Sony’s global
training centers: a
commitment to the art
and technology of the
moving image
By Keith Vidger, Peter Crithary,
M.S.Sundaresan, Gillian Howe, and Yjun Guo
Creatives from all genres
strive to excite and entertain
audiences with their
boundless imagination.
To ensure that filmmakers
are able to best utilize
state-of-the-art digital
production technologies,
Sony has established Digital
Motion Picture Centers in key
locations around the world.
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These classes and events provide professional training
on Sony’s digital cinematography cameras and
incorporate the complete workflow from capture
to screen. Post-production professionals also have
access to the latest third-party workflow platforms for
hands-on training.
These facilities are also a valuable resource for
feedback, which is shared directly with Sony
engineering and manufacturing teams to drive
current and future product development.
Resources at each facility include: cameras,
workflow systems, professionally-lit camera sets
and critical screening environments. Select DMPC
locations are equipped with Sony’s state-of-the-art
professional 4K projection systems for both testing
and learning applications. In addition to motion
picture technologies, Sony is expanding the global
DMPC mission to incorporate broader technologies
including 4K live production training for sports and
sitcoms, traditional studio camera systems and
much more.
Sony pioneered 4K projection systems in 2005 and
is now the world’s foremost manufacturer of 4K
cameras and televisions. Just seven years after its
introduction, 4K technology is now racing toward
becoming the standard in theatrical projection and
electronic cinematography.
Fueled by consumer demand for 4K content,
an incredible array of new 4K products are now
available to filmmakers; presenting both new
creative opportunities and technical challenges. To
streamline the transition to 4K, Sony has established
a worldwide-training organization with DMPC
locations in Culver City, California; Pinewood Studios
in Buckinghamshire, UK; the Sony Media Technology
Center in Mumbai, India and the Sony HD Academy
3D•4K Technical Center in Beijing, China and plans
further expansion.
These centers will be networked to form an
environment of global collaboration, demonstration
and learning. The goal is to give filmmakers of every
genre access to equipment, content screenings,
training and support. The DMPC mission is to
provide a fully self-sufficient resource for industry
professionals and students alike, to learn about
and share their experiences in all aspects of digital
content creation and workflow.
DMPC locations consistently offer seminars,
master classes and special events for all members
of the industry including directors, producers,
cinematographers, camera assistants, operators,
loaders, D.I.T.s, editors, SFX technicians and film
school students, among many others.
Digital Motion Picture Center in
Hollywood, California
T
he DMPC experience represents all major aspects
of filmmaking, including:
Capture — Creatives at every level of production
can select from Sony’s state-of-the-art cameras
(including the Z100, FS100, F5, F55 and the
flagship F65) to shoot their own footage on the
DMPC’s custom set. Designed to test electronic
cinematography cameras, the DMPC’s set combines
traditional lighting with LED technology and
challenging production design elements to push
cameras to their limit.
Post — Just a few steps away from the camera set
is the DMPC’s Workflow World. Modeled after a post
house, Workflow World highlights products from the
major manufacturers of dailies systems, editorial
and color grading to offer nearly every workflow
possible. Only minutes after shooting, filmmakers can
work with their footage using Colorfront, edit with
Avid and finish on a BaseLight, for example.
L
ocated on the most historic sound stage at Sony Pictures Studios, the DMPC
provides a unique environment where filmmakers can get hands-on training
with the latest 4K technology. Since opening in June of 2012, the DMPC has
helped directors and producers with productions ranging from big-budget
features to reality television, and has even drawn professionals from as far away
as China, Australia and Europe to classes that have trained more than 1,000
cinematographers, operators, assistants and Digital Imaging Technicians.
Footage can also be edited directly with Apple’s
Final Cut Pro or Adobe’s Premiere Pro and finished
on Da Vinci Resolve or on Pablo systems. There’s
really no limit to the workflow possibilities at the
DMPC, and it is all offered at no cost.
Display — Once the 4K footage is finished in
Workflow World, it can be displayed on a variety of
4K televisions or in the DMPC’s screening room which
features a 25-foot screen and the latest Sony SXRD
4K Digital Cinema Projection System. This final stage
of the DMPC experience brings the creative vision of
the filmmaker to life in a way that few people have
experienced firsthand.
In the span of just a few hours, the simplicity of 4K
production, combined with the elegance of 4K
workflow is realized as stunning 4K imagery for an
experience that is unparalleled in the industry.
The DMPC offers regular classes on camera
operation, workflow and other production
technologies to any member of the industry. The
DMPC also conducts classes in cinematography
and camera operation for film schools such as AFI,
Chapman University and USC.
In addition to serving the needs of the production
community with the latest 4K technology, the DMPC
continually strives to improve image quality for the
theatrical and television industries. New workflows
are always being tested to improve quality and
efficiency. The DMPC is also the foremost supporter
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
work with ACES, and is also a driving force in image
enhancement for live television, and is expanding
he application base to include a broader range
of technology.
To book a training class or schedule a tour, please
visit the DMPC website at: sony.com/DMPC or call:
(310) 244-6730.
Digital Motion Picture Center in Europe
at Pinewood Studios
I
n his opening speech, Katsunori Yamanouchi,
VP, Sony Professional Solutions Europe, said: “Our
mission at the DMPC(E) is to bring together the
latest technology and the hottest talent to advance
the art of media content creation. We want this
to be a facility of training, of knowledge sharing
and where people come together to exchange
experience and learn about the latest tools
and techniques.”
Pinewood has the latest 4K cameras including the
F65 CineAlta digital motion picture camera and the
F5 and F55. It is able to demonstrate a 4K workflow
with a range of workstations and 4K projection
facilities that allow visitors to view their work.
DMPC Europe is a place for professionals to
discover and share their passion and knowledge for
the latest digital filmmaking technology from Sony
and its alliance partners.
This will include courses for DIT’s, DP’s, Producers,
Line Producers, and VFX Post Producers. An
accreditation program will be offered, and
addressing the different aspects of 4K production
including budget preparation, make-up and
art direction.
DMPCE Pinewood has seen the launch of script
to screen workshops that give participants the
opportunity to shoot using the DMPCE sets and put
Sony F55 and F65 cameras through their paces, and
experience the workflow.
In October 2013 in front of a select group of film
industry luminaries and journalists, Sony Professional
Solutions of Europe opened the doors to the
Digital Motion Picture Center Europe (DMPCE). The
new facility at Pinewood studios highlights Sony’s
commitment to the film industry in Europe.
Several VIP visits from DP’s have taken place with
delegations coming from Italy (AIC members),
Norway (FNF members) and Denmark (DFF
members), Belgium, with DPs from across Europe
attending the script to screen sessions.
The center also has hosted dealer events and
camera hire company events.
Based on feedback from clients, DMPCE Pinewood
is planning to stream courses so they are targeted
more specifically at particular market segments.
The center will also be further developing
relationships with all the camera guilds across
Europe and running series of events at the facility
including master classes.
For more information please visit the DMPC(E)
website at: http://www.sony.co.uk/pro/hub/
broadcast-products-cinematography-pinewoodstudios or call: 44(0)753 785300
S
ince Sony HDA was founded, it has held monthly
HD camcorder operation courses (theory
and hands-on practice), HD salons and open
courses, as well as customized on-site programs for
broadcasters.
Sony HD Operation & Engineering Academy / 3D
and 4K Technical Center (HDA) was upgraded and
renovated with a reopening at the end of 2011. HDA
has since become a new base for Sony 3D and 4K
application solution, technical support, education,
research and training service for customers. HDA will
support HD development in Chinese broadcasting
and media industry to help Chinese broadcasters
and related industries with exciting 3D and 4K
programs.
The mission of HDA is to offer HD/3D/4K operational
training of Sony camera technology, program
production support, HD/3D/4K program coproduction by using Sony relevant solutions, and
consulting, in an effort to support and further
develop content creation businesses.
As for facilities, systems, and equipment of HDA, there
are 3D and 4K theater/projector machine rooms,
Sony’s HD Operation and
Engineering Academy,
3D, 4K Technical Center, China
H
eadquartered in Beijing, China Sony’s HD Operation & Engineering
Academy (HDA) was established in 2007 with the aim of working with
Chinese TV stations, production houses, and filmmakers by offering training
courses to achieve maximum added-value of Sony products and stay current
with the latest digital technology.
shooting corner/control rooms, and editing areas,
together with testing room/classroom/meeting
rooms. In addition there is an HD/3D equipped
demo van for mobile broadcast training made
available to the students. Last but not least, HDA
is equipped with a 4K demo van which is being
used for training. Currently, the following HD/3D/4K
equipment and systems have been installed:
• Shooting & recording technology
• SR master series including F65/F55, HDC camera,
HDW/PDW/PMW/NEX camcorder & VCR
• Display & monitoring
• SRX/VPL PJ, BVM/PVM/LMD monitor, KD BRAVIA®
• Production & worklflow applications
• HD EFP system, including HDC and MVS
• 3D HD-Demo VAN, 3D EFP sys with P1/MPE/SRW
and 3Ality Rig
• 4K NLE system, including PC/Apple with Davinci
color correction system, etc
Until now, HDA has organized more than 100 training
sessions for over 30 Chinese major TV stations and
production houses, such as CCTV, BTV, SMG, TJTV and
Xinhua News Agency with about 3500 people having
attended the courses. HDA has had significant
successes with key accounts in content creation at
the 2008 Beijing Games, 2009 China HD/SD simulcast
broadcasting, 2011 3D channel establishment,
and 2013 12th National Games. HDA’s reputation is
gaining rapidly in the industry and as a result more
Chinese professionals are regarding its training as a
job qualification.
For more information, please visit the HD Operation
and Engineering Academy, 3D, 4K Technical Center
website at: http://pro.sony.com.cn/academy/
default.shtml or call: +86-10-8458-6402
Sony Media Technology
Center, India
I
ndia’s motion picture industry is flourishing with more
than 1,000 annual releases, which is the highest in
the world. Through SMTC, Sony provides its expertise in
high definition and 3D stereoscopic film and broadcast
technologies to India’s entertainment industry.
The 3D market in India is expected to expand rapidly
and the creation of optimum, high-quality 3D content
is essential to this growth. Sony supports the creation
of an environment that facilitates high quality 3D
production, continuing the significant effort launched
more than a year ago with the opening of Sony’s first
3D Technology Center in Los Angeles where more
than 1,000 industry professionals have visited and
trained to-date.
Sony has installed top-of-the-line HD and 3D content
creation and digital cinema projection equipment
in WWI. In addition, it will provide its know-how in HD
content creation from acquisition to post-production
of content. It will also teach the entire pipeline of 3D
filmmaking, methodology, and provide training for
high quality 3D content creation.
In India Sony has collaborated with Whistling Woods International (WWI),
which is a leader in the media and entertainment education sector to
establish the Sony Media Technology Center at the Mumbai campus of WWI.
Since its inception in March 2011, the S.M.T.C has
regularly hosted workshops and seminars on 3D
film-making and digital cinematography, with future
plans including a larger focus on 4K.
More than 200 film-making professionals from
production, direction, editing, screen/playwriting
and cinematography departments have attended
the SMTC 3D workshops. In March 2012, before
starting to shoot the 3D Hindi film Anybody Can
Dance, the crew of the film (including the director,
producer, writer and costume and production
designer) attended a 3D workshop and then
applied what they learned in the workshop during
the production.
The S.M.T.C hosted a launch event
or Sony’s F65, F55/F5 and F3 cameras
in the Indian market, as well as
seminars on Sony’s Digital Cinema
cameras conducted by senior
Sony staffers.
The mission of Sony Media
Technology Center (S.M.T.C)
in Mumbai, India is to
encourage the use of Sony
digital production technology
by providing cinema and TV
professionals with a creative
environment for a “hands-on”
experience with Sony’s
high-end, digital cinematic
storytelling tools.
For the Hindi feature film Highway, releasing in
February 2014, the DP Anil Mehta tested the F65
camera at the S.M.T.C and was convinced of its
supreme quality when he saw the images played
back using the 4K SXRD 320 projector. DP Vikas
Sivaraman also tested the F65 at the S.M.T.C for
Fox-Star studios’ production Bang-Bang and the top
management team of Fox-Star including CEO Vijay
Singh visited the SMTC to gain first-hand knowledge
of Sony’s 4K Digital Cinema quality and workflow.
After experiencing the S.M.T.C, DPs Alfons Roy and
Mahesh Aney chose to shoot their TV series on the
F55 with a 4K RAW workflow.
Major rental houses in Mumbai like Prime Focus,
Prasad Labs, and Solo Films — which own F65,
F55, and F5 cameras — have sent their camera
assistants and data technicians to the S.M.T.C
for training on the operation and workflow of
these cameras.
Since the S.M.T.C is located within the Whistling
Woods International film school, the center also
conducts digital cinema workshops with the
cinematography students of the school; most
recently a 4K RAW digital cinema workshop with
the F5 camera was held.
Equipment Installed at the S.M.T.C includes a
3D- Element Technica “Pulsar” rig, HDC-P1 cameras,
HDF-200, MPE-200, and LMD-4251TD monitors. Also
used are Sony F65, F55, and F5 cameras with Carl
Zeiss-Master Prime lenses, Sony SCL lenses, Resolve
color correction panel and software. 3D and 4K
projection is through a Sony SXR-320R projector with
3D and 4K lens using a Harkness silver screen.
For more information about the S.M.T.C please
write to: ch.melatur.sundaresan@ap.sony.com,
P.Ponnappa@ap.sony.com or Subhendu.Dutta@
ap.sony.com
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