52 TOOLS & TECHNIQUES
Rather than simply enlarging what audiences can already see, the production uses live cameras creatively. Custom LUTs and Notch workflows give each song its own distinct cinematic look, while carefully choreographed camera moments between Dean and her backing vocalists become an integral part of the visual narrative. “The most rewarding part of the project was working collaboratively across all departments to create a visually beautiful show,” says Kira O’Brien, video designer at FRAY Studio. “By choreographing moments with the camera director and lighting designer, we ensured the emotion and energy on stage was captured and reflected in the projection in real time.” It’s an elegant demonstration of many of the themes affecting today’s media server landscape. In many respects, productions like Olivia Dean’s tour illustrate exactly what both HIVE and Modulo Pi describe: media servers are no longer supporting the show, they are helping define it. THE NEXT ACT Something that’s emerged from our conversations with two of the vendors actively innovating in the media server landscape is that there has been a clear shift in priorities. Raw GPU performance remains an essential component, but is no longer enough on its own. “What truly differentiates Modulo Pi is our commitment to simplifying
HIVE media servers at the National Museum of Qatar (above; below) allow films to unfold across enormous screens, making the displays more immersive
live production without compromising creative possibilities,” surmises Kohn. “Our integrated approach helps reduce the number of systems required on-site, which in turn simplifies workflows, lowers latency and improves overall reliability. Ultimately, we want production teams to spend less time managing technology and more time creating memorable experiences for audiences.” HIVE is pursuing a vision that’s similarly focused on the future.
“Our goal isn’t simply to build faster media servers,” concludes Sadler, “but instead to develop a platform that gives the designers, programmers and operators greater flexibility while making increasingly complex productions easier to deliver.” The future of media servers isn’t just about delivering the pixels any more. Instead, it’s about orchestrating cinematic experiences that feel both life- like and believable.
As these technologies
mature, we believe they will be valuable tools for both designers and operators alike
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