Standardized file formats are widely considered a secret for success. Annie Chang, VP of post-production technology at Walt Disney Studios, outlined key aspects of the new Interoperable Master Format (IMF) project, which is being finalized by a consortium of film studios and post facilities, and hosted by The Entertainment Technology Center @ USC. “IMF combines a play list with essences” – audio, video, images, metadata and other material – “that can be mixed and matched to generate a variety of master files via an Output Profile List that contain instructions for particular versions,” says Chang, who chairs an IMF working group for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).
