Harnessing the Power of Data: Lola VFX Revolutionizes Visual Storytelling with VAST Data

January 25, 2024

NEW YORK – In a transformative collaboration, VAST Data and Lola Visual Effects (VFX) are pushing the boundaries of cinematic artistry through the integration of AI technologies and deep learning tools. Lola VFX, a pioneer in computer-generated effects for feature films and television series, has found a powerful ally in the VAST Data Platform.

Unleashing the Full Potential of Data-Intensive Workloads

Lola VFX’s journey with VAST began in 2022, driven by the burgeoning demand for higher resolution formats like 4K, 6K, and 8K in film and television. These advancements, coupled with the intricate visual effects prevalent in today’s media landscape, have created a surge in visual data, posing significant challenges.

The sheer volume of data presented Lola VFX with three distinct hurdles:

* The transfer of massive data volumes from filming locations to central infrastructure caused substantial delays.
* Sharing these large files with VFX artists across the globe was a tedious and time-consuming process.
* The need for real-time playback of high-resolution content during review and approval stages was paramount, yet persistent caching issues hindered this critical aspect.

Lola VFX sought a solution to these challenges and found it in the VAST Data Platform.

A Paradigm Shift in Media and Entertainment

“In the midst of a revolutionary shift within the Media and Entertainment industry, VAST has been a game-changer for us,” said Edson Williams, Founder and Managing Partner at Lola VFX. “Our operations demand infrastructure that not only supports but enhances real-time global collaboration. Our demands are extreme, but VAST actually exceeded our expectations. Initially, we anticipated a 24 to 36 month payback period, but with the remarkable efficiency gains we’ve experienced, we expect to see a significant return on our investment in as few as 15 to 18 months – a testament to the incredible impact of VAST’s technology on our workflows.”

Key Benefits of VAST Data Platform for Lola VFX

Enhanced Productivity and Collaboration: The VAST Data Platform eliminated playback delays with its high throughput and scalable architecture, addressing the challenges posed by massive data sizes. VAST streamlined the editing process for over 60 artists, enabling real-time collaboration on large files across the globe.

Streamlined Administration and Reduced Data Ratio: VAST simplified data management, enhancing playback, collaboration, and project completion efficiency. Lola VFX also achieved a significant 2:1 data compression ratio.

Increased ROI and Global Access to Media Assets: VAST Data Platform’s global namespace facilitates seamless collaboration across Lola VFX’s locations, further increasing the return on investment. Artists worldwide can now access Los Angeles-based media assets with minimal latency, regardless of their geographic location.

Unleashing New Creative Opportunities: VAST’s robust metadata services and global namespace have paved the way for automated asset tracking and integration of production systems. This advancement allows for orchestrated work and data movement, tailored to artist schedules and locations.

“Lola VFX is defining a genre of digital doubles that blurs the very definition of cinematic reality,” said Jeff Denworth, Co-Founder of VAST Data. “This pioneering work utilizing deep learning is extremely data intensive and requires infrastructure with unparalleled speed, efficiency, and scalability. With the unique architecture and capabilities of the VAST Data Platform, Lola VFX is completely changing the landscape of visual storytelling.”

About VAST Data

VAST Data is the data platform software company for the AI era. Accelerating time to insight for workload-intensive applications, the VAST Data Platform delivers scalable performance, radically simple data management, and enhanced productivity. Launched in 2019, VAST is the fastest-growing data infrastructure company in history.