AlphaDogs Providing Post Services for LOGO TV Reality Series "Bad Sex"

Burbank, CA—What do post production and bad sex have in common? Burbank-based Post Production house AlphaDogs, found out while providing post services on the group therapy reality series Bad Sex. The show profiles the lives of 10 individuals struggling with compulsivity and intimacy disorders as they complete an intense two-month recovery program under the guidance of sexuality expert, Christopher Donaghue. The 10-episode series currently airs Monday evenings at 10/9c on Logo TV.

Post Coordinator for PB&J Entertainment, Cindy Kerber was researching post facilities to finish the series when a respected colleague suggested AlphaDogs, recommending their talent, focus and technical aptitude. “Besides AlphaDogs' stellar reputation for being a dedicated and talented group of post production professionals, I also had the comfort of knowing that the internal QC process is extremely thorough and any changes that needed to be made would be caught before the delivery of each episode.”

Finishing editor and colorist Sean Stack is in charge of handling color grading and deliverables for the show. File-based delivery consists of textless SD, HD, international, and iTunes exports, with each requiring different network specs. File-based delivery has become more prevalent with plenty of room for error due to each file being rendered out individually. Kerber comments, “Sean has been fantastic! He brings a level of professionalism, pride and detail that you don’t always find with other facilities. I will definitely be calling upon Sean the next time I need post production.” To ensure conversions are accurate Stack uses the Kona 3 card to transcode the editing and source media frame rate of 23.98 to the broadcast frame rate of 29.97. In the past, tape masters would pass QC before additional delivery dubs were made. Since these delivery tapes are “cloned” they would match the perfection of the master. Stack comments “Now each file comes from a different sequence and the computer could potentially write an error during the rendering process of exporting. Each file presents additional possibilities for QC issues. At Alpha Dogs, extreme care is given to attempt to minimize those errors.” Audio tracks were also conformed which included inserting appropriate audio stems to meet network specs for each file export sequence. The air master was delivered as a MPEG IMX 525 digital file, with additional outputs to SD digital Betacam in NTSC letterboxed format.

Due to time constraints, color grading was completed in Final Cut Pro 7 using the three-way color corrector filters. Problem shots were handled in Apple’s Color program. Additional challenges have presented themselves in footage where participants were interviewed against a green screen background. Using DV Garage’s DV Matte Pro, Stack is able to key out and remove the green background, replacing it with a grey gradient. “Some keying filters do not work well with fragile areas—like hair—and you end up with fuzzy areas with green still showing up where you don't want it, or too much hair becomes cropped. The DV Matte Pro filter eliminates those problems.” For legal clearance purposes blurs were also added to props and people in scenes that were shot in public places.

Bad Sex takes an in-depth look at addictive and compulsive behaviors and how lives can be destroyed if left untreated. Sexuality expert Christopher Donaghue specializes in sex and love addiction treatment at The Hills Treatment Center in Los Angeles. By undergoing an intensive two-month program, participants are able to get the root of their addictions and behavioral problems, leading to healthier lives.

Bad Sex is produced by PB&J Television with Patty Ivins and Julie Pizzi serving as Executive Producers. Brent Zacky and Pamela Post serve as Executive Producers with Stevenson Greene as Producer for Logo.

About AlphaDogs:
AlphaDogs is a full service post production company. Operating in the heart of Burbank’s media district, AlphaDogs offers state of the art editing bays, color correction, audio mixing, visual effects, production offices and equipment rentals. To learn more, visit www.alphadogs.tv.

AlphaDogs Gets Into the Holiday Spirit With Extreme Christmas Trees

Burbank, CA—Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post Production has completed work on Extreme Christmas Trees. From a three-story-tall tree in a private home to America’s tallest singing Christmas tree, Extreme Christmas Trees shows people wreaking havoc and battling impossible obstacles in the pursuit of the ultimate Christmas experience. The one-hour special will air on Saturday, December 10th at 10/9c on TLC.

Extreme Christmas Trees showcases decorated holiday trees from different locations around the world. The footage was shot using different camera crews and equipment for each location. This presented a challenge in creating a unified look for the show. AlphaDogs veteran colorist, Terence Curren was able to seamlessly correct the problem by using Avid’s Symphony color corrector. Curren comments, "The Symphony is not the most powerful color correction tool at our disposal, but its tight integration with the entire post process made it the obvious choice for this show." Curren’s extensive experience with correcting color in these types of situations allowed the show to be delivered on time and was well received by everyone involved.

Senior Animator Russell Frazier designed and animated the main title for Extreme Christmas Trees. Five concepts were originally submitted from AlphaDogs as well as concepts from other companies. Frazier comments, “A technical and creative concern was to make the tree and title appear suitably monumental while meeting Discovery's requirements for various areas of the frame to be kept open for bugs and other graphics.”

Using Adobe After Effects while following the storyboard, Frazier mixed five-seconds of both 2D and 3D animation, as a snow-covered evergreen grows into an enormous, fully decorated tree that fills the entire frame. The design is timed to a brief and bouncy arrangement of the classic carol “O Christmas Tree” as a glowing 3D title grows out of the snow. Trees and ornaments were derived from stock photos with retouching done in Adobe After Effects. Frazier also designed a lower third ID banner, a looping snow scene background, and added additional details that included a falling star ornament to punctuate the title and match the main title’s music.

Extreme Christmas Trees is worthy of it’s title when you find out why it takes a team of 40 master carvers from China to construct an meticulously detailed tree entirely of ice, and how an Antler tree made entirely out of antlers can be so stunning that it's sent to a Swedish Art Gallery. More than just a simple survey of unusual trees, this one-hour special takes the viewer on an adventurous journey into the excesses and dangerous pursuits in creating the ultimate Christmas tree.

Extreme Christmas Trees is Produced by Discovery Communications for the TLC Network.

About AlphaDogs:
AlphaDogs is a full service post production company. Operating in the heart of Burbank’s media district, AlphaDogs offers state of the art editing bays, color correction, audio mixing, visual effects, production offices and equipment rentals. To learn more, visit www.alphadogs.tv

Extreme Drug Smuggling at AlphaDogs Post Production

Burbank, CA—Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post Production has announced completion of post services for Extreme Drug Smuggling, a documentary that explores the underground world of drug smuggling and the extreme measures that are taken by drug traffickers to smuggle drugs into the United States. The show aired on the Discovery Channel in September.

Post Producer, Scott Young has been a long time client of AlphaDogs Post Production. Young called on the AlphaDogs team once again knowing that he could be assured of seamless on time delivery, even with a challenging turnaround time of just one week. Young comments. “In spite of any obstacles, AlphaDogs delivered the look and sound we wanted to achieve. Quality was not sacrificed due to time constraints and I was extremely pleased with the final delivery of the project.”

Color correction and conform was handled by Online Finishing Editor, Sean P. Keenan using the AVID Symphony 5.5.3. A streamlined workflow was crucial with the delivery date less than one week away. Conforming sequences required matching the documentary's extensive use of archival footage from law enforcement with footage shot on location. This meant extra attention to detail in the color correction process to seamlessly match various formats of footage. Using GenArts Sapphire 3 Effects Keenan was able to add or remove grain and noise as needed to match archive footage to production footage and make it less jarring to the viewer. Varying frame rates and resolutions were also converted to meet network specifications.

Re-Recording Mixer, Erik Valenzuela completed the audio mix for the documentary mixing in Pro Tools 9. One of the challenges that presented itself during the mix was the poor audio quality in the interviews. Valenzuela used Izotope RX and RX de-noiser to repair the audio, removing any unwanted sounds while restoring any clipped audio. Powerful music was used to drive the pace of the show, along with layers of sound effects to create a feeling of suspense while adding excitement to action sequences. AlphaDogs extensive sound library was utilized to create realistic sounds of Columbian soldiers talking amongst one another, jungle ambiances, and motorboat effects as the soldiers travel deep into the mangrove swamps in search of drug cartel camps. Valenzuela comments, “I mixed the show in a way that would be appealing to both me and the audience in creating an entertaining and educational story.” Facing a short turnaround, the use of Waves compression, equalization, and other tools on a Pro Tools 9 system were used to assure delivery of quality audio under a tight deadline.

Extreme Drug Smuggling takes an inside look at the sophisticated methods cartels and drug traffickers are using to import marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Billions of tons of narcotics are smuggled into the United States every year. Anything from submarines to super tunnels, ultra lights, and go fast boats, drug traffickers will risk their lives and the lives of others and have no limits with the drastic measures they will take to make a profit.

Extreme Drug Smuggling is produced by Discovery Studios LLC for The Discovery Channel.

For additional information please contact

Julie Leibovitz

(818) 456-4149

Julie@alphadogs.tv

www.alphadogs.tv

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About AlphaDogs—AlphaDogs is a full-service post production facility and design studio. Operating in the heart of Burbank’s Media District, AlphaDogs offers state-of-the-art editing bays, color correction, audio mixing, motion graphics, visual effects, media transfers/conversions, production offices and equipment rentals for television, independent film and the web.

AlphaDogs is also home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Toronto, Canada.

Visit the AlphaDogs team at www.alphadogs.tv.

AlphaDogs Post Production Delivers The Three Chocolatiers for the Food Network

Burbank, CA—Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post Production announced they have completed work on The Three Chocolatiers; a new reality television series that takes you inside the family business at the renowned Beverly Hills chocolate shop, Generations of Lee Gelfond. The show airs Friday, July 29th at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on The Food Network. DirecTV and Dish Network, at 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

Executive Producer Michael Brockhoff needed a one-stop shop to complete the finish for the show at a reasonable cost. AlphaDogs became the post house of choice based on all services being offered under one roof and their extensive experience in delivering cable network shows at an affordable price. Brockhoff comments, “The team at AlphaDogs cared about the quality of the product as much as we did. The personal attention was appreciated and we didn’t get lost in the client shuffle.”

Founder and President of AlphaDogs, Terence Curren finished the color grading for the series. Since the show was file based, the clients worked with the native camera resolution, which meant the normal “recapture at higher resolution” workflow wasn’t required. The majority of the work included enhancing the existing color using the Avid Symphony Color Correction toolset. Fortunately these shows were mostly shot in a controlled lighting situation, which is unusual for reality shows. This allowed more time for finessing the color as opposed to just fixing it. Curren comments, “When the clients see how much better the show looks after color correction, they are always amazed at what the polishing step brings to their project, and Chocolatiers was no exception.”

Re-recording mixer, Marcus Pardo handled the post audio for The Three Chocolatiers. Pardo, using Avid’s Pro Tools HD with Waves and Cedar plug-ins, was able to sweeten the sound for the show to the exact taste of the TigerDog producers. When asked what was the most challenging part of working on the show, Pardo replied, “Sound designing the main title was creative and fun. I was able to dig into our sound library to find interesting sounds for the great graphics. There’s a shot of a hand putting pieces of chocolate down, spelling out THE THREE CHOCOLATIERS. I was able to record the sound of chocolate being placed into a pattern. Of course, there is no shortage of chocolate at AlphaDogs."

The series follows Teri Abelson and her two grown daughters, Jennifer and Carrie at the family owned business, Generations of Lee Gelfond in Beverly Hills. The raucous, bickering family are masters when it comes to made-to-order chocolate pieces. From creating a life-sized replica of a guitar for a rock ‘n’ roll mama’s rock star son, Les Paul to a gorgeous chocolate “sushi” platter, it’s all just another day’s work at the family business.

Brockhoff comments, “The show looks and sounds terrific. We would absolutely use AlphaDogs again as they can be trusted to deliver quality projects on time, and a fair price.”

Producers Valerie Chow and Michael Brockhoff of TigerDog TV produce The Three Chocolatiers for The Food Network.

For additional information please contact
Julie Leibovitz
(818) 456-4149
Julie@alphadogs.tv
www.alphadogs.tv

•

About AlphaDogs—AlphaDogs is a full-service post production facility and design studio. Operating in the heart of Burbank’s Media District, AlphaDogs offers state-of-the-art editing bays, color correction, audio mixing, motion graphics, visual effects, media transfers/conversions, production offices and equipment rentals for television, independent film and the web.

AlphaDogs is also home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.

Visit the AlphaDogs team at www.alphadogs.tv.

AlphaDogs Post Examines One of the Youngest Hate Crime Victims in Modern History

Burbank, CA—Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post is pleased to announce the completion of Two Spirits, a documentary that will air nationally on PBS as part of the Independent Lens series in June of 2011. Produced by filmmakers, Lydia Nibley and Russell Martin, the film asks the question "Why are people killed for being who they are?" as the film examines the life of Fred Martinez, one of the youngest hate-crime victims in modern history who lost his life at the age of 16 in Cortez, Colorado.

AlphaDogs Post was responsible for conforming two versions of the docufilm, DVD authoring and creating graphics. Two versions of the film were needed due to time duration for broadcast spec. This required a cut down from the original longer version and extensive revisions in the end credits. True to AlphaDogs fashion, finishing editor Sean Stack found an efficient and cost effective solution that worked for both PBS and the Director, Lydia Nibley. VP of Design, Sean Williams created design elements for bonus materials for the DVD. "It's been an amazing experience to collaborate with such a great team on this film," said director Lydia Nibley. "Everyone contributed solid creative and technical work, and also their passion for a human rights story that has the potential to do some real good in the world." Nibley continues. "We choose AlphaDogs Post because of their extensive credits and the way the entire staff gets behind a project. I look forward to bringing them another film-I'm a life-long client."

Two Spirits follows the life of Fred Martinez, a teenage Navajo boy who was a nadleehi- someone who possesses a balance of masculine and feminine traits. Viewed as a special gift in the traditional Navajo culture but rejected in mainstream society, this unique gift costs Fred his life. Shockingly, the young man who committed this brutal murder boasted about his crime after bludgeoning his victim to death with rocks and leaving him for dead. Martinez's body was not discovered until days later. Two Spirits examines the hate and discrimination the LGBT community continues to face and its challenge to overcome societal misconceptions.

"Two Spirits is a complex and nuanced film about a boy who was also a girl," explains producer Russell Martin. "It was great to work with everyone at AlphaDogs and with colleagues in the film community who support the film's essential message that gender exists across a spectrum, something many Native societies have known for centuries."

Director of photography David A. Armstrong shot Two Spirits between Saw films. He began his career in documentary and has served as the principal cinematographer for more than a dozen feature films. Editor Darrin Navarro edited Bug for famed director William Friedkin as well as many other films. Supervising sound editor and sound designer Ron Eng's credits include Coraline, Lakeview Terrace, and Mulholland Drive.

Two Spirits is directed by Lydia Nibley and produced by Russell Martin and Lydia Nibley. The film is a co-production of Say Yes Quickly, Riding the Tiger, and Academy Award-nominated Henry Ansbacher and Just Media. Two Spirits is currently screening at film festivals around the world and airing on PBS this month. The consumer DVD is available for purchase at www.twospirits.org.

For additional information please contact
Julie Leibovitz
(818) 456-4149
Julie@alphadogs.tv
www.alphadogs.tv

•

About AlphaDogs—Founded in 2002, Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Inc. quickly established themselves as leaders and innovators in the rapidly changing digital post arena. The company maintains an early adopter's edge; testing and assimilating leading technologies to keep ahead of the pack with solutions such as the RED camera and were the first post house in Los Angeles to take delivery of the Avid Symphony HD editing system. Personal attention from a seasoned award-winning team assures client satisfaction accompanies each cost-effective delivery of superior post production services—including editing, color correction, 5.1 audio, motion graphics, visual effects, DVDs, media transfers, duplication, production offices, and system rentals with 24/7 tech support.

AlphaDogs is home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois and Ohio. AlphaDogs is located at 1612 West Olive, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91506.

Visit the AlphaDogs team at www.alphadogs.tv.

Changing Landscapes in Post Production Explored at AlphaDogs 8th Annual Pre-NAB Editors’ Lounge

Burbank, CA—Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post Production hosted their 8th Annual Pre-NAB discussion panel at the March Editors’ Lounge. Over 100 attendees turned out to learn more about what to expect at NAB and where the future of post-production is headed with this month’s topic, “Trends and Predictions in Post-production in 2011 and Beyond.”

Moderated by journalist and owner of Mobilized TV, Debra Kaufman, the panel consisted of experts in the field of post, including: Lucas Wilson (Director of Business Development for 3ality Digital), Steve Cohen (Film/TV Editor and author of “Avid Agility”), Mark Raudonis (VP of Post Production at Bunim/Murray Productions), Michael Bravin (Technical Consultant and Founder of The Digital Picture Company), and Founder/Editor/Colorist of AlphaDogs Post Production, Terence Curren.

The evening kicked off regarding the buzz on the new Final Cut Studio being released near the week of the NAB show. Panelists discussed how Apple is changing the playing field and going their own way in preparing for the majority of content that’s predicted to be broadcast via live streaming in the near future. Owner of AlphaDogs Post Terence Curren comments, “Apple sees the future of broadcast being done over the Internet. This will create a different definition of what a professional editor would be.” What defines content and its delivery will change dramatically to more an individualized entertainment experience. Lucas Wilson (Director of Business Development, 3ality Digital) comments, “New technology will be used to create emotional impact and immerse the individual emotionally beyond just linear storytelling.” Steve Cohen (Film/TV Editor, Author of Avid Agility added, ‘Storytelling will still go into your soul deeper than technology can. That won’t go away.” It was agreed, the key to being a successful editor is to be self sufficient into the new future of post.

The old business model is also beginning to erode with an evolution into new and different ways of doing things. Terence Curren comments, “We will need to learn how to make money off of small targeted audiences.” Mark Raudonis (VP Post Production, Bunim/Murray Productions) added to this by saying the consumer will get their content through more than one source and we need think in terms of the consumer viewing experience beginning on one screen and continuing onto a second, and third screen with the diversity of mobile devices that continue to go mainstream.

The disaster in Japan has had a major impact in the post world halting the production of HD-CAM-SR tape. This has caused a tape shortage which posed the question “Is tape dead?’ It’s estimated that in approximately 3 months post facilities will be forced to go file based. This presents a challenge, as there are currently no standards for file based delivery in regard to how footage will be displayed and interpreted by each device it’s played back on. File based deliveries currently have no reliable archive methods which poses another major concern.

3-D was coined the “wild west” and does not appear to be a fad. Consumers now base their decision on whether to see a movie in 3-D based on story content vs. the 3-D experience. Bigger budgets still remain limited to film, while the broadcast market remains more events driven with the networks looking for a budget conscious business model for creating content. It was stressed that the editorial process for 3-D is quite different than 2-D. Cutting and pacing is quite distinct along with managing transitions with similar depth cues. There are things you simply can’t do in 3-D that you can in 2-D. To complicate matters even more, there is currently no QC for the technology. In order for an editor to learn the art of 3-D editing it was suggested by Lucas Wilson (Director of Business Development for 3ality Digital) to search for free 3-D footage to download.

The evening wrapped with an overwhelming vibe of reminding everyone that change is constant. Michael Bravin (Technical Consultant, Founder of The Digital Picture Co) commented, “We are going in a new direction with a new way of doing things that people will learn to embrace.”

For more information please visit The Editor’s Lounge website at editorslounge.com or contact AlphaDogs Post Production. To view the entire panel discussion and learn more tips from the panelists please visit vimeo.com/channels/editorslounge

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About AlphaDogs

Founded in 2002, Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Inc. quickly established themselves as leaders and innovators in the rapidly changing digital post arena. The company maintains an early adopters edge; testing and assimilating leading technologies to keep ahead of the pack with solutions such as the RED camera and were the first post house in Los Angeles to take delivery of the Avid Symphony HD editing system. Personal attention from a seasoned award-winning team assures client satisfaction accompanies each cost-effective delivery of superior post production services—from editing and audio re-recording to broadcast design & effects.

AlphaDogs is home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Toronto.

AlphaDogs is located at 1612 West Olive, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91506.Visit the AlphaDogs team on the web: alphadogs.tv.

AlphaDogs Gets Pregnant (In Heels)!

Burbank, CA—AlphaDogs Post Production has announced they have completed all post services for Pregnant In Heels, a new docu-drama series that profiles “MomPrep” a high-end maternity training academy that assists sophisticated expectant mothers with bizarre baby needs ranging from Brazilian waxing for the labor room to getting the baby into British aristocracy. The series will premiere Tuesday, April 5th on The Bravo Network at 10pm EST.

Post Production Supervisor Lance Asher chose AlphaDogs to complete post production on the series based on their stellar reputation in the community. Asher comments, “AlphaDogs came highly recommended by other colleagues. Not only did I find knowledgeable people who check and re-check their work, but a quality of the final product along with a great price for an overall package deal.”

Emmy-Award-nominated Re-recording mixer Marcus Pardo was able to deliver excellent-sounding audio while minimizing background noise in real-time without introducing digital artifacts by using a Pro Tools HD2 system accompanied by Waves plug-ins and the Cedar DNS One for noise reduction. Pardo comments, “Audio for reality television is tricky due to uncontrolled environments. The Cedar DNS One allows me to drastically reduce noisy room tones or background traffic. This in turn, allows the viewer to focus on the dialog.” Pardo continues; “There were several times throughout the series when tender moments needed to be heard in places like busy Central Park and atop a balcony on a high-rise. Even in these instances, I was able to deliver quality audio.”

Interesting challenges were faced during post with the footage that was shot on green screen. The lead character, Rosie Pope has blonde hair which is can be very difficult to work with in this type of setup as the blonde hair tends to pick up the green cast. Online finishing Editor Herrianne Cayabyab comments, “There is no one answer to solve a problem like this, but our extensive experience with difficult compositing of shots helped tremendously on this show. As Pregnant in Heels was offlined on Avid’s Media Composer, it naturally went through one of our Avid Symphony Nitris DX suites. When working in Avid as opposed to our other systems, I like to try their built in Spectramatte keyer first. It often works miracles and delivers real time performance, which means no rendering. However on this show I had to hit heavier tools like Boris Continuum Complete for example to clean up many of the composites.”

Shared Terrablock storage with file level locking from Facilis allowed Lead Assistant Editor, Scott Davenport to perform the preparation of the sequence for color correction by veteran colorist Brian Hutchings, while additional assistants were doing the capture in another bay. Davenport comments, “The shared storage is a great tool to have. I was able to continue working and meet the project deadline in ample time.”

Each episode of Pregnant In Heels follows pregnancy guru, Rosie Pope and her assistants as they guide the most affluent and hormonal expectant Manhattan mothers in meeting their outlandish baby needs. In the series premiere, Rosie helps an expectant couple come up with the perfect baby name and another couple baby proof their stylish New York flat.

Pregnant in Heels is produced by Hudson Media for Bravo TV. Michael Rourke, Gerette Allegra, Megan Estrada and Danielle King are Executive Producers. Bravo TV is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal. For more information, visit BravoTV.com.

For additional information please contact
Julie Leibovitz
(818) 456-4149
Julie(at)alphadogs.tv
alphadogs.tv

•

About AlphaDogs

Founded in 2002, Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Inc. quickly established themselves as leaders and innovators in the rapidly changing digital post arena. The company maintains an early adopters edge; testing and assimilating leading technologies to keep ahead of the pack with solutions such as the RED camera and were the first post house in Los Angeles to take delivery of the Avid Symphony HD editing system. Personal attention from a seasoned award-winning team assures client satisfaction accompanies each cost-effective delivery of superior post production services—including editing, color correction, 5.1 audio, motion graphics, visual effects, DVDs, media transfers, duplication, production offices, and system rentals with 24/7 tech support.

AlphaDogs is home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Illinois, Florida and Ohio, with the first international location in Toronto, Canada. AlphaDogs is located at 1612 West Olive, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91506.

Visit the AlphaDogs team at www.alphadogs.tv.

AlphaDogs Editors' Lounge to Feature the Latest From Sony and Avid

February 21, 2011

AlphaDogs Editors' Lounge to Feature the Latest From Sony and Avid

Burbank, CA—Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post Production has announced they will be hosting the February Editors’ Lounge in conjunction with Key Code Media. This month’s topic will feature product and workflow demonstrations from Sony. The event will be held on Friday, February 25th at 6:15 p.m. at Key Code Media, 270 S. Flower St., Burbank, CA.

Sony will showcase advanced workflows for HDCAM SR and XDCAM. HDCAM SR material can now be ingested and edited natively in the new Avid Media Composer 5.5 The long awaited ability to ingest XDCAM’s proxy video with high-resolution audio is now a reality. Media Composer goes where other video editing systems leave off. Now more open and interactive than ever, you can work with practically any media format and expand your capabilities with options from Avid and third-party manufacturers.

Sony also will demonstrate the features of the PMWF3 camcorder that provides stunning picture quality, shallow depth of field, and a proven post-production workflow. The F3 extends the popular EX line to include a full 35MM sensor. Sony’s latest display technology including the newly announced BVME series that delivers stunning pictures and blacks that exceed CRT will also be included.

The Editors’ Lounge is a hip forum where post production professionals come together to learn about the latest trends in post and network with industry peers. For more information or to RSVP please visit www.editorslounge.com

For additional information please contact
Julie Leibovitz
(818) 456-4149
Julie(at)alphadogs.tv
www.alphadogs.tv

•

About AlphaDogs

Founded in 2002, Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Inc. quickly established themselves as leaders and innovators in the rapidly changing digital post arena. The company maintains an early adopters edge; testing and assimilating leading technologies to keep ahead of the pack with solutions such as the RED camera and were the first post house in Los Angeles to take delivery of the Avid Symphony HD editing system. Personal attention from a seasoned award-winning team assures client satisfaction accompanies each cost-effective delivery of superior post production services—including editing, color correction, 5.1 audio, motion graphics, visual effects, DVDs, media transfers, duplication, production offices, and system rentals with 24/7 tech support.

AlphaDogs is home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois and Ohio. AlphaDogs is located at 1612 West Olive, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91506.

Visit the AlphaDogs team at www.alphadogs.tv.

AlphaDogs in the Junkyard for New Reality Series on the Discovery Channel

Burbank, CA — Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post Production has announced it has been chosen to complete online editorial services for 10 episodes of Desert Car Kings, a new reality show for The Discovery Channel that takes an inside look at the restoration process of classic vehicles as they are re-built for auction. The series airs Wednesdays on The Discovery Channel at 10pm EST.

Reality shows can present unique demands when it comes to post production “As with most reality shows, the footage can be all over the map,” says AlphaDogs president, Terence Curren. “But our team specializes in bringing out the best from every project.”

That devotion has earned AlphaDogs a loyal following of clients including Producer Brian Knappmiller. Knappmiller was first introduced to AlphaDogs over three years ago and has continued to bring projects to the facility since. Knappmiller comments, “The best thing about the team at AlphaDogs is that they care. You never feel like you are just another client, or another paycheck. It’s very apparent that the folks at AlphaDogs love what they do, and that directly carries over to the effort and quality of work they bring to every project. Whenever I have a new project, they are always my first call for all things post production.”

In the case of Desert Car Kings, the task of turning footage into a story fell to finishing editor, Herrianne Cayabyab who used Avid’s Symphony Nitris DX. “We follow the offline platform for our finishing tasks,” noted Cayabyab, “If they use Media Composer, it’s a Symphony finish, if they use Final Cut Pro, then that project would go through our FCP finishing pipeline.”

One of the distinct challenges faced during post on Desert Car Kings were iris changes within the camera, which cause exposure changes during a shot that can be jarring to the viewer if not corrected. Cayabyab comments, "With the Nitris software we are able to add keyframes to the color grade which allows me to correct any iris shifts. They then appear more transitional in nature and go unnoticed to the viewers at home. The clients have been extremely pleased with the results." Cayabyab also used the secondary color correction feature in the Symphony to help pull out the rich blue skies of the Arizona desert.

Desert Car Kings follows the McClure family as they and their crew restore classic American cars in the Arizona desert. Applying the same loving care as the McClure family, the AlphaDogs team helps imbue the show with a luster deserving of the subject’s automobiles. Each episode ends with the auctioning off of the restored car while hoping to make a fair profit. The McClure’s lot has over 10,000 rust free cars, which they use for both classic car parts, and as a source for restorations.

Desert Car Kings is produced by True Entertainment for Discovery Communications and The Discovery Channel.

For additional information please contact Julie Leibovitz (818) 456-4149 Julie(at)alphadogs.tv www.alphadogs.tv

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About AlphaDogs

Founded in 2002, Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Inc. quickly established themselves as leaders and innovators in the rapidly changing digital post arena. The company maintains an early adopters edge; testing and assimilating leading technologies to keep ahead of the pack with solutions such as the RED camera and were the first post house in Los Angeles to take delivery of the Avid Symphony HD editing system. Personal attention from a seasoned award-winning team assures client satisfaction accompanies each cost-effective delivery of superior post production services—from editing and audio re-recording to broadcast design & effects.

AlphaDogs is home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois and Ohio. AlphaDogs is located at 1612 West Olive, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91506.

Visit the AlphaDogs team on the web: www.alphadogs.tv.

Boris Continuum Complete 7, mocha Pro and Plugins from Intelligent Assistence at AlphaDogs Post January Editors' Lounge

Burbank, CA—Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post Production hosted their first Editors’ Lounge of 2011 in January with over 80 people in attendance. The event included new software demos from Boris FX, Imagineer Systems, and Intelligent Assistance.

James Rankin, founder and artistic director of Light Space and Time Digital, showcased the latest features of the Boris Continuum Complete 7 AVX plug-in collection that brings over 200 filters to Avid editing and finishing systems. The new Version 7 release features lens blur effects, a video noise reduction tool, a new OpenGL particle engine, and new on-screen overlay control widgets for streamlined workflow. Other features include the ability to uprez NTSC standard definition video to full 1080P and beyond with high quality, Pixel Fixer to eliminate dead pixels, and an incredible Optical Stabilizer tool. One of the more unique features that was demonstrated is the Smooth Tone filter that allows blemishes to be smoothed while maintaining detail and contrast in the talent's face. Mocha tracking data can also be imported. Rankin comments, “Discovering these plugins really opened a creative door for me that not only gave me more options but changed my workflow. It was great to be able to share a hint of what’s possible with Boris Continuum Complete.”

Mary Poplin, Imagineer Systems’ LA-based product specialist, demonstrated mocha Pro, the Company’s newest 64-bit all-in-one VFX master tool set. Based on Imagineer’s award-winning planar tracking technology, mocha Pro combines and delivers all the planar tracking and rotoscoping from mocha, adds compositing tools for match moving, auto image and wire removal, clean plate generation, lens distortion correction and stabilization, all in one desktop application. Mary added, “When I first discovered mocha as a stereoscopic artist, matte painter and roto artist in the industry, I was amazed at how it cut my workflow in half! I completed scenes for stereoscopic conversion in a single day with mocha that I know would’ve easily taken me three days to complete otherwise. So I was very excited to present mocha Pro to an audience of my friends and colleagues at the Editor’s Lounge; I knew they’d appreciate just how much mocha Pro can impact their day-to-day workflow!”

Technical guru and Co-founder of Intelligent Assistance, Philip Hodgetts revealed amazing things that can be done with the various Intelligent Assistance plugins for Final Cut to maximize your workflow. As well as showing a range of production utilities and the groundbreaking First Cuts software, Hodgetts previewed a new version of their paper-cuts application prEdit that works with standard transcripts, making it much easier for everyone to use. Hodgetts comments, "When I was working on the the Floyd Lippencott documentary, I realized I was not only building my edit more quickly, but working with the text so easily encouraged me to cut more tightly, giving a much faster-paced first assemble."

The next Editors’ Lounge will be held in conjunction with Key Code Media on Friday, February 25th at 6:15pm with product demonstrations and workflows from Sony.

To learn more please visit www.editorslounge.com.

For additional information please contact
Julie Leibovitz
(818) 456-4149
Julie(at)alphadogs.tv
www.alphadogs.tv

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About AlphaDogs

Founded in 2002, Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Inc. quickly established themselves as leaders and innovators in the rapidly changing digital post arena. The company maintains an early adopters edge; testing and assimilating leading technologies to keep ahead of the pack with solutions such as the RED camera and were the first post house in Los Angeles to take delivery of the Avid Symphony HD editing system. Personal attention from a seasoned award-winning team assures client satisfaction accompanies each cost-effective delivery of superior post production services—including editing, color correction, 5.1 audio, motion graphics, visual effects, DVDs, media transfers, duplication, production offices, and system rentals with 24/7 tech support.

AlphaDogs is home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois and Ohio. AlphaDogs is located at 1612 West Olive, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91506.

Visit the AlphaDogs team at www.alphadogs.tv.

Triple Demo Action at AlphaDogs Post Production January Editors' Lounge

Burbank, CA—Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post Production has announced it will host the first Editors' Lounge of 2011 on Friday, January 28th at 6:30pm at their facility in Burbank. The Editors' Lounge is a hip forum where post production professionals come together to learn about the latest trends in post and network with industry peers.

The visual gurus at Boris FX will return to show you the latest features in their Continuum Complete plugins package. BCC is one of the most popular NLE visual effects plugins packages out there, and you'll want to see what can be achieved with version 7.

Imagineer Systems is also returning to demo their latest mocha offering. The all-new mocha Pro combines their amazing tracking and roto tools from mocha with the matchmoving and correction/stabilization tools from mokey and monet for an all-in-one compositing solution.

Philip Hodgetts will also demo the amazing things that can be accomplished with the various Intelligent Assistance plugins for Final Cut. From automated syncing and matchbacks to sequencing and log note tools and much more, there's a plugin to solve your problem and speed your workflow.

For more information please visit the Editors' Lounge website at www.editorslounge.com or contact AlphaDogs Post Production.

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About AlphaDogs

Founded in 2002, Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Inc. quickly established themselves as leaders and innovators in the rapidly changing digital post arena. The company maintains an early adopters edge; testing and assimilating leading technologies to keep ahead of the pack with solutions such as the RED camera and were the first post house in Los Angeles to take delivery of the Avid Symphony HD editing system. Personal attention from a seasoned award-winning team assures client satisfaction accompanies each cost-effective delivery of superior post production services—from editing and audio re-recording to broadcast design & effects.

AlphaDogs is home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Toronto.

AlphaDogs is located at 1612 West Olive, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91506.Visit the AlphaDogs team on the web: www.alphadogs.tv.

AlphaDogs Post Production Gets Intimate with the Playboy Channel in new Documentary Series

Burbank, CA- Burbank based AlphaDogs Post Production has been chosen to do all online editorial and color correction services on 12 episodes of Brooklyn Kinda Love. The new documentary series explores the relationships of four “quintessential” couples living in Brooklyn with a focus on intimacy to attract more female viewers. The first episode premieres January 15th at 10pm on The Playboy Channel.

AlphaDogs is known for providing affordable service without compromising quality which is what brought Producer Harry Gantz (HBO Taxicab Confessions) to the facility. Gantz comments, “AlphaDogs has great creative talent, pays attention to the details, and goes the extra mile to please us. On the business side they were willing to find a way to work within our budget, and the negotiations were easy”. Gantz continues; “As a result the final delivery shined and the process to get there was smooth. A real find. I look forward to working with them again”.

Online editorial services are being handled by AlphaDogs finishing editor Sean Stack. Specs include an entirely file based delivery to the network with color correction being completed in an Apple Color finishing room. Shared Terrablock storage allows both the online editor and colorist to access the same media from different bays. Stack comments, “Shared storage allows me to work on lower thirds and subtitles while color correction is being done in another room. Scrutiny is given to be sure all the media is in the same codec and frame rate”. Stack continues; “We strive to assure both client satisfaction while paying close attention to the network delivery specifications for a seamless delivery of the project”.

Brooklyn Kinda Love is produced by Harry Gantz for Playboy Entertainment Group.

For additional information please contact
Julie Leibovitz
(818) 456-4149
Julie(at)alphadogs.tv
www.alphadogs.tv

•

About AlphaDogs

Founded in 2002, Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Inc. quickly established themselves as leaders and innovators in the rapidly changing digital post arena. The company maintains an early adopters edge; testing and assimilating leading technologies to keep ahead of the pack with solutions such as the RED camera and were the first post house in Los Angeles to take delivery of the Avid Symphony HD editing system. Personal attention from a seasoned award-winning team assures client satisfaction accompanies each cost-effective delivery of superior post production services—including editing, color correction, 5.1 audio, motion graphics, visual effects, DVDs, media transfers, duplication, production offices, and system rentals with 24/7 tech support.

AlphaDogs is home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; now serving California, Illinois, Florida and Ohio, with the first international location in Toronto, Canada. AlphaDogs is located at 1612 West Olive, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91506.

Visit the AlphaDogs team at www.alphadogs.tv.

AlphaDogs Post Production Finishes "Enough Already! with Peter Walsh" for Oprah Winfrey Network

Burbank, CA—Burbank-based AlphaDogs Post Production is pleased to announce completion of work on Enough Already! with Peter Walsh, a new reality show for the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) hosted by organizational expert Peter Walsh. The series airs Mondays on the OWN network at 8pm EST.

The post team at Discovery Studios chose AlphaDogs for this project based on the quality, know-how and humor offered by the AlphaDogs team (crew) they have come to know over the years. Post Producer Scott Young comments, “Whenever I have an opportunity to finish a show with them, I jump at the chance. I’m in good hands with their attention to detail, and knowledge of various formats and delivery specs. In spite of any obstacles, owner Terence Curren delivers the look we want to achieve”. Young continues; “We were very happy with the final delivery of the project. The masters were received without a glitch. I would recommend AlphaDogs for any project. They’re not happy until the client is happy and that makes for a satisfied post supervisor”.

The show is entirely shot on-location in the field. This type of environment brings a fair share of challenges to the audio mix. Re-Recording mixer Lisa Baro uses a Pro Tools HD2 system and the Cedar DNS One plug in. Baro comments “We have a lot of experience in reality television and the Cedars plug in has been an invaluable tool for removing challenging background noises conducive to these types of shows. All clean-up and fixes can be done in real-time, expediting the mix saving the clients both time and money”. Post Producer Scott Young comments, “Lisa has a knack for addressing our client's notes with an ear to the overall mix”.

Enough Already! with Peter Walsh takes a candid look at the overwhelming clutter that can take over a family’s home and how—in just days—with the help of organizational guru Peter Walsh, they not only de-clutter their homes but also come to understand the underlying reasons why clutter has crept into their lives. Walsh teaches how to relinquish their emotional attachment to the things surrounding them and rebuild their relationships, moving forward clutter-free.

Enough Already! with Peter Walsh is produced by Discovery Studios for Discovery Communications and The Oprah Winfrey Network.

For additional information please contact
Julie Leibovitz
(818) 456-4149
Julie(at)alphadogs.tv
www.alphadogs.tv

•

About AlphaDogs—Founded in 2002, Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Inc. quickly established themselves as leaders and innovators in the rapidly changing digital post arena. The company maintains an early adopters edge; testing and assimilating leading technologies to keep ahead of the pack with solutions such as the RED camera and were the first post house in Los Angeles to take delivery of the Avid Symphony HD editing system. Personal attention from a seasoned award-winning team assures client satisfaction accompanies each cost-effective delivery of superior post production services—including editing, color correction, 5.1 audio, motion graphics, visual effects, DVDs, media transfers, duplication, production offices, and system rentals with 24/7 tech support.

AlphaDogs is home to the popular Editors' Lounge and headquarters of the growing media transfer specialty service Digital Service Station; with affiliates across the United States and Canada.

AlphaDogs is located at 1612 West Olive, Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91506. Visit the AlphaDogs team at www.alphadogs.tv.