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DigitalFilm Tree Creates Final Cut Pro Editing Workflow
By Staff
Apr 5, 2008 - 1:22:47 PM
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Hollywood, CA -- DigitalFilm Tree worked closely with J&J productions to create a Final Cut Pro editing workflow for the Rob Minkoff film The Forbidden Kingdom, edited by Eric Strand, due in theaters April 18, 2008.
"Each phase of our film from editorial, to VFX, to sound was conducted in a different country, from Korea to America and Australia," said director Minkoff, "DigitalFilm Tree's supervision of the workflow and our Final Cut Pro setup always provided me with the files, shots, and information I required, wherever I was. They made the technology serve the creativity of our film."
The custom editing system from Digitalfilm Tree, shipped to and installed at Hengdian World Studios in China, consisted of three 2.66 Ghz Apple Dual Core Intel Xeon computers running Final Cut Pro Studio. The systems share 8 TB of data storage using Apple Xserve Raids.
Strand, whose editorial credits include Donnie Darko and Borderland, commented, "When I first started this film, knowing it was going to be shot with the Panavision Genesis camera, and edited on Final Cut Pro, I knew there were several companies to choose from. I was very familiar with DigitalFilm Tree, and well aware of their outstanding work with Walter Murch
on Cold Mountain. It helped put my mind at ease that we were going to be working with a team of creative experts that had been there from the beginning, using Final Cut Pro on big motion pictures."
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Working nearly 6, 500 miles away from mainland USA presented extraordinary challenges for editing. Located in Hengdian, a 5 hour drive from Shanghai in China, the production had no quick or close at hand means of support. The system design had to be simple and reliable, yet robust enough to contain a film of such large magnitude. In the end the system and the workflow was
seamless and without problems. Executive Producer Raffaella de Laurentiis commented, "I wanted to use Final Cut Pro since it allowed us flexibility and stability on our remote location in Mainland China. DigitalFilm Tree was instrumental in setting-up our Final Cut Pro Workstations and Editorial workflow. I don't know how we would have functioned so well without them."
"Being part of the creation of The Forbidden Kingdom was an extraordinary and special privilege for us," said Ramy Katrib, founder and CEO of DigitalFilm Tree. "This was the first high-profile, Chinese-American production using the Panavision Genesis camera and edited on Final Cut Pro. The post challenges for us were daunting, but in end I am proud to say that
we came through 100 percent."
"I think that our biggest concern was the remoteness of the location," said Zed Saeed, senior post-production consultant at DigitalFilm Tree. "A lot of care had to be given to create a system that needed the minimum amount of upkeep and yet perform flawlessly."
Directed by Rob Minkoff (The Haunted Mansion, Stuart Little) and starring Jet Li and Jackie Chan (first time in a film together), The Forbidden Kingdom tells the story of an American teen who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics. He makes a magical discovery in a Chinatown
pawn shop, where he discovers a legendary weapon of a Chinese warrior, the Monkey King. With the weapon in hand, the teen finds himself traveling back to ancient China where he joins other warriors on a dangerous mission to free the imprisoned Monkey King.
DigitalFilm Tree www.digitalfilmtree.com
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