HOLLYWOOD — In a move to bring high-end visual effects services to content producers anywhere, and at lower costs, VFX studio Engine Room has launched QuickFX.com, a cloud-based service platform.
“QuickFX is our online platform for managing custom visual effects projects through the cloud, allowing those both inside and outside of the entertainment industry to tap into our pipeline and get their VFX shots done fast, at a great price, at industry level,” explains Dan Schmit, Engine Room fonder.
The studio has been in Hollywood for 18 years, and has produced thousands of visual effects shots movie studios, broadcast, streaming networks and advertising.
“The over-arching end-goal of QuickFX is to deliver great work, fast and affordable, making Hollywood production more globally competitive and to help to reverse the decades-long flight of specifically visual effects post production work from Hollywood,” Schmit adds.
QuickFX.com runs on AWS and is a complete ecosystem from client to artist, allowing content makers to launch and access their projects from any computer and get fast VFX quotes, greenlight jobs, review shots and receive final delivery of files. Much of it can be managed through their mobile device.
“While there are other platforms out there for VFX production, QuickFX as a service and management interface is specifically focused on both the production-side and the business-side of VFX,” says Schmit. “Jobs can be any size, from one shot to a hundred or more. We even have an e-commerce component allowing users to pay with credit card or purchase order, without ever leaving the site.”
Once registered, content makers are prompted to identify where they are in the production process: pre-production or post. They are then directed to upload the specific information needed for their quote. If in pre-production or shooting, this includes scripts or storyboards. If in post, actual shot files are easily uploaded and dropped directly into the virtual pipeline.
“While QuickFX is primarily a VFX shot execution platform, anyone making content, from movie productions to series to advertising or even YouTube videos, at any stage of production, can get a free quote within a few hours,” says Schmit.
Once shots are green-lit by a user, they immediately kick into production.
“We believe that QuickFX points to the future of what VFX production and the VFX business will become, which is why we have made such a huge bet in developing it.” he notes.