Archive for the ‘Main’ Category

re:fine invests in 3D Blu-ray

Friday, June 18th, 2010

3dglassesWe just couldn’t resist it… we’ve invested in early-release Blu-ray3D software and kitted out our authoring & graphics suite with Blu-ray3D players, screens and glasses.

We’re the first UK authoring facility to do so this, quickly enabling our clients to release their 3D content on Blu-ray.

If you have a film or project that you would like to get ready for Q4 then talk to us about how to deliver your materials.

With longer lead times than 2D, now’s the time to start thinking about getting your Blu-ray 3D ready.

Sales of 3D TVs and Blu-ray3D players have really taken the retailers by surprise with electronic manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung , LG and Panasonic set to shift 4.2 million 3D TVs globally in 2010 alone. The 3D television market is projected to triple to 12.9 million units next year, according to new research from Isuppli.

Further reading

  • for a more in-depth look at 3D and how it works click here for an incredible article from Tom Vaughn at Cyberlink who make our  Blu-ray 3D playback software

Shutter Island delivered to your Hotel room!

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

SHUTTER_ISLAND_202x113Latest delivery is Scorses’s tense psychological thriller set on an island asylum for the clinically insane.

The date is 1954, and war-veteran turned U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo Di Caprio) is called to Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of one of the residents, a murderess.  What he finds is incredibly suspicious – the guards are on edge, the patients tell him to run and his newly-assigned partner (Mark Ruffalo) might be more than he appears. As a tremendous storm hits the island, Teddy finds himself stuck in the asylum grounds and embroiled in a conspiracy that might cost him more than just his life.

This movie was ingested and stored on our digital vault ready for transcoding, multiplexing and secure digi-delivery to the Hospitality Sector.  If you see Shutter Island amongst the Blockbusters on your business trip or holiday the chances are we delivered that film!

Thinking of releasing your first Blu-ray?

Monday, April 19th, 2010

blurayuniversity

The Blu-ray team at re:fine are hosting a series of workshops to help you navigate a safe path to Blu-ray.

The next two workshops are on Thursday 10th June and Thursday 8th July  at 4pm at re:fine’s Latimer Road facility.

The workshops are a friendly and informative chance to learn more about Blu-ray and the production process including:

  • Introduction to Blu-ray
  • Why make the jump to  Blu-ray?
  • Features and benefits (major benefits of Blu-ray– with industry examples)
  • Getting your assets right
  • Paperwork – AACS and VISAN
  • Timescales

The format will include presentations from our authoring team, questions & answer sessions and a chance for a one-on-one chat with our team over drinks.

Please email   catherine.watling @ refine-group.com  to register your interest and receive more information

The Hurt Locker on BT Vision

Monday, March 29th, 2010

big_hurtThere’s a bomb buried in the dirt – if it explodes it’ll destroy everything within 100 yards, the blast-wave alone could kill you.

What would you do? If you are Staff Sergeant William James you walk towards it, wire-cutters in hand, knowing you could die any second.

Welcome to the Hurt Locker.

The Hurt Locker is the 6 time Oscar winning drama about a military bomb disposal squad working in Iraq. It is one of the most gripping, daring and compelling movies ever created, and well deserves the Oscar for Best Motion Picture.

re:fine have ensured it is now available in stunning HD on BT vision – the perfect movie to view in High Definition.

How clean is your house?

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

202_113_KNAThis month we have encoded over 100 episodes of hit series ‘How clean is your house?’ for international distribution.    How clean is your house features Kim and Aggie, Britain’s most famous dust-busting, mildew-murdering divas as they swiffer their way through some of the world’s most repulsive homes.

The series was first broadcast in 2003 and is in it’s eighth season.  It has been successfully aired in 17 countries and is number one in it’s time slot in Denmark, New Zealand, Finland and the Netherlands.   The girls have also crossed the Atlantic and have made two series in the USA.

Once encoded the required to MPEG2  format, the files pass though quality control and are delivered to a secure site. Once there, the files can be accessed globally for future use.

Summerton Mill – now on iTunes

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

202_113_STownThe second series of children’s favourite Summerton Mill will be available on iTunes from 5th April.   The release follows the UK success of the first series on CBeebies and BBC2.  The show is also popular in several European and Middle Eastern Countries.

Summerton Mill stars Dan, his sidekick Fluffa the dog and the Naybur family who live up the Hill.   It is a delightful world inspired by creator Pete Bryden’s own secluded 17th century mill, (Somerton Mill) in rural Oxfordshire.

re:fine created the DVDs of the first series which are available on Amazon, the DVDs were a tremendous success and led  the iTunes release is ideal for babies on the move!

Baby TV – Digibook showreels

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

big_sheepsThis month we created some gorgeous Digibooks for Baby TV.

Baby TV is a global channel that reaches parents and children through major television platforms worldwide, providing 24 hour high quality programming for TV’s youngest viewers.  Free from advertising and full of high quality series, Baby TV is designed to promote learning, activity and interaction in a fun environment.

The Digibooks are designed to help promote baby TV globally and contain a  52 page alphabet booklet featuring stills from some of baby TV’s most popular series.

The booklet is full colour throughout with a matt finish and features the cute characters of Baby TV’s most popular shows as well as the characters from the channel’s idents.  The accompanying DVD contains a trailer, showreel and a sing along activity.

See more on Sky channel 623, Virgin channel 703 on BT Vision or online

Eagle lands 100 million views

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

eminiem_largePopular YouTube channel Eagle Rock TV celebrated an incredible 100 million views this month. The channel has over 28,000 subscribers and is home to live music and video from some of the world’s greatest bands.

Featuring a diverse collection of artistic talent, including Alicia Keys, Iron Maiden, The Beatles, Tupac and Andrew Lloyd Webber, it’s no wonder the channel is so popular.

Eagle house their digital library at re:fine.  Each track is edited and transcoded before the Eagle TV idents are applied and the tracks are uploaded for the millions of fans to enjoy.

Search for tracks at   http://www.youtube.com/eaglerocktv

iTunes uploads – big names, big films, big hopes!

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

love_largeJennifer Aniston’s latest comedy Love Happens hits iTunes this month via re:fine. Co-starring The Dark Knight’s Aaron Eckhart, Love Happens is about redemption, truth, loyalty, love and above all things… hope.

And if anyone is experiencing hope this month it’s Carey Mulligan.  British newcomer Mulligan stars in the Oscar-nominated An Education, playing a schoolgirl who has a destructive affair with an older man, practically ruining her chances at a higher education.   Mulligan won this year’s BAFTA for best actress and has been nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, so a lot of hopes rest on March 7th for the team behind An Education.  See it the day after – it’s released on iTunes on March 8th.

Twilight New Moon – on Playstation Networks

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Twilight: New Moon, the latest instalment of the smash-hit vampire series, is now available on the Playstation Network thanks to re:fine.

twi_largeNew Moon is the second film in the extremely popular series following the lives of ill-fated lovers Edward and Bella, but this time with an added helping of abs-flashing werewolves and the introduction to the red-eyed Volturi.

The Playstation network is becoming an increasingly important platform for viewing and downloading SD and HD content, with recent statistics from the BBC suggesting that PS3 owners account for 8% of iPlayer traffic. As more fantastically popular films such as the Twilight franchise appear, it looks as though the Playstation Network is becoming a force to be reckoned with.