Client
Entertainment Technology Center (ETC)
Country of production
United States of America
When it comes to pushing technology to its limits, few places rival the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at the University of Southern California. Founded in 1993 with support from George Lucas, this think tank and research center is backed by some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Its mission: to explore and document emerging technologies that will shape the future of production.
One of ETC’s latest endeavours was Europa, a sci-fi short film written and directed by USC film graduate Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal. Europa served as a testing ground for innovative workflows and tools, making it the perfect environment to showcase the capabilities of Konsol.
A 'Safe Sandbox' for Innovation
“ETC isn’t like traditional production,” explains Eric Roth, a veteran VFX supervisor whose work spans franchises like Star Wars and The Matrix. “It’s a technology think tank for media and entertainment—a safe sandbox where we can try new techniques, tools, and workflows, document the results, and share them with the industry.”
Eric joined the production of Europa as a VFX consultant, bringing decades of experience to this unique collaboration. With its team spread across the globe and groundbreaking technologies at play, Europa exemplified the challenges of modern virtual production, from pre-visualization to post.
Addressing VFX's Longlasting Challenges
Virtual production demands precision, especially when it comes to VFX. Yet, as Eric explains, the industry has long struggled with fragmented and inconsistent data.
“In VFX, we’re often asked to do the impossible—paint out errors, add spaceships, or insert superheroes—without being given the information we need,” says Eric. “What was the camera? The lens? The settings? Too often, data is scattered across spreadsheets or locked away on someone’s computer, making our jobs infinitely harder.”
For Eric, Konsol represented the solution he had been waiting for. Designed to capture and centralize metadata from pre-production through post, Konsol ensured that no detail was lost, and all data was easily accessible throughout the pipeline.
Konsol in Action
Konsol became the backbone of Europa’s metadata management, capturing critical details on set and integrating them across the production pipeline.
“From the moment I started working with The Rebel Fleet, it was clear that Konsol wasn’t just another tool,” says Eric. “Mike Urban and Pete Harrow immediately understood my frustrations and showed me how Konsol could solve them. It was seamless—I’d ask a question, and Pete had an answer ready.”
Konsol enabled Eric to validate key details, like lens and camera settings, with just a few clicks. Its ability to embed metadata directly into shots and provide automated reports saved time and minimized errors, allowing the team to focus on creativity rather than troubleshooting.
Leveling the Playing Field
One of Konsol’s most exciting features is its scalability. While powerful enough for industry giants like ILM or Weta, Konsol is also accessible to smaller VFX studios, leveling the playing field.
“For small studios, managing metadata can be a nightmare,” says Eric. “With Konsol, they no longer have to rely on outdated methods or hope someone remembers key details. It’s a game-changer, giving smaller teams access to the same level of efficiency as the big players.”
The Future of Konsol
Konsol’s impact on Europa highlights its potential to transform the industry. For Eric, the experience was not just about solving immediate problems but about shaping the future of production.
“I feel like some of my thoughts and DNA ended up in Konsol,” he reflects. “This isn’t just a step forward—it’s a leap. Konsol has the potential to streamline workflows, empower teams, and revolutionize how we think about metadata management.”
As The Rebel Fleet continues to refine Konsol, its adaptability and vision make it a cornerstone of modern production workflows. From Europa to future projects, Konsol is proving that technology can remove barriers, enabling creativity to thrive.
Why Konsol?
- Comprehensive Metadata Management: Captures, centralizes, and integrates data across all stages of production.
- Time-Saving Automation: Reduces manual entry, ensures accuracy, and minimizes errors.
- Scalable Solutions: Accessible to both small studios and large-scale productions.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Streamlines communication across geographically dispersed teams.
Konsol isn’t just a tool—it’s a solution for the challenges of modern production, helping teams focus on storytelling while the technology works seamlessly in the background.
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