Dunlop - Production Pipeline Fundamentals for Film and Games

PRODUCTION PIPELINE FUNDAMENTALS FOR FILM AND GAMES

PRODUCTION PIPELINE FUNDAMENTALS FOR FILM AND GAME

Edited by Renee Dunlop

First published 2014

by Focal Press

70 Blanchard Road, Suite 402, Burlington, MA 01803

and by Focal Press

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

Focal Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2014 Taylor & Francis

The right of Renee Dunlop to be identified as the editor of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Notices

Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary.

Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.

Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Dunlop, Renee.

Production pipeline fundamentals for film and game / Renee Dunlop.

pages cm

ISBN 978-0-415-81229-0 (pbk.)ISBN 978-1-315-85827-2 (ebook) 1. Computer gamesProgramming. 2. Video recordingsProduction and direction. 3. Motion picturesProduction and direction. 4. Project management. I. Title.

QA76.76.C672D863 2014

794.81526dc23

2013032579

ISBN: 978-0-41-581229-0 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-31-585827-2 (ebk)

Typeset in Utopic Std

By MPS Limited, Chennai, India

www.adi-mps.com

Additional materials are available on the companion website at [www.focalpress.com/9780415812290.].

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Section Acknowledgments 1: Special Thanks, Core Team

Renee Dunlop

I want to thank the entire book team for their amazing work and perseverance. In particular I want to thank Tim Green who went far above and beyond any expectations, Hannes Ricklefs for being there since day one, and Matt, Mark and Steve for their wisdom. For his friendship and hard work Id like to thank Jim Thacker who could spin any content into poetry. Also Ben Carter and Rob Blau for their knowledge, insights, gracious encouragement, and for filling in the gaps. And Lauren Mattos who helped make this all possible.

In a class of his own Id like to thank Meats Meier for his riveting cover art, and John Lindemuth for never failing to come through at lightning speed and for being such a great friend. Robert Fischer, for his brilliant support and friendship. And for their support, suggestions, talent, connections, and encouragement, Id like to thank Bob Bennett, Flavia Wallman, Jessica Sterling, Dave Stephens, Rick Grandy, Michele Bousquet, Daniel Docou, Sam Richards, Ryan Laney, and Joe Straczynski.

Tim Green

Id like to thank Ian Shaw for giving me my first job in the industry and to Matt Birch, Oliver Castle, Martin Griffiths, Leon OReilly, and Kris Beaumont for showing me the ropes.

Id like to thank Pete Samuels, Harvey Wheaton, and Jonathon Amor for giving me a Supermassive opportunity.

And Id like to thank my wife, Lisa, and kids, James, Harley, Marshall, and Takara for keeping me sane.

Matt Hoesterey

I want to give a special thanks to Camille Chu for being a bouncing board about all things animation while also not killing me for ignoring her on all the late nights spent writing.

Thanks to Alex Lifschitz who provided me with a plethora of knowledge regarding all the costs and considerations that go into making solid animation production choices.

Furthermore thanks to all the colleges Ive worked with throughout the years who grew me as a person and helped me gain the knowledge I have.

Lastly thanks to my family and friends for supporting me when my schedule sometimes makes my time scarce.

Hannes Ricklefs

Since this is the closest I will ever get to an acceptance speech I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at MPC, specifically Nick Cannon, Clwyd Edwards, and Christian Roberton for their continuous trust and support.

Furthermore, I would like to thank my immediate colleagues: Ben Cole, Damien Fagnou, Rob Pieke, and Michael Stein for their ongoing drive to push the boundaries of our software.

Thanks also to the most outstanding team in the world, the global MPC software department! In particular my leads: Lorenzo Angeli, William Hall, David Stinson, and Olivier Thibaut who truly made all of this happen.

Finally and most importantly I would like to thank my friends and family, wife and daughter for their love and support; hab euch alle lieb, euer Hannes.

Mark Streatfield

Thank you to all my colleagues over the years who have so generously shared their time, knowledge, and passion with me. It has been an inspiration and privilege to work with so many talented people practicing their craft.

Id also like to thank my friends and family for their unconditional support in allowing me to follow my dreams.

Steve Theodore

First and foremost, Id like to thank my family for putting up with all the late nights and weekends Ive devoted to the project. I literally couldnt have done it without your forbearance.

Id also like to thank my colleagues at Undead Labs, for being the unwitting beta-testers of many ideas contained herein. Also responsible (or implicated) are Pat Corwin, Jens Hauch, Jeff Hanna, Seth Gibson, Jason Parks, and Paul Vosperall of whom have spent many years meditating on the Tao of technical art.

Finally, while pondering the Tao, a shout-out to Rob Galinakis and the whole community at Tech-Artists.Org where practical wisdom is given away for free every day.

Section Acknowledgements 2: Special Thanks, Tech Editors

Rob Blau

First and foremost, thank you to my wife and kids, Holly, Sasha, and Emma. Love you.

Thanks too to all the amazing people Ive gotten to work with through the years, especially Andy, Jim, Darin, and Don, who (whether they realize it or not) have been amazing mentors to me.

Ben Carter

My thanks to all my colleagues, past and present, who have been inspirational, educational and endlessly patient in putting up with me; to my friends, without whom I would have descended into utter madness long ago; and to my family, wife, son, and cats, for their love and support.

Jim Thacker

Thanks to all the authors for being so willing to respond to my requests for more information during the editing process, to Lauren Mattos at Focal Press for being so accommodating with the schedule, and above all, to Renee Dunlop for initiating and organizing the entire project.

Fran Zandonella

Thank you to my parents for their unconditional support and encouragement, and to David Benjamin for his support during this project. Finally, thank you to all of my colleagues throughout the years, and especially the pipeline community at large for their inspiration.