Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/130212
NEWS Stock Footage Pond5 expands with Pixmac acquisition B Discovery Access to add shots from North America series S ILVER SPRING, MD — This month, Discovery Channel premieres North America, a seven-part series that explores the wilderness in what they call, "the most diverse, deadly environment on Earth." The series features rare footage, including a partnership between the leather bass and a moray eel along the coral reefs of Central America, as well as the first successful attempt using laser technology to pick up the acoustic vibration of a male jumping spider. The footage from North America will be available within the year for licensing through The Discovery Access online library (www.discoveryAccess.com), which houses content from Discovery's 28 entertainment networks and multi- platform media brands. Discovery has been shooting all HD — DVCProHD and HDCAM — since 1999, and increasingly more content is being shot on tapeless formats like P2, XDCAM, Red and Phantom. Clips can be licensed and downloaded online in high res in any format 24/7. Comps are almost instantly available in H.264 QuickTime low-res files as placeholders. For master elements, they can easily supply the usual ProRes and DNx files, but can also do fast turnaround custom transcodes within a few hours. While most can find what they need online without the help of a sales rep, the archive does have a fully staffed footage sales and research team. StormStock's Website (www.stormstock.com) received a significant upgrade in April. In addition to featuring all new premium footage, the site is easier to use. "We've improved our footage previews and our search engine, and made the site more user friendly," explains StormStock founder/cinematographer, Martin Lisius. New material produced by StormStock includes exclusive footage of storms, tornadoes, lightning, blowing dust, stormy skies and Hurricane Sandy (pictured). The footage provider has also found HD shots of Hurricane Katrina. ROOKLYN — Pond5 (www.pond5.com), here, is acquiring Czech Republic-based stock imagery network Pixmac S.R.O. The deal includes millions of stock photos and illustrations that are distributed in 17 languages and in multiple currencies. With the integration of Pixmac, Pond5's selection of stock video footage, audio, images, 3D models and motion graphics templates will be available globally across the Pixmac network of more than 20 domains, via a multilanguage, multi-currency platform. Over 6,000 Pixmac photos and illustrators are expected to join Pond5, bringing with them millions of images, which will be available via the Pond5 Website. Pixmac artists will get a substantial raise to match their Pond5 counterparts, and will earn 50 percent royalties on all sales. HBO Archives ups vintage sports and HD world footage N EW YORK — HBO Archives (www.hboarchives.com) has added to its collection with HD footage from around the world, as well as vintage sports shots from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s — footage from the cablenet's original programming, the majority of which was sports. The collection includes basketball, hockey, soccer, gymnastics, boxing, skating, track and field, swimming and diving, skiing, wrestling, body-building, bowling, tennis, rodeo, mixed martial arts, and horse and dog shows. Footage includes basketball Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in their college days, plus many more sports icons. HBO Archives' Matthew Fisher led the initiative to restore these old 2- and 1-inch reels at Northvale, NJ's Deluxe. Many had typical glue problems and had to be 'baked' before they could be transferred. They were sent to Specs Bros. In addition to the sports collection, HBO Archives' HD cinematographers have brought back footage from Egypt, Macau, the Isle of Man, Seoul and Pakistan. "We are also shooting HD in Iceland (pictured) and Croatia," reports Fisher. Shooters call on a variety of cameras, including Arri Alexa, Canon 5D and 7D, Panasonic AF100, and for some action shots, GoPro. www.postmagazine.com Post0513_009-10-Stock GalleryRAV3FINALREADALMOST.indd 9 Post • May 2013 9 5/2/13 4:16 PM