Thinkbox Software To Preview New VFX Tool

Thinkbox Software has announced it is to preview a new VFX tool – Vero – at SIGGRAPH 2016, booth #449, later this week.

The company has teamed up with veteran VFX Producer Joyce Cox to develop the tool which is a cloud-based application that simplifies the VFX budgeting and cost management processes. It helps estimate and track VFX budgets from script breakdown to shot delivery.

Once logged in, Vero users will be able to monitor the granular details and big picture activities of a project, which are separated into four distinct stages accessible via the interface. They are:

• Script Breakdown – This allows users to import a screenplay file, and the app automatically breaks down the screenplay into scenes and actions. Scenes can then be manually grouped into sequences, and VFX shots can be added to actions manually, or automatically based on action descriptions.

• Budget Room – This enables users to manually rate VFX shots based on the level of complexity. The producer can then more accurately estimate generic shot costs and begin to layout the VFX production crew and equipment needs.

• Market Place – Users are able to create custom bid packages that can be shared with interested VFX vendors. Users can also receive and compare preliminary and secondary bids, evaluate designation scenarios, narrow list of potential vendors and apply costs to a VFX budget.

• Contract Room – This acts as a central hub where bids are awarded and accepted, changes to scope are managed and communicated to vendors and studios, and contracts are archived.

David Taritero, Sr VP VFX, Production, Disney, said: "Joyce truly understands the ins and outs of VFX production, and her bidding and financial management process is solid and predictable having been production proven on many major studio feature films."

"VFX is often one of the largest chunks of a film budget," Joyce Cox added. "However, the current methods for predicting and tracking the costs of VFX shots vary wildly across the industry. Vero standardizes and streamlines an otherwise overly complicated process, to project and manage the bottom line throughout production as pricing fluctuates with scene changes."

Chris Bond, Founder, Thinkbox Software, commented: "We've focused on alleviating common pain points in all different areas of production and post, so creating a new, secure system for breaking down and planning VFX is right up our alley. I've known Joyce for years and deeply respect her expertise, so when she approached us with the idea for Vero, we knew we had to get involved."

Vero is currently in development, with beta expected to launch this fall.

www.thinkboxsoftware.com

(JP/LM)