The smaller size and lower bitrate of high-resolution 4K, 8K, HDR (high dynamic range) raw footage enables editors, colourists, FX, sound editors, animators, CGI pros and others to move the content smoothly around the globe and minimise their storage needs.
Once the top-down work is done the content, instructions can go back to the cloud for the really compute intensive work to be done such as rendering, transcoding and hopefully safe asset storage and protection.
Yes, it is more complicated and more interesting than that, but it gives you an idea why you need to spend time at IBC and learn more as well as be involved in the professional organizations.
A major concern across the industry is going to be the long-term storage/protection of digital media assets.
Cloud storage may be the cost-effective solution for smaller production facilities and independent creators that can’t or don’t invest in local archive storage.
During a recent honest to gawd face-to-face regarding the conference (we’re both vaccinated), Allan McLennan, CEP of media and head of M&E North America for Atos, emphasized that the industry is interested not just in creating/producing good stuff but monetizing it.
“The distribution part of the M&E industry was forced to change as theaters closed and audiences spent more time at-home,” he said. “Netflix and Amazon Prime raised the stakes on D2C (direct to consumer) entertainment as people shaved or cut their cable service to enjoy what they wanted, when they wanted and on whatever screen they wanted. “It was a strong stimulus during a rough period for studios, networks, content owners to work to offer better content, better selection, through better services at a more economical cost.”
While some service providers got all starry eyed about making big bucks with tons of entertainment, others shifted their attention to what they know best: delivery.
AT&T’s past CEO Stephenson and present boss Stankey learned the hard/expensive way that owning entertainment things like DirecTV and Warner can be brutal when you don’t know the people and how they work together.