PUNE, INDIA— Although a relatively new kid on the block, Digikore VFX (www.digikore.com), based in Pune, India, earned its stripes right at the outset after being awarded a piece of the conversion work on “Titanic 3D.”
The studio’s senior producer, Abhishek More, and his staff knew “Titanic 3D” had the potential to set the course for Digikore in the right direction and vowed to deliver a creative and technologically superior product under the watchful eye of James Cameron.
The studio provided stereo paint services. “In the conversion process,” according to More, “the final crucial step is stereo paint requiring sophisticated technical skill coupled with artistic discipline. The stereo paint phase separates the adequate conversions from those that are high enough quality to meet the standards set by masters of the process, such as Cameron.”
“We are quite proud of having contributed on the 3D conversion of “Titanic” and our association with all of the talented people who worked for well over a year on this challenging project,” said More.
Digikore employs a proprietary 2d to 3D stereo conversion workflow pipeline augmented by off-the-shelf tools. The studio believes movie libraries will be a major segment of its conversion business. “We are able to turn around a 100-minute film in 52-60 weeks at extraordinary savings to studios and other rights holders,” reports More. With a staff of 40 artists and a planned expansion to 70 in the next few months, Digikore has the capacity of working on multiple projects simultaneously and has developed what it believes is an aggressive co-production investment package for helping studios and rights holders convert their films to stereo 3D.
A rights holder of a film title provides 50 percent of the conversion budget with Digikore providing in-kind services for the remaining 50 percent. “To convert a 100-minute feature film, the rights holder has to contribute only $1.25 million,” explained More. The rights holder receives 60 percent of the 3D version profits generated by theatrical, DVD, television, streaming, etc. with Digikore receiving 40 percent.
Under the plan, More projects that the studio will co-produce more than 20 films in a three to five year period.
Digikore’s Los Angeles office interfaces directly with producers to maximize the results of their global resources and will continue to expand to meet the growing demand of stereo conversion and feature film visual effects work. According to More, the office expects to add 10 to 15 artists by the end of the year.