Short notes from "El Premio" Post-Production

by Kaspar Kallas

For DoP Wojciech Staron's, this was the first feature to be shot digitally. We did a 10 minute test to assure the quality of the workflow and the cameras to be used - SI2K. Compiled a list of equipment needed and developed the initial look for the film. 

The production itself was a rude introduction to latin america for me, everything was very slow to start in the morning and always took long hours into the night to finish.

All the film was shot at location in San Clemenete del Tuyu in Argentina.

Major advantage to Iridas tools was instant playback of full 2K footage with initial grade, pan and scan without any sort of rendering, just drop all the last days footage to timeline add keyframes and play.

This was on a laptop system with a firewire disk. When working up to 16h on set as camera assistant, this no render workflow was major help to get at least some sleep.

Also this project was lightspeed post, from the day that DoP arrived from previous shoot in Thailand to the premiere in Berlinale we had exactly 6 days. In this time we had to grade the footage, create DCP with 2 language subtitles, 2 different blueray masters.

As a bonus I had to deliver the DCP two days before screening, so this in turn reduced the post time to 4 days. With all rendering times it left us exactly 2 days to grade 118minute feature film. We setup in Kino Kultura, center of warsaw with Barco digital projection and started grading in standard cinema hall in less than 20 minute setup time. In this way were certain about what we get is what we see.

To help the matters to near insanity, director decided that we should make a different look for the film that we had originally developed, so I had start from scratch and finish in about 20h. I don't know any other tool that would let me move in such speed and mobility, without making compromises in quality.

"El Premio" was awarded Silver Bear for outstanding artistic achievement in camera in Berlinale this year.