The world of mobile, on-location editing has come a step closer with Granada pioneering an internet-based system to log and perform basic editing on PCs with broadband internet access.
The world of mobile, on-location editing has come a step closer with Granada pioneering an internet-based system to log and perform basic editing on PCs with broadband internet access.

Granada used the FORscene system, developed by Forbidden Technologies, on its latest 10-part documentary series Trust Me I'm a Holiday Rep, which follows a group of celebrities who exchange their showbiz lives for the gruelling job of looking after holiday-makers in Cyprus.

The series, which airs on 18 September on Five, was shot intensively during 10 days at the resort of Ayia Napa this summer on Sony DSR500 DV camcorders, and generated over 300 hours of rushes, which needed to be logged quickly and cost-effectively.

Post house Nats advised Granada on integrating the FORscene "pay-as-you-go" web tool into the posting, with material flown back to London, ingested at Forbidden and made available to PCs at Granada's South Bank offices for logging.

Nats managing director Charlie Leonard told Broadcast: "Granada had a very tight schedule and it managed to log a large number of tapes much more quickly. At one point they had 20 people simultaneously logging the rushes."

At the same time, the show's directors were able to view the logged material and do basic assembly edits and EDLs - some working from home.

Producer/director Tom Edwards, who was using the system for the first time, said: "The user interface needs work, but it saved money on VHS transfers and tape decks. You can produce edit lists and use it remotely from anywhere."

The series was offlined on 10 Avids networked on a LANshare at De Lane Lea and onlined at Nats. Leonard added: "At the moment it's difficult to do more complicated programmes that require effects because that uses up so much bandwidth."

Nats is exclusive reseller for the system, although in time Forbidden may offer it to other post houses and their clients.

Granada is understood to be working with Nats on a second series using FORscene, while indie Endemol UK is experimenting on another as-yet-unnamed programme.