaimed feature and commercials colorist Milan Boncich (Beginners, Fair Game, Bobby Fischer Against The World), award-winning editor/director David Jakubovic (TWA Flight 800, The Forest Is Red, When Nietzsche Wept), and leading sound designer/re-recording mixer Chris Foster (30 Rock, Damages, Hide Your Smiling Faces).