There has long been a history of Engineers talking to each other, even in the early days with only the ITV and BBC broadcasting, the engineers communicated with each other, after all they knew each other, they probably trained together!  The world of Facilities is no different, the Facility owners who were the original founders of the I2A and before that the ITS had a healthy suspicion of their commercial rivals. Their engineering colleagues however, were all meeting similar problems and met up often over a pint of Bass to discuss the latest fault to a Sony VTR or an Avid  - just for a short while you understand before the conversation turned to more normal topics - sex and football - after all we’re not anoraks!

“ChEFF” is a formalised version of the London Facilities Chief Engineers group who meet once a month to discuss common problems, to moan about equipment manufacturers, and clients especially the Broadcasters! The organisation, not just a group of post production companies the members covers the complete range from Studios through to duplication, has been one of the few continuing successes of Facilities co-operation. The first Facilities Engineers meetings were in 1993 and have continued ever since.  We maintain contact by an e-mail list and are affiliated to both the ITS, the US Facilities organisation and FEITIS the organisation of European Facilities.  The EBU were anxious to establish a link with the world of Facilities and we now have a representative on one of the EBU committees. 

What are the advantages of such an organisation?  Many Facility companies are small compared to a manufacturer or a Broadcaster; by meeting together we can present a common voice.

– Many Facilities were having their clients tapes rejected by the Broadcasters for Gamut errors. We held a seminar, inviting Broadcasters, Manufacturers, and the Facilities companies to discuss a more reasonable gamut specification.  As a result of the meeting the tolerances were relaxed, a simple and cheap error monitor was made (by one of the members of the group), and we even managed to get the EBU to adopt this relaxed spec as an EBU operational recommendation! 

- A small individual company faced with an equipment problem was often told by the manufacturer that “You are the only person to have complained about this!” (- sounds familiar?). By meeting together we find that many facilities have the same problem and have all been told “ you are the only ---etc“ and we can use our combined might to persuade the manufacturer to correct the problem.

The original engineers group started by trying to write a standards document to establish common standards and operational practices for the Facility companies following the collapse of the old IBA code of practice scheme. By becoming a member of the ITS, as it was then, the company would agree to work to these standards. ChEFF is intending to follow this practice, an independent producer working with a Facility belonging to ChEFF would know that there was a commitment to high quality and for enhanced best practice working.  We feel that this commitment should be valued and recognised by producers and their commissioners.

Initially we intend to work towards a reduction in the vast range of Broadcasters delivery requirements by meeting with their representatives to try to achieve a harmonisation of these delivery standards. We also intend to discuss with the Broadcasters the PSE specifications covering flashing images.

Facilities interested in finding out more or in joining the group should contact Chris Hillier at Hillside on 0208 950 7919.