The Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image’s (MAMI) Mumbai Film Festival served as the platform for AMD’s new 360 video and VR technology. Specifically, the PC hardware company showcased 32 cameras, its GPU-accelerated video stitching software, and Radeon Pro graphics to be used to develop promotional content for SS Rajamouli’s film, Baahubali: The Conclusion.
“We are beyond thrilled to have Baahubali: The Conclusion and AMD’s Radeon Technologies Group showcase the world’s most advanced VR experience for the first time here at MAMI,” said Anupama Chopra, director of the JIo MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star.
The partnership between Rajamouli, Arka Media Works, and the AMD Radeon Technologies Group will produce two pieces of compelling VR content: a 360-degree video titled “On the Sets of Baahubali” and a fully immersive VR experience, “The Sword of Baahubali.”
“As humans we are at awe when we experience things of large scale—both natural and man-made,” said Rajamouli, director for both Baahubali films. “We are at awe when we see the Grand Canyon, we are also at awe when we stand next to 2,722 feet tall man-made Bhurj Khalifa. I have been fascinated by the possibilities with scale since the first time I experienced VR. Through collaboration with AMD’s Radeon Technologies Group we have been fortunate to get access to cutting edge VR technologies that are helping us to push the boundaries like never before.”
To create these experiences, AMD has built the bb360cc VR capture camera which provides real-time VR preview and up to 32 cameras. Using AMD-created Project Loom software, videographers can rapidly stitch 360-degree video, often in real-time or nearly so, eclipsing the time needed using alternative techniques. The open source Project Loom software is expected to be widely available to content creators by the end of the year.
“AMD is committed to bringing VR to millions across the globe and that includes enabling filmmakers to provide cinematic quality to a VR experience,” said Raja Koduri, senior vice president and chief architect, Radeon Technologies Group, AMD. “On the Sets of Baahubali is being shot with the new bb360cc camera and the teaser clips being shown a MAMI are easily the most stunning 360 video yet experienced. The Sword of Baahubali is a very ambitious real-time computer graphics VR experience that is designed to push the limits of next generation GPU hardware.”
“We’re excited to be working with AMD’s Radeon Technologies Group to create state-of-the-art VR experiences,” commented Shobu Yarlagadda, co-founder and CEO of Arka Media Works. “We are targeting the release of The Sword of Baahubali in April, 2017 around the release of the film. We already have a few hundred theaters planning to install the VR equipment to support the launch of this extraordinary and compelling VR experience.”