Reshaping Workflows with Dell Pro Max and NVIDIA RTX GPUs

Episode Summary: "How ARC is Reshaping Filmmaking with AI"

Release Date: July 31, 2025
Host: Logan Lawler
Guests:

• Jeff Renfro – Co-founder of Zugazi
• Andrew McDonald – Co-founder of ARC, Film and Television Professional
• Todd – [Role not specified, likely part of the ARC team]

Introduction

In this episode of Reshaping Workflows with Dell Pro Max and NVIDIA RTX GPUs, host Logan Lawler delves into the innovative ways ARC is transforming the filmmaking industry through AI integration. The discussion highlights the synergy between Dell Pro Max workstations and NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs in accelerating creative workflows, particularly in 2D to 3D transitions within media and entertainment.

Guest Introductions

Jeff Renfro (02:07):
Jeff introduces himself as a multi-time entrepreneur and former studio executive from Disney. He emphasizes Zugazi's mission to revolutionize the 3D visualization space, drawing parallels to how Figma transformed 2D UI design. Jeff highlights the team's diverse backgrounds and their commitment to making 3D tools more accessible to creative professionals.

Andrew McDonald (02:10):
Andrew, a co-founder of ARC with two decades of experience in film and television, shares his journey from directing and cinematography to producing VR content. He explains how ARC emerged from a collaboration with Jeff and other colleagues, combining expertise in high-tech areas and leveraging AI to create a versatile pre-visualization tool.

Todd (05:37):
Todd, another co-founder, recounts his background in filmmaking and his creative experiments with AR technology. He describes the evolution of ARC from a simple AR tool to a comprehensive 3D visualization platform used in major productions like the Chucky series and Super Bowl commercials.

Overview of ARC and Its Functionality

Jeff Renfro (06:18):
Jeff elaborates on ARC's core functionalities, positioning it at the intersection of spatial computing, 3D, AI workflows, and mobility. He states, “ARC is sort of a lego lego for 3D” (06:25), highlighting its modular and high-speed capabilities that simplify scene crafting and cinematic visualization.

Andrew McDonald (07:11):
Andrew discusses the democratization of 3D workflows, driven by AI advancements. He notes, “AI workflows are becoming accessible... designed from the phone up” (07:20), emphasizing ARC's user-friendly interface that leverages ubiquitous smartphone technology for pre-visualization and real-time asset placement.

Traditional vs. ARC-Enabled Workflow

Logan Lawler (09:42):
Logan prompts the guests to compare traditional workflows with those enabled by ARC, focusing on time savings and tool simplification.

Todd (10:36):
Todd provides a detailed comparison, explaining how tasks that once required complex setups and multiple tools can now be executed seamlessly with ARC. He shares examples from the Chucky series, where ARC was used to visualize and adjust scenes in real-time. “You can completely visualize in this three dimensional” (12:25), he states, illustrating the immediate impact on production planning.

Andrew McDonald (18:10):
Andrew describes a specific project involving an insurance commercial, detailing the workflow from 3D asset creation to real-time visualization in ARC. “Creating this shot... took me half a day, a couple of hours” (18:16), he explains, compared to what it would have taken five years ago.

Demonstration of ARC in Action

Andrew McDonald (17:27 – 25:19):
Andrew presents a live demonstration of ARC by showcasing a mockup of a car insurance commercial filmed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He narrates the process of scanning the environment, importing 3D assets, positioning characters, and utilizing ARC’s camera controls to create a pre-visualized shot. The demonstration includes feeding the footage into an AI tool for video-to-video style transfer, resulting in a polished final product within hours.

Todd (27:42 – 32:24):
Todd showcasing ARC's capability to create animated scenes using 3D assets and AI-driven animation. He demonstrates puppeteering digital characters in a backyard setting, highlighting the ease of integrating virtual elements into real-world environments. “You're shooting in a regular situation with a camera...” (30:36), Todd explains, emphasizing the seamless blend of physical and digital filmmaking.

AI Integration in ARC

Jeff Renfro (07:11, 22:00):
Jeff discusses the critical role of AI in enhancing ARC’s capabilities. He mentions, “With AI workflows, you can get expressions and animations done in a day or a couple max” (22:00), underscoring the efficiency AI brings to facial performance capture and animation.

Andrew McDonald (08:39, 15:10 – 26:39):
Andrew highlights how AI reduces complexity in 3D asset creation and environment scanning. He explains, “You can almost generate any kind of three dimensional asset or scan an environment and put it in the phone almost instantaneously” (08:39). Furthermore, he showcases how AI-driven tools like Sora can restyle ARC-generated footage swiftly, enhancing creative output without extensive manual effort.

Logan Lawler (34:09):
Logan summarizes the AI integration benefits, stating, “AI is enabling creative people to do more and also taking away the part historically maybe that was a little bit not the funnest part of the job” (34:09). He emphasizes that AI augments human creativity rather than replacing it.

Real-world Applications and Examples

Todd (12:25 – 17:27):
Todd shares practical examples of ARC in action, such as visualizing digital cars in a quant hut on set and planning crane shots with virtual scale models of the White House. He illustrates how ARC facilitates real-time adjustments and collaborative visualization during production.

Andrew McDonald (23:26 – 25:38):
Andrew presents a project set in the Hockey Hall of Fame, where ARC was used to integrate a 3D character of Rocket Richard into the dressing room environment. He explains the workflow of scanning the location, importing assets, and using ARC to shoot and generate content ready for AI post-processing. “This is good for, you know, illustrating your concept or as I said, feeding it back into an AI for video to video AI post processing” (24:44).

Todd (27:42 – 32:24):
Todd demonstrates creating a mini-Pixar workflow using ARC, generating unique robot characters, animating them with mocap, and integrating them into physical spaces. The resulting animated scene showcases how ARC empowers filmmakers to produce high-quality content entirely from their personal spaces.

Benefits of Using Dell Pro Max and NVIDIA RTX GPUs

Jeff Renfro (33:02):
Jeff emphasizes the importance of secure, high-performance workstations in professional workflows. “Being able to have the Dell workstation we have and be able to sort out these workflows independent of a cloud based service...” (33:02), he explains, highlighting content security and IP protection as critical factors.

Andrew McDonald (18:10 – 22:00):
Andrew discusses how Dell Pro Max workstations, equipped with NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs, enhance ARC’s performance by providing the necessary computational power for real-time rendering, AI processing, and handling large 3D assets efficiently.

Logan Lawler (34:09):
Logan underscores the collaborative power of Dell Pro Max and NVIDIA GPUs in accelerating workflows, allowing for faster iteration and more creative freedom. “Dell Pro Max and NVIDIA RTX GPUs are really accelerating the workflow process and reinvent the way that workflows are done...” (34:09), he states, reinforcing the theme of technological empowerment.

Conclusion and Where to Find More Information

Jeff Renfro (35:07):
Jeff invites listeners to join the ARC beta program by visiting Zugazi.com and encourages reaching out via LinkedIn for more information and feedback.

Logan Lawler (35:38 – 36:34):
Logan wraps up the episode by reiterating the transformative impact of ARC and AI on creative workflows, all powered by Dell Pro Max and NVIDIA RTX GPUs. He invites listeners to stay tuned for future episodes that continue to explore innovative workflows and technologies.

Notable Quotes

• Jeff Renfro (06:25): “ARC is sort of a lego lego for 3D.”
• Andrew McDonald (07:20): “Designed from the phone up, designed to be used as a camera, not as a, as an app.”
• Todd (10:36): “You can completely visualize in this three dimensional.”
• Logan Lawler (34:09): “AI is enabling creative people to do more and also taking away the part historically maybe that was a little bit not the funnest part of the job.”
• Andrew McDonald (34:32): “It's putting the human creativity back into using AI.”
• Jeff Renfro (33:02): “Being able to have the Dell workstation we have and be able to sort out these workflows independent of a cloud based service...”

Final Thoughts

This episode provides an in-depth look at how ARC, powered by Dell Pro Max workstations and NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs, is revolutionizing the filmmaking process. By integrating AI and 3D spatial computing, ARC streamlines pre-visualization, asset creation, and animation, enabling creative professionals to produce high-quality content more efficiently and securely. The guests' insights and demonstrations illustrate the practical applications and substantial benefits of adopting this innovative workflow technology.

For more information or to join the ARC beta, visit Zugazi.com and connect with Jeff Renfro on LinkedIn.