Independent London post house Directors Cut Films – owned and operated by its creative staff – has invested in a Baselight TWO colour grading workstation with a Blackboard 2 control panel. Directors Cut works primarily in premium long-form television, as well as drama series, documentaries and feature films, with increasing interest in 4K and HDR.

“Being owned and run by ex-editors, we know what is required to meet and exceed expectations in post,” said Senior Colourist Andy Elliott. “We felt it was the right time to invest and embrace HDR and 4K workflows. HDR in particular produces much more of a positive visual impact, with real benefits in the immersive experience for the viewer.”

Leading broadcasters and production companies in the UK routinely turn to Directors Cut to finish major projects. While the work includes major dramas and some feature films, the company has a reputation for long form TV, especially documentaries. Recent projects graded by Elliott include biographies of Cher and Elton John, an investigation of the Bauhaus for BBC4, and Sir David Attenborough’s call to action Climate Change: The Facts.

Elliott pointed out that such programmes frequently bring together footage shot on multiple different cameras and formats, often in less than ideal circumstances. The task for the colourist is to integrate all of the footage as well as create a coherent look that reflects the story the director wishes to tell. That makes the speed and power of the upgraded Baselight suite an important asset.

At Inter BEE, the FilmLight presence will be led by Koichi Matsui, General Manager of FilmLight KK, along with Yoko Kimura, newly appointed sales and product specialist. “FilmLight is one of the world’s leading companies for production and post production technology,” said Koichi Matsui “Yoko’s recent appointment underlines this region’s importance to us, and is a clear indication of the support we are giving to our existing and future customers in Japan.”

Top end post-production is placing ever-more stringent technical demands on technology, in support of the creative ambitions of directors, cinematographers and colourists. 4K and HDR are now commonplace, and 8K is being broadcast today in Japan. Recently, Baselight workstations were chosen for grading and finishing Ang Lee’s new movie, Gemini Man, shot and delivered in 120 frames per second, 4K, high dynamic range 3D.

Only the power of the Baselight X system can handle such a data-intensive project, while still giving the colourist free rein with next-generation creative tools and realtime response. FilmLight will demonstrate these tools as part of its latest software version at Inter BEE 2019, on an 8K display powered by a Baselight X grading system. This includes new productivity features such as the enhanced timeline with collapsing stacks and multiple tracks.

Leading London boutique post house Fifty Fifty has added a second Baselight grading suite as part of its expansion programme. With the growing interest in top end content for broadcast and streaming, both suites are equipped for 4K and HDR Ultra HD, and certified for Dolby Vision grading and delivery.

At this year’s IBC, FilmLight (Amsterdam, 13-17 September, stand #7.A45) is demonstrating new colour management tools and products designed to improve efficiency and flexibility for a wide range of workflows.

At this year’s IBC, FilmLight (stand #7.A45) is hosting the free two-day seminar series, Colour On Stage, on 14-15 September 2019. The event provides an opportunity for visitors to participate in live presentations and discussions with colourists and other creative professionals at the peak of their craft.

Burbank, CA-based Matthews Studio Equipment helps grips, electricians, and filmmakers in general solve the problems of the day on every set. When it comes to rigging lights, they work with lighting manufacturers to ensure the right tools are available for every job. Partnering with lighting pioneers Kino Flo, Matthews developed the MK-FS48 FreeStyle Rigging Kit and accessories to increase creativity and mount-ability while on-set.

NAB 2019, 8-11 April, Booth SL8716: Cinegy, the global leader for broadcast playout software in the cloud, has announced that Cinegy® Air PRO 8K™ playout has been optimized to be easily scalable both locally and in the cloud, enabling everything from automatic infrastructure creation to complete and orderly destruction to be achieved through easily manageable code.