Cloud Production Pipeline Using IMF, C4ID, and Open TimeLine IO

Cloud-centric use of Interoperable Master Format (IMF), Open TimeLine input/output (IO) (OTLIO), and C4ID combines to transform production, post, mastering, and localization of content in today’s multiplatform and international distribution environment. By leveraging IMF, OTLIO, and other open source and standardized tools such as C4ID Cloud Identifier, a centralized cloud-based continuous master can be created. This continuous master can be constantly synchronized with work-in-progress in editing, visual effects, color grading, and sound mixing systems to provide a single centrally available point of collaboration for all parties in production, post, localization, and distribution. This method avoids the requirement for proprietary asset management or file types and allows creatives and engineers to use the tools they prefer and avoids repeatedly moving assets in and out of the cloud. Furthermore, it allows a paradigm shift in the localization and distribution master process, which can in turn allow delivery of a project almost instantly to any number of platforms, territories, and versions once it is complete. This workflow also permits sharing of conformed work-in-progress versions at any moment during the production/post/versioning life cycle without interrupting progress in any of these processes. This method also has side benefits such as total deduplication of assets, no vendor or tool lock-in for access to assets and the ability to link business systems to the content creation process, thus allowing order-to-delivery automation. Overall, this method offers benefits in terms of time, cost, operational effectiveness, and, most importantly, creativity. This benefits all types of delivery from movies to episodic, advertising, trailers, or any produced content targeting multiplatform, domestic, and international audiences. It also allows for the latest content trends such as branching storylines and audience interactive content to be stored and accessed in a nonproprietary way. The methodology described in this paper provides a step change in managing today’s content pipelines and future proofing for next-generation workflows
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