The top 3 collaboration apps to use for remote filmmaking during the pandemic

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collaboration apps

collaboration apps

With many businesses now working from home, remote collaboration tools have become more important than ever. For filmmakers and video production professionals, the right collaboration tools could mean the difference between productivity and losing out on clients. CoolBox Films, a Brighton video production agency, has outlined the three best collaboration apps for filmmaking teams to use during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Frame.io

Frame.io is a collaboration tool designed specifically for filmmakers. The app’s goal is to streamline communication between creators and clients or stakeholders. Frame.io is browser-based and has a smartphone app. It integrates with major filmmaking software like Adobe Premiere CC and After Effects, so you can set up watch folders. 

Getting started with Frame.io is simple, as the app is rather intuitive. After you create a project, you can invite team members and collaborators. Team members have different permissions from collaborators, so you can customise the level of access each user has. If you want to grant editing or uploading/downloading privileges to different people, you can take advantage of this great collaboration feature. 

Another noteworthy aspect of Frame.io is the notetaking function. Stakeholders can provide feedback with comments and drawings directly on the frame. Each comment or drawing is timestamped, so editors can easily see where the exact changes should be made. The notetaking feature also lets users set up notifications when new comments are added. Since Frame.io integrates with your editing software, any markers you or team members place in Frame.io are added to your timeline in your editing software as well. 

Frame.io also boasts faster upload speeds than traditional file-sharing platforms. The app will cut up your file into smaller chunks and upload five at a time, which can be stopped or resumed at any time. So working at home with a slower internet connection won’t slow down your content uploads. 

MASV

With your remote filmmaking team scattered across your city, country, or even the world, file transfer becomes a critical issue. Using cloud-based services is the best way to make files accessible to everyone, but film companies often deal with large video and audio files that could take unreasonably long to transfer. MASV fixes that problem.

MASV is an online platform for transferring large files. For editors, uploading or downloading massive files can be one of the most infuriating parts of working remotely. Some projects can reach up to one full terabyte. MASV remedies that problem by offering no limit to file sizes. 

MASV also charges per project. You only pay for files you transfer, and only if they’re downloaded by your client. It’s $0.25 per user and per GB. If you upload your files but your client never downloads them, then your transfer is free. 

A client or stakeholder has 10 days to retrieve your transfer, after which time it expires. While this is a negative point for some, it’s the price you pay for being able to move enormous files in a reasonable amount of time. 

One great collaboration feature with MASV is creating a portal. As a user, you can create a portal where team members or contractors can drop files with a special link. You’ll be charged for the transfers just like normal, but the process is much more streamlined for your collaborators. 

Adobe Shared Projects

For teams using Premiere Pro, Adobe’s Shared Projects workflow is a great tool for collaboration. Multiple editors can use shared, local storage to work on the same project. Shared Projects has a locking and unlocking feature, which keeps a project locked while one editor is working on it. If a second editor needs to access the project, it can be unlocked for them to edit on their own device.

Shared Projects isn’t dependent on internet connectivity, being a locally-based workflow. This is great if your team works through a shared storage service, but it won’t work if not. A variety of storage vendors integrate with Shared Projects, so your team can choose the best service for you. Shared Projects is accessible to any user of Premiere Pro, regardless if they’re an individual, a CC Teams user, or part of an enterprise. It doesn’t cost any extra to activate Shared Projects, either. 

For teams that want versatility in their editing organisation, Shared Projects’ customisable workflow is the answer. You can decide to split your project up by reels or scenes, or categorise by days of shooting. For editors working in the same bay on the same project, Shared Projects can be a boost to collaboration and productivity. 

Final Thoughts on Remote Collaboration Apps for Filmmaking

For remote workers, collaboration is key. And for filmmakers who are accustomed to working in the same room as their teammates, collaboration can be a challenge. Give your production agency the boost it needs during the pandemic by using the right collaboration tools.