REALVIZ will debut StoryViz 1.0, the latest addition to its award-winning software portfolio, at SIGGRAPH 2004, Aug. 10-12, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
StoryViz is an all-new application making the link between storyboards and actual film production, by simulating the shooting phase and by pre-editing the final shots, all in realtime 3D with superb image quality. The software is the result of years of development efforts at the famous Duran Duboi Studios in Paris, and has already been extensively used on a number of major movies. The application is now to be industrialized and published by REALVIZ for the film industry. The REALVIZ / Duran Duboi team will be demonstrating StoryViz along with their other flagship products, including MatchMover Pro, ReTimer Pro and ImageModeler 4.0, which also debuts this month, at booth #956.
StoryViz enables directors, visual effects supervisors, 3D animators, graphic artists and filmmakers of all levels involved in the film creation process from the pre-shoot phase onwards to plan in realtime, each individual film scene in amazing detail. Based on a powerful 3D rendering engine, a complete non-linear editing set of tools and with an intuitive interface, StoryViz enables users to animate all the components, which constitute each film scene. REALVIZ StoryViz enables you to:
* Create your 3D scene: either by importing elements from Maya, 3ds max or ImageModeler, or create it directly within the application using a full library of 3D models for interiors* Define and animate your actors and props: these can be created directly in StoryViz, or imported, then animated using posing information or pre-set animations* Define, locate and animate cameras and lights* Edit and compose your sequence, using the non-linear editing set of tools* Add comments and paint your drawings* Preview your sequence in realtime* Generate your composited sequence, your video rushes or export your data to Maya or 3ds max for further rendering* Create html pages with accompanying text for your storyboard
"Special effects are an integral part of films today," explained Dominique Pouliquen, REALVIZ ceo. "But they also have their price, and can take a huge bite out any director's budget. In order to gain tighter control over the time and money spent on shooting and in post-production, detailed pre-shoot planning and storyboarding is invaluable. This is where StoryViz really comes into its ownWhat was previously just the dream of directors and visual effects supervisors, is now a reality.".
"We are very happy about this collaboration with REALVIZ," says Pascal Herold, Duran Duboi ceo. "What will be demonstrated at SIGGRAPH this year is the result of a huge development effort in our R&D Lab at Duran Duboi, and this technology has been used and validated on many different movies such as the recent IMMORTEL by Enki Bilal, and CATWOMAN by Pitof. The collaboration with REALVIZ is very important for us: working exclusively with this software editor will enable us to boost our technology and adapt it to the needs of the film industry worldwide."
StoryViz 1.0 is available for Microsoft Windows 2000/XP. Shipment and pricing details for StoryViz 1.0 will be announced at IBC in September.
In addition to the list price for the full version, REALVIZ will also make the product accessible for all budgets through the "Absolu" pricing model: REALVIZ "Absolu" is a new monthly subscription scheme already available for MatchMover Pro 3.0, which will enable single desktop users, post-production houses, and other users who require occasional previs facilities, to access this new application - regardless of their size or budget. Under the "Absolu" scheme, monthly payments will start from only a few hundred dollars per month for companies, schools, universities or freelance artists, based on six to 12-month commitments.
REALVIZ (www.realviz.com) is a leading developer of image based creation software based in Sophia Antipolis, France, with U.S. operations in San Francisco, CA; and satellite sales offices in London, Paris and Berlin. REALVIZ develops a suite of image-based content creation solutions for the film, broadcast, gaming, digital imaging, architecture and Internet communities.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
