Production Consulting for Studios and Creators in Los Angeles
We set up the networks, shared storage, backups and remote access that video teams depend on, and we help studios prepare for TPN assessments. Solo creators, agencies and post houses use the same building blocks at different sizes.
Quick answer
Clouds Agency is a creative agency in Los Angeles. Studio networking, NAS storage, backup, remote collaboration and TPN certification consulting for film, TV and video production companies in Los Angeles.
TPN
TPN certification for facilities that handle studio content.
The Trusted Partner Network (TPN) is a content security program wholly owned by the Motion Picture Association (MPA). Studios and streamers often ask vendors for a TPN status before sending unreleased material, and the requirement varies by client.
We help with the whole path: a gap assessment against the MPA content security best practices, fixes to the network, written policies and coordination with the third-party assessor.
From gap to Shield
Security Gap Assessment
Compare your current setup to the MPA best practices and list what has to change.
Infrastructure Remediation
Network segmentation, firewall configuration (we use Fortinet), access controls and endpoint hardening.
Policy Documentation
Written policies, procedures and an incident response plan for the assessor to review.
Third-Party Assessment
We deal with the TPN-accredited assessor and prepare your team for their questions.
Shield Status
Once assessed, your facility's Shield is listed on the TPN+ platform. Which Shield a client expects is the client's decision.
Who gets asked for TPN
- Film & TV Post-Production
- VFX & Animation Studios
- Sound & Music Facilities
- Print & Graphic Design Houses
- AV Production Companies
- Digital Distribution & Localization
Creators
For YouTubers and independent studios.
A small channel hits the same technical walls as a large studio: footage on loose drives, editors waiting on file copies, no backup. The fixes are the same ones at a smaller scale.
Collaborative Editing
A shared NAS lets your editor, colorist and motion designer work from the same storage, so nobody copies drives around.
Proxy Workflows
Editors cut 4K or 6K footage on ordinary machines using proxy files, then conform to the originals at the end.
Automated Backup
A 3-2-1 plan: local RAID, a second NAS and a cloud archive, so one failed drive does not cost you footage.
Remote Access & VPN
Editors reach the studio NAS from home over a VPN, without the size limits of a consumer sync service.
Room to Grow
Start with a solo setup and add storage and network capacity as the team grows, without rebuilding.
What we do
The technical side of a video production business.
Network Security for Production
Firewall configuration, VLAN segmentation, secure file transfer (SFTP, FTPS) and access control, so client files stay under your control.
NAS Storage Setup
Shared network storage is the center of a post workflow. We recommend a system (Synology, QNAP, OWC), configure it and set up RAID for redundancy and speed.
Post-Production Workflow Consulting
Slow renders, mismatched proxies and lost project files usually trace back to the pipeline. We review how you edit now and rework media management, proxies, backup and archive.
Remote Collaboration Setup
Frame.io, LucidLink and VPN access configured so a team can work on large media files from different places.
Home Studio to Pro Setup
Moving from a home setup to a proper facility: networking, storage, monitoring and power protection.
Agency Infrastructure Audit
A review of network layout, storage redundancy, backup verification and software licensing, ending in a ranked list of fixes. We can help carry them out.
Who it's for
Three typical clients.
Home Studio Creator
You shoot, edit and deliver alone. External drives are piling up, uploads crawl and there is no backup.
- NAS storage to replace external drives
- Automated cloud backup
- A fast local network for editing large files
- UPS power protection
Small Production Agency
Three to fifteen people share files on client projects. Versions get confusing, remote editing is slow and clients ask about data security.
- Shared NAS with user permissions
- VLAN to keep client projects isolated
- Proxy workflow for remote editors
- Frame.io or LucidLink integration
Growing Business
Video is part of your marketing now and the office network has not kept up. You need production-ready basics without a full enterprise IT department.
- Business-grade networking
- Secure media storage
- Remote team access
- A plan for adding capacity
Tools and hardware we work with
- Fortinet
- Synology
- QNAP
- OWC
- Blackmagic Design
- Frame.io
- Lucidlink
Questions people ask
What is TPN certification?
TPN (Trusted Partner Network) is a content security program wholly owned by the MPA that provides a common content security framework for studios and their vendors. TPN says its Shields are not an approval, a certification or a pass or fail, and each content owner decides what it requires. A Shield reflects where you stand against the MPA content security best practices.
How long does TPN certification take?
It depends on your starting point. We begin with a gap assessment, then deliver a remediation roadmap, and the timeline follows from what the roadmap contains. Assessor scheduling adds to it, so we give you an estimate once the gaps are known.
Who gets asked for TPN?
Facilities that handle pre-release content for studios or streamers: post houses, VFX studios, editorial suites, sound facilities, storage and delivery vendors, and agencies that receive screeners or unfinished assets. Requirements vary by client.
What are the TPN Shields?
TPN has four: Blue (self-assessed), Silver (assessed by a TPN-accredited assessor, with a remediation plan submitted), Gold (all Best Practice gaps closed and reviewed by TPN) and Gold Star (Additional Recommendations closed too). Blue is valid for one year and the others for two years from report publication.
What does TPN certification cost?
Cost varies. TPN publishes its membership fees on its membership page, and they do not include the assessment. Assessor fees are set by the assessor, so ask for quotes, and the cost of fixes depends on your facility. We scope our own work after the gap assessment, so you can see what is involved before committing.
Problems we fix
- The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy Every Post-Production Team NeedsDrive failures, ransomware, and accidental deletion destroy projects every day. The 3-2-1 backup rule is the industry standard for protecting your work. Here's how to implement it.Read the guide
- Network Security Essentials for Video Production StudiosCreative studios handle valuable pre-release content, client data, and proprietary materials. These network security fundamentals protect your studio and your client relationships.Read the guide
- Cybersecurity for Post-Production Studios: What You're Probably MissingA security audit checklist and practical guide for post-production studios that handle client footage, unreleased content, and confidential editorial assets.Read the guide
- How Remote Editing Teams Stay in SyncRemote post-production is now the norm, not the exception. The right combination of tools and infrastructure keeps distributed teams productive without compromising security.Read the guide
- Archiving a Finished Film: LTO, Cloud, DrivesHow to archive a finished film: what to keep, how many copies, and how LTO tape, cloud storage and hard drives compare for storing masters and originals.Read the guide
- Camera Card Offload Checklist With ChecksumsA step by step camera card offload checklist: when to format, how checksum verification works, ASC MHL, backup copies and a file naming convention for the day.Read the guide
Explore specific services.
QNAP, Synology, EditShare and TrueNAS shared storage for editorial teams.
10GbE switching, VLANs, structured cabling, and secure WiFi.
Security assessment, MPA best-practice review and help preparing for TPN.
Teradici, Parsec, VPN and proxy workflows for distributed teams.
A 3-2-1 backup plan: local copy, cloud archive and LTO tape.
A review of your network, security and hardware, with a ranked fix list.
Workstations, reference monitors and shared projects for a Resolve color suite.
Choose, set up and populate a DAM so your team can find its footage.
Offload, checksums, LUTs and dailies, set up before the shoot.
Shared storage, networking and workstations for a cutting room.
Plan the technology before the walls go up.
Render farms, storage, shot tracking and workstations for VFX teams.