A workflow consultant s perspective: File-based workflows

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With the UK finally transitioning to an end-to-end tapeless workflow (or cradle-to-grave as it was recently referred to in a meeting), I thought the best place to start is with a conversation I had with a Senior Production Manager last week. They told me: If I had the choice, I'd stick with tape. You knew exactly what you had, you didn't have to worry, it was much simpler - I don't believe he is the only one to proclaim this either. But actually it illustrates an ideology and it struck me that maybe it's a problem as an industry that we face - have we really been innovative when it comes to tapeless workflows?

As a consultant I come across several workflows that have simply just replaced tape with drives, unfortunately this isn't as simple as it sounds. As an industry we're shooting more, plus there's the added need to ensure that IP is backed up securely. This is causing a huge knock-on effect on storage. In a recent investigation commissioned by Aframe we asked 600 media execs what their biggest video challenge was storage predictably came out top.

The logical response is just to purchase more - And why not? At the end of the day it is all about risk management rather than budget. With tight deadlines, I need to ensure I have a workflow I know and trust because I'm responsible for it being delivered . I find this especially prudent on the first series of a show, when everything is new. But are the strategic consequences of this being considered as it's not just about storage. File-based workflows need to be properly managed. I ask myself has this been strategically planned? Who has control? Can the right people access it?

Because of this I find Aframe is utilized more often on the second or third series than on the first - around 60-70% of our first time customers use us on a returning series.

The underlying reason behind this is because production teams are forced to look for a more cost efficient and time resourceful mechanisms to manage their working-progress content. A production came to me after the first season went £20,000 over in its post-production budget; the reason: without clear visibility and management of their content, the team were sending the same footage to the post facility to be re-ingested and the storage bill escalated out of control.

One of the best ways to manage your content is through visibility - and I don't just mean through sharing a spreadsheet. Giving your team centralized access to the content in a safe and manageable platform to review and approve is exceedingly valuable, regardless if it is the director, your logger or simply whether the content has already been delivered to the post facility.

Drives don't necessarily give you that visibility, not without purchasing more equipment. Tape also restricts access until you've reached post; in a time when deadlines are stricter and with the increasingly globalization of production, I had to disagree with the Production Manager in question - how can you risk not giving your production team visibility when faced with an increasingly competitive market?

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LINK:	http://aframe.com/blog/2014/08/a-workflow-consultants-perspective-file...
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