Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Amazon MGM Studios: Building a next-generation studio (AMZ203)

Summary

Kenny Rajan, a principal solution architect at AWS, and Jonathan Lee, head of media engineering and innovation at Amazon MGM Studios, discuss the transformation of content production in the media and entertainment industry.
They highlight the rise of streaming services and the need for rapid content delivery, global collaboration, and cost reduction.
AWS offers six solution areas for media and entertainment: content production, media supply chain and archive, broadcast, direct to consumer and streaming, data science and analytics, and monetization.
AWS and partner solutions, such as Adobe Frame.io, enable seamless workflows, from on-set camera to cloud storage and post-production.
Jonathan Lee shares Amazon MGM Studios' journey to building a cloud-based global studio, focusing on centralizing data, enabling simultaneous access, and leveraging AWS's global infrastructure for collaboration.
Amazon MGM Studios has piloted cloud production systems on various international projects, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration.
The studio has also developed the Studio Fabric program to connect global facilities and enable remote collaboration.
Amazon MGM Studios has built a next-generation studio with advanced post-production and production infrastructure, including the world's first 8K exhibition theater and North America's largest virtual production stage.

The media and entertainment industry is rapidly adopting cloud technologies to meet the demands of streaming services for fresh content.
AWS's global infrastructure and specific media services, such as Thinkbox Deadline and Elemental Media Connect, are critical in enabling distributed teams to collaborate and access resources efficiently.
The integration of AWS services with industry-standard tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve allows creative professionals to work in familiar environments while benefiting from cloud scalability and flexibility.
Amazon MGM Studios' approach to centralizing data in AWS S3 and leveraging cloud-based workflows represents a significant shift from traditional linear production processes to more dynamic and collaborative methods.
The Studio Fabric program and the use of AWS services for secure, high-bandwidth connections illustrate the potential for cloud infrastructure to revolutionize how global media companies operate, making remote collaboration more feasible and efficient.
The development of Amazon MGM Studios' next-generation studio showcases the potential for cloud technology to not only replicate but enhance traditional production and post-production environments, offering new capabilities and cost savings.