Mistika Post Produce Wildebeest 3D

BTV Post has used SGO's Mistika for post production of landmark documentary Wildebeest 3D, produced by Electric Sky Productions for Animal Planet, 3Net and Sky 3D.
Produced and Directed by Julian Thomas, the version for Sky 3D was narrated by Richard E Grant. Combining creative talent with state-of-the-art technological expertise and complex workflows, the project was delivered by BTV Post to the exacting standards required by Sky, 3Net and Animal Planet.
Leading the way in HD and Stereo 3D with two Mistika suites at the helm, cutting edge post production house, BTV Post completed the grading, online and Stereo 3D using Mistika at their facilities based in London and Brighton. BTV Post was one of the first companies in the UK to offer high definition services; and ten years later the company is now at the forefront of stereoscopic 3D content creation and digital media with Mistika at the centre of their pipeline.
Stereo 3D filming of Wildebeest 3D presented tremendous challenges logistically in a moving herd in unforgiving African terrain. Hidden remote-controlled cameras placed within the herd, recorded activities throughout the migration - from births, the calves first steps, through to dangerous encounters. Submerged pole-cameras, with wire and tree rigs recorded crocodile infested river crossings. Helicopter-mounts, para-gliders and hot air balloons enabled camera crew to keep a discreet distance and provided the production team with an invaluable bird's-eye-view of the minute-by-minute action.
Photo-realistic 3D and CGI, combined with the latest Satellite-imagery helped to to reveal the route of the wildebeest’s migration and how seasonal rains kick-start the mammoth movement of wildlife across the landscape. 3D time-lapse and macro-cinematography was also used to trace the rain's arrival and the techniques helped to visually convey how grass seeds actually grow and transform into tender leaves. The wider picture illustrates how these small, micro transformations affect the landscape and as a consequence, draw the herds in their millions as a result.
Online Stereographer and Mistika Grading and VFX Artist, Ross Copeland was responsible for the stunning Stereo 3D effects at BTV Post, which included grading photo-realistic 3D imagery combining CGI and live integration; 3D Time-lapse and Macro-cinematography.
Ross Copeland explained: "Needless to say, the nature of the subject matter and inventive shooting methods meant that it was not always possible to achieve precise stereoscopic geometry alignment in camera, and this is where Mistika excels with its very robust toolset that allowed me to achieve perfect 3D alignment and colour matching in post production, within the very tight deadlines broadcast projects have to adhere to."
Ross added: "Once the technical alignment pass was complete, I could then continue to use Mistika's colour grading and compositing environment to provide a high quality finish to the final programmes."
The film takes viewers on an epic journey of one of the planet's most incredible natural history events that takes place every year across Tanzania's Serengeti Plains covering 2000 miles. Phenomenal footage portraying close-up action at the centre of a migrating herd of over 2 million Wildebeest, is captured for the first time in Stereo 3D, featuring scenes of Thomson's Gazelles, Burchell's Zebras, Lions, Cheetah, Leopards, Hyenas, Vultures and Pythons. The stunning documentary film aired on Animal Planet, 3Net, Sky 1 and is still airing on Sky 3D channels.
www.electricsky.com/catalogue_detail.aspx?program=3133