AnimationPipeline.Com

How do you build a studio that can grow without major pains?

There are a variety of factors that need to be taken into consideration across all areas of the studio’s business.

One of the first items that should be nailed down is how your staffing requirements align with the business, production, and technical goals.

• Are you going to be using production processes that require artists with a higher degree of technical aptitude and/or an investment in training? Or, are you going to adapt your toolset and workflow to be more ‘artist’ friendly. What is the local talent pool available to you?  Are your skillset requirements realistic?
• Does your studio intend to use project based hires or plan to retain artists for the long-term? How does this affect your training requirements? What is the learning curve required for new recruits? Will you be able to use proprietary tools in a project based hiring paradigm?

You must ensure the effective use of network and storage technology to enable efficient data access and boost artist productivity. Your workflow, pipeline, and infrastructure must allow for quick shot production (in large scale), without bringing your network and hardware to it’s knees.

When designing your pipeline and toolset, you will be best served taking a modular and adaptable approach. You will want a system that can easily adapt to a variety of styles and looks as you move from project to project.

You will want to have a system that can be easily replicated, as your studio may grow to handle multiple simultaneous projects, have multiple work sites, or face a need to work with outside vendors.

When making the buy vs. build decision for your toolset, you will want to consider the business ramifications of making yourself dependent on 3rd party vendors. In turn, does building your own tools provide any competitive advantage or cost savings in the long term?