SELECTED CASES 2010-2012

Bazelevs Group (Russia, India, China, USA)

CHALLENGE: In the growing competition it becomes crucial for the company to improve the effectiveness of its horizontally integrated business units, to optimize communication and collaboration between the units, as well as with numerous subcontractors. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Factory in three divisions: Baza, Bazelevs VFX and Moskva Animation Studio; • Customizing report and notification forms in Cerebro – to match existing business procedures and needs. IMPACT: • Simultaneous participation in several full-length shows at different stages of production: “The Black

Lightning”, “The Dark World”, “Dogs In Space”, “Kolotilov” and «President Lincoln – The Vampire Hunter»; • The administrative to production staff ratio is reduced to 1:15 (average industry ratio is 1:10); • For example: there were 120 CG Artists from 3 countries involved in postproduction of “The Black

Lightning” feature film, managed by 8 Bazelevs managers only. • Moskva Animation Studio got shared information environment for joint projects with its partnering facilities

in India and China. The leading Russian label in the production of commercials, cartoons and feature films. Founded by the world-known film director Timur Bekmambetov in 1992.

Petersburg Animation Studio (Russia, China)

CHALLENGE: After several years of successful production of the “Kikoriki“ animated shorts, the studio starts its first full-length animated film in the stereoscopic 3D format. Normally, such complicated projects last up to several years, this is why the studio has to develop a new approach to planning and production control. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Factory. • Installing Mirada Pro, a Cerebro plugin to playback and review video in a stereoscopic 3D format. • By means of Cerebro SDK based on the Python API, the studio develops an in-house integrated asset

management subsystem. IMPACT: • Throughout all three years of “Kikoriki: The Beginning” in the production process there were no serious

violations of the approved production plan. • Today the production team of 120 CG Artists is currently working on 6 parallel projects, and it is managed

by just 2(!) Production Coordinators.

MORE DETAILS: • Interview on Cerebro website. • Peterburg’s asset management subsystem in use (video) .

The largest animation facility in Russia. Produces several animation series, very popular in the CIS countries: «Kikoriki», «Pin Code», «Fixics», «Catopolis» and other. A Riki Group company, founded in 2003.

TREHMER (Russia)

Founded in 1996, the studio at the moment is the Russia's largest CGI producer for TV commercials. The company also has expertise in the CGI production for filmmaking and architectural renderings.

CHALLENGE: Due to the launch of a VFX project for a full-length feature film, the studio aims to minimize its costs and efforts to control a dedicated workgroup of CG Artists, allocated to the project. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Studio. IMPACT: • The workgroup of 10 CG Artists is managed by a remote part-time CG Supervisor. • It takes the Producer less than an hour a day to control and adjust the project course.

Postmodern (Ukraine)

A FILM.UA company, one of the major studios in Ukraine, providing a full range of postproduction services.

CHALLENGE: Due to the fast growth of their VFX team, a need for management automation is coming up. Their requirements for a potential automation software solution are: the solution must be ready to use “out of the box”, must be production proven, must be installed internally (on-premises, no “clouds”). TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Factory. IMPACT: • 30 CG Artists are controlled by 1 manager only. • The company is so confident in the effectiveness of Cerebro that it opens up a new line of business -

Cerebro sales and implementation in the Ukrainian market.

STORM Postproduction (Netherlands)

STORM Postproduction is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It provides editing and color grading services, motion design and visual effects for advertising agencies and production companies in Europe.

CHALLENGE: A relatively small postproduction boutique that needs a quick, easy and cost-effective means of control over the execution of a large number of tasks in several concurrent projects. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Subscribing to Cerebro Home. IMPACT: • Cerebro task tracking tools and Navigator pane for instant project status snapshots allows this small team to

control all current projects without significant effort.

Chain FX (Malaysia)

A creative boutique located in Cyberjaya, a key part of the Multimedia Super Corridor in Malaysia. The studio specializes in VFX, concept art, motion design for TV and film production.

CHALLENGE: The studio, founded in 2008, feels a growing need to keep a better control over the production team and the production process, also to prevent the growth of costs for administrative personnel, as the number of projects and the corresponding number of CG Artists is increasing. The choice of possible solutions is limited, due to the fact that the most part of "cloud" services work too slow (too low bandwidth of the Internet channel from the studio to the providers of these services), and the costs of implementing the most locally installed solutions are beyond feasible budget. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Local installation of Cerebro Factory. The company’s Cerebro server is autonomous and independent from

the Cinesoft data center located in Europe. IMPACT: • More than 25 CG Artists are controlled by 1 manager, • The studio is capable of taking part in five concurrent full-length feature film projects at a time.

Trace (USA, India)

A VFX studio with offices in New York and Mumbai, positioning itself as a quality outsourcer for 2D-graphics for production studios and larger VFX facilities.

CHALLENGE: Implemented a “trendy” business principle: “Sales and marketing - in the West, production - in the East", the studio faces the need to coordinate the work of the administrative (New York) and production (Mumbai) offices located in almost opposite parts of the planet, with the 9.5 hours time lag. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Studio. IMPACT: • The use of Cerebro tools for the exchange of “dailies”, comments and other information enables

“asynchronous” yet “lossless” communication between the two offices in a shared information environment, which allows the employees both in New York and in Mumbai to have comfortable working hours for their respective time zones.

N3 Design (Russia)

One of the leading studios in Russia, specializing in Motion design, Broadcast design and 3D-graphics for advertising and filmmaking.

CHALLENGE: The company's management realizes a need to streamline the information flow in terms of production management. Use of online services for management is difficult because of the slow and expensive Internet channel. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Factory. IMPACT: • Information chaos is completely eliminated, Cerebro becomes the primary communication and material

storage hub.

MORE DETAILS: • Interview on Cerebro website.

Ulitka (Russia)

One of the leading VFX facilities in Russia. Established in 2003.

CHALLENGE: Ulitka, a small creative boutique, eventually grows into a large VFX studio, with long-term and complicated full-length film projects in-production. The company should pay more attention to the proper organization of the production process and such complex things as reporting, planning, risk management, etc. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Factory. The most interesting fact here is that this studio had the shortest implementation

period in the history of Cerebro: the whole facility switched from traditional means to Cerebro within 2 days. The managers and technicians installed and tuned the system, then created and scheduled about 500 tasks, uploaded materials in less than one weekend.

IMPACT: • Implementation of Cerebro increased the efficiency of the production team.

MORE DETAILS: • Interview on Cerebro website.

Trigraph (Russia)

The studio specializes in VFX for full-length feature films. Since its start in 2004, Trigraph took part in production of more than 40 films.

CHALLENGE: The rapid growth of this studio, following the temporary downturn in 2008-2009, causes the need for the introduction of modern management methods. Key requirements for a management software – it must be production-proven, cost-effective and affordable, easily scalable. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Studio. IMPACT: • Short-term “Pay-As-You-Go” subscription allows the studio to avoid some unnecessary capital investments

in the software, to adjust the cost of ownership flexibly, according to the current size of the team and the amount of upcoming work.

• The use of an “industry standard” solution saves time of the newcomers and allows them to adapt to the studio’s pipeline faster, as many of them already have appropriate skills to work in Cerebro.

MORE DETAILS: • Interview on Cerebro website.

Polden (Russia)

Polden Studio, founded in 2006, develops several businesses, connected with creative design, including visual effects for filmmaking and advertising.

CHALLENGE: Involving a large number of freelancers in Russia and in other former Soviet countries in its projects, the company has several goals for management optimization: • Streamline communication and file transfer between the office and all remote collaborators, create a shared

information environment for all project teams. • Implement an effective system of accounting for hours worked, hourly wage calculation with differentiated

rates for each employee / project. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Factory. IMPACT: • Production costs are reduced, both due to the use of cheaper labour, and through effective management.

This allows the studio to offer its customers a relatively low price for its services. • The studio introduced the effective system of material motivation for staff and freelancers, taking into

account the professional level and personal contribution of each team member.

ScreamSchool (Russia)

CHALLENGE: Due to the opening of a new course – CGI/VFX remote education, the school needs to solve the following technical issues: • To enable prompt and structured exchange of materials between teachers and students; • To find a convenient and quick way to review student works (videos); • To create a shared workspace for student group projects; • To ensure a safe storage of materials and selectable access to them. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Studio. IMPACT: • Teachers and students collaborate remotely, each at a convenient time; • All the above technical issues are solved; • Additional impact: school graduates have skills to work in Cerebro, one of the most popular project

management software in the VFX industry. MORE DETAILS: • Interview on Cerebro website.

A Russia's leading private educational institution that trains specialists in filmmaking and postproduction. A branch of the British Higher School of Design.

Advance Digital (Russia)

CHALLENGE: The agency aims to improve the transparency of their internal operations for their customers, thereby increasing their competitive advantage and confidence on the part of its strategic customers, as well as increasing the speed of decision making. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Factory. IMPACT: • The agency has won several major tenders, last but not least - thanks to the transparent project

management within the agency. MORE DETAILS: • Interview on Cerebro website.

An advertising agency, specializing in digital advertising campaigns. A member of ADV Group, one of the largest communication groups in Russia and the CIS, consisting of 45 agencies in six countries (2011).

Mandarin (Russia)

An advertising agency, a subsidiary of Channel One (a Red Square Group company).

CHALLENGE: The agency has to work out and release an ambitious advertising project for Channel One (the top Russian TV channel) in the shortest possible time. To minimize the loss of time, the agency decided to implement a professional project management system. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Factory. IMPACT: • Cerebro implementation increased the effectiveness of the production team, the project was released in

time, without usual haste and after-hours work.

MORE DETAILS: • Interview on Cerebro website.

Vedis Group (Russia)

CHALLENGE: Growth in the housing market has led the company to increase the number of projects and related work on architectural planning and visualization. It is important to keep control of the design and rendering studio, to ensure appropriate quality and timing of the work and to avoid "bloating" of the administrative staff. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Cerebro Factory; • Installing Duma (a Cinesoft render cue management software). IMPACT: • The team of architects and artists (35 people) is controlled by 1 manager; • Images are rendered on a central 60-nodes render farm, thus freeing up the personal workstations of the

employees for other work.

MORE DETAILS: • Interview on Cerebro website.

An integrated developing holding, a major player in the Moscow city’s housing market .

The Russian Museum (Russia)

CHALLENGE: The Russian Museum is looking for new ways to attract a wider audience to their exposure using the latest multimedia and communication technologies. One of the key elements of this strategy should be a multimedia hall for lectures and presentations in a digital multi-media format, broadcast as to the Museum visitors, so to the branches of the Museum in other cities, as well as to the online audience. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • A special software product, codenamed MEDIO, was developed to conduct presentations and manage

online broadcasting; • Professional projectors, sound, server and communication equipment was installed. IMPACT: • The Russian Museum obtained a unique, unparalleled in Russia technology to display the treasures of the

museum not only to actual visitors, but also around the world - via teleconference (in the branches of the museum) and webcast (for internet users).

MORE DETAILS: • MEDIO presentation (SlideShare). • MEDIO demo video (Vimeo).

The primary state museum of Russian fine arts in the country. It was established in 1895 in St Petersburg by a decree of the Emperor Nicholas II. The Russian Museum today is a unique depository of artistic treasures, a famous restoration centre, an authoritative institute of academic research, one of the major cultural and educational centers in Russia, and a research and instructional centre of art museums of the Russian Federation, overseeing activities of 260 art museums in Russia.

CineLAB (Russia)

CHALLENGE: The company seeks to enter the digital cinema distribution market in Russia and to take a leading position there. This will allow the company to offer customers a new and highly profitable service, which will make the company a truly end-to-end solution provider. This requires, in its turn, innovative software, which meets the business needs of both CineLAB, and its client companies. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • A unique software product, codenamed Andromeda, was developed to provide digital film copies

distribution to theaters via satellite connection. • A custom Media Asset Management system was developed in order to organize media assets and digital

libraries of the studio, and to process orders from the theaters. IMPACT: • Putting into operation the Cinesoft software contributed to quick subscriptions of Russia’s cinema chains to

the CineLAB delivery service. The company today can deliver a digital copy to virtually every Russia’s theater. The use of satellite and landline Internet instead of physical media (hard disks or film reels) considerably reduces copy replication and delivery costs.

One of the Russia's leading postproduction facilities offering filmmakers and distributors the full range of services - from DI through editing, sound recording, VFX, color grading to digital copies delivery to the theaters throughout Russia. The studio’s core client companies are worldwide majors like Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures and Walt Disney.

Kommersant TV Channel (Russia)

CHALLENGE: The approach to the format is entirely new: there is no live presenters on the screen, all the information is supplied in the form of photographs, illustrations and changing text, grouped by topics. The project heads described it as “a channel that you can watch without listening, or listen without watching”. The new format requires a new approach to the amount and speed of CGI and infographics production, where the maximal automation of routine procedures and faster graphics rendering play key roles. The channel’s software developing staff resolved the first part of the task, by implementing an in-house automatic infographic creation system, while the second part - speeding up the rendering process – was passed to Cinesoft. TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION: • Installing Duma ( Cinesoft’s render cue management software). • Developing a number of additional modules to pipeline Duma with other software used by the CG Artists. IMPACT: • Average rendering time reduced several times. For example, rendering of a set of infographics for a weather

forecast, formerly taking about 40 minutes, after implementing centralized multi-node rendering, controlled by Duma, now takes only about 5 minutes.

Kommersant TV News Channel was launched in October 2011. The TV station was positioned as a source of hot news and comments.

Thanks!

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