The Tamil television channel ‘Puthiya Thalaimurai’ of Chennai recently covered Nextwave Mutimedia in a discussion on smart phones in India.

Having seen the impact of the Ashok Leyland U-Truck stereoscopic video created by us, the senior management at Leyland Deere too wanted to use the same technology for the launch of their first product – the 435 Backhoe Loader.

For Nextwave, there were new challenges. First, we had to work within a shorter time frame, which meant that we had to look for technology solutions that would enable us to speed up the non-creative, processing time. We did this by upgrading our systems manifold. Second, the script this time had a large video component, which meant that considering the short time we had, we had to go for a camera solution that was easier to set-up and adjust for parallax.

Although the salient and unique features of the Leyland Deere 435 Backhoe Loader were shown through 3D animations, video was also used to show the product while introducing it and at other points in the AV. To show the product dramatically and, to an extent create a dream-like atmosphere, we made creative use of smoke, lighting and camera movements to achieve these effects. And with 3D depth added to it, the result was riveting.

The stereoscopic effect of the 3D animations of the various features and components of the 435 Backhoe Loader, were used to the maximum to make the audience, not sit at the edge of their seats, but to make them move back defensively as the parts and text came hurtling out of the screen towards them. The 3D animations were created using ‘Blender’, the open source 3D software.

The final AV was shown to a mesmerized audience at the Excon, held at Bengaluru from 23 to 27 November 2011.

Event & Entertainment Management Association (EEMA), an organization that represents the Event and Entertainment industry in India, holds EEMAX Awards every year to recognize and reward the best efforts of its members.

In the EEMAX Awards 2011, our associates, Showspace Event, won the Silver Trophy for the ‘Best use of Technology’. It was given for the launch of the Ashok Leyland’s U-Truck range. At the heart of this event was the audio-visual on U-Truck produced by Nextwave Multimedia.

The AV is a first of its kind in India. To the best of our knowledge, never before has stereoscopic 3D been used in corporate communication. By ’stereoscopic 3D’ we mean the ‘Avatar’ kind, where you need special glasses and elements from the screen come right at you, seeming to leap out. U-Truck is Ashok Leyland’s technologically most advanced range of vehicles, a first in the industry in India.  The AV too uses a technology never before seen in a product launch in our country.

We developed ‘Mr. U-man’, a giant robot-like 3D character to represent the U-Truck range, and interacting with him on the screen was Ashok Leyland’s Executive Director - Marketing. We had 3D animations of parts and features of the truck separating out from the vehicle and coming on to the audience while Mr. U explained its features and benefits in his mechanical, super human voice.

The audience, wearing the special glasses, sat wonderstruck in their seats as they watched the aggregates of the vehicles popping out of the screen and coming right on to their faces. The EEMAX 20011 Silver Trophy for the Best use of Technology’ is truly deserved.

Nokia India recently had a press meet to announce the crossing of the production milestone of 500 million phones. This has been the fastest growth achieved by any Nokia factory worldwide. The production in Nokia India’s factory at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, commenced only in 2006.

The objective of this short (1 min.30 sec) video, shown during the press meet, was to give a quick glimpse of the manufacturing and communicate the fast pace of the production process. The video, in HD format, was shot using a sophisticated crane and trolley. The screening of this AV at the press meet was followed by the ‘500 million’ AV, also created by Nextwave.

Nextwave has just completed a TV commercial on three popular international games - Bed Bugs, Loopin’ Louie and Hungry Hippos - being brought to India for the first time by Funskool. The exciting, fast-paced 20-sec TVC featured children and animated graphics, with the sound effects and music contributing to creating the excitement. The kids had a whale of a time playing the games during the shooting, and it shows in the film! The TVC will be shown in popular kids channels soon. You can see a peek preview here.

As part of the Master’s in International Health (MIH) course in the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, the students come to the renowned Christian Medical College, Vellore for six weeks, during which they put all their learning to practice, and also learn how public health is administered.in India.

Nextwave was assigned to produce a video presentation on this aspect of the MIH course. Made in HD format, the team spent 3 days with the students, capturing their experiences in the classroom, field trips, hostel, etc. Using 2 cameras, the shooting was done in an ‘observational mode’, that is, capturing the events as they unfolded before the camera. As a result, the shots have a natural and spontaneous feel. The presentation also gives a snapshot of Vellore as an introduction.

The 7 minute AV can be viewed here:

The one line brief from Ashok Leyland, a leading commercial vehicles manufacturers in India, to Showspace, one of India’s top event management companies, was “make it dramatic!”. Showspace considered various options, including stereoscopic 3D, the ‘Avatar’ kind, where you need 3D glasses to view.

The one line question from Showspace to Nextwave was, “can you people do it?”

In line with our philosophy of always accepting challenges, we took on the project, although it was an unknown technology for us. The other challenge was to execute it in a tight timeframe.

The major part of the script required a mix of video and 3D animation, where the Executive Director-Marketing of Ashok Leyland, interacts with Mr. U, a 3D animated character. The rest of the presentation was more technical in nature – of engines, gearboxes, and other aggregates.

At every stage of the execution, newer technical challenges sprang in our way, but we overcame them through ingenuity and hard work. The 3D animation was entirely done using Blender, the open-source 3D animation software.

The product launch of the U-Truck vehicles was held on 02 November, 2010. The audience, mostly consisting of Ashok Leyland Dealers, was thrilled as they watched the aggregates of the vehicles popping out of the screen and coming right onto their faces.

As far as we know, this is the first time in India a product launch video has been made using stereoscopic 3D technology.

Below is a short clip from the launch video in the anaglyph format. So, 3D red-blue glasses are required for viewing.

This is the story of the Abhiramapuram families tracing their ancestral roots, and reviving their lost family bonds.

The families had their roots in Abhiramapuram, a small village in the Thanjavur District. Most of their family members are now living in cities in India and abroad. The family was able to trace their ancestry to eight generations back.

The film documents the origin of the family and the changes encountered by them over the years.

The film was extensively shot in Abhiramapuram and five other surrounding villages. We interviewed the family members of different branches of the family.

Important events and special memories in the lives of their forefathers were portrayed through illustrated drawings. Old photographs and video footages of the families were also used to tell the story.

We did the rerecording  for the film. The background score was Carnatic based, and a Bharathiyaar song was specially rendered for the film.

Screened in the reunion of the family members, the film was well received by both the older and the younger generation.

From scripting to delivery, we completed the entire film in a short period of two weeks.