Featured Stories

Saving White Bird

Mon, 10/14/2024 - 10:49 -- Nick Dager

Up to the moment the cameras rolled, cinematographer Matthias Königswieser, AAC wasn’t sure White Bird: A Wonder Story would actually happen. Production of the feature film began in Prague in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, when most of Europe was on lockdown. Transporting crew, talent, and equipment required herculean effort and contingency planning, and if key personnel or talent tested positive for covid, the entire schedule could be upended, or the production could be shut down. Lay on top of those difficulties a cold, mucky winter, and you have a recipe for what could have been a disaster.

Making a Classic New York Comedy

Mon, 09/30/2024 - 11:38 -- Nick Dager

Directed by Pamela Adlon, Babes is a heartfelt, contemporary comedy set in New York City. At its core, the movie is about the deep love and strong friendship between Eden (played by co-writer and producer Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (Michelle Buteau). The feature blends humor with deep emotional resonance as the two friends navigate family life and motherhood. With its timeless visual style, the film captures the charm of classic cinema while grounding its narrative in the present day. The project's distinct look was crafted through the close collaboration of cinematographer Jeffrey Kim and Light Iron colorist Keith Jenson.

Creating the Future of Cinema Sound

Mon, 09/09/2024 - 11:29 -- Nick Dager

Last month, after a long career with Barco and then Cinionic, Wim Buyens announced that he had founded the organization Cinema Coach and, at the same time, been named chairman of the board of Procella Audio. According to Buyens, Cinema Coach is unique in many ways. “We are dedicated to transforming and reimagining the cinema and entertainment landscape by fostering a dynamic ecosystem of innovation and collaboration,” he said. “Our goal is to address current challenges and unlock new opportunities in this industry. We facilitate collaboration between tech entrepreneurs and industry experts, utilizing strategic advisory services and tailored technological solutions specifically for the entertainment sector. Our work involves connecting with industry experts and tech innovators to drive advancements, providing tailored strategic advice to enhance operational efficiencies and customer experiences, and developing and implementing cutting-edge technological solutions to address industry challenges and explore new opportunities.” I recently spoke via email with Buyens about those challenges and opportunities. Here is that conversation.

What’s the Sound of a Purple Crayon?

Mon, 09/02/2024 - 12:17 -- Nick Dager

Columbia Pictures’ Harold and the Purple Crayon is a live action/animation hybrid adaptation of Crockett Johnson’s beloved children’s classic about a boy who can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After Harold grows up and draws himself off the book’s pages and into the physical world, he finds he has a lot to learn about real life—and that his trusty purple crayon may set off more hilarious hijinks than he thought possible.

Creating the Color Grade of The Forge

Mon, 09/02/2024 - 12:07 -- Nick Dager

The Forge is an American drama film directed by Alex Kendrick and co-written by Stephen Kendrick. It is a spin-off to War Room (2015) and tells the inspiring story of a young man's journey for purpose through faith and discipleship. The film was shot in Albany, Georgia, by cinematographer Bob Scott and the color was completed by colorist Keith Roush in Atlanta, at Roush Media.

Arsenal Installs Sony Grading Monitor

Tue, 08/13/2024 - 10:15 -- Nick Dager

Arsenal FX Color knows that the best way to keep pace with the rapidly changing media and entertainment industry is by having the right technology. That’s why the high-end, boutique postproduction house in Los Angeles recently upgraded to Sony’s BVM-HX3110 Trimaster HX Professional Grading Monitor. The new 4K monitor helps handle the company’s diverse workload of increasingly complex media projects and satisfies constantly evolving client demands for high-quality content.

Cinema West Thrives with AAM Screenwriter

Wed, 05/29/2024 - 08:58 -- Nick Dager

Having previously employed another industry recognized theatre management system, Cinema West Theatres encountered numerous weekly challenges, including excessive time dedicated to content management, subpar performance, and frequent loss of shows resulting in revenue loss. Recognizing the need for change, senior management sought a better solution. Following a successful trial of Arts Alliance Media’s Screenwriter at Palladio 16 and Palladio Luxe, their most prominent, multi-format location, in 2022, Cinema West proceeded to implement Arts Alliance Media’s flagship theatre management software across their entire circuit, resulting in substantial time savings, decreased revenue loss, and a notable reduction in support tickets; each contributing towards an improved experience and healthier, more sustainable business.

Creating the Palette of Palm Royale

Mon, 05/27/2024 - 10:27 -- Nick Dager

Created by showrunner Abe Sylvia, the Apple TV+ comedic drama Palm Royale navigates the tale of one woman's ambitious journey to make it among the upper crust, through extravagant settings that evoke the golden era of Life magazine. Cinematographer David Lanzenberg was behind the camera for the first two episodes, working with director Tate Taylor, and then passed the baton to fellow director of photography Todd McMullen, who shot the remaining eight episodes. With support from Panavision Woodland Hills, the cinematographers opted to pair Panaspeed large-format spherical primes with the Millennium DXL2 camera. Here, the collaborators highlight how the series’ visual language was distinctly enhanced by the choices made by the art, wardrobe, and hair & make-up departments.

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Crafting a Visual Language for Grief

Mon, 05/06/2024 - 09:29 -- Nick Dager

Now streaming on Netflix, Good Grief marks the feature-film directorial debut of Daniel Levy, well known as the co-creator and costar of the series Schitt’s Creek. Offering an uplifting perspective on dealing with the permanence of losing a loved one, Good Grief follows Marc (played by Levy), who was content living in the shadow of his larger-than-life husband, Oliver (Luke Evans). But when Oliver unexpectedly dies, Marc’s world shatters, sending him and his two best friends, Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel), on a soul-searching trip to Paris that reveals some hard truths they each needed to face. Cinematographer Ole Bratt Birkeland, BSC and gaffer Chris Dowling made each of their decisions with the aim of embracing these realities. Panavision London supplied the production’s camera and lens package, and Panalux London provided lighting services. The filmmakers also worked with Light Iron for dailies and finishing services, including visual effects and final color. Light Iron’s VFX contributions included 3D tracking, reflection maps, motion vector mapping, rotoscoping, paint, and multi-layered compositing; in the final grade, Birkeland reteamed with supervising colorist Ian Vertovec. Supported throughout production and post, the filmmakers were free to skillfully explore the bright spots of bereavement. Here, Birkeland and Dowling discuss their approach to crafting the film’s visual language.

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