Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - The making of “Race to the Cloud” (MAE204)

Summary

Brandon Lindauer, a specialist solutions architect at AWS, presented the making of a short film called "Race to the Cloud."
The film was created entirely on AWS by Fuzzy Pixel, AWS's internal studio, using Unreal Engine for real-time cinematic quality animations.
A smart car was filmed at Vue Studios in Las Vegas, with virtual production techniques and AWS Orange branding.
The RED camera was used to upload footage directly to AWS S3, accelerating the editing process.
Video editing was done on AWS using Adobe Premiere on a G5 EC2 instance.
Sound editing and mixing were also completed in the cloud, a first for AWS.
The project involved global collaboration using cloud-based tools, with all participants being AWS employees.
The film was color graded using Color in the Cloud architecture and QC'd using Colorfront QC player, which streams directly from S3.
An event-driven workflow was used for transcoding, title and rights management, and localizations.
The film has an entry in IMDB and won two Best in Show awards at the National Association of Broadcasters trade show.
The entire process demonstrated the practicality and benefits of working entirely in the cloud.

AWS's cloud capabilities allow for a seamless, integrated production workflow, from filming to post-production, without the need for physical media transfers.
The use of cloud-based tools enables global collaboration, allowing teams from different geographical locations to work together in real time.
The project showcases the potential for AWS to disrupt traditional media production processes by providing a complete cloud-based solution.
The success of "Race to the Cloud" at the National Association of Broadcasters trade show indicates industry recognition and potential interest in cloud-based production workflows.
AWS's internal talent, including employees from various departments, was leveraged to create the film, demonstrating the versatility and creativity within the company.
The project serves as a case study for AWS customers in the media and entertainment industry, illustrating the efficiency and scalability of AWS services for content production.