In a significant boost to its color grading services for commercials Soho post-production company Unit has purchased a Baselight HD color grading system from FilmLight. The new grading system is installed at Unit’s newly opened 9400 square-foot facility and is part of the service offering of the company’s specialty sub-brand The Finish which also provides visual effects and compositing services. Unit has also purchased FilmLight’s Kompressor technology and is using it to connect Baselight with its central SAN and share files and data seamlessly with its Autodesk visual effects and compositing systems as well as the Apple Final Cut Pro editing systems employed by its sub-brand The Cut. Unit CEO Adam Luckwell says his staff conducted a thorough technical review of grading systems and also polled the company’s advertising clients regarding their preferences for grading. “Almost across the board they said Baselight ” Luckwell says. He adds that they also found that virtually all of the top post houses in London use Baselight as their primary grading system. “At that point it became an easy decision ” he says. “We considered other systems…but not for very long.” Unit senior colorist Simon Astbury says that Baselight’s ability to import and export XML files will make it easy for him to collaborate with editors on projects. Additionally Baselight’s robust features will greatly enhance his ability to carry out complex grading functions required by high-end commercials work. He therefore believes Baselight will help Unit attract more work from London’s top advertising agencies. “It’s a product that opens doors simply through its reputation ” Astbury says. “As far as I’m concerned it’s the best grading system out there.” FilmLight www.filmlight.ltd.uk Unit www.unit.tv
