Perfect post is a moving target. That's why top postproduction e houses servicing the feature-film industry are constantly snagging top talent, testing new technologies and adding cutting-edge gear--they have to stay not only current but also half a step ahead of the competition. One new bend that is affecting post houses of all sizes over the past year is the increased use of the digital intermediate as an alternative to a photochemical finish for a feature film. Post houses have been busily gearing up with new DI equipment and top-drawer DI colorists to make the grade. Facilities also are evolving into centralized online storage, which enables the efficiency of multitasking, as the editor, the visual-effects artist and the mixer can access the same footage at the same time. And everyone has an eye on the future of d-cinema and how that will impact what the post house delivers to its theatrical clients.

The following list is not intended to be comprehensive but rather a selection of facilities targeting specific markets with the tools for today's digital requirements.

AUDIO

ASCENT MEDIA CREATIVE SOUND SERVICES

7080 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1100 Hollywood, CA 90028

Phone: (323) 603-3200

Web site: www.ascentmedia.com

E-mail: gbaxter@ascentmedia.com

Business Contact: Gregg Baxter

What's New: A top hire was that of veteran sound supervisor Baxter as senior vp business development.

Recent Credits: "Jarhead,'" Memoirs of a Geisha," "The Producers"

BLUWAVE AUDIO

100 Universal City Plaza, Bldg. 1220/LL Universal City, CA 91608

Phone: (818) 777-3171

Web site: www.universalstudios.com/studio

E-mail: john.switzer@danetracks.com

Business Contact: Richard LeGrand

What's New: Nothing--and everything: The facility opens its doors this month with a new mix stage and machine room.

Recent Credits: "Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection," "To Kill a Mockingbird (The Legacy Collection)" and "The Sting (The Legacy Collection)"

DANETRACKS INC.

7356 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046

Phone: (323) 512-8160

Web site: www.danetracks.com

E-mail: john.swilzer@danetracks.com

Business Contact: John Switzer

What's New: The firm now offers speed with Digi Delivery and for gamesters, Game Sound Implementation

Recent Credits: "Aeon Flux," "Ghost Rider," "Lord of War," "The Marine"

L.A. STUDIOS

3453 Cahuenga Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90068

Phone: (323) 851-6351

Web site: www.lastudios.com

E-mail: janec@lastudios.com

Business Contact: Jane Curry

What's New: "Everything is status qua," Curry says.

Recent Credits: "Madagascar," "Shark Tale," "SpongeBob SquarePants"

MODERN MUSIC

7080 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 600 Hollywood, CA 90028

Phone: (323) 603-5151

Web site: www.ascentmedia.com

E-mail: Ikotkin@modernmx.com

Business Contact: Leigh Kotkin

What's New: Everything remains status qua.

Recent Credits: "Casanova," "Elizabethtown," "Rent"

NT AUDIO

1833 Centinela Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90404

Phone: (310) 828-1098

Web site: www, ntaudio.com

E-mail: edel@ntaudio.com

Business Contact: Edel Adam

What's New: NT has developed a cutting-edge laser camera for optical soundtrack transfers and develops its sound negatives in-house to guarantee high quality. The QC screening room allows four people to approve a quad-format soundtrack in one screening. NT also does quality-control DTS subtitling and offers 3-perf projection capability.

Recent Credits: "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Mr, & Mrs. Smith," "Star Wars: Episode III -Revenge of the Sith"

PACIFIC SOUNDWAVES--SANTA MONICA

3130 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 150 Santa...