Complex visual effects and computer graphics can mean extensive (and expensive) computing needs, and to address this, Amazon Web Services is launching a new cloud rendering service. AWS Deadline Cloud, aimed at entertainment and other industries with computing-intensive needs, makes its infrastructure available. The model is structured so that users only pay for what they need and when they need it, for instance, on tight deadlines. In today’s era of filmmaking, VFX and CG are, of course, used in many features and series. Antony Passemard, general manager of creative tools at AWS, notes that VFX rendering might take a few hours per frame on large, complex frames for a movie.’ He further explained, ‘Even when you’re not rendering, you’re still paying somewhat of an underlying infrastructure cost. With Deadline Cloud, you only pay when you render. When you have downtime in your production, it costs you zero.’