Continuing its support for quality independent films, Modern VideoFilm provided post-production services for The Invitation in advance of its world premiere at this month’s SXSW Film Festival. The facility’s role comprised editorial conforming, final color grading, technical support and deliverables, the latter including a Digital Cinema Package master for the festival screening.
Directed by Karyn Kusama (Girlfight), The Invitation generated considerable buzz in Austin and a flurry of glowing reviews. An eerie drama with an escalating plot, the film centers on a dinner party of old friends that takes a turn for the macabre. Variety called it “a teasingly effective thriller” and lauded Kusama for “an assurance of tone, craft and purpose.”
Final color grading, conducted in P3 color space, was completed at Modern VideoFilm by colorist Gregg Garvin (There Will Be Blood, Don Jon). Working under the direction of Kusama, cinematographer Bobby Shore (Man Seeking Woman, A Dark Truth) and Kusama’s color timer Harris Charalambous (The ABCs of Death), final colorist Garvin collaboratively shaped the slightly heightened grade that brought out golden tones and emphasized the confining space of the film's principal interior.
“The last stages of post are the final stops you make on the way to finally showing your film to the world,” said Kusama. “No matter how big or small your film, or your audience, it’s a genuine comfort to have a post staff that's knowledgeable and conscientious, and who care about the films they work on. It was a pleasure to be at Modern and I look forward to the next time.”
Despite a tight deadline, the post team at Modern treated the independently produced film with the same care and attention they would apply to a studio blockbuster. “Modern has always been very supportive of independent film,” said DI producer Jeannette Zepeda. “We enjoy working with inspired filmmakers like Karyn Kusama and want to help their films reach their audience.”