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Megaport Helps Framestore with On-Demand Rendering in the Cloud

To support the Oscar-winning creative studio, leading Network as a Service provider quickly and efficiently enables on-demand multi-cloud connections that access cost effective computing power for VFX projects.  

Megaport​, a leading global Network as a Service (NaaS) provider, recently worked with VFX powerhouse Framestore, helping the studio tap into the power of public cloud providers to deliver on demand visual effects projects. 

BAFTA and Oscar award-winning Framestore, headquartered in London, has offices across the globe. The company has worked on hit films such as Avengers Endgame and Mulan, as well as television; commercials; immersive media projects, including VR, AR, and MR experiences; and theme park attractions. Growing project needs meant the creative studio had to modernize its IT infrastructure with additional compute power required for easier rendering.  

Megaport’s Software-Defined Network (SDN) allows Framestore to create on-demand, pay-as-you-go cloud connections, while supporting the compute power that animation and visual effects rendering requires, with low latency, high reliability, and performance.

“The rendering process used to take hours, if not days to complete and we simply didn’t have that kind of time,” explains Beren Lewis, Director of Global Systems & Infrastructure Technology, Framestore.

“So, we needed a change. Working with Megaport, connectivity is so easy and consistent across all our offices. The solution has significantly reduced connectivity costs while speeding up the process for our rendering artists.”

He adds, “Prior to working with Megaport, we had to make sure our creative work was done during the day with rendering scheduled overnight – and IT staff had to be on call around the clock in case something unexpectedly stopped working. This was not a sustainable solution for our artists or our IT team. Megaport has changed all of that.”

By utilizing Megaport’s SDN, Framestore is able to modernise its network by moving away from unreliable internet-based tunnels to private connectivity. The Megaport portal has already enabled Framestore to establish Virtual Cross Connects (VXCs) between its London office and Google Cloud as well as Microsoft Azure. This creates lots of potential benefits, including the ability to scale up and down in just a few clicks to meet daily, weekly, or monthly changes in demand. Framestore’s US offices are also connected via Megaport to AWS for rendering purposes, quickly realising the same connectivity benefit.

According to Eric Troyer, Chief Marketing Officer at Megaport, “Creative studios like Framestore need technology that supports their free-flowing creativity. They can’t be constrained by rendering bottlenecks and technology failures. Framestore trusts Megaport to power their creative teams and deliver award-winning experiences. We are committed to providing them the technology and services they need to meet the demands of creatives and audiences alike.”

The Framestore team will utilize Megaport technology as they work on upcoming releases such as the latest instalment of Fantastic Beasts, Suicide Squad and The Little Mermaid. For more information, a case study about Megaport’s work with Framestore can be viewed and read at: https://www.megaport.com/resources/case-studies/framestore-case-study/

Source: Megaport