In recognition of the predominance of digital acquisition capabilities, the FilmCraft division of Grace & Wild, Inc. has chosen to end its commitment to motion film processing in favor of file based workflows and film archival work. As the home of the only wet film processing lab in Michigan, the Company announces the end of processing after nearly 90 years. FilmCraft Lab, whose roots extend back to the 1920s, has provided high quality service in the commercial, educational, archival, independent and feature film arenas both locally and nationally since its inception. With digital cameras now dominating production, FilmCraft will focus on the archival aspects of film while expanding its capabilities in electronic capture and manipulation techniques through its sister division, Grace & Wild Studios.
According to Keith Neff, Vice President of Technology, “It’s an important yet bittersweet milestone in the transition from film to a digital world. We are celebrating our rich history of accomplishment, and at the same time, we’re moving into the future with many new and exciting acquisitions of talent and capabilities” Neff also noted, “We will continue to be involved with film whether it’s material still being created for commercial work all the way through archival preparation and restoration. We like to think that the legacy of the lab will live on in the world of digital and leave the chemistry behind.”
Jeff Wanless served as the FilmCraft Lab Manager for over 13 years, and led a team of talented film professionals with his extensive background in film processing. “What people may not realize is the sheer magnitude of film that has passed through our facility,” recalls Wanless, “Last year we processed over one half million feet of film for the feature 30 Minutes or Less and thanks in part to Michigan Film Tax Incentive, in the last four years the lab has processed film for over 20 features. Now, however, more features originate in a digital format and the volume of film to be processed is declining rapidly.”
In addition to working on major films, the Company has also made important contributions in historical preservation. Film Transfer Supervisor Patrick Mathews explains, “Each film frame is a time capsule from the past. It captures a slice of life in time, a special moment in history. However time itself is the enemy of historical film as aging can result in degradation and loss of data. Preserving these images is our primary passion, a passion that dates back to the birth of home video when our Film Transfer department was formed.”
FilmCraft Lab has ceased local processing as of September 1st. Ongoing processing requests will be offered in conjunction with Filmworkers Astro Lab in Chicago.
Grace & Wild continues as an industry leader in digital technology capabilities and talent. In Neff’s words, “The world of film has evolved, and us with it. Our promising future is a result of our successful past, a past that dates back nearly one hundred years and began with the film lab. The future is the “digital lab.”
About Grace & Wild
Grace & Wild, Inc. offers a wide variety of creative and technical services within the audio, video, film and interactive production industry via its operating divisions Grace & Wild Studios, Postique, and STS-Griot. Clients include broadcast advertising agencies, business communicators, government entities, and entertainment companies. Capabilities include sound stage rental; studio and remote video production; motion picture processing and printing; film-to-video transfer; new media development specializing in interactive video and digital media; CGI/3D computer animation and effects; video editing; audio recording and mixing; creative editorial services and supervision; mass and custom duplication; 24P HD video equipment rental; and new media development, authoring, and replication. For demonstrations and information, contact Grace & Wild, Inc. at 23689 Industrial Park Drive, Farmington Hills, MI 48335, or call (248) 471-6010 or (800) 451-6010. www.gracewild.com
