Technicolor Creative Services, Montreal, has launched 4 Westmount Square (4WS), a unit dedicated to servicing commercial postproduction and visual effects.
“Commercial clients have been coming in for color grading; Technicolor saw the market and the opportunity,” explained director of commercials Patrice Cormier. There are a limited number of color correction suites available in Montreal and that has sometimes prompted local commercialmakers to go to Toronto to work, he related, explaining that with the color correction services, the hope is to keep more work both in house and in the city.
4WS opened with two Smoke/Flame suites, a 2D and 3D graphics unit, and color correction services using Autodesk (Discreet) Lustre in a theatrical, nonlinear environment.
Cormier explained that the new unit will operate in shared but separate space from TCS Montreal, which focuses on long-form work. The new venture was designed to cater to what agency clients expect in terms of facility design, comfortable suites, staff, project management and client services.
Cormier’s career has focused on advertising; he earlier worked as a spot editor at Montreal’s Buzz Image Group. From ’97-’02 he was interface specialist at Autodesk (then Discreet), during which time as a project head and senior trainer he visited more than 300 post houses around the world. He then returned to Buzz as VP business development; during that time he was the architect of Buzz’s HD unit.
At 4WS, Cormier designed the dedicated commercial Smoke/Flame rooms for client-attended sessions. He said the Smoke/Flame combo was an easy choice as “it’s the only thing, I think, for doing commercials. It can work in real time, and clients ask for it by name.” The graphics unit includes a variety of software including Mac graphics, Final Cut Pro and Maya.
Color correction is particularly unique, as 4WS is one of the first facilities in the world to offer to commercial clients a nonlinear Autodesk (Discreet) Lustre color grading theatre. This theatrical environment is equipped with a NEC digital projector; the workflow also incorporates Filmlight’s Northlight Film scanner and the Arrilaser film recorder. The Lustre combines Autodesk’s Incinerator for added power. Source materials may include HDCAM SR, HD D5 or 2k data. This theatre will be shared with TCS’ long-form business, while construction is planned for a second Lustre suite dedicated to commercial work.
“For commercials, I think the advantage to Lustre is to see the final project actually conformed [in shot order],” said Nico Ilies, chief commercial and feature colorist. “Typically you only see the final project at then end.”
HD capabilities, he added, are another plus. “In the next year we expect a demand for HD [commercials],” he predicted. “The footage can be scanned, and you can create multiple commercials, right away. You can create SD, HD, film and you are not restricted to the format.”
Also available for commercials is newly hired colorist Vickie-Lynn Roy. The 4WS team also includes creative director Louis-Martin Duval, executive producer Guyaine Dutil, editor/effects artist Jean-Marc Laurin, and art director Emmanuel “Maz” Mazeron.
Cormier reported that Technicolor also plans to take advantage of synergies with its other commercial businesses: 49 Ontario (formerly Toybox) in Toronto and The Moving Picture Company in London. He reported that the Montreal business has already been tapping into the larger 3D capabilities in Toronto for a commercial project, and plans also call for the launch of a new Web site for this complete group of commercial post businesses.
TCS/Montreal and 4WS are also connected to Technicolor’s private high-speed network that links with other Technicolor companies in cities including London, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto.
New 2025 Laws Hit Hot Topics–From AI In Movies To Social Media
Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another.
Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges.
On the entertainment and social media fronts there are several notable state laws taking effect, including:
Hollywood stars and child influencers
California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use.
Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so.
Social media limits
New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges.
A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February.
A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult... Read More