The way we consume video has changed since the days of broadcast TV, VCRs and cable. Today, the content can be accessed on smartphones, tablets, PCs, VR goggles and even TVs. With so many different outlets and technologies, content creators have more options to develop and launch innovative games, movies, destinations and more. The new partnership between Nokia (News - Alert) and Technicolor will bring together two leading companies in their respective industries to start creating live-action 360 projects for immersive VR content using the OZO+ camera and content creation tools at the Technicolor (News - Alert) Experience Center (TEC) in Los Angeles.
In this partnership, the role for Technicolor will be to provide its experience in the media and entertainment sector spanning more than a century. Technicolor has evolved into a powerhouse of digital evolution by investing in R&D with world-class laboratories to deliver video services for content creators and distributors around the world. This investment has resulted in a portfolio of intellectual property covering a wide range of innovations in imaging and sound technologies. The company has also diversified into gaming and animation by partnering with award-winning creative brands to create content.
The first project looks to educate professionals in the industry with a series of 360 Masterclass sessions held at TEC in Los Angeles. Using Nokia's OZO+ camera and OZO content creation, these professionals will have access to the hardware and software needed to create VR films as well as perspectives on how the platform differs from traditional cinematic experiences.
Nokia said, as part of this partnership, OZO+ will have residency at the TEC. The center, which is located in the movie capital of the world, Los Angeles, takes advantage of the resources available locally to bring together artists and scientists to develop technologies capable of leveraging the full potential of immersive media.
“In the creation of immersive content, live action cameras are key to the storytelling process, and Nokia has invested a lot of time and research in understanding how to provide content creators with the tools they need to produce high quality image capture. Technicolor has a long history in applying our industry leading color-science capabilities and image processing pipeline to work with camera manufacturers in order to create the highest quality capture techniques and outcomes,” said Marcie Jastrow, SVP of Immersive Media and Head of the Technicolor Experience Center.
In addition to the OZO+ camera and OZO Creator technologies, Nokia is also bringing its VR stitching software, the new OZO Reality Platform, including OZO Deliver, OZO Player SDK, and Nokia VR format extensions. Together, these applications will ensure that content creators can deliver content that end users can access without compatibility issues by allowing for delivery and playback interoperability. Nokia says the interoperability extends to content captured with any high-quality VR camera system so the ecosystem can grow by bringing more users and creators together.
Edited by Alicia Young