The Briefing Room

LAS VEGAS, NV. –October 11, 2006– Post Digital, the post-production unit of Vegas Media Group, recently deployed its new Quantel eQ editing/ effects/ grading/ mastering system complete with TimeMagic no-wait hardware to finish the full-length feature ‘The Ghosts of Goldfield‘. The film, which is the company‘s first original feature film production, marks Vegas Media Group‘s continued growth as a full-service production and post-production company.

With roots in TV commercials and other productions for the booming gaming market in Las Vegas, Vegas Media Group branched out into long format shows for US national television about four years ago, focusing especially on high-definition production. More recently Vegas Media Group made a commitment to produce features on a regular basis, according to company president Edwin F. Winfield.

The film is an 18th Avenue Production project produced in affiliation with Stella Productions, ‘The Ghosts of Goldfield‘ is 82 minutes long and is loosely based on stories and legends surrounding the old Goldfield hotel, located in Nevada about a three-hour drive from Las Vegas. It was shot on HD in December, 2005.

Prior to the eQ purchase Post Digital already had a Quantel Editbox for standard-def editing, plus a full complement of systems to edit HD material. However, with the decision to move into features the company wanted to enhance and upgrade the capabilities of its HD suite.

“We were not enjoying the same compositing and color correction power in our HD suites that the Editbox gave us in SD,” says Winfield. “A major reason for the eQ purchase was to increase our creative capabilities in the finishing process, which is part of our strategy to maintain our growth by moving into features and long-format television programs.” Vegas Media Group acquired the Quantel eQ at NAB last April.

“The Quantel eQ is really well suited for feature films,” Winfield adds. “We first saw it at NAB in 2005 and it really impressed us with its functionality and power. Purchasing it puts us in a place where we can deliver the highest level of product possible.”

Long-time Post Digital artist Rio Rosal was among those recommending the eQ purchase. “Rio is one of the best finishers I‘ve ever worked with,” comments Winfield. “He is familiar with Quantel products and appreciates the ergonomics, which allow for faster editing when it comes to mattes and keys, in addition to their powerful compositing and color correction tools.”

An HDCAM master of ‘The Ghosts of Goldfield‘ is being output directly from the eQ. The film‘s final release will be on DVD. “This is the first of many film projects we intend to be involved with,” says Winfield.

Vegas Media Group is moving from its present location three miles east of the famous Las Vegas Strip on East Flamingo Road to a much larger, 11,000-square-foot headquarters just west of the Mandalay Bay hotel. The new facility will include an expanded post-production area as well as a 2,500-square-foot insert stage and production office space for out-of-town crews.

But even though the move will nearly triple the company‘s floor space, Vegas Media Group intends to maintain its project-oriented philosophy, remaining intimately involved with its customers. “If you plan to produce in Las Vegas, you should think of Vegas Media Group as your collaborative partner,” says Winfield. “In addition to having the best talent and best equipment, we‘re project-oriented and get involved in the entire process, script to screen. We care about the finished product.”

About Quantel

Quantel is dedicated to creating the most powerful and efficient tools for content creation and production in the digital age. Quantel systems combine industry-leading performance with total scalability in both hardware and software across post production, graphics, digital intermediate, news and sports production for multiple resolution, team-working environments. www.quantel.com