Twofour54 Intaj Launches Mena Region’s First Dedicated Stereoscopic 3D Lab

New lab provides end-to-end production solutions from production to training.

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 20 July 2011: twofour54 intaj today launched the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s first Stereoscopic 3D lab, making it the only facility of its kind in the Middle East to offer dedicated facilities, equipment and expert support across the third dimension.

Wayne Borg, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer at twofour54 said: “The new 3D lab is an exciting addition to twofour54 intaj’s existing facilities. The introduction of this facility will help support the opportunities that Stereoscopic 3D is opening up to content producers across a wide range of media and entertainment platforms.

“It is clear that 3D has had a massive impact on the entertainment industry recently – four of the top grossing US films in 2010 were filmed in 3D; however, there are significant other media business opportunities that our new 3D lab can support, such as advertising, computer-generated imagery (CGI), animation, corporate videos, events and even industrial and medical applications. Launching this type of facility is another example of how twofour54 actively responds to market demands from across the region for facilities and expertise that meet international standards,” he concluded.

The new lab has been designed to become a hub for all stereoscopic 3D activities in the region; providing end-to-end production solutions in stereoscopic 3D – from cameras, rigs, specialist AVID edit suites, Baselight colour grading – through to finished productions and a specialised Research & Development Centre.

In addition to the state-of-the-art facilities and services, the new lab will provide a range of training solutions in conjunction with media training academy twofour54 tadreeb. The programmes on offer have been designed to comprehensively train both students and production professionals in the latest 3D techniques using the very latest in high-tech equipment and will be delivered by twofour54 tadreeb’s highly trained instructors.

Hasan Sayed Hasan, Head of twofour54 intaj said: “In developing our new 3D lab, we selected a core set of hardware and software that are considered to be the industry standard tools for Stereoscopic 3D production. We also ensured that the facilities brought in provide flexibility to the 3D content producer; for example, the Element Technica Quasar rig was used exclusively for the 3D telecasts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and can be utilised with a wide range of cameras and in different configurations. The editing and finishing tools from AVID, Filmlight, and the 3D Plug-ins offer also a wide range of tools for various types of productions.”

The new lab will cover four key areas of activity:

1. R & D Centre & Testing Platform
• 3D Lab will work with selected projects testing Beta versions of editing systems– supported by 3D Lab’s cutting-edge technology & software/hardware
• This combination of technology and expertise will help break new ground in 3D
• Bringing Stereoscopic 3D best practices to the Region, we offer Stereo QC (quality control) to 3D film productions, Broadcast 3DTV programmes and advice to 3D hardware and software manufacturers.

2. S3D Commercial Hub providing a multitude of S3D services
twofour54 intaj will be the only hub in MENA offering a range of S3D equipment and services spanning the whole production chain including:

• Stereo rigs: ElementTechnica Quasar
• SONY HD cameras
• Panasonic AG-3DA1E twin-lens camera system
• Edit suites (including AVID)
• Grading suites (including Baselight colour grading)
• 3D 2k projector (RealD system)
• JVC and TVlogic 3D monitors
• Panasonic HDC-SDT750
• GoPro Hero 3D System
• Fuji 3D W3 Camera
• SI-2K Cameras
• animation/gaming applications
• presentation/corporate on CD/DVD/blue ray
• timelapse
• print advertising
• projection technology
• storyboarding

With the expansion of S3D globally, library footage will soon become highly sought after and increasingly valuable. 3D Lab gives you the added advantage now, with:

• Simple and direct access to 3D footage
• Accessible search tools to the Library footage bank
• Relevant and high quality footage

3. Training
The new lab will provide a range of training solutions in conjunction with twofour54 tadreeb and is aimed at:
• Students looking to specialise in 3D
• Professional looking to expand their skills
• Companies seeking to understand business opportunities

4. Production
Total life-cycle support for production projects in 3D:
• Feature films
• Documentaries
• Slow-motion footage
• Cinema advertising + TVCs

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact:
Ahmad Kamal Issa
Hill and Knowlton
Abu Dhabi
Tel: 02 447 2805
Mob: +971 50 503252670
Email: [email protected]

About twofour54
twofour54 is an Abu Dhabi government initiative and an integral part of its 2030 plan, which seeks to diversify the Emirate’s economy and establish the Emirate as the cultural capital of the Middle East.

twofour54’s vision is to establish a sustainable Arabic media and entertainment content creation industry in Abu Dhabi; a regional centre of excellence which is internationally renowned. The aim is to stimulate creative and professional partnerships in the film, broadcast, digital, TV, gaming, publishing and music industries.

The company provides a collaborative and supportive ecosystem that will allow the establishment of a world-class media industry for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The focus is on developing Arabic media and entertainment content by Arabs and for the Arab audience.

twofour54 delivers its advanced cohesive infrastructure through three key pillars: twofour54 tadreeb (the training academy), twofour54 ibtikar (innovation and support) and twofour54 intaj (state-of-the-art production facilities) supported by business enabler twofour54 tawasol (one-stop-shop).

twofour54 has already attracted several of the region and world’s largest and most influential content creation companies, including CNN, BBC, Thomson Foundation, Rotana Studios, Financial Times, Abu Dhabi Media Company, imagenation, C Sky Pictures, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Flash, PyraMedia, Getmo Arabia.

Each of these partners has recognised the vast opportunity that the Arab world represents for growth and has committed significant investment and resources to business initiatives that will be led out of twofour54.

The name twofour54 is taken from Abu Dhabi’s geographical coordinates, which are latitude 24 north, longitude 54 east. This name was chosen to symbolise Abu Dhabi’s strategic position within the Middle East, which makes it the ideal location for the centre of excellence for content creation in the Arab region.

About twofour54 intaj
twofour54 intaj offers state-of-the-art production and post-production facilities, which are the envy of more recognised and established production facilities around the world. twofour54 intaj also provides media asset management, broadcast and technical support.

The Six high definition studios are fully equipped with the latest production and post-production technologies. These are serviced by a team of highly experienced operations and engineering professionals. twofour54 intaj services are available either wet (fully staffed) or dry (equipment and studios only).

In addition to the studios, the Khalifa Park facility houses 12 HD post production suites (7 x video editing; 2 x audio; 2 x graphics; 1 x high end finishing and compositing) and a 20-channel TV playout center, while the second facility houses 10 HD post production suites (6 x video editing; 2 x audio; 2 x graphics, and 1x Colour Grading suite).