Lightstorm Entertainment relied on Blackmagic Design's suite of products to tackle the technical challenges faced during the production of “Avatar: The Way of Water.” Geoff Burdick, senior vice president of production services and technology at Lightstorm, worked with Blackmagic Design to integrate advanced hardware that could handle 4K HDR footage shot at a 47.952 frame rate, essential for the film's stereoscopic process.
Technical Challenges
The project required real-time evaluation of live camera feeds in various formats, including 3D 48fps and 3D 24fps in both 2K and 4K resolutions. This level of data handling was not straightforward with existing technology at the time. Burdick explained, “We needed to enable that spec through our entire production pipeline, involving real-time feeds to our DCI compliant ‘projection pod.’”
Blackmagic Design's Solution
Burdick and his team chose Blackmagic Design’s Teranex AV standards converter for real-time conversions. They also selected the Smart Videohub 12G 40x40 router, DeckLink 8K Pro capture and playback card, UltraStudio 4K Extreme 3 capture and playback device, and ATEM 4 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K live production switcher to manage the various feeds. These tools were crucial for handling the high-resolution footage during live action photography in 2019 and 2020.
Seamless Integration
The integration of Blackmagic Design’s equipment proved seamless, allowing Lightstorm Entertainment to review footage immediately on set. This real-time feedback loop not only saved time during shooting but also improved the quality control process. Burdick noted, “As critical as the technology is, it’s all in service of the story.”
The success of this production pipeline underscores the importance of having robust technology to support high-resolution and high-frame-rate content, especially for films pushing the boundaries of visual effects. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” now in theaters, is a testament to the capabilities of Blackmagic Design's products in meeting the demands of cutting-edge filmmaking.