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Denver-based post-production house Citizen Pictures has deployed Xcellis workflow storage, powered by Quantum's StorNext platform, to achieve greater efficiency in meeting tight production deadlines. Supplied and integrated by Quantum partner StorExcel, the Xsan-compatible Xcellis system is a highly scalable, easy-to-manage solution that increases the flexibility and productivity possible within Citizen Pictures' collaborative media workflow. Citizen Pictures is an Emmy Award-winning, lifestyle-focused content-creation company that specializes in high profile, talent-driven productions, largely for food-oriented networks and digital platforms. With a team of about 25 people, it creates programs such as Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Smoked and Guy & Hunter's European Vacation. Until it deployed the Quantum Xcellis storage solution, Citizen Pictures had relied on an aging Xserve infrastructure with limitations that the company recognized would eventually prevent it from maintaining the capacity and performance necessary to meet production deadlines.

On February 27th, supervising sound editor and sound designer Richard King will receive the Motion Picture Sound Editors’ 2016 Career Achievement Award. A three-time Academy Award winner (Inception, The Dark Knight and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World), King will join such previous sound professionals as Skip Lievsay, Randy Thom, Larry Singer, Walter Murch and George Watters II as a recipient of the MPSE’s highest honor.

CJ 4DPlex said today that the company has installed more than 30,000 seats as of this month. The company claims that it is well ahead of any other 4D movie theater brand in the world with nearly three times the number of seats than the closest 4D-cinema competitor. In addition, the company said, 4DX theaters have the capacity to accommodate almost 55 million moviegoers per year, currently reaching 228 auditoriums in 37 counties.

Hollywood Professional Association president Leon Silverman has stepped down as president of the organization that he helped found to make room for the next generation of leadership and a newly expanded board of directors. In his traditional remarks made during the opening session of the 2016 HPA Tech Retreat, Silverman also announced that the HPA Board has elected Seth Hallen to succeed him. Hallen, senior vice president of Global Creative Services at Sony DADC New Media Solutions, has been an HPA board member since 2007, working closely with Silverman and the board on a number of key initiatives and management of the organization. Silverman will continue to serve on the board of directors in the newly created role of Past President.