A look at Warner Bros. Next Generation Production Workflows Report kicked off the Workflows Supersession at the 2011 HPA Tech Retreat, Tuesday in Palm Springs.
The project team tested 20 workflows, working with roughly 30 vendors. Among the technologies were a variety of cameras including Alexa, Red and DSLR; ACES; and CineSlate, a new type of slate developed by Sony.
Each workflow had a data repository, transcoding, DAM, and color management.
Goals included delivery of editorial media, digital dailies, DVD dailies and archived backups.
Categories of study included:
–Customer integrated systems
–Plug and play systems
–Next generation (including 3D and cloud computing)
Discussing the findings were Sean Cooney, VP, advanced production technology at Warners; Jonathan Smiles, digital production supervisor; Marco Bario of Creative Science, production and post consultant; and Nathan Gunn, editor.
Gunn: “Our plan on the editorial side was to take production and workflow all the way to finishing. It was the same workflow we would do in a cutting room on a production, including prepping for finishing. This included making sure there was a uniformity for deliverables.”
Cooney: “(Post facilities) are starting to behave as a necessary data hub. But you need to push data to remote locations. Right now we are constrained by bandwidth, as that loosens we’ll need a near-set presence (and a facility presence).”
Bario: “There are tools and talent. The facilities today have talent. The centre for knowledge isn’t to be underestimated.”
Cooney on ACES: “Our experience was positive working with ACES. We were able to communicate the creative intent. It works; the question is will people adopt it.”
Smiles on metadata generated from 3D rigs: “Accuracy is beyond what you ever required in the 2D world.”
Sean: “With DAM, you need automation. Very few systems are out of the box. That is one of the challenges for a producer. You really have to plan earlier. You have to have these discussions almost at the point where you get the green light.”
Gunn agreed: “You need to bring all the players in early, to build the optimum workflow and define the roles.”
Asked will there be standardized workflows, Smiles suggested: “I could see two or three workflows per camera system. Beyond that, it becomes tweaking.”
Gunn: “The cutting room becomes a centralized hub where all the information comes in and gets disseminated to the various departments. I think there is a need to bring the editorial process in even earlier.”
Cooney concluded: “I came away with a sense of optimism. There are a lot of toolsets that have been developed over the past two years, and now a lot of facilities and companies have made great strides. It looks like the next phase is going to be integration. I think the integration is going to give us some efficiencies.”
