The new LA-based encoding and project management facility, which sits within the security perimeter of GDMX, the studio-owned C&A house, will be the link Oxford, UK-located IDM needs to improve its client servicing.

IDM is launching this facility at a time when many US and European facilities are folding, but perhaps more interestingly at a time when some of the larger LA-based vendors are opening up facilities abroad in low cost locations.

“Our Bulgarian facility in Sofia is very well established and offers our clients lower costs with professional and innovative digital expertise” explains MD Jonathan Finnerty. “LA-based vendors who are setting up in India and Eastern/Central Europe will no doubt be experiencing considerable teething problems integrating this with their established Western-based business.”

Indeed, IDM has spent eight years doing just this and has come through all these regional volatilities with a state-of-the-art 600sqm production base in Bulgaria’s prestigious Sofia Business Park.

Many of the major studios are reluctant to ship their HD source production materials abroad and IDM has not found it easy attracting Blu-ray authoring work. With the rapid decline in BD pricing IDM believes that LA needs lower-cost digital supply chain solutions. Once HD video has been encoded in LA it will be sent electronically to Sofia for BD authoring and programming. LA will also supply on-site VOD encoding support to GDMX and other clients.

Ronnie Brooks, who has spent fifteen years on the frontline of digital services, has been appointed General Manager of the LA facility. With more than ten years of experience managing DVD production at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and prior to that setting up DVD production at GDMX, Brooks brings solid client and vendor side experience to the LA operation.

IDM, through its affiliation with GDMX, has managed European production skus for the following BD titles using Sonic authoring software: Blood Diamond, North by Northwest, Creepshow, The Orphan, Dances with Wolves and others.


Ronnie Brooks

Story filed 16.11.09