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Burbank, CA- AlphaDogs is pleased to announce they have completed work on the new film Revision, where a petty thief seeks to atone his past by returning to the house he robbed.
It was Director Zac Wong’s vision to not only tell a good story but also explore how a film could portray the overlap of human consciousness and memory. Wong explains, “I was fascinated by the way that we tend to experience several disconnected events in our past simultaneously. I found the feeling of guilt to be the most palpable manifestation of chaotic memory and a great subject for this film.”
AlphaDogs assistant editor Rachel Bartlett and colorist Sean Stack worked collaboratively as team using a round-trip workflow from Premiere Pro to DaVinci Resolve to complete the finish on the film. Bartlett explains, “We decided on a Premiere Pro and Resolve round-trip workflow because they both work natively with RED 4K media which allows a clear path to a smooth delivery.”
Resolve has a RED camera file management command known as R3D Trim and it was utilized to move the camera media used in the final locked sequence to the shared server at AlphaDogs. The fast fiber connection to the trimmed source files allowed Stack to navigate quickly, review color grades in Resolve in real-time and render as fast as the GPU would allow, saving valuable time and money. “The round-trip workflow worked extremely well for this project,” said Stack. “Resolve had no difficulty rendering out the custom 4K frame size known as 4K Scope (4096 x 1708) for the final trip back into Premiere Pro.”
Specific color choices made by Stack during color correction not only added to the suspense of the story, but also kept the film’s continuity in check. One scene in particular involved a kitchen sink close-up shot with very warm tones. Stack chose to match a cooler version of the sink as it appeared in a wide shot earlier in the story, allowing for a consistent look throughout the film. “The good news is Resolve is such a powerful tool for color grading, that we had a chance to try both warm and cool temperatures with scenes and truly make a creative decision on what looked and felt the best,” said Stack. Wong comments, “We loved that Sean was able to make subtle adjustments to the color on a micro level that allowed for our characters and story to shine.”
Independently owned and operated, AlphaDogs provides an indie-friendly work environment and has helped make the post-production process both affordable and less stressful for the independent filmmaker for the past 12 years. “Working with the team at AlphaDogs was especially easy. They were not only friendly and accessible, but also responsive and intuitive to our needs as filmmakers,” said Wong. “We were very happy with the final delivery and that we delivered before the deadline. We would use AlphaDogs again because of the excellent customer service and the team’s expertise.”
Revision will screen at various festivals later this year. Wong hopes that audiences will feel as though they are part of the story by getting the chance to play detective by piecing together the fragments of the protagonist’s broken mind.
For more information visit https://pro-labs.imdb.com/title/tt4438280/
About AlphaDogs: Founded in 2002, AlphaDogs is an independently owned full service post-production facility located in the center of Burbank’s media district. AlphaDogs gifted team brings a combination of both creative talent and technical expertise paying extra attention to detail in delivering projects with a personal touch. State of the art editing bays, color correction, audio mixing, visual effects, production offices and equipment rentals are available. To learn more visit alphadogs.tv
Burbank, CA—Everyone could use a little magic in their lives, and that’s just what the residents of Overland Park, Kansas got unexpectedly in the spring of 2013 when beautifully crafted fairy homes with doors custom-built to fit the hollows of trees mysteriously popped up along a heavily wooded walking trail. Intrigued by the story after reading about it in the Kansas City Star, director/producer Sharon Liese set out to make The Gnomist, a documentary with an initial focus of revealing who was behind the construction of these mysterious houses. “I thought I was going to solve the mystery of who was building the homes, but then I learned that so many people were being kept afloat by these homes, that I realized there was a deeper story to be told.”
Evolving beyond a “whodonit” story, The Gnomist follows the lives of three isolated suburban women who find themselves in Firefly Forest searching for something: an escape from a disturbing divorce; a respite from a devastating injury; and a connection to “Little Owl”, a beloved child taken too soon.
Liese called upon AlphaDogs once again when it came time to complete the finish for the film. “I chose to work with AlphaDogs on this project because they had completed work on a show I executive produced for MTV and they did a fantastic job. Everyone was so enthusiastic and quickly became part of The Gnomist team. They were passionate about making the film look and sound its best.”
The Gnomist is filmed cinematically with sweeping crane shots far above the branches that move fluidly down to the tiny fairy doors at the base of the tree trunks—introducing this hidden trail in Firefly Forest as a character itself. Liese also had GoPro and drone footage that she really wanted to match to the rest of the film and wasn’t sure if it could be done. GoPro footage can be tricky to work with, as mismatching frame rates can appear jittery when edited into the rest of the film. AlphaDogs colorist Sean Stack was able to reduce the amount of motion artifacts within the GoPro footage while creating a rich seamless look for the film using DaVinci Resolve for color grading. “The frame rate problems were solved during finishing for The Gnomist and the result was quite rewarding. It was a feel-good moment for me as a colorist, and it just made the whole experience of working on the film even better.”
Audio for the film required extra attention as the majority of the production sound was recorded with lavaliere microphones, which are sensitive and prone to picking up background and clothing noise. Inconsistent dialogue levels also presented a problem, depending on where the microphones were positioned on the talent. AlphaDogs audio engineer Curtis Fritsch used multiple plugins in ProTools, finessing the balance between making the audio understandable and avoiding over-processed sound. Fritsch also created a lush sonic background to make Firefly Forest sound more alive. “It was a little tricky, but we ended up having a mix where you could turn your head in any direction and have it sound unique.”
Liese hopes audiences will see the magical power of kindness after seeing The Gnomist. “As a filmmaker, a story like this doesn’t come around often—nonetheless in my own backyard,” said Liese. The Gnomist gave me an opportunity to capture a whimsical story in a beautiful forest and to unveil a powerful arc filled with mystery, human frailty and hope. I noticed that everyone I met in the forest was dealing with some sort of loneliness, some cases severe and devastating. This film inspires change on a root level, reminding us that the simple act of connecting can change someone’s identity”
Produced by Sharon Liese and Oscar winning producer Cynthia Wade, The Gnomist premiered at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival in April and will also screen at Hot Docs in Toronto, Boston IFF, Minneapolis and Newport Beach Film Festival and other festivals throughout the year. For more information visit the film's website.
Watch the trailer online and follow The Gnomist on Facebook for festival screening updates.
About Herizon Productions: Herizon Productions produces documentary-style television programming and documentary films that air on major television networks. Founder and critically acclaimed award-winning filmmaker Sharon Liese’s philosophy is a simple one: to capture real and untold stories that inspire and entertain viewers. For more information visit herizonproductions.com.
About AlphaDogs: Founded in 2002, AlphaDogs is an independently owned full service post-production facility located in the center of Burbank’s media district. AlphaDogs gifted team brings a combination of both creative talent and technical expertise paying extra attention to detail in delivering projects with a personal touch. State of the art editing bays, color correction, audio mixing, visual effects, production offices and equipment rentals are available. To learn more visit alphadogs.tv.
Burbank, CA—Those who serve our country do so by choice and with courage and honor. When wounded servicemen and women are forced to return home long before they are ready, many end up feeling like they no longer serve a purpose and struggle with day-to-day living. When Marine Corporal Kionte Storey lost his leg and suffered other injuries during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, he made a conscious choice upon his return home that he would not only overcome his injuries, but also help and inspire other soldiers to overcome theirs as well.
Cirina Catania, director/cinematographer and founder of The Catania Group met wounded hero Kionte Storey when she was volunteering to shoot video and stills for an Orange Country based charity that provides furniture for wounded veterans. “When I learned more about this amazing young man, I just had to do a story about his life, ” said Catania. Currently in production on the documentary film Kionte Story-Athlete, Catania recently produced a 2-minute clip that was shown to other filmmakers at the Slamdance Film Festival during a presentation for Blackmagic Design. Since it was one of the first looks of the film, Catania needed to tell the story well with color grading literally and subliminally matching the emotional wealth of the story. She called upon the expertise of AlphaDogs colorist, Sean Stack who is proficient in DaVinci Resolve. Stack’s creative eye coupled with the tools available through Resolve, allowed for three very distinct looks to be created in the short 2-minute clip, thus adding to the emotional impact of each scene. “One of the reasons I love the Blackmagic line of cameras is the ability to shoot raw or at ProRes in film mode and paint each scene using Resolve in post,” said Catania. “I believe Sean and I accomplished something pretty remarkable and audiences will react positively to the clip. This is important, as we are working on building awareness for the project as we continue to move forward. AlphaDogs has a reputation for their commitment to independent film and it’s nice work with a facility and team that appreciates what you do, and helps make the product even better. They did a great job bringing the footage to life.”
Catania hopes audiences will be motivated by what they see on the screen. While Storey has suffered greatly with the loss of his leg, he hasn’t let that stop him from moving forward in life and becoming a better person. Storey explains, “It’s a new start, whatever injury you have, whatever you are dealing with, you have to make that work for you, instead of against you. Just because your leg hurts does not mean you can’t play a sport or be active.” Storey is passionate about running track and says that without it, his life would be boring and meaningless. He enjoys competitions and trains daily. He hopes to gain a spot on the International Paralympic Team and travel the world helping others overcome their challenges.
Catania hopes to complete Kionte Storey-Athlete in time for a limited theatrical release on Veterans Day. For more information visit: http://www.thecataniagroup.com
To view the 2-minute clip visit https://vimeo.com/118564854
• About The Catania Group: The Catania Group, Inc., writes, produces, directs, shoot and post-produces compelling stories. Since 1989, they have delivered creative and innovative content for film, television, and web-based clients in numerous countries around the globe. In a field that is fast-paced and highly competitive, The Catania Group delivers on time, on budget and with a level of expertise that is unwavering. Combing experience that comes with a combination of seasoned veterans and young fresh talent, they are always a step ahead with a futuristic and fresh approach to client’s needs and providing award-winning products.
• About AlphaDogs: Founded in 2002, AlphaDogs is an independently owned full service post-production facility located in the center of Burbank’s media district. AlphaDogs gifted team brings a combination of both creative talent and technical expertise paying extra attention to detail in delivering projects with a personal touch. State of the art editing bays, color correction, audio mixing, visual effects, production offices and equipment rentals are available. To learn more visit http://www.alphadogs.tv
Burbank, CA—AlphaDogs is pleased to announce completion of color correction services for MTV’s True Life: I’m Breaking Up With My Religion. Executive Produced for MTV Networks by Sharon Liese, founder of Herizon Productions and Jon Kroll of Loveable Scoundrels Productions, the show follows three young people who decide to break away from their religions and pursue other doctrines, all for very different reasons.
Executive Producer Jon Kroll worked with AlphaDogs once again as a trusted partner in post-production to complete the finish for the show. “I’ve worked with AlphaDogs before and was really happy with their work, so it was a no-brainer to work with them again,” said Kroll. “Whenever I work with AlphaDogs, I feel like they elevate the project.”
Color correction was completed under the scrutiny and skillful eye of president and lead colorist at AlphaDogs, Terence Curren. The show was shot on location in Los Angeles, Omaha and Dallas. Color correction for most reality television shows can be challenging due to uncontrolled production environments that typically have less than optimal lighting. What complicates things further is when multiple makes of cameras are used during production. Curren explains, “It’s difficult to get footage from more than one camera to match perfectly. Creating a uniform look in color correction is essential in these type of situations if you want to avoid delivering a jarring viewing experience to your audiences.” More information about the vital role color correction plays in the post-production process can be found in an educational video produced by the team at AlphaDogs.
AlphaDogs has provided quality color correction and post-production services to the television and film industry for over 12 years, creating customized workflows that fit needs specific to each project. Curren comments, “With the exponential growth of new technologies, traditional post-production workflows of yesterday no longer apply. At AlphaDogs we look beyond the basics of just color and audio services working with clients in carefully examining every aspect of the project to determine what type of workflow is best from both a time and budget perspective. No two workflows are the same in today’s market and we do whatever it takes to help simplify the process.”
I’m Breaking Up With My Religion was delivered digitally on time and within budget. Kroll comments, “I will continue to use AlphaDogs services because I know I can count on them to fix it in post no matter what happened in production.”
I’m Breaking Up With My Religion can be watched online in its entirety.
About AlphaDogs: Founded in 2002, AlphaDogs is an independently owned full service post-production facility located in the center of Burbank’s media district. AlphaDogs gifted team brings a combination of both creative talent and technical expertise paying extra attention to detail in delivering projects with a personal touch. State of the art editing bays, color correction, audio mixing, visual effects, production offices and equipment rentals are available. To learn more visit www.alphadogs.tv
