Designing A post Production Studio

[Djreversal]

Ok so here's the situation. I am basically finishing up my time here at vancouver film school. The experience has been great, learned an endless amount at this place and can't recommend it to the newbie's coming into the scene. Anyways, I am moving back to new york (long island) in May. Basically i have been working on a handful of independent films as well as trailers and video game sounds. I do alot of my own music production as well on the side mainly trance and house style music.

I have been struggling as if i should move out to california and start my life over there, or start my own production studio in new york on long island. I dont believe there are many post houses out there but my mind set now is more smaller independant films as well as maybe other work, foley, adr etc. I currently have more a production studio setup, Apoggee symphony rig with a new 8 core mac pro and logic bunch of synths and what not. Have a pair of dynaudio bm12's which i plan on making a full 5.1 rig and so on.


My question for you is this. Any advice or recommendations would be great. As far as sync problems, i heard that the current plasma's or lcd's are giving non sample / frame accurate sync. Is this tru, would you recommend a really good projector? As far as a vocal booth / foley room / adr room. Do you think since space im sure will be limited i should sort of make one fairly large room capable of all that?

List of recommended mics and preamps.

Think of a 416 for my shotgun / boom style work. but other then that im not sure what pre's are good for foley and adr, the stuff in school is kind of on the bottom end im sure.

Sorry for babbling its like i have 100's of questions but dont know exactly how to ask them hahaha.. but like i said any type of responses are welcome.. even flaming ones lol.



Mark

[aleatoric]

VFS was awesome.....gradated in 2005, good for you for opening your own studio. i should probably think about that!

-mark

[Bob Olhsson]

I'd go to LA unless you can find a really good internship in New York.

[Djreversal]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

I'd go to LA unless you can find a really good internship in New York.

hmm yea i know.. LA is defeinitely close to the top of the list.. i just dont know where or what i would land out there.


Mark

[Bob Olhsson]

Post work has become polarized between what is done right on the set and crunch time where you can move from three folks working on a picture to twenty at the drop of a hat. The only place you can do that is in LA. I'm told most regional and mid-level facilities are really hurting compared to ten years ago.

[philper]

Where do you want to end up? What sort of projects do you want to work on? Where do you want to live your life? Do you want to be your own boss? Generally young folks are urged to acquire as much experience as they can before they settle in to their "life's work". Most of us followed personal connections of some sort into what we are doing now, if not where we are doing it as well.

Philip Perkins

[DSD_Mastering]

When I got into Post I have visions of working on film/TV. About 80% of our Post work is with video games now and we love it!
You shouldn't pigeon-hole yourself into one genre/area. I never thought about gaming until my step-son started doing the animation for Sony.

Regards,
Bruce

[Djreversal]

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

When I got into Post I have visions of working on film/TV. About 80% of our Post work is with video games now and we love it!
You shouldn't pigeon-hole yourself into one genre/area. I never thought about gaming until my step-son started doing the animation for Sony.

Regards,
Bruce

Yes, i came to VFS for the film post production side of things and really like the video game side as well and i am open to all sound opportunities.

My thoughts were if i am going to start at the bottom, either way i will have to bust my ass and work hard to prove my self, weather working for a company or myself. It's been a back and forth thought process for me. I personally think california will be where i end up but it would be nice to setup shop back in new york where i lived for 28 years and be able to contract out to people, but i know it takes alot of time and more so connections to get that rollin properly. I have met alot of great people out here, and It sucks that vancouver is a huge hot spot for game design but most of the places up here do not want to get involved with hiring non canadian citizens. I guess I should just really focus on designing as strong of a portfolio as possible now and shop around a bit and make my connections. I guess I can always take a decent job and develop my studio / side projects for extra money till I either make a name for my self enough to do it full time on my own or I just work my way up the ladder at a company.


Mark

[Henchman]

I would say, move to LA.
Yous aid it yourslef, there's not as many post facilities there. Why do you think that is?
You'll be going up against established and experienced facilities.
I personally would never open a facility, untill you have your own clientele. And even then, it's scary, unless you have some very deep pockets.

[Djreversal]

Originally Posted by Henchman

I would say, move to LA.
Yous aid it yourslef, there's not as many post facilities there. Why do you think that is?
You'll be going up against established and experienced facilities.
I personally would never open a facility, untill you have your own clientele. And even then, it's scary, unless you have some very deep pockets.

well appreiate all the advice .. i guess im leaning more the other way :-D .. maybe just a protools HD 3 setup with a control 24 and a 5.1 system for my place to take work home with me or what not may be enough.


Mark

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by Djreversal

well appreiate all the advice .. i guess im leaning more the other way :-D .. maybe just a protools HD 3 setup with a control 24 and a 5.1 system for my place to take work home with me or what not may be enough.


Mark

You don't have to spend that kindof money to get work.
In fact, I sugget you get work first, before spendign ay money.

An LE system is enough.
I know quite a few guys doing production work and features, who do it all using LE.