Information Technology and the Movie Making Process

Movies capture the imagination of the creative and project them to the masses with seamingly relative ease. Nothing could be further from the truth. It takes hundreds and sometimes thousands of people to make most movies. Simply sit through the credits next time you go to the cinema or watch a movie at home.

Up until the turn of the 21st century, the moviemaking process relied on mechanisms designed specifically for this purpose. Relying on the analog system of capturing light on film or videotape, filmmaking (as it was called then) was limited, despite decades of adjustments to tactics and content. With digital systems now integrated into every aspect of life, the movie making process has been altered forever.

The editing table was first to go. Late in the 20th century, software developers were creating all types of new applications for the visual arts. As processing power and storage began to become more powerful, albeit very costly at the time, editors looked to the enhanced capabilities that digital post production can present editors, directors, and producers. Nowadays, much of the process is not only digitized, but being stored on virtual storage, and uses virtual processing to complete the tasks that just 20 short years ago would be done by one man with what amounts to a sophisticated pair of scissors.

With the advent and utilization of all these new digital systems, management of the hardware, software, and networks is essential to the success of the project. After all, consider how much computing power it takes to make a digital feature-length motion picture. Each step of the moviemaking process leans on computing power.

Pre-production
Today’s film pre-production starts with an idea. That idea is generally manifested by a writer or team of writers that work diligently to create a script that captures the imagination. While this doesn’t necessarily require a computer, every part of the pre-production after that requires a collaborative interface in which to plan, schedule, and disseminate all the information that’s required to ensure that the production doesn’t fall behind schedule.

Productions have started moving their operations to the cloud in order to take advantage of the superior mobility and collaborative computing interfaces. This allows for scalable and efficient communication between people that need to stay connected to maximize the budget, and make the most out of the effort put forth by the dozens of teams required in the pre-production of a motion picture.

Production
Once the production of a feature motion pictures starts, it is extremely important that the schedule that was created in pre-production is followed stringently. This is because the cost that is associated with talent is one of the biggest expenditures of every production, and because much of the talent is under contract for a predetermined amount of time.

Every feature film production requires immense computing power and the reliability to assure producers that they will not be dealing with downtime from this infrastructure. The film capture itself is many times completed digitally, creating a scenario where storage, computing power, and file sharing is needed in order for the production to be a success. Reliable IT support, as well as dynamic virtual IT infrastructures, are just two elements that modern film productions use to produce the entertainment that we all enjoy.

Post Production
In post production, everything is done digitally. Where a filmmaker 20 years ago relied on analog systems to produce the sequence events he or she wanted audiences to see, these days everything is done with computers. From color correction, to editing, to the digital effects that audiences have begun to expect from modern productions. An average production will need over six terabytes of storage just to keep high definition video captured along with any subsequent edits. With this amount of data being used, it’s a good bet that having a backup system in place just to ensure redundancy is a priority of any worthwhile production.

Computers are essential to most businesses these days. Major film productions that cost upwards of $100,000,000 are no different. Moviemaking is one of the most elaborate collaborative endeavors that people can undertake, and information technology is right in the center of the process. Chances are that your business has used IT to improve the way you do business. If you are looking for dynamic virtual environments, storage, or simply to avoid costly downtime, call Computerware today at (703) 821-8200. We can present you with options to improve your business processes and boost your company’s profitability.