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Post Production Team Supporting Distributed Artists
Company Situation
The company operates in the post production and visual effects (VFX) industry, supporting a distributed team of artists and supervisors working across multiple global locations. Their team includes compositors, CG artists, background artists, and supervisors who collaborate on complex projects that require seamless asset sharing and management. The company’s infrastructure spans cloud-based workstations and on-site setups, necessitating a flexible storage solution that adapts to various work environments, including on-set reviews with directors.
Existing Workflow
Currently, the company uses a combination of cloud services and remote access tools to manage their storage and workflow. Their primary infrastructure is built on AWS, utilizing FSx for mounted storage and S3 for backup, as mandated by their companies. For geographically distributed teams, they have been relying on a competitor solution—LucidLink—for mountable remote storage access that allows artists in different regions to work on shared assets. Their asset and project management is handled through a custom pipeline built on Autodesk Flow (formerly Shotgun), which tracks all assets, shots, and task assignments throughout the VFX production process.
Issues with the Existing Workflow
The company faces significant challenges with their current setup, primarily related to cost and complexity. While LucidLink provided satisfactory performance and a unified mountable storage system across dispersed teams, pricing increases from the vendor have made the solution unsustainable. Maintaining multiple mirrors of S3 and FSx across regions also adds overhead and complexity. Additionally, the company needs a storage solution that can easily function on the director’s set with minimal latency and no dependency on proximity to specific AWS data centers. The fragmentation of tools and the need to support varied hardware—from powerful desktops to laptops on set—creates additional logistical hurdles.
How Shade Would Change Their Workflow
Shade offers a scalable, cost-effective storage solution designed to unify remote access and on-site performance without compromising speed or reliability. By replacing costly competitors with Shade, the company can maintain a single mountable storage system accessible globally, optimized for high-performance workflows typical in VFX production. Shade’s platform would integrate seamlessly with their existing AWS infrastructure and Autodesk Flow pipeline, reducing the need for multiple mirrors and complex backups. Furthermore, Shade’s solution would empower supervisors and directors to access and showcase assets directly on set, enhancing company presentations and speeding up decision-making processes.
Benefits
- Significant cost savings compared to existing remote mountable storage solutions
- Simplified storage management with fewer data mirrors and reduced maintenance overhead
- High-performance access for geographically distributed teams, ensuring smooth collaboration
- Seamless integration with existing AWS infrastructure and custom Autodesk Flow pipeline
- Flexible storage access on various devices, including on-set laptops and desktops
- Improved company interaction with real-time asset review capabilities on location
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