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Documentary Studio Streamlining Remote Editing with Frame.io and Synology
Company Situation
The company operates a boutique documentary film production company specializing in commissioned legacy films for private individuals, primarily focusing on elder storytelling. Their team consists of multiple remote editors spread across different international locations, with distinct editing teams assigned to each company project. The company manages multiple active projects simultaneously, each requiring unique editing workflows and teams on an annual basis. The scale of raw media content is substantial, with some projects accumulating tens of terabytes of data over time.
Existing Workflow
Currently, the company relies heavily on physical hard drives for media transfer and storage, shipping drives internationally between editors in various countries. They utilize Frame.io and Vimeo for review and approval processes but do not have integrated asset management or cloud-based collaborative workflows. Final deliverables are stored locally on large Synology NAS units, and company delivery is managed through Mediazilla, a web-based platform that the company finds suboptimal, especially for seamless TV integration.
Issues with the Existing Workflow
High logistical complexity and delays caused by shipping physical hard drives internationally.
Limited collaboration efficiency due to lack of centralized, cloud-based asset management.
Unsustainable scale of raw media storage, with some projects reaching upwards of 30 terabytes.
High costs and accessibility issues with previous cloud storage solutions, making raw media cloud workflows financially prohibitive.
Company delivery platforms lack native apps for TVs, limiting ease of access for high-net-worth companies who prefer menu-based viewing experiences on smart TVs.
Current review tools are fragmented and not fully integrated into the workflow.
How Shade Would Change Their Workflow
Shade offers a proxy-based cloud media management platform that significantly reduces upload and download demands by enabling editors to work with proxy files while securely storing raw media in cost-effective cold storage tiers. This approach aligns with the company’s need for scalable storage without the prohibitive costs of raw cloud storage. Shade’s platform integrates review and approval tools and provides branded, white-labeled company collections for simplified content delivery. Although Shade currently does not have a native TV app, its forthcoming app development and open API offer promising avenues for more accessible company delivery. Shade’s pricing model and tiered storage structure also allow the company to scale organically as their project volume and data grow.
Benefits
- Elimination of physical hard drive shipping, enabling faster and more reliable remote collaboration.
- Cost-effective management of large raw media assets via hot and cold storage tiers.
- Proxy workflows reduce bandwidth requirements without sacrificing editing quality.
- Integrated review and approval features streamline feedback cycles.
- White-labeled, branded company collections enhance company engagement and professionalism.
- Scalable platform that supports company growth without excessive upfront investment.
- Future-proofed company delivery with planned app development and open API capabilities.
Technologies Used
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