Lightcraft develops the Spark platform for filmmakers

The new Spark collaborative platform Lightcraft aims to improve traditional film production with tools assisted by Artificial Intelligence to create virtual shots and organize teams from pre-production to post-production.

With Spark, teams can harness the power of AI, 3D, and traditional live cinema in the browser to start creating shots from day one, turning what was previously impossible into the new way of making movies.

Eliot Mack, CEO and founder of LightcraftLightcraft Technology, comments that "Traditional filmmaking obstacles, such as raising funds, obtaining clearances, finding locations or scheduling, exhaust artists and kill the magic of making films. Spark breaks down these barriers and instantly unifies all the talent of a team into a single system. For the first time, a tool combines the human power of filmmakers with the enormous technological changes that are taking place today."

Currently in development, Spark will be based on the award-winning Jetset and Autoshot power, providing teams with a creative nervous system for productions. Accessible via browser, this new hub will be made up of four sections designed to help test story ideas, make shots, and keep projects on track and on schedule.

These sections are:

Spark Shot is an interactive, browser-based scene assembly tool that combines scans, 3D USD models, animation, audio, AI tools, and realistic camera simulations to revolutionize the shot conception process. Spark Shot transforms filming from a hugely expensive, once-in-a-lifetime task into something that can be done anytime, anywhere.

Spark can handle as much or as little AI as needed for the project. Its underlying architecture forms the basis of the future of cinema, regardless of how the technology evolves.

Spark Live is an instant communication tool that connects artists and actions. Connect voice, video, chat, push-to-talk and 3D interactions to the shot or associated asset, and unify project discussions under one roof, so artists and producers can stay coordinated. Spark Live integrates external tools, such as Zoom, with its own state-of-the-art internal systems, making it easy to meet other Spark users and build teams.
Spark Atlas is the first artist-focused database that can manage the storage and coordination needs of an entire production. Based on the open source Supabase/PostgreSQL system, Spark Atlas provides industry-leading encrypted security for almost everything in production, from 3D files to EXR streams for taking proxies. Spark Atlas' unique design focuses on script analysis and connecting each project element to its associated action, scene or dialogue in the script. This makes it easier for the creative team to store and coordinate ever-changing production needs, including scripts, storyboards, mock shots, camera shots, 3D models and AI data.

Spark Forge coordinates the complex elements of post-production into a simple, organized timeline-based tool. Spark Forge uses shot metadata from Jetset and timeline exports from OpenTimelineIO to automate labor-intensive visual effects tasks like tracking, shot construction, and compositing in a fast, streamlined process that works with globally distributed teams. Spark Forge combines asset storage, metadata, and batch processing into a single, high-speed “snap factory” that can easily process hundreds of “slap comps” in just a few hours. You can then coordinate the actions of an entire team with generated scripts specific to each application, such as Blender, Unreal Engine, Nuke, Maya, Fusion, SynthEyes…