Alias and BFC Berliner Film Companie Prods. GmbH (BFC) have extended their partnership by utilizing Maya as the core 3D technology used in the upcoming 3D animated feature, HAPPILY N´EVER AFTER, produced by John H. Williams (the SHREK movies and VALIANT). BFC relies on its relationship with Alias professional services for support and custom software development to rapidly prototype new features that meet its particular production requirements.
BFC maintains a 20,000 square-foot production facility in the center of Berlin, with a complete 64-bit pipeline, running Maya as its exclusive 3D tool and mental ray 64-bit for rendering. At this location, more than 100 artists are creating 1,000 CG shots for HAPPILY N´EVER AFTER, which sarcastically riffs on the classic Grimms fairy tales.
Our decision to work with Alias has enabled us to recruit many top creative and technical professionals in the animation industry, and innovate our pipeline to be able to deliver the visual sophistication audiences are looking for, said Rainer Soehnlein, president/ceo of BFC. The strength of our technology pipeline allows us to build visually stunning, personable characters and memorable stories.
Chad Hammes, co-producer of HAPPILY NEVER AFTER, added, There is simply no alternative to Maya for us. The partnership with Alias is critical to the success of our production, especially in terms of the custom support and software engineering that have helped us keep the production on time and on budget.
Alias custom development teams engineer new features and extensions to Alias software, assist with production pipeline integration and provide custom technology innovations. When deciding on our 3D pipeline, it was important to us to have reliable and instant customer support and custom development services, added Hammes.
Its great to see this unique high-quality production happening in Berlin, and Alias is proud to be chosen as the 3D software and professional services partner, said Mark Pammenter, director, entertainment business in Europe at Alias. We have seen many talented people coming from all over the world to BFCs production site to produce top-notch computer graphics of quality that is definitely on a par with Hollywood productions.
HAPPILY N´EVER AFTER features the voice talents of Sigourney Weaver, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., George Carlin, Andy Dick, Wallace Shawn and Patrick Warburton. Directed by Paul Bolger, and based on an original script by Robert Moreland, the movie is to be delivered in spring 2006.
The BFC Group (www.bfc.net) was formed in 2002 to develop and produce 2D and 3D animation for television and feature films. Working with Americas top creators, producers and directors, BFC has established a unique American-style production company in the heart of cosmopolitan Berlin, along with an office in Los Angeles.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
