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Production Group

March 7, 2024

FRONTLINE Oscar winner posted at GBH OutPost

Posted by Tim Mangini

The Oscar winning FRONTLINE documentary “20 Days in Mariupol” was color-graded and mixed at GBH’s OutPost post-production facility. Shot by Associated Press director/camerman Mstyslav Chernov entirely on a DSLR during the first days of Russia’s assault on the city of Mariupol, Ukraine, it posed unique challenges for the post team. 

Ferg and Mysty.jpg

When director Chernov saw colorist Jim Ferguson’s first-pass grade he asked Jim to find a way to convey the constant dust in the air from shelling. So, grading the 4k project in DaVinci Resolve, Jim took it from a contrasty-blue winter look to a lighter brownish-gray. Although we often color-correct remotely for clients, having the directo...

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Dec. 5, 2022

EARTHSHOT PRIZE Edits at OutPost

Posted by Tim Mangini

The second ever Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony, recorded in Boston on Friday, December 2nd, was post-produced at the OutPost on a fast turnaround for the BBC and PBS. Prine w 2Sponsored by Prince William of the British Royal Family, the Earthshot Prize is an annual event that awards one-million pounds sterling to each of five small non-profits fro...

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Oct. 26, 2021

Jazz for the Planet @GBH Studios & OutPost

Posted by Mary Kate DeSantis

The Tällberg Foundation's Jazz for the Planet concert took place in front of a live audience in GBH's Fraser Performance Studio on October 21 and the Production Group was there to capture it. Tällberg was looking for a world-class recording studio to capture Marco Pignotaro and some of the finest Jazz musicians in the country performing ne...

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Oct. 1, 2021

OutPost Colors Poetry In America

Posted by Beth Godlin Lillis

OutPost at GBH is well into finishing on Season 3 of POETRY IN AMERICA. The production met new challenges during the pandemic of Covid-19. Interviews moved to more exterior locations to enable social distancing, but that created inconsistent lighting conditions with clouds often obscuring the sun. Outpost Colorist David Bigelow used Davinc...

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Feb. 24, 2021

How Frame Rates Help Tell the Director’s Story

Recently, Senior Editor Jim Ferguson and the OutPost team wrapped up post-production for two Frontline programs that aired back-to-back, Iraq’s Assassins and Yemen’s COVID Cover-Up. The filmmakers for both programs were based in the UK, and, as a result, the footage was primarily shot in 25 frames per second progressive (25P). Additionally...

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Feb. 22, 2021

Edit From Any Location with New Technology Resources

As part of GBH’s ongoing Technology Roundtable, staff responsible for GBH’s many media brands meet regularly to discuss new technology resources. Organized by Senior Director of Production Technology, Tim Mangini, these now-virtual discussions help inform and educate internal production and post-production units about the latest advances i...

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Jan. 25, 2021

GBH Production Group Provides Safe Haven for “Messiah for Our Time”

For 166 years Boston’s Handel + Haydn Society had continuously performed “Messiah” each holiday season until the Coronavirus pandemic threatened to end that record in 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic in full-swing their annual tradition faced cancellation until GBH stepped up to ensure the 167th would go on as scheduled.


The Studio and the ...

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Dec. 17, 2020

Yo-Yo Ma Performs “A New Equilibrium” in Live Global Concert from Fraser Studio

GBH Studios were thrilled to welcome world-renowned cellist, Yo-Yo Ma, to the Fraser Performance Studio this past October where he performed three live concerts in one 24-hour period to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

Led by Yo-Yo Ma, a United Nations Messenger of Peace, a variety of accomplished artist...

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Sept. 18, 2018

Academy Award-Winning Sound Designer, Mark Mangini, speaking at WGBH

Posted by Tim Mangini

WGBH is proud to host Academy Award winning sound designer Mark Mangini who will present a talk and film screening at WGBH’s 4k Yawkey Theater on September 28th.  At this special event, sponsored by Avid ProTools and Rule Boston Camera, Mark will discuss the process of designing sound for film using scenes from the Oscar nominated Blade Ru...

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July 13, 2018

Color Grading as Tool for Storytelling

Posted by Jim Ferguson

Jim Ferguson took a set of scenes from the recent Frontline "Myanmar's Killing Fields" and graded them four different ways to show how color correction can be used as a storytelling tool.  Check it out. 

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July 5, 2018

Naughton Sisters Record Album at WGBH

Posted by Terry Quinn

The Naughton Sisters came to the Fraser Studio at WGBH to record their next album for Warner Classics. The Naughton twins and Warner were attracted by the fantastic acoustics of Fraser Studio, the great sound of our SSL board, and the presence of two Steinway pianos on premises for their duets.  Most important to them, however, was working...

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July 26, 2017

WGBH Media Makers Tech Roundtable

Posted by Tim Mangini

The July Technology Roundtable at WGBH was held in the Yawkey Theater.  The topic was smaller scale, digital-first production: What tools and platforms are being used? What are the strategies for managing projects and initiatives? What are the pinch points in production? Guest host Annie Shreffler (WGBH Forum Network) led the session. Join...

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June 6, 2016

Jim Ferguson on Color Correction

Posted by Jim Ferguson

Jim Ferguson recently did a presentation explaining how he analyzes images when he color corrects for FRONTLINE and other clients.  He was good enough to narrate it so that we could share it here on our blog.


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Studios

April 28, 2023

Boston Baroque Stages Major Opera in GBH's Calderwood Studio

Posted by Terry Quinn

Boston Baroque premiered their opera "Iphigénie en Tauride" by Christoph Willibald Gluck in the Calderwood Studio at GBH on April 21st. Working with the Production Group Studios team, BB was able to stage a full opera in front of a live audience while simultaneously streaming to a virtual audience through Idagio. The recording is also avai...

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Sept. 1, 2020

GBH participates in #WeMakeEvents

Posted by Phil Reilly

Alongside over 2000 event venues and cultural institutions across the country, the GBH Production Group participated in the national #WeMakeEvents effort on 9/1/2020 by lighting the exterior of our studio facility at One Guest St in red from 9pm to 12am. 

 

COVID-19 shut-downs have impacted GBH’s colleagues in the arts, culture, and live eve...

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Feb. 8, 2020

Quiz Show is in the house with a new set

Posted by Terry Quinn

Congratulations to the High School Quiz Show team for making Season 11 start off brilliantly with a new set!

The Production Group's Lighting Director Phil Reilly and Senior Operations Manager Terry Quinn worked closely with Mystic Scenic Studios and the show producers to execute a fresh new look for HSQS.  From graphic integration, to sophi...

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Dec. 18, 2019

Tia Fuller performs on Basic Black

The WGBH Production Group welcomed Jazz Saxophonist Tia Fuller to our Calderwood Studios to perform several selections from her new album, "Diamond Cut" for a special edition of Basic Black - Berklee Musical.

 Ms.Fuller, who's album was Grammy nominated for "Best Jazz Instrumental Album", was joined by her student ensemble from Berklee Coll...

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Sept. 13, 2019

Escape Lab on Twitch at WGBH

On September 9th ,  2019 WGBH's Emerging Platforms Group working with our Production Group team live-streamed on Twitch an Escape Room competition.  The 12'x 30' escape room set was built by escape room specialists Trapology in WGBH’s Calderwood Studio.  The escape room's theme was a laboratory in orbit over Mars and participants/astronaut...

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July 19, 2019

Awards for WGBH Studios

It’s that time of year, Award Season!  WGBH’s Production Group is proud to announce that some of it’s hard working staff and shows have recently been announced as award winners! 

At the 42nd Annual Boston/New England Emmy Awards, Phil Reilly took home an Emmy for his work on Beat the Press: 20th Anniversary Special as Set and Lighting Des...

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Nov. 26, 2018

WGBH Studios host Boston Celtics' Jason Tatum

Posted by Terry Quinn

The Boston Celtics' Jason Tatum was in the house at WGBH Studios this week.  The small forward was in the starting lineup for the filming of a TV commercial to promote How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World, the upcoming new film from DreamWorks Animation. Taking a break from his workout at The Auerbach Center to appear in the spot, pr...

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Oct. 19, 2018

The Studios at WGBH host Governors Debate

Posted by Terry Quinn

The Studios at WGBH hosted the Gubernatorial Debate between Republican Governor Charlie Baker and the Democratic Challenger Jay Gonzalez held on October 17th in our Calderwood Studio in front of a live audience. Hosting the event required the involvement of Production Group's extensive resources and large knowledgeable staff.  Baker_GonzalezThe set, whi...

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April 26, 2018

The Studios send Ray Kurxweil "Humagram" to Minsk, Russia

Posted by Terry Quinn

The Studios at WGBH hosted Charles River Media Group for a unique project.  CRMG captured futurist and Google Director of Engineering Ray Kurzweil in our Calderwood Studio in Boston and sent his live image and sound as a 3D "Humagram" to the Hi-Tech Nation forum being held in Minsk in Belarus, Russia.  The audience in Minsk experienced Kur...

"Thanks for all of your help with this "Humagram" project.  It worked out great during the production".  

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Dec. 21, 2017

Full House at WGBH Studios

Posted by Terry Quinn

WGBH Studios had a full house on December 2nd.  In our Yawkey Theater we were shooting a live-to-file PBS special featuring Deepak Chopra and Dr. Rudy Tanzi.  The six-camera switched shoot in front of a live studio audience came together in less than 3 weeks.  Simultaneously across the hall in the Fraser Performance Studio we were lensing ...

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Sept. 1, 2017

Production Group helps NOVA reach new Facebook milestone

Posted by Terry Quinn, Posted by Bill Francis

The Studios team at WGBH was instrumental in helping NOVA create the most watched Facebook live in PBS history.  NOVA came to us wanting to do a live Facebook telecast from Idaho during the total eclipse on August 21.  We coordinated the satellite feeds in advance and set up communication between our control room in the WGBH studios, the s...

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March 30, 2017

Drone coverage at Greater Boston

Greater Boston, WGBH's evening news program, produced a recent story about how global warming may affect maple sugar production. The producer wanted aerial coverage so DP  Howard Powell captured the material with our lightweight 3DR Solo drone.  With it's gimbal mounted 4k capable GoPro camera Howard, who is UAS certified, was able to quic...

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Oct. 20, 2016

SMASH at WGBH Studios

Recently WGBH hosted the three day SMASH (Science Media Awards & Summit in the Hub 2016) at our Brighton studios and event space. This partnership with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival brought together industry leaders in science, technology and public media for three full days of panel discussions, keynotes, sessions, workshops...

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Aug. 31, 2016

"The Tenants Downstairs" segment shot in Calderwood Studio

The Tenants Downstairs is a 2016 Taiwanese black comedy-fantasy-mystery-drama film based on Taiwanese writer Giddens Ko's novel of the same name. The symphonic score for the movie was recorded here in the Fraser Performance Studio by Antonio Oliart who worked with Goldstones Studios here in Boston.  The music for the final scene, Adagio Ca...

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Aug. 19, 2016

The Production Group Streaming vs. Traditional Broadcast

Getting content to as many viewers as possible has expanded in recent years from traditional broadcast transmission via satellite and fiber feeds to streaming thru web based services. Our clients frequently use WGBH's Production Group to provide studio production with live or delayed feeds through web streaming.  With a variety of incoming...

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June 14, 2016

Point Taken

Posted by Tim Mangini

Point Taken, a new public-affairs debate series for PBS, finished it's inaugural run of 10 shows in June of 2016.  Produced by Studio Six with the Production Group at WGBH it utilized a wide range of technologies in order to reach the widest possible audience.  Lensed in the Calderwood studio the program was shot before a live studio audie...

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the OutPost

March 27, 2018

John Stimpson Mixes "Ghost Light" at OutPost

Posted by Tim Mangini

Filmaker John Stimpson (The Legend of Lucy Keyes, The Spruce & The Pines) recently put the finishing touches on his latest film "Ghost Light" at the OutPost at WGBH.  Stimpson on working with re-recording mixer Chris Anderson in A-mix: "I think this is the fourth movie we’ve done with Chris now in your facility and it’s been a great ex...

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Jan. 24, 2018

Oscar Nominee Graded at OutPost

Posted by Tim Mangini

Frontline has their first ever Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature and it was graded at the OutPost at WGBH.  You can read more at Frontline's site.

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Oct. 9, 2017

OutPost at WGBH creates custom version of "The Vietnam War" for Ken Burns

Posted by Tim Mangini

Ken Burns and Lynn Novick worked for over ten years on their epic 18-hour series "The Vietnam War".  As they were finishing the domestic masters they decided to create a version for Vietnamese speakers so that they could experience it in their native tongue.  The OutPost at WGBH took on the project and deployed its multi-faceted technology...

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March 15, 2017

Tales of Troubleshooting: An OutPost Blog - Mysterious Blank Screens on QuickTime and Other Programs

QuickTime is a common video player on both Windows and Mac platforms with many applications relying on the QuickTime engine to play and process video files. For instance, Avid Media Composer utilizes the QuickTime 7 engine for both import and export functions.   Installing QuickTime and QuickTime components can solve many problems, but on ...

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Nov. 16, 2016

Anna Kendrick records at WGBH OutPost

Posted by Beth Godlin Lillis

The OutPost at WGBH recently had the pleasure of working with actress Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Into the Woods etc.) recording an ISDN interview in A-Mix with John Jenkins for Fresh Air with Terry Gross.  They spoke about her new memoir coming out this month, Scrappy Little Nobody, her favorite films, how she got started in acting and ...

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Nov. 9, 2016

WGBH Newsroom Conversion

In October 2016, the OutPost at WGBH helped Boston Media Productions and the WGBH Newsroom transition to new post-production systems enabling greater collaboration, access to media, and technical efficiency. Over the course of 12 months, the WGBH team worked with editors, producers, and journalists to analyze their needs and designed an en...

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Oct. 6, 2016

Chris Cooper and Pixar at the OutPost

Recently, the OutPost at WGBH welcomed actor Chris Cooper (The Bourne Identity, Adaptation, The Good Shepherd) to its mix facility.  Mr. Cooper recorded tracks for his character in an upcoming Pixar film with Sound Engineer John Jenkins, CAS.  John worked with Pixar to set up unique 2-way isdn audio, and internet video links that allowed C...

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