DEFENSE

Cerelink and DreamWorks Animation SKG have signed a multi-year agreement to use on-demand, 'elastic cloud computing' to render DreamWorks Animation motion picture projects.  Cerelink has deployed a significant number of computer servers in New Mexico to meet DreamWorks' demand for computer generated imagery (CGI) rendering.  

"We forecast growing our technical capacity by 20 times by the end of 2011 – this will create one of the largest cloud computing arrays for motion picture production in the world," said James Ellington, CEO of Cerelink.

There are substantial efficiencies using Cerelink's elastic cloud computing model. "Elastic" cloud computing allows clients to dynamically adjust technical capacity to meet real-time business needs.  In effect, this allows companies to only use the number of computers they need exactly when they need them.  In addition, New Mexico film production rebates and incentives offer a cost effective solution to the growing demand of CGI production for motion pictures.  Cerelink has worked with several New Mexico partners, including the University of New Mexico and the New Mexico Computer Applications Center, over the past year to refine the on-demand cloud computing model for CGI rendering.  

"It was the ingenuity and technical know how of our combined teams at Cerelink and DreamWorks Animation to make this technical architecture and business model work – this has brought us first-to-market in this important niche," said Dr. Rod Sanchez,  Cerelink's President.  "We are working with other major motion picture studios to expand New Mexico's market share in this area."

Cloud computing is a highly saleable and often virtualized set of computers accessed by clients over ultra-high speed broadband networks. Cerelink's 'elastic cloud computing' model was used to help render this year's DreamWorks Animation releases, Shrek Forever After and How to Train Your Dragon.