Belgium post-production house HoverlorD has unveiled a purpose-built Digital Intermediate Theatre at its facility in Liege employing FilmLight’s scanning and colour grading technology. The key components of the new workflow are a Northlight scanner, capable of scanning at resolutions up to 6K, and a Baselight FOUR colour grading system, which is able to process high resolution imagery in real time. HoverlorD intends to use the new resource for mastering feature films, TV series and documentaries for theatrical and broadcast release.

The DI Theatre is the first of its kind in Wallonia and enables 2-year old HoverlorD to offer film scanning services for the first time. The company spent more than a year in planning the move and conducted thorough evaluations of various scanning systems before selecting Northlight.

The choice, according to HoverlorD CEO Louis-Philippe Capelle, was based on image quality and performance. “This was a very big investment for us and so it was critical that we make a wise decision—one that would meet our current and future needs,” Capelle said. “Northlight was clearly superior in image quality and reliability—and is capable of handling any project that comes our way.”

In adding film scanning, HoverlorD looks to capture more post work for films produced in Belgium and the surrounding region. “We want to offer more than digital post services and this allows us to provide DI for film-originated projects,” Capelle said. HoverlorD has forged a close collaboration with the Paris-based film laboratory Éclair to provide film processing and laser film transfer services for its clients.

With regard to colour grading, HoverlorD decided to purchase the Baselight FOUR rather than to upgrade its current grading system. Capelle said that Baselight offered a more robust feature set and a better and more economical path toward further upgrades in the future. Baselight also integrates seamlessly with the Northlight scanner. “Baselight is a lot faster and can do more things—plus it integrates more fluidly into the workflow,” Capelle observed.

Capelle, who, unusually, is both a post-production company manager and a director of photography, added that he was especially impressed with Baselight’s intuitive user interface and ability to produce a rich, filmic look.

The support offered by FilmLight was another important factor in his company’s decision. “FilmLight’s headquarters are very close to us and they have been very responsive to our needs,” he noted. “FilmLight is focused on all aspects of the business, and are professionals in scanning and colour grading.”

Along with the Northlight scanner and Baselight FOUR grading system, HoverlorD’s DI theatre features a Sony Class A HD monitor and a Barco DP90 digital cinema projector. The company will use FilmLight’s Truelight colour management technology to calibrate the monitor and projection system.

HoverlorD has established itself as a leading provider of post-production services to the film communities in Belgium, France and neighbouring countries. In addition to colour grading and scanning, it provides compositing and graphics services via Autodesk’s Smoke platform. Its recent projects include Afghanistan, the choice of the women, a documentary by Hadja Lahbib (with Capelle as DoP), Under the Bombs by Lebanese director Philippe Aractingi, honoured in the Venice, Dubai and Namur Film festivals in 2007, and Restless by Israeli director Amos Kollek, currently screening for nomination in the Berlin Film Festival 2008.

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

About HoverlorD

HoverlorD is a Walloon company based in Liège offering high technology services for digital cinema. HoverlorD covers the whole digital filming and post-production line, from renting camera equipment to DCI compliant projection in a movie theatre room for colour grading, special effects, credits compositing and releasing a “DIGITAL Cinema Master for JPEG 2000 Theatre Distribution. This encryption is done by partner and shareholder XDC in Liège.
For more information; visit www.hoverlord.com. Contact: Louis-Philippe Capelle CEO, [email protected], +32 475489508.

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