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Think ‘Video’, Think Toolbox Studio: A Sneak Peek Into Our World
Trust a sailor to know the sea. Trust the Toolbox Team to see what you know, and to then put on a cutting-edge show. Quirky poetry aside, Toolbox Studio really does enjoy putting up a perfectionist’s show!

Introduction

Since our enthusiastic start in 2008, we have enjoyed juggling video production services, including visual effects & animation, TV commercials, motion graphics, and corporate video production services. Our energy source is our enthusiastic team, and our strength is rooted in solid collaborations with talented artists who invest faith in our work. We are ‘big picture’ believers; our focus is not limited to services but extends to comprehensive video production. We participate in the entire artistic process with the production family to deliver our part of an on-point and benchmark end product.

Our team of over 50 qualified and globally experienced artists offers expertise in providing solutions to a range of industries, such as Film, Broadcast, Online, and Digital, and a spectrum of corporate sectors, such as IT, Education, Hospitality, Automobile, and Lifestyle. With a strong foothold in animation and VFX, we specialise in corporate video production, helping businesses create engaging and high-quality visual content. This range of perspectives makes our team an intuitive frontrunner in the Animation and VFX industry worldwide.

Working passionately across three continents, Toolbox continues to strengthen its foundation back home in India, offering top-tier video production services. With a view to extending the same traditional values of professionalism, dedication, and honest work ethic, we specialize in corporate video production, delivering high-quality content for both international and domestic clients.

We are committed to continuous improvement. Our action plan includes a Quality Management System which provides a framework for measuring and improving our performance. Our unique solutions are tailored to each client with a specific approach of positioning, promoting, and showcasing. Our team comprises creative visualizers, writers, producers, directors, artists, and IT professionals, thus making us a multi-service company with expertise in video production services, offering high-quality visual content for various business needs. Our corporate video production solutions are designed to reflect the essence of your brand, while our skilled professionals integrate cutting-edge visual effects to enhance storytelling. Whether you’re looking for video production for marketing, training, or branding, we deliver customized, impactful results.

Our state-of-the-art 5,000 sq. ft. facility keeps us well-connected to our clients around the globe, while our Mumbai liaison office stays in touch with the domestic pulse. The Pune facility is built to acknowledge the growing need to deliver quality outputs irrespective of the geographical location. Our facility has is built on the pillars of art, technology, and infrastructure to take on projects with varied demands.

Ideate. Collaborate. Deliver.

The vision that Toolbox never loses sight of has evolved over the years to become more concrete, more rooted, and more accurate to our professional ethos. To present sustained excellence, both technologically and artistically, is a constant endeavour for our team. Our commitment to high-quality video production services is key to this mission, ensuring we deliver creativity and precision in every project. We wish to be a media organisation that epitomises trustworthy professionalism globally.

Turning our words into action is our mission statement that drives us to build a passionate team of diverse creative talent; a devoted team that collaborates with clients to bring ideas to life. Whether it’s through corporate video production, video production services, or stunning visual effects, our team excels in delivering high-quality video production that transforms concepts into impactful visual narratives.

Values

Humility

Integrity and transparency

Positivity and family spirit within the team

Passion and determination

Pursue excellence

We believe in embracing and driving change through innovative video production techniques, pursuing growth and learning in the ever-evolving field of corporate video production, creating an inclusive and collaborative environment, and delivering exceptional video production services. By being adventurous and using modern visual effects, we aim to do more with less and delight our customers with engaging, high-quality content.

Our Services and Infrastructure

Toolbox Studio provides specialized services including classical 2D and 3D animation, 2D Flash animation, illustration, character design, and 2D/3D animation production to Indian and international clients. We also offer our Animation services for TV commercials, website videos, industrial demonstration & product marketing. Our expertise extends to corporate video production, ensuring high-quality video production services and visual storytelling for businesses looking to enhance their brand presence. Additionally, we incorporate advanced visual effects to bring creative concepts to life and captivate audiences.

Our VFX & Animation services include:

VFX for broadcast and film

Motion graphics for TVCs and feature films

Rotoscopy and Tracing for feature films and TVCs

2D and 3D Animation for all purposes and mediums

Pre‐Visualization for Animation & VFX

Conversion of 2D films into 3D

Conversion of Black & White into Colour

Our Edit Studio houses Avid and Final Cut Pro edit suites, operated by exceptional editors who redefine ‘magic on-screen’ with the perfect blend of creativity and technology. Whether it’s high-quality video production or post-production work, our team ensures a seamless experience that brings your vision to life.

Our editing services include:

Offline Editing

Film Editing

2K Hi-Definition Editing

Standard Grading Options

Our Sound Studio is designed and operated by the finest sound engineers. Equipped with pro tools developed by Avid, the studio provides efficient recording and treatment, delivering quality sound that maintains the praiseworthy reputation of Sound Engineering in India. In addition to audio, the studio also offers video production services, ensuring seamless integration of sound and visuals for a complete multimedia experience. The audio studio is well-equipped to create refined:

Jingle Recordings

Dubbing

Premixing

Sound Designing

Our green screen Chroma Studio measures 22ft x 15ft in a grand 1100 sq. ft. monitoring room. The Chroma Studio is ideal for the creation of:

Visual Effects

TV Commercials

Theatre/TV Promos

Multi-Camera Interviews (Filming and Broadcast)

Web Presentations

News and Entertainment Live-Streaming

With a dynamic setup including Final Cut and Avid suites, and a team that is keen to assist you with all your pre-production, production, and post-production needs, we are equipped to edit and finish an entire production in-house!

Our Illustrious Clients

Some of our most treasured clients include Aditya Birla Group, Tata SED, Atlas Copco, Wipro, Very Fishy Films, Studio Mars, McCann Worldgroup, Revolo, IME, QED, Bharat Matrimony, Konnet, Emcure, and P. N. Gadgil, amongst others.

We are proud of our skilled team for creating magnificent work for movies such as 300-Rise of an Empire, Godzilla, Maleficent, Insurgent, Hunger Games, The Grandmaster, and Jupiter Ascending. We have also worked on some splendid regional cinema such as Pitruroon, Classmates, Baji, Rajwade and Sons, and Hunterrr, to name of few. We have made a mark in the world of Advertising having worked with PNG, L’Oréal, IPL (Mumbai Indians), Bharat Matrimony, OLX, Yamaha, Bournvita, Seamedu School of Pro-Expressionism, Amanora, and many more.

We greatly value our customers, their dreams, and their goals. We strive to provide services that positively exceed their expectations.

Quick Takeaway

Toolbox Studio is a proficient VFX‐CG Studio with extensive experience working on TVC/AV Productions, visual effects for Feature Films & TVCs, Pre‐production, 2D & 3D Animation, Sound Designing, Virals and e‐Learning.

We take great pride in the quality of work we have delivered for projects across the globe, including India, North America, the Middle East, Australia, UK, and Thailand.

Partner with Us!

We’ve earned ourselves a reputation of being a leading integrated media services company; production houses; visual effects and video production services agencies from all over the world rely on Toolbox Studio because we commit to deliver cutting-edge solutions that culminate into products with exceptional visual appeal. We understand our clients’ goals to the T. So whether it’s for brand-building purposes or generating leads or lead nurturing or conversions, Toolbox Studio has been crafting engaging digital videos from scratch to bring characters, text, and brands to life for over 8 years!

Toolbox Studio would love to hear from you! Call us at +91 20 46607590 or write to us at enquiry@toolbox-studio.com to know how we can help you with your digital video production needs
August 25, 2016
Why Content is King Even in Case of Video Marketing

There is no denying that video marketing is the biggest thing in the digital world these days. There is a whole slew of statistics to back up this statement. According to a study by Cisco, as reported by Ad Week, as of 2014, internet video traffic was at 64%. The study predicts that this number will rise to a massive 80% by 2019.

Businesses and marketing firms have also latched on to this trend, as a study by IAB on video ad spends elaborates. As per the study, which interviewed over 300 brand marketers, “More than two-thirds (68%) of marketers and agency executives expect to see their digital video ad budgets increase in the next 12 months.” Other pertinent observations from the study include, “Steady increase over last 3 years in the share of digital video budgets dedicated to original digital programming” and a future where the divide between traditional TV ads and online video production will disappear, “Most advertisers agree that original digital video programming will become as important as TV within 5 years.”

Clearly, video-based content marketing is taking the internet by storm, and not just on traditional video portals like YouTube, Vines and Vimeo, but a variety of social media outlets that support the format. This includes the likes of Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and Snapchat among others, all of which are being populated by video content.

Content at the epicenter of digital video marketing

The way videos are created and presented also has to change along with the medium, and it has. There is now a marked distinction between ‘branded video content’ – content created specifically for the web, and ‘video ads’ or traditional video advertisements that appear on television. It is no longer enough for marketing content to just espouse the qualities of the product or the brand. Brands have to become storytellers these days, create engaging, emotional, exciting content that goes beyond the surface and connects with the viewership on a deeper level.

Take the top 10 trending ads from 2015 for example, a list published by YouTube every year on what ads were the most viewed in the past calendar year. You might recognize some of them. The most popular one was the epic Liam Neeson starring Clash of Clans ad, quickly followed by Hyundai’s adorable Message to Space. Other highlights include the Boom Beach animated ad, a vivid example of how a product is explained through the means of a gripping narrative. Then there’s the gripping Adidas #Unfollow ad starring footballing legend Lionel Messi, shot completely from a fan perspective and full of memes and internet pop culture. Then there is the empowering Always #LikeAGirl campaign that won some many hearts.

One common thing you will notice in all these ads is that not one of them talks about any product. The ads are about the emotion, the ethos, the message. These ads tell you that the brand cares about more than just preaching its own virtues. Instead, these brands use a strong emotional impulse to connect with the viewer, like Hyundai drawing inspiration from its customers and helping them out, or Liam Neeson’s ‘Taken’-esque monologue on revenge. Adidas’ effort to idolize but not imitate your heroes, and of course, Always’ endeavor to help young women get over societal prejudices and achieve their dreams. This is the essence of branded video content.

If you are looking for something more current, then the BBC’s excellent animated Rio Olympics 2016 introductory video is a must watch. It has been making waves on social media of late, and has already garnered over a million hits since it was first published.

Increasing investment in video marketing

Since it is clear that internet-based video marketing is the biggest growing advertisement stream, one with its own language and specific needs and approaches, the question still remains – are corporates investing enough in video marketing? Well, according to a study by the Content Marketing Association (CMA), there is a clear upward movement in this area, as this Campaign article explains. Here is an excerpt from the report:

“The CMA’s Video Content for Engagement study found that 58 per cent of senior level marketers are planning on increasing the proportion of marketing budgets spent on video content in the next 12 months.”

“Currently, on average, 78 per cent of content marketers spend less than a quarter of their budgets on video content. The survey showed that 71 per cent believe that brands are not investing enough in the medium.”

“Over half of those surveyed cited mobile as their primary channel for branded video content, while a third said mobile is the biggest growth area for video, followed by social media at 29 per cent and short-form content at 24 per cent.”

Clearly then, one of the top priorities for content marketers is video content. As a brand, are you looking to take your consumer engagement to the next level with video content? Toolbox Studio can help. Find out how our team can help you create rich video content that keeps ‘the message’ front and center, and can drive your brand recognition numbers up through quality digital videos. Contact us today!

August 23, 2016
H&R Block Case Study: A Simplified Digital Video on A Serious Subject
Introduction of H&R Block Case Study

H&R Block is a tax filing and solutions firm that has been present in India since January 2012. The company dates its origin back to 1955, when it was originally founded in the United States. Boasting of over 2.5 crore clients the world over, it is the largest H&R tax filing entity in the world. The company has been making large strides in India as well, with collaborations with more than 300 corporates (and counting), and over three lakh tax returns already filed.

The Challenge of H&R Block Case Study

H&R Block needed digital video production content to populate on their website – content that would engage and attract potential customers and users, and present H&R Block in a positive light. This particular video was required to highlight the functions of H&R Block, and its primary service on offer – helping individuals file their income tax returns.

The Solution of H&R Block Case Study

The solution provided by our team at Toolbox Studio was an explainer video, using production techniques to help present the content in a straightforward and easily graspable manner. The aim was to create a video that would not only comprehensively cover all the needs of the clients, but also do it in a way that did not alienate viewers – a challenging task (considering the subject matter). After all, in isolation, taxation is not the liveliest nor the most engaging subject out there!

The Approach of H&R Block Case Study

Creating an animated video production is a complex undertaking, and Toolbox Studio works with its clients every step of the way to ensure that their needs are being addressed and the final product not only matches their expectations but also surpasses it.

To this end, here are the steps that were undertaken from the beginning to the end of this particular project:
1. Script
After the brief was received from H&R Block regarding what they were looking to achieve from the video, who their target audience was, and where they wanted to publish the content, a script was prepared. The script is a textual description of the dialogue and accompanying visuals in the order it will appear in the final video.
1. Storyboard
The next step in the process was the creation of the storyboard. This involves actually sketching out the pertinent frames of the narrative to provide the client with a visual context of how the final production will appear. Everything from the lead characters, to the graphics involved, and the actions performed throughout the video were portrayed here for H&R Block’s perusal.
1. Voice Over
Recording the Voice Over (or VO) was the third step in this production. A VO plays a very important role in the video. It provides key aural narratives and drives the audio aspect of the audio-visual production. Everything from the accent, to the style of speech, language, pitch, and timbre are important. Various pertinent choices were offered based on the needs of this particular video, and a decision was made by H&R Block regarding which one they preferred.
1. Outlined Animation
After the voice over is decided upon and recorded, an outline of the final animation is created. At this stage, H&R Block had the opportunity to see exactly what the final product would look like, and make any changes they needed to the content and its presentation.
1. Background Music
After the animation was approved, it was time to make the final touches. The most important of which is the addition of a background music score (BGM) to the production. The background music sets the tempo of the production and adds another layer to it. Potentially awkward silences are filled in, and the score provides a complement to the VO, underscoring it when presented to the viewer.
1. Final output of H&R Block Case Study
Only after a suitable background music was selected and added to the production was the final video complete. The video begins with a light-hearted take on taxation and the trouble it gives people, portrayed through the animated lead character. Next, viewers are given a step-by-step guide through H&R Block’s taxation support service, while highlighting salient features (like the availability of live chat). The fact that the service is free of cost is also highlighted, and the video ends by reminding viewers of the client’s brand and forte.

Watch the H&R Block Tax Chat and Tax Pledge videos to see the final output for yourself!

The Result of H&R Block Case Study

At the end of the process, H&R Block had a video that achieved the preset goal – a production that conveyed how easy it was to pay taxes through the medium of a fun, attention-retentive animated short video, which simplified the content, yet provided all the necessary information to the viewers. The content was still the most important aspect of the video, but it was presented in a manner that would make it more receptive to those watching it.

Has your brand invested in digital video marketing yet? It is one of the top trends in the industry right now, and if you are steering clear of this brand-building and advertising machine, it is time to rethink. Contact us to know how we can do for you what we’ve been doing for our beloved clients over the last 8 years. And keep an eye out on this space for more such awesome case studies along with insights on why content (the message) is king even in case of video marketing.
August 22, 2016
Viral Video Brand Marketing – What Makes It So Effective?
Lately the marketing campaign trends have shifted from posters, slogans and TV adverts to brand marketing videos that are basically posted on social media. The reason for this shift is obvious. People spend a lot of time on social media, on their phones and tablets all day. I mean seriously, when was the last time a millennial read a newspaper? Everything is online now. Even television is slowly becoming obsolete. Why pay for cable when you can stream movies and TV shows online for free? And that too, without the annoying commercial breaks!

But let’s get back to the effectiveness of branding through video marketing strategies. For obvious reasons I do not want to argue against the effectiveness of these videos. But if we want to use them to our benefit, it really helps to understand what makes them so effective. First off, the video will only be effective if it goes viral. Viral video marketing plays a key role in boosting brand visibility and engagement.But what makes these videos so effective in advertising? Let’s find out!
1. TV Commercial Vs. Viral Marketing Video
The difference between a TV commercial and a brand marketing video is that the latter is usually longer in duration, extending up to 3 to 4 minutes. These videos often tell a story, follow video marketing strategies and sometimes use their brand name and products to provide solutions or create awareness about a popular social cause.

TV commercials on the other hand are made purely with the agenda of promoting the product and making it look good no matter how fake the premise may be. They also have slogans that make claims that sound great, (like “instant whiteness”) but aren’t necessarily true. So when you set out to make a video, make it with the agenda of entertaining your audience instead of blatant, obvious brand promoting. Staying aligned with digital marketing trends ensures your content remains relevant and impactful.
1. Public Reach
There are over 6.88 billion cell phones¹ in use in the world today. That means at any given time, 6.88 billion people have potential access to material on the internet. Furthermore, a study published on plos.org shows that the average young adult spends approximately one third of his waking life in front of a screen. This may not be the best news for the health of our youth but the point is that people spend a lot of time on their phones, laptops and tablets.

This makes digital marketing trends a great way for brands to advertise and make their presence known. Being able to access 6.88 billion people with the click of a button is something short of a miracle. Still wondering why brands are using viral videos for marketing? It’s a bit of a no-brainer.
1. Views and Shares
With online branded videos, not only are you able to reach a huge demographic, but you can also effortlessly rely on a lot of viewers to share and re-post your videos, making viral video marketing an effective way to expand your reach

Furthermore, nowadays, with social media, especially Facebook, even if a viewer doesn’t share the video, it still appears on their feed, increasing visibility. This aligns with modern video marketing strategies and digital marketing trends, ensuring broader audience engagement with minimal effort.
1. Content – The Message
It isn’t just the medium that is working wonders for video marketing. It also has a lot to do with the content and theme of the videos. As mentioned earlier, the content in these videos is a lot better planned than say, a TV commercial.

In marketing video production there is almost always a theme that is followed across all videos that the brand makes. For example, when you think Red Bull, you automatically think extreme sports, but not everyone who drinks Red Bull is into extreme sports. Or, when you think Coca Cola, you think friendship. The brand itself gets associated that particular idea.

Furthermore, one of the key video marketing strategies today is to tackle a social issue or support a cause, which really seems to be working great on social media.

For instance, the video marketing team at Proctor & Gamble (a company that makes feminine hygiene products and cosmetics among other things) has been making adverts dealing with the theme “woman empowerment” for years. Their latest video “Like a Girl” went viral because it spread a very strong message how women should be revered for their strength and beauty instead of being viewed as weak and powerless. The video deals with the connotation of the phrase “like a girl” and deals with how the phrase is used as an insult. The video has over 62.1 million views on YouTube today.

In all honesty, brands like Coca Cola, Red Bull, Samsung, Apple, etc. are popular enough without advertising mainly because they have been around for a while and have built a name for themselves. But for new up-and-coming brands it is worth considering and investing in a viral video marketing strategy for the soul reason that you have easy access to a very large audience.

Looking for an innovative video production company? You have come to the right place!

Resources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_mobile_phones_in_use
August 1, 2016
7 of the Most Viral Branded Videos of 2015 & 2016
What does it take to make a video go viral? Honestly, it is a combination of many different things. There is no fixed rule or list of things that is guaranteed to make your video go viral. It is completely possible for a well-thought-out, brilliantly-directed branded video, produced by an incredibly expensive video production company to get less views than a random video of a cat sneezing. It all depends on who your audience is.

Knowing your demographic, their likes and dislikes, their culture, their social inclinations, etc. can really give you an edge when making a good video, such as a branded video. It can seriously up your chances of making a viral video. But again, it is not a guaranteed cheat that allows you to win the game every time.

To better understand how videos spread and, more importantly, why they are shared or viewed, let’s examine seven of the most viral brand videos of the past two years.

Dillan’s Voice: Apple

A little over three months ago, Apple made a video featuring one of their tablets. The branded video has already had over 4 million views in three months.

The viral brand video is about an Autistic boy who finds it challenging to verbalize his thoughts, needs and emotions. Because of his disability, he is viewed differently by people around him. They don’t understand his challenges and are hence apathetic towards him.

Eventually, he (Dillan) uses the tablet’s “Speak” option to communicate with the people around him. The video ends with him giving his class graduation speech. Dillan narrates the entire video, which enhances its impact tenfold.

They did a good job pulling on the viewer’s heartstrings with this one. What we most appreciated about this video is that it isn’t all “up in your face” with the product. The tablet is mostly in the background, while the video attempts to create awareness and provide a helpful solution.

Coca Cola: Friendly Twist

It is no secret that Coca-Cola makes viral brand videos pretty well. This is probably because their video production team really knows their demographic and it helps that they have been around for ages! Most of their videos target teenagers and young adults.

This branded video is about making friends on the first day of college when everything is awkward and no one knows anyone.

The video is relatable to a huge percentage of the world’s population, which is why it was viewed and shared all over 9.8 million times on social media.. Another reason why this video went viral could be that they designed a whole new bottle just for this ad campaign. If you haven’t seen it yet, it is definitely worth a watch.

Although this viral branded video was made in 2014, but it really is one of Coca Cola’s best, and definitely deserves to be on this list.

Red Bull: The Athlete Machine

This viral brand video is probably one of the most famous branded videos and is definitely the ultimate video for any stunt-crazed sports junkies out there.

It is basically a series of really cool stunts set up in a chain reaction obstacle course-type arrangement where only the completion of the previous stunt can begin the next one. The stunts feature everything from sky diving, to skateboard stunts, bicycles, motorcycles and even a race car. The video ends with the last stunt setting off an arrangement that breaks a block of ice inside which there is a frozen can of Red Bull.

This viral brand video’s sheer intensity is what probably made it go viral. It literally has you at the edge of your seat the entire time, s0 it is no wonder that it has over 25.6 million views on YouTube today.

Durex #Connect

Yes, Durex, the condom company. And no, this video is not inappropriate, and it has nothing to do with sex. However, it sends a powerful social message to people who allow entirely technology to take over their lives.

The viral brand video is a series of interviews conducted by a therapist that features various couples talking about how big a part technology plays in their daily lives. After realizing that most couples value their devices more than their partner, the therapist suggests that they use their phones and tablets to enhance the time they spend together in the bedroom. How? Watch the video to find out!

Surprisingly, condoms are not featured in this video, yet they have reached 37.6 million views!

Proctor & Gamble: Like A Girl

This video, a series of interviews conducted on girls and women of different ages, tackles the issue of the derogatory connotation of the phrase “like a girl.” For instance “don’t throw like a girl” or “he runs like a girl.” Instead of portraying strength and confidence, the phrase is immediately associated with weakness and lack of skill – immensely offensive, in our opinion.

What’s really sad is that even women have subconsciously begun to use the phrase as an insult. However, the video tastefully tackles this issue and slowly throws light on how the phrase can be spun into a compliment. This video has received over 62.1 million views since it was posted in June 2014.

Yet another video with a social message! Social messages seem to be the trend with viral videos today. Take a hint!

Hyundai: A Message to Space

This is another one that will pull at your heart strings. The video is about a girl, Stephanie, whose father is an engineer on a satellite in space and does not get to meet his family for long stretches of time.

With a little help from Hyundai, the daughter writes a message on the ground, large enough for her dad to see from space. It definitely has the “cool” element but mostly, it’s a sweet father-daughter love theme that is bound to get at least 4 out of 5 viewers to share the video.

With over 77.4 million, this video is definitely one of the most viewed brand commercials of the past 2 years.

Volvo Trucks: The Epic Split

If you haven’t seen this one, the only thing we’re going to tell you is that it stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, it is the coolest video on YouTube, and it most certainly deserves way more than 83.9 million views. So go watch it now!

Most people don’t like Enya but this video’s soundtrack creates a beautiful contrast to the intensity of what is actually happening. Yes, the video is real and has not been tampered with.

And that concludes our 7 viral brand videos. As you can see, all the videos are entirely different in style, theme, and agenda. The bottom line is you have to create an entertaining video. If you’re out to sell, chances are your video won’t make it. Also, as we have seen, picking a social cause will do wonders for your video.

Contact us to know how we, at Toolbox Studio, can craft a brand video for your brand – a video that has all the essential ingredients that could make it (and your brand) go viral!
August 1, 2016
Indian VFX Artists Making Hollywood Films Happen

Here’s a trivia – let’s see if you can solve it. What do Hollywood blockbusters like Shrek, Gravity, Avatar, Maleficent, How to Train Your Dragon, and Interstellar have in common? If you haven’t cracked it yet, let us not keep you in suspense anymore. All these movies and many more have visual effects artists and animators from India.

Yes, famous VFX artists in India and animators are in huge demand in Hollywood.

More and more Hollywood studios are turning to the vast pool of young specialists in India to work on the visual effects of their movies. The gravity-defying, awe-inspiring sequences that seem to explode on screen are actually created halfway across the world in a studio in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, or Chennai.

Impressive body of work

If your heart almost jumped out of your mouth when James Bond skydive from a plane or skied on dangerously tall mountains in Skyfall, you have a group of Indian visual effects artists to thank (or blame)! It was a large team of special effects artists in Bangalore that worked on these jaw-dropping sequences in the 007 film.

Source: http://www.awn.com/

Similarly, if you were left wondering how could a tiger actually be sitting on a boy’s lap while watching Life of Pi, the sequence was created using special effects in a studio here in India. The film, in fact, was replete with many such awe-inspiring visual effects for which it deservedly won the Oscars. As many as 200 scenes from mega blockbuster Avatar were worked on by an Indian VFX company.

Source: https://www.fxguide.com

Next time you watch the insanely popular television series Game of Thrones and say to yourself, “Man, those dragons look realistic,” know that these fire-breathing creatures were brought to life by one of the many Indian VFX companies.

The point we are trying to make is that India is emerging as the undisputed leader of the animation and visual effects industry. According to data shared by a FICCI-KPMG report on the country’s media and entertainment industry, India’s animation industry generated a whopping Rs 4,490 crore in revenue in 2014 – an increase of 13% from the previous year.

If you thought that was good news, wait till you hear this. The industry is all set to double in size to Rs 9,550 crore within five years.

Change in trend

Post production work coming to India is actually nothing new. In the past, most of the post production work for Hollywood movies used to be done at studios in LA. While they got the good stuff (read primary shots), studios in India used to get the leftovers (read secondary shots).

However, things have changed considerably over the last few years. Indian studios are now being entrusted with creating visual effects for important shots. It’s not entirely uncommon for them to receive the entire visual effects work for a film either.

Another change in trend is the presence of Western animation and visual effects artists in Indian post production companies as opposed to earlier when mostly experts from India used to travel to Hollywood to work in their studios.

According to an Animation Xpress article published earlier this year, India has nearly 300 animation, 40 VFX and 85 game development studios with more than 15,000 professionals working for them and Hollywood is knocking on their doors.

The cost factor

Cost is a huge factor driving this trend. The low labour cost India has driven many cost-conscious Hollywood studios to outsource the expensive digital effects work to companies here. Experts suggest that labor costs in India are one-10^thof what they are in Hollywood.

But cost alone is not the only reason why Hollywood studios are shifting their visual effects work to the country. In India, they have found an immensely talented pool of computer and graphic experts who are well versed with the Western culture and way of life, speak fluent English, and have done some amazing and award-winning work in the past.

So, while there is a definite cost advantage of working with Indian post production companies for Hollywood, there is also an assurance that the skilled artists in the country would produce highest quality results.

Range of work

The digital effects work coming to India ranges from the really creative and powerful to more labor-intensive and mundane tasks. While on the surface, a certain task may look superior to the other, both are equally important in the final outcome.

So, for every Indian company that wins an Oscar and worldwide recognition for its visual effects work, there’s another one that is quietly performing low-key tasks like wire removal, rotoscope, keying and like wire removal, rotoscope, keying and match moving wire removal, rotoscope, keying, etc. in a studio somewhere in the country. in a studio somewhere in the country. But both are contributing to a film in their own way.

In conclusion, next time you see James Bond perform a gravity-defying stunt, a tiger sharing a boat with a boy, or a man trapped in another dimension, don’t forget to wonder if it’s a couple of Indian VFX companies or technicians/artists at work!

July 5, 2016
7 Reasons to Consider Creating a Corporate Video
Video sharing website YouTube created history of sorts in 2012 when it announced that it had reached 4 billion video views per day. Every second, one hour of video is uploaded on the website, which has over a billion users. What this means is that almost one-third of all people on the Internet access YouTube for information, education, and entertainment.

That’s food for thought, especially if you are sitting on the fence regarding shooting a corporate video of your company. If there’s one thing that is clear from the staggering popularity of YouTube it’s that videos are hot property…and how! Many businesses now invest in corporate video production services to enhance their brand presence and engagement.

Let’s look at seven compelling reasons to create a corporate video:
1. If a picture says a thousand words, imagine the prose a video is capable of weaving. There is no better way to express yourself than shooting a corporate video. Rather than pages after pages of written content explaining what your business is all about, the values you hold dear, the work culture you foster, and anything else you might want to say to attract customers and/or employees, shoot a video and let them see it for themselves what you are all about. Corporate video services help businesses convey their message effectively, making content more engaging and memorable. Videos are somehow more believable and relatable not to mention more instantaneous as compared to written content.
1. We retain visual content better. According to studies, people remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, 30% of what they see, and 40% of what they hear and see. The statistics speak for themselves or rather make a strong case for shooting corporate videos. If that doesn’t convince you, there’s more. Ninety percent of the information transmitted to the brain is visual. Visuals are processed 60,000x faster in the brain than text. We rest our case!
1. Videos are a great presales tool because they give you a platform to explain your products and services in a fun and interactive manner. Most businesses these days have a website that explain their products and services, but how many potential customers will bother to read it? Worse still, they can easily misinterpret what they read. Videos usually make it crystal clear to them if what you are offering meets their needs, so by the time they come to you; they are already halfway through the decision-making process.
1. They can be used to build credibility. Shooting testimonial videos of your customers who have used your product/service is a great way to build credibility and goodwill for your business. There’s nothing more convincing for a customer than a personal review of your business from a fellow customer and hearing what others have to say about your business just boosts their confidence in your company.
1. Videos improve your ranking on Google. According to a 2009 study quoted on this blog, web pages with videos are 53x more likely to rank on the first page of Google search results. Agreed that the study is slightly dated, but the fact remains that your videos stand a much better chance than your text pages of being shown on the first results page.
1. Videos have a far greater reach as compared to plain text. Instead of just putting it up on your website, you can also upload your corporate video on YouTube and potentially reach over a billion users. But that’s not all. You can use various social media networks like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc. to promote your video.
1. Videos can help improve your conversion rate. According to research, viewers are anywhere from 64-85% more likely to buy after watching a product video. Videos increase the amount of time a client spends on your website giving them more time to absorb your message and let’s face it, the more time they spend understanding your products and services, the higher is the likelihood of them purchasing them.
See for yourself some of the corporate videos that Toolbox Studio has created for its clients and you will understand the power of visual messaging. So, are you ready to unlock the true potential of your business? Are you ready to show to the world what you’re about? Are you ready to engage with your customers on a different level altogether? Are you ready to invest in corporate video production services? We believe the answer is, “Oh yes!”
July 4, 2016
How Toolbox Made UNindian Happen

What do you get when you combine a romantic plot with a cricketing heartthrob and exotic locales Down Under? Why, a recipe for a blockbuster, of course! In a major shift in roles, Aussie fast bowler Brett Lee made a smooth transition from 22 yards to 70 mm as the lead actor in Anupam Sharma’s cross-cultural drama, UNindian.

Who knew that the second fastest bowler in the history of international cricket – one who evoked fear and awe in his opponents when he ran down the pitch, one who rattled the best batsmen with one piercing look, one who was famous for single-handedly dismantling the choicest of his rival teams – would one day be wooing a beautiful girl on screen? Who knew that Binga, as he is fondly referred to by his teammates, would one day be mouthing dialogues like, “Alright, educate me! How do I pick up an Indian chick?”

Yes, he featured in a hit single with none other than the legendary Asha Bhosle way back in 2006 during the ICC Champions Trophy in India. And he also featured as himself in Victory, a cricket-themed film starring Harman Baweja. But this time, he’s the spearhead (like he was for the Australian team for so many years).

So, what made him step into a completely different role from what he has been used to for so many years? What made him choose this particular film to begin his new journey?

According to Lee, it was his love for India that made him choose the film. Well the cricketer, nay actor, is known for his love for the country that began all the way back in 1994 during his first trip here. Over the years, his love for India and ties with the country grew stronger.

Given his good looks, it was only a matter of time before offers from Bollywood started pouring in, but Lee refused them as he wasn’t ready. By the time the chance to do this Indo-Aussie cross-cultural rom-com came his way, he was ready and raring to go.

The Plot

UNindian is the story of Meera (Tannishtha Chatterjee), a beautiful Australian woman of Indian origin who is divorced and lives in Sydney with her daughter. Despite being an independent woman and a single mother, she is under intense family pressure to find a “nice Indian boy” to settle down with.

Enter Will (Brett Lee), the tall and blonde teacher whose job is to introduce migrant students to basics of Aussie English and culture.

He rides a bike, has Indian friends, plays Holi, and is a genuinely nice guy. Soon, Meera finds herself unable to resist Will’s warm smile and easy charm. But where she comes from, falling in love with an Australian is a complete no-no. Or rather, it’s unIndian.

So, what does Meera do? Acquiesce with her parents or follow her heart? Does love triumph over tradition? That’s what UNindian is all about. In an interview with The Guardian before the release of the film, Lee said, “Anyone who watches the film will find at its heart the best of messages. Love has no boundaries. Love. You can’t help who you fall in love with.”

The Challenges

Admittedly, the movie created a lot of buzz as any film that debuts a cricketing hero should. However, most of the buzz was around Brett Lee and his transformation from a good-looking cricketer to an actor. Interviews galore with Lee and his experience with making the film preceded and followed the release of UNindian.

What did not get as much attention (as it should have) was the work that went behind the scenes, the work that made the film what it was, the work that gave UNindian some of its most memorable scenes.

Toolbox Studio was one of the major players in the behind-the-scenes action. The Pune, India-based media services company was hired to work on some of the film’s VFX. Our team at Toolbox worked on crowd multiplication shots as well as dynamic effects.

They helped create the Holi scene where Will meets Meera for the first time. The team at Toolbox was given the task of adding dynamic colour effects to the sequences.

In some scenes, colors were not used during the shooting, but actually added by the Toolbox team as the mushroom blast effect which represented the Holi color effect. These beautiful colors were digitally created by their team. They used path-breaking VFX technologies such as 3D particle simulation to create the Holi color as well as the dust and particle effects.

The team was also given the task of combining the sequences shot on green screens with the footage of the rest of the crowd and then adds the actors into the scene.

Another wonderful sequence our team worked on was the movie theater crowd multiplication. When the crowd that used to fill up the theater by the director turned out not enough, we shot new footage at our own facility at Pune using local actors.

This sequence was also shot in a green screen room. Afterwards, the green screen was removed and the footage of these actors was added in the existing shots. The team was able to combine two different footages shot at two different locations in two different time zones to perfection.

So much goes into making a film and there is so much more to a movie than its glittering star cast. Ask anyone at Toolbox and they will tell you it requires hours of labour to create a two-second visual effect in a movie. But they will also tell you that it is an absolute blast (no pun intended)!

The film is set to be released across theatres in India very soon. If you haven’t watched the trailer yet, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QMRiv9a7uI

June 30, 2016