Thanks for the links.
To quote the tail end of the LA Times article:
Quote:
Underscoring the global nature of the business, Sony recently acquired a majority stake in FrameFlow, an Indian visual effects and animation company that has been renamed Imageworks India.
The new facility in New Mexico also could help Sony reduce the cost of making animated feature films, allowing it to better compete in the crowded genre. Sony launched its venture into the burgeoning business last year with "Open Season" and has several other features in production. Although the animation unit would remain in Los Angeles, some of the computer rendering could be done in New Mexico.
|
I can see SPI doing a few things at this facility.
They could be setting up a motion capture studio, and it sounds like they are definately going to be setting up a render farm. Both projects would employ mostly software and/or network engineers; this is talent I'm certain New Mexico can supply.
Excellent animators are a lot harder to come by. In spite of the start-up program at UNM, any animators who 'might' work here will need to be able to contribute to a production pipeline immediately (SPI is planning for a 12-18 month release schedule).
This means almost all of the talent will initially come from the Culver City operation. This will be a very tough sell, as there is no industry already here. Animators are itinerate by nature, and would much prefer to stay in an already established area with decent employment prospects, rather than be stranded if there are layoffs. Animators are especially weary after what Disney did in 2003, when they laid off almost 1000 people at Orlando, just 4 years after opening their state-of-the-art production studio.
Also, the article mentions FrameFlow (a long-established animation company in India) recently being purchased by Sony; this further reduces the prospects of SPI doing any animation work here.
They could be using the studio for some post production work as well, either for tv or film.
Anyway, it's surprising to hear, but if handled correctly and with smart, organic growth, ABQ can really make something of it.