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Academy software Foundation Highlights Open Source Advancements
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, oct. 25, 2023 – The Academy Software Foundation (ASWF) recently convened Open Source Days during the Siggraph computer-graphics conference, a pivotal event for the film industry’s digital backbone. The gathering highlighted advancements in the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) and unveiled a new Machine Learning Working Group, signaling a proactive approach to evolving cinematic technology.
More than 500 industry professionals gathered to explore open-source solutions for film and animation.
- The Academy Software Foundation launched a new Machine Learning Working Group.
- Key ACES 2.0 developments were presented,enhancing color management.
- Open-source collaboration is vital for addressing shared industry needs and limited resources.
- New premier members Laika and Skydance Animation joined the ASWF.
The Academy Software Foundation, a collaboration between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Linux Foundation, champions open-source software development. David Morin, executive director of ASWF, emphasized that this work is a high priority.Entertainment companies share very specific needs but frequently enough have limited resources.The goal is to build a common infrastructure together, freeing up engineering talent for studios to focus on their unique creative tools.
ACES: The Backbone of color Management
ACES continues to evolve, with Dreamworks Animation’s VFX supervisor describing its use on The Wild Robot, facilitating a wide color gamut and easing data interchange throughout the animation pipeline. Netflix imaging technologist Francesco “Frankie” Giardiello confirmed that ACES served as “the backbone” for the streaming service’s Content Hub Media Production Suite.
“ACES started as a shared concern,” Forsythe reflected, acknowledging the “hundreds of contributors and thousands of users.” She concluded, “Your work has been transformative. We’re just getting started. on behalf of the Academy, thank you. And the journey continues.”
Machine Learning Takes Center Stage
The newly launched ML Working Group provides a dedicated space for collaboration. Participants can share expertise and guide open-source projects focused on film pipeline needs.
the group is initiating two projects. The first is the Dailies Notes Assistant, designed to streamline the dailies process. It will transcribe meetings, analyze content using a large language model (LLM), and integrate notes directly into Shotgrid for production tracking. This tool aims to enhance communication, not to influence creative decisions. Industrial Light & Magic and Imageworks are leading its development, with contributions from DreamWorks Animation, Framestore, and Autodesk.
The second project is the Rongotai Model Train Club (RMTC), which originated internally at Wētā FX. RMTC aims to simplify the creation and deployment of ML models and datasets for VFX artists and technical directors. It provides a framework for tracking model provenance and ensuring rights holder connections, addressing niche production problems.
Kimball Thurston,CTO of Wētā FX,expressed hope that RMTC will offer “a common mechanism to integrate ML/AI systems with VFX data formats and concepts.” He added, “Simultaneously occurring, track
