This might get a little confusing, but Photomag was actually bought by Post Works several years back. It is now an imprint of Post Works, their midtown division (Post Work's main place is in south Soho), yet it still has a general website and keeps the name depending on what listing you're looking at.
Anywho, I actually never used this place pre-Post Works takeover, but I can tell you under the new ownership, its a really nice place to get all of your video post services done, and the student rate for developing was very reasonable.
This place is for post production on video, whether it be transfers, developing and processing, and I think they have editing suites available as well.
Let's start with the basics, when you walk in there is a lovely and gorgeous receptionist to greet you, and small offices are occupied by professional looking staff. And they are professional and incredibly helpful (this is the one thing that separates post houses from production houses, the people actually are decent human beings). They set up a time for us to do a telecine transfer, and while I was waiting I took a look around. There are a few huge transfer rooms, as well as a stocked kitchen with snacks and goodies, a lounge, a pool table, plasmas, leather couches, etc. It's typical so that directors and clients can feel at home. It's a very posh space.
Developing is on a different floor, the 17th if I remember, and the staff there is just as helpful, if a bit more hurried. Slow them down, and they'll oblige; they are very fast and as I stated earlier, the rates were good, I ended up paying a suspiciously modest amount for a Super 16 development, and I pushed it 2 stops (which I don't think cost more anyway).
Coming back down to finalize plans, you are greeted again by the lovely and gorgeous receptionist, one time her name was Rachel, the next I couldn't remember, but anywho.....
When I did the supervised transfer, we had Scott 1 (there was another Scott), who was our go to guy to help us through. He was pretty quick, and they gave us a deal in that they discounted/pro-rated our session because he had to take a bit longer putting it to tape. The room wasn't immaculately equipped (my dp, the dork he is, said that we could have had some sort of software gagdetry something or other that was just wicked cool), but it had just about everything else you could ask for, and Scott was quick and could do more than we asked for.
This happened twice, once with principal footage, second with reshoots. Both very good.
Photomag/Post Works just has a very professional attitude about their work, and it shows and I would definitely recommend it. read more
