Markee Magazine, June 2003

Chicago HD: Off and Running

Chicago HD Corp., part of the national HD Suite™ network, has been offering High Definition and standard definition video post services since its launch in May 2002.

Steve Panning, who is partnered with Gary Chang in the company, says just a few years ago he "wouldn't have believed it possible to do HD editing on my computer." His HD platform of choice, Final Cut Pro, gives him the opportunity to "stay flexible financially, roll with tougher [economic] times" and have customers quickly "off and running in HD on a platform they already know."

Panning is a creative editor experienced in conforming HD programs. He also makes his HD suite available to producers and editors who want to do their own cutting.

Chicago HD Corp. has enjoyed considerable business from independent filmmakers. "We continue to get larger films and documentaries," Panning reports. Director Ron Lazzeretti conformed two of his HD features on the fire at Chicago's I-Cubed; Panning conformed the third, Last Day, on Final Cut Pro. "All were filmed out to 35mm and projected on a 70mm screen," Panning says. "I was thrilled to see that FCP looked great and held up with fire."

Panning has also posted HD for corporate videos displayed at meetings and conventions and done standard definition finishing for spots originating in HD. Clients include MacGregor Golf and Abbott Labs.