Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) announced the launch of Amazon Optimizer for its Operations Cloud module, part of PFT’s CLEAR Media ERP Suite. Amazon Optimizer promises to reduce the cost of transcoding for broadcasters and content owners, while increasing efficiencies–part of PFT’s ongoing mission as it virtualizes the content supply chain.
With Amazon Optimizer, content owners simply enter their content location, choose the output profiles, select the time window to process the content and leave the rest to Operations Cloud’s Amazon Optimizer.
“Bringing the power and functionality of Operations Cloud to Amazon Web Services is yet another step toward PFT’s goal to assist companies with digital transformation,” said Ramki Sankaranarayanan, founder and CEO, Prime Focus Technologies. “Through utilizing Amazon Optimizer, users will be able to slash costs and efficiently capitalize on emerging streams of revenue.”
The addition of Amazon Optimizer comes at a time when consumer video demands and the volume of programming continue to increase with an ever-growing array of mobile devices and content platforms.
With Operations Cloud’s Amazon Optimizer, content owners can quickly repurpose content for distribution to web, mobile, VOD and IPTV platforms in a cost-efficient way. Amazon Optimizer leverages the scalability and cost efficiencies of public cloud and can deliver file-based video transcoding, auto quality control and compute intensive media processing tasks at the lowest total cost on the market. PFT Operations Cloud uses a clever algorithm, batch.ly built by 47Line, to optimally use a mix of reserved, on-demand and spot instances on Amazon Web Services to meet the service level agreement at the lowest cost.
CLEAR Operations Cloud provides one software to to manage content store, processing and delivery. PFT’s CLEAR Media ERP Suite is the transformation solution to bring companies into the digital next world, offering one software, rich in applications that enable workflow orchestration across all enterprise, supply chain and partner ecosystems. In enabling such transformations, PFT has helped content enterprises cut 30 percent of operational costs and gain 40 percent more efficiencies.
PFT also announced updates to its production workflow solutions at NAB 2016, further expanding the capabilities of the CLEAR Media ERP Suite and enabling content creators.
PFT’s clientele includes Disney, 21st Century Fox-owned STAR TV, Warner Bros. Television Studios, CBS Television Studios, 20th Century Fox Television Studios, Legendary Pictures, Starz Media, Lionsgate, A&E TV Network, Crown Media Family Networks, and FX Networks.
Eleanor Adds Director Candice Vernon To Its Roster For Spots and Branded Content
Director Candice Vernon has joined production house Eleanor for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. She has already wrapped several jobs at Eleanor, which waited to announce her until they had a body of work together.
Via Eleanor, Vernon made history as the first Black director on a Febreze commercial. The “Small Spaces” campaign marks a major departure from Febreze’s typical blue-and-white world. The home of the “Revolving Door” commercial is a beautiful array of bold sunset hues, African prints, and African art.
Vernon said, “I asked myself, what feels right to me? What feels new? I wanted to bring an essence of not just Black Americans but the full diaspora. I wanted to make a statement that we’re not a monolith.”
Following the success of the “Small Spaces” campaign, Febreze brought Vernon back for a comedy-infused trifecta exploring the hilarious situations that call for an air freshening hero.
Febreze Brand VP Angelica Matthews said, “About two years ago, we realized the consumers that were the most loyal to Febreze were the African American consumers. And the more we learned, the more we realized the richness that we were really missing. So we said we have to go beyond just Black casting, we need to get Black directors that truly understand the culture that truly understand how to bring authentic performances out on screen. We really looked around the industry and noticed there’s actually a shortage of African American directors who have experience doing commercials. When we all saw Candice’s reel, we could all tell the passion for the craft, passion for really trying to help us from where we are to where we’re trying to go.”
Vernon brings a unique lens to... Read More