Prepress
HP Taps DigitalFilm Tree to Demonstrate Business Benefits of Media Workflow Solution
Thursday 10. September 2009 - HP today announced DigitalFilm Tree Inc. will conduct real-world commercial tests of an HP solution that can help entertainment business customers increase efficiency, streamline workflows and realize the full value of their digital assets.
Hollywood-based DigitalFilm Tree handles production and post-production for a variety of films and TV shows, including “Where The Wild Things Are,” “Scrubs,” “Cougar Town” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.”
The company will deploy HP Media Workflow Master to automate key tasks in the post-production workflow, namely content management and archiving. Workflow is the complex process of transforming a customers video asset into multiple, repurposed content that is ready for any network, format and user device. The HP workflow engine enables creative teams to work more efficiently as they prepare digital entertainment productions for reuse and distribution into the market.
DigitalFilm Trees own rapid growth created an inefficient patchwork of digital media applications that ran on multiple platforms. With no centralized resources and a cumbersome “siloed” structure, production workflow became increasingly costly and time consuming. The company has used HP Media Storage to create a central repository that stores, manages and retrieves large video files in real time. HP Media Workflow Master provides the key workflow management capabilities needed for a more integrated architecture.
“DigitalFilm Tree expects to increase productivity by 20 to 40 percent with the HP solutions,” said Ramy Katrib, chief executive officer, DigitalFilm Tree. “We intend to enhance our flexible, digital architecture to further enable us to reduce operating expenses, work more creatively and, ultimately, serve our customers better.”
A video interview in which Katrib discusses the use of digital media tools is available at HP Videos.
“Digital media is opening up a myriad opportunities for content owners to maximize the value of their assets,” said Mukul Krishna, global director, Frost and Sullivan. “To exploit the opportunities, they need the flexibility that comes with standards-based technologies and IT workflows. HP, with expertise in IT and entertainment, is an attractive partner. Customers can use HP solutions that are proven in IT – and adapted specifically for media companies.”
HP Media Workflow Master
HP Media Workflow Master is a standards-based solution that automates key processes in the digital media workflow. Its modular, service-oriented architecture is designed to accelerate workflow, shorten project cycles and, ultimately, help companies earn revenue from their digital assets sooner.
The solution enables real-time mapping of multiple data structures, which facilitates automated sharing of digital files across creative teams or groups within a company. It also helps creative teams repurpose digital content for different uses such as advertising, video on demand and retailing of downloadable protected content.
HP Media Workflow Master also provides a workflow management layer that schedules, monitors and tracks all operations while they are running. The solution includes tools that securely administer and monitor the systems, services and users.
“DigitalFilm Tree can expect to confidently grow its business with HP Media Workflow Master, knowing it has a cost-effective, scalable framework,” said Lionel Lapras, director, Communications and Media Solutions, HP. “In the entertainment business, the name of the game is speeding the process of monetizing digital assets. That is the bottom line advantage of HP Media Workflow Master.”
HP Media Storage
The HP Media Storage solution, which includes Quantum StorNext software, provides a dramatic improvement over conventional storage systems. Delivering rapid access to large video files, it can support efficient editing, collaboration and workflow for multiple teams that are repurposing content for different markets. It also accelerates workflow by providing a “virtual disk” view across all the different tiers of storage.