Case Study

Introduction

Shortlisted for ‘Best Post-Production House’ at the 2019 Screen Awards and sponsors of the Grierson Documentary Awards, Storm has remained fully-operational since the start of the pandemic. The central London post-house has been busy providing the ‘ultimate end-to-end experience’ for clients, with Parsec as the central component for making it possible.

The Challenge

Although Storm had already established some remote workflows when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a home lockdown of UK citizens, their established remote solutions would not give the high-quality experience Storm's clients were accustomed to. Just like other businesses, Storm's team frantically researched how to become a fully remote-centric operation. 

They needed a way to connect editors and producers working in their suites from multiple locations across Europe, so they could collaborate on the same project from their respective locations — all with near-zero latency.

Evaluating Criteria

Parsec was the ideal partner for accelerating Storm's remote collaboration workflows based on:

• Low latency: Parsec’s low-latency, high frame rate remote access let editors and producers access physical or cloud workstations from anywhere.
• Seamless experience: Once connected, the distance blurred away. Users forgot they weren't sitting in front of the workstation and could complete tasks and renders from lower end computers in their homes.
• Flexible display options: Using its virtual display drivers, Parsec could accommodate editors' fancy home rigs of ultra-wide and/or dual monitor set ups. And 4:4:4 color mode ensured crucial color accuracy. 
• Precision Controls: WACOM tablet-based team members loved Parsec's Enhanced Pen Support with full-tilt and pressure fidelity inputs. 
• Security: Security-minded admins appreciated how Parsec's connections are peer-to-peer and encrypted, the strong password algorithm and two-factor authentication (2FA), and how they could control who has access to what computers and could manage privileges or revoke access on the fly.

The Result

Storm’s client-base ranges from TV production companies to Event Cinema & Arts, including regularly working with BBC Studios and delivering to major UK & International broadcasters. During the COVID-19 lockdown, they continued to stay innovative with their post production workflows, improving the remote user experience, both practically and financially. In addition to Parsec, they effectively used tools like YoYotta to streamline their 4K conform processes, Avid Editorial Management / Cloud UX for viewing/editing rushes in a browser, cloud-based portals such as MASV, and their bespoke Picture Finishing process running on Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve.

Storm were also able to extend remote capabilities to their audio department, and since the beginning of lockdown, they have been successfully running remote sessions and providing portable voiceover recording kits for their artists and talent.

Innovation as an Ethos

Although lockdown has ended, the pandemic has proven we can’t always count on the traditional ways of working. Additionally, more and more workers are demanding flexible work environments; going back to five days in the office is a tough sell for anyone accustomed to spending more time with family and losing their commute. The spike in remote working and the flexibility cloud-based technology presents have carved out a whole new level to explore. 

Storm had already begun using virtual edit suites in order cover their overspills, and this orientation toward innovation allowed them to pivot to keep business going. Their flexible workflows offer a glimpse into the future, showcasing the best of both worlds — in-house or remote (or a combination of both) — so their talent can work how they want, when they want.

The focus on future-proofing has been as important as ever over the past year, and Storm’s ethos and forward-thinking has been key a part of the business, having previously already laid the foundations to help turn today’s obstacle into an opportunity.