Hollywood-based visual effects house Identity FX announced that it is launching a comprehensive set of 2D and stereoscopic 3D production and postproduction services, based on the company’s new SGO Mistika 4K hero suite. With the newly-installed Mistika 4K color grading and stereo 3D system at the core of its service offerings, Identity FX delivers a combination of services ranging from camera to delivery for 2D and stereo 3D projects.
The company was founded in 2004 as VFX facility and worked on such projects as Conan the Barbarian, Green Lantern, Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Piranha 3D, U23D and Aliens of the Deep, as well as numerous high-profile commercials and TV shows.
David Scott Van Woert, producer and co-founder of Identity FX explained that about two years ago, the company switched gears to specialize in 2D-to-3D conversion, and that the new Mistika “enables us to seize opportunities that we were never able to go after before because we were never quite able to close the loop in terms of finishing. Now we can offer concept through delivery, up to stereo 4k full finishing – including color, DI and native stereo sweetening.”
“Mistika is the lynch pin of our pipeline right now. It’s agnostic in terms of what we can bring in and what we can output. It’s an all-in-one piece of gear, while at the same time, it’s got stellar color correction tools and phenomenal stereo tools. They offer a real-time system that no other system can really mimic especially at that price point,” he explained. “We also use The Foundry’s Nuke as well as Imagineer Systems mocha Pro. Those three systems work together rather seamlessly. ”
Additionally, Identity FX is now providing clients with enhanced on-set stereo services, including stereo dailies, real-time stereo previz, and on-set compositing, while continuing to offer VFX and stereo supervision.
“Identity FX has invested significant resources to provide the market with a comprehensive 2D and stereo 3D pipeline utilizing Mistika as its core,” said Van Woert. “With a compelling new service offering built around the Mistika platform, we are taking advantage of leading edge technology innovations to close significant gaps at every level of the pipeline and deliver a caliber of 2D and stereo 3D production and post that we feel is unparalleled in the industry.”
“The future of the 3D market is largely dependent upon understanding the interface between evolving technologies and content creators,” explained Alison Savitch, stereoscopic and visual effects producer at Identity FX, as well as PGA chair emeritus. “Identity’s goal is to bridge the gap between the complex post process and production. We all believe 3D is here to stay whether in the theatrical, broadcast or emerging new media markets, and understand that to be successful we must understand the trans-media production model as well as what the right tools are for the task.”
“Identity FX is a valuable partner to us; we’re so impressed with how they’ve embraced mocha Pro so quickly and effectively in their stereo conversion pipeline,” said Ross Shain, chief marketing officer for Imagineer Systems. “Mistika and mocha Pro make a great facility combination. Mistika’s, high speed performance is an ideal station for 4K effects compositing, while mocha Pro offers efficient desktop utility tools for roto, tracking and removal based on Imagineer’s Planar Tracking engine. This innovative new workflow that Identity has created will allow them to turn around any VFX project quickly and with quality results, and is ideal to take on heavy 4K composites and shots that require planar tracking or multiple roto artists.”
