Serious Facilities has installed a Baselight HD, FilmLight’s software-based 2K and HD colour grading system, as part of the launch of its new, state-of-the-art facility at Film City Glasgow. Baselight will allow Serious—for the first time in Scotland—to offer advanced colour grading for advertising, television, film and documentary projects complementing its existing editorial and visual effects resources.

Its location at Film City Glasgow places Serious Facilities at the heart of Scotland’s growing media industry. In addition to Baselight, Serious’ resources include an Avid DS Nitris, Symphony Nitris, four Media Composer Adrenaline HD’s and a Symphony SD. All are linked to a shared storage 16TB Avid Unity ISIS which will provide additional storage for the Baselight HD.

Serious Facilities Managing Director Simon Cull expects Baselight to be used primarily to grade commercials offering a top class alternative close to home. “We’ve had the ability to finish adverts, but if an agency was in London doing telecine, they would often finish the work there as well,” Simon noted. “With our new workflow, it will enable clients to do the entire project with us.”

Serious has recently completed advertisements for such brands as Tennents, Bulmers, Irn Bru, Subway, Cif and the Scottish Executive. The company has also provided editorial services for the films Hallam Foe, Kinky Boots and It’s a Boy Girl Thing and for such television shows as Remembering Dunblane and Dear Green Place and pop promos for Snow Patrol, Franz Ferdinand and Idlewild.

Simon noted that part of his job will be to help producers see the value of high end colour grading. “Many people in our market have been using Avid systems for grading,” he explained. “We are hoping to change their workflows to embrace the benefits of grading in Baselight with a professional colourist.”

Serious Facilities evaluated a number of colour grading solutions and ultimately selected Baselight based on quality, features, performance and the system’s potential for expansion. “We wanted a grading system that could be seamlessly integrated into our current workflow,” he said. “We were also looking towards the future and felt that the Baselight/Avid combination would take us further quicker. We wanted scalability which Baselight provides through an upgrade to Baselight FOUR or EIGHT or the addition of a Northlight scanner.”

Simon added that another crucial element in his company’s buying decision was the support provided by FilmLight. “FilmLight worked hard to accommodate our needs,” he said. “Grading suites did not previously exist in Scotland and it is with great excitement that we enter into this part of our businesses expansion.”

Contact – Deepa Parbhoo ([email protected]) +44 20 7292 0400

About Serious Facilities

Serious Facilities provides picture post to film, TV and commercial productions. The company offers editorial equipment with offline and online service to its clients. Serious provides in- and out-house facilities as well as dry and wet hire. Housed in the beautifully refurbished Govan Town Hall, the 65,000 square foot Film City is adjacent to the planned new BBC Scotland headquarters and also serves as the home to independent film producer Sigma Films and audio post house Savalas. Recent projects include the television programs Remembering Dunblane and Dear Green Place; commercials for Bank of Scotland, Bulmers, Subway, Irn Bru and Tennent’s; and the films Hallam Foe and It’s a Boy Girl Thing. For more information visit www.seriousfacilities.co.uk
Contact – Katie Whiteford ([email protected]) +44 141 440 6940

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