Post-production finishing for the first season of Vida, the new half-hour drama from Starz and executive producer Tanya Saracho, was recently completed at MTI Film. Senior colorist Steve Porter worked with series cinematographer Carmen Cabana in finalizing the look of the show, which has just been renewed for a second season and has drawn rave reviews for its revealing portrait of Latinx life in East Los Angeles.
Manuel Canchola is a freelance colorist based in Mexico City. He works on a mixture of commercials, television and film and uses this variety to continuously improve his skills as a colorist. Canchola, a passionate advocate for new technology and, in particular, high dynamic range, recently spoke with Digital Cinema Report about his career and his work in color grading.
“I think if you’re making a high school movie, you can’t not watch John Hughes movies for reference,” said cinematographer Hillary Spera (Duck Butter, Submission). “Even if it’s subliminal, they’re woven into the language.” Filmmaker John Hughes had a string of hit films in the 1980s that were a true depiction of high school life in middle class suburbia. Movies like 16 Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink portrayed teen characters with depth and intelligence but were also comedic.
The Fourth Annual Asian World Film Festival will once again be held in Culver City, California with opening night scheduled for October 24 and closing night November 1. This year's theme will focus on the female empowerment, said the festival’s executive director Georges N. Chamchoum.
The American Society of Cinematographers has re-elected Kees van Oostrum as president, who will serve his third consecutive term at the organization.
Matthews Studio Equipment has introduced a rig that further extends the range of filming environments for Samsung 360 Round camera. The Matthews VRig offers flexible mounting options, low center of gravity and a small footprint to minimize nadir hole obstruction while maintaining rock-solid stability. When paired with Samsung’s 360 Round, which captures true 4Kx4K 360 degree footage, users can record, edit and livestream complete VR video and audio, anywhere. 360 Round features a unibody chassis and compact design and is IP65 dust and water-resistant.
Terence Curren founded AlphaDogs in 2002 when he envisioned a future that would have a demand for more than just a conventional post-production facility. Sixteen years ago, the traditional business model was just beginning to show cracks as the falling costs of equipment led some producers to invest in their own. Curren believed talent would be the key ingredient to thrive in the technological world of the 21st Century. A veteran editor and colorist by trade, Curren assembled an elite team of like-minded post-production professionals that brought the perfect balance of creativity and technical know-how to the table. Sixteen years later, AlphaDogs continues to evolve with the ever-changing technology and needs of their clients.
New York independent sound studio Sound Lounge has introduced its Sound Lounge Everywhere concept to Colorado. The company has partnered with Boulder post-production company 11 Dollar Bill to offer remote audio production and mixing service to agencies and brands in the region and beyond.
Written during the McCarthy era and published in 1953, Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451, is set in a society where books are outlawed and firemen are charged with burning them. The novel has had many adaptations, most famously in François Truffaut’s 1966 film, which starred Oskar Werner and Julie Christie. In 2018, Ramin Bahrani co-wrote and directed the film adaptation for HBO, starring Michael B. Jordan, who also served as executive producer. The stylized film was shot by cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau, ASC (Game of Thrones, Thor: The Dark World, Terminator Genisys).
James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment will use Sony’s new Venice motion picture camera system for principal photography on the upcoming Avatar sequels. The first Avatar movie, released in 2009 and also shot on Sony professional cameras, shattered box office records with its compelling story, immersive 3D and stunning visuals. These newest entries in the franchise promise to up the visual ante significantly with enhanced special effects, more elaborate production requirements and challenging live action sequences.
