Autodesk Solutions Spice Up 2006-2007 Television

From sizzling dramas to science fiction adventures, Autodesk Media & Entertainment solutions are shaping more than 40 new and returning television shows.
Numerous post-production facilities are relying on Autodesk visual effects, editing and finishing, and 3D animation, modelling and rendering software to create captivating, future-proofed television content.
Post-production facility RIOT works with the Autodesk Smoke and Autodesk Fire editing and finishing systems on a variety of primetime hit shows including 'Deadwood', 'The Sopranos', 'Cold Case', 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', 'Close to Home', 'John From Cincinnati' and 'Big Love'. The facility has relied on the systems since it started doing HD production more than six years ago.
At that time, Autodesk Fire was the only real-time, uncompressed HD solution available, said Robb Cadzow, chief engineer at RIOT. Today Smoke and Fire are still leaps and bounds ahead of other finishing products available. From real-time 4:4:4 and distributed rendering to SAN playback and integration with VFX systems, Fire and Smoke offer facility integration like no other product on the market today.
Vancouver-based Rainmaker uses Autodesk Inferno and Autodesk Flame visual effects systems, as well as Autodesk Maya 3D animation, modelling and rendering software for MGM's science fiction series, Stargate SGI and Stargate: Atlantis. The post house also uses the tools to shape Showtime's drama series, 'The L Word'.
For 'Stargate SG-1' and 'Stargate: Atlantis', Rainmaker works on everything from the enhancement of principal photography to the creation of entirely digital shots. Rainmaker's work on 'The L Word' is more subtle, with visual effects being used to enhance scenes through colour correction and image processing.
"Autodesk Flame and Inferno have been the mainstays of our compositing efforts on both television series since day one," said Bruce Woloshyn, visual effects supervisor at Rainmaker. "At every level of the compositing process, these products allow us to have complete control over the images. This has been paramount to our success on Stargate for many years. From real-time input/output at both standard- and high-definition, to superior tracking and keying toolsets, these products allow us to produce the highest-quality imagery on a tight schedule."
Many other visual effects facilities are working with Autodesk solutions to create content for the 2006-2007 TV season: MFX uses Flame and Maya on Grey's Anatomy, Dexter, Two and a Half Men, Notes from the Underbelly, How I Met Your Mother and According to Jim; Encore Hollywood relies on Inferno, Flame, and 3ds Max to shape Big Love, Rome, CSI: NY, Boston Legal, Monk, Entourage, The Unit, Nip/Tuck, The Closer, My Name is Earl, Deadwood, NCIS, The Loop and House; Buzz Image Group uses Flame HD to create The Flood and Killer Wave; Modern Video Film uses Inferno for visual effects and clean up work on The O.C. Desperate Housewives, Stand Off, Jericho, Shark, Smallville, Vanished, Dirt and Perfect Day; Look Effects uses Flame, Flint and Maya to shape Criminal Minds and Bones.
(SP)