Light Illusion Selects SGO's Mistika's For Annapurna Studios

SGO has announced that specialist digital film consultancy, Light Illusion has installed India's first ever Mistika 4K DI & finishing system with an 83TB SAN at a newly launched digital film facility within Hyderabad-based Annapurna Studios.
The investment in Mistika, which follows after an increasing interest in digital cinematography, stereo 3D and a growing demand for quality-driven digital intermediate (DI) workflow in the Southern Indian film industry, enables Annapurna Studios to service high-end mainstream digital film projects, both at home and abroad. With Mistika's real-time 4K, stereo 3D, and DI capabilities, the world-class operation can now provide film services that are technically and creatively unrivalled in India and comparable with the highest international standards.
Geoff Mills, Director of SGO Global Sales & Operations, stated: "I am delighted that Annapurna Studios has chosen a SGO Mistika 4K system to be at the heart of their new DI operation in Hyderabad. SGO, together, with our partner, Light Illusion, are fully committed to providing the best possible creative film and television systems, and view India as a major international market. This exciting new 4K installation shows the seriousness with which Annapurna is approaching Digital Film and Digital Cinematography, and we are delighted to be partnering with them, in bringing the best possible creative tools to market."
Annapurna Studios is currently evolving into a global centre of excellence for new feature film work, for which it provides its new Mistika DI facility, equipped with native file support for film scanned images as well as the growing range of digital cinematography cameras, including RAW image formats that include ARRI, RED, SI-2K, Phantom amongst many others. The Mistika DI grading suite is furnished to a high standard with impressive high-end digital cinema projection and a 4-metre screen, displaying guaranteed colour calibrated imagery, including stereoscopic 3D capability and high-fidelity surround-sound reproduction.
Annapurna Studio's DI division consists of a highly dedicated team of reputable colourists, artists and support staff who carry a wealth of knowledge and experience, gained from working around the world in many different DI operations, as well as having on-set and DoP experience. The team has been hand-picked to provide the best creative and technical support for all productions, from film or digital cinematography through to television commercials, short and long-form formats and high-end corporate projects. The group also offers other services such as its Film Studios and state-of-the-art film scanning.
Light Illusion, SGO's partner and industry-leading DI consultancy, supplies direct support and services to Annapurna's new DI operation. Light Illusion has overseen all aspects of the build-up, from specifying all the technical requirements of the equipment, through to the provision of technical and creative training for the Annapurna team. Light Illusion will continue to maintain its close relationship with Annapurna, ensuring the best on-going services are delivered in order to cater for the company's DI clients.
Defined as one of the most powerful 2D and 3D post production tools in the industry for commercials, feature films and broadcast, Mistika will play a major role in supporting Annapurna's existing current project workflow and attracting new business to the company. As well as an advanced stereo 3D tool, Annapurna Studio's new Mistika, will also operate as a complete post production system, made up of highly developed DI tools which include editing, conforming, image restoration, compositing, colour grading, multi mastering and DCP for both 3D and 2D in any resolution from SD, HD, 2K and 4K.
Y. Supriya, Director of Annapurna Studios, confirmed: "After exhaustive research on almost every Digital Intermediate system in the market we found the Mistika DI system to be the most versatile system in terms of speed, performance, capability and constant development, which meets the ever increasing demands of film-making, pushing the boundaries to entertain audiences the world over. SGO has been very impressive as a company maintaining a very high level of professionalism and a great customer relationship right from sales to support."
(KMcA)