1) Company 3 mastered the first Dolby Vision feature, Tomorrowland, and we’re very proud of the work our colorists and technical team have done in the field of HDR. Also, a lot of filmmakers have been very excited about the possibilities of working with the ARRI 65 camera and we’ve posted some of the early projects to use the format. Our dailies division, EC3, has had its biggest year ever because so many productions are finding out how useful it is to have dailies graded and deliverables made right near the set, whether it’s on a stage or in a remote location anywhere in the world.
2) Filmmakers more than ever want the ability to see what they’ve shot, usually with a “look” already applied, almost immediately. We’ve made such a significant investment in our dailies division, EC3, which has used its full service grading theater on wheels to locations throughout North America and set up temporary “post houses” in short-term rental spaces all over the world.
It was a significant commitment of resources to be able to send the equipment, the technicians and experienced colorists anywhere our clients want to shoot but it’s proven to be very successful. Part of the reason for that is that the conditions for coloring the dailies involve the same, perfectly-calibrated type of setup we use for grading in the facility and all the color decisions travel perfectly through the entire post pipeline. Our Portal has also helped significantly streamline the VFX process by allowing effects vendors secure remote access to digital media. The Portal has telescoped the timeframe between an effects house requesting a shot and their ability to start working with it by days.
3) In 2015 Company 3 and Method Studios joined forces in a brand-new facility on Exposition Blvd. in Santa Monica. It was an incredible logistical and technical feat getting the companies and their teams into the new space with almost no interruption in service and we’re all very proud of that. And we’re excited about the new location. The move not only brings the companies into a beautiful new environment but it adds to the sister companies ability to work in synergy and offer filmmakers a complete package of visual effects and post from one location that shares media, screening rooms and a common pipeline.
4) From the features perspective, it’s the expansion in the number of deliverables that are expected from filmmakers – with multiple distribution flavors of 3D, high or standard dynamic range and a wide variety in the home entertainment market.
