Bearcage Productions: Creativity on tap

Spreading the load

Adding further to Bearcage’s enhanced digital production environment is Qmaster, a valuable component of Final Cut Studio’s Compressor application. Instead of resorting to the manual allocation of encoding and video processing tasks to individual workstations, Qmaster is used to create a fully load-balanced cluster, using available computing resources across the network.

According to Gambale, Qmaster – particularly in Bearcage’s high-speed Xsan environment – is set to dramatically improve the production workflow and staff workloads. “One of our key goals is to maintain a work setting in which people don’t have to put in the extra hours, especially when technology can be used to take on the load,” he says. “While our people are at home with their families during the weekends and evenings, Qmaster will be looking after all the encoding and video processing.”

It’s Apple people, too

But it’s more than the hardware and software that gives Bearcage the real Apple advantage. It’s also the company and people. Gambale explains: “At every step of the way, whether upgrading Final Cut Studio or rolling out our Xsan, there have been people at Apple who have shown clearly that they’re prepared to support our business with their business. In terms of vendor support, I really don’t think you could ask for much better than we’re receiving from Apple and its channel partner, Key Options Technology.”

A professional services organisation specialising in the implementation and integration of Mac OS X hardware and software into cross-platform environments, Key Options Technology provide Bearcage with essential training and on-site systems integration.

Talking more broadly on the industry-wide adoption of Final Cut Studio, Gambale states that it’s imperative that production houses maintain a close watch on what video production applications are being used throughout the industry and taught at universities and colleges.

“More and more,” Gambale says, “it’s a case of Final Cut Studio being the platform of choice.”

Regardless of the fact that the Bearcage team enthusiastically embraces its Final Cut Studio and Xsan environment, Gambale is nothing short of blunt in his comments regarding the future. “We’ll use only the best hardware and software that fits in with our business,” he says. “While we’re currently a Final Cut Studio environment, we are constantly examining everything else on the market.

“Even though Bearcage is always looking ahead to see what can be improved, Apple has demonstrated that it’s looking even further ahead.”