April 2021 – Below the Line

End of Week Production Notes 4/30/21: Another Round Remake (Already?!), House of the Dragon Takes Flight, and More News

April 30, 2021 Edward Douglas Comments Off

This year’s Academy Awards were barely over when it was announced that a remake of the International Film Oscar winner Another Round from Thomas Vinterberg is in the works after none other than Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio and his production company, Appian Way, picked up the rights to the Scandinavian comedy with Makeready and Endeavor Content. Presumably, Dicaprio is interested in playing an American version of the role played so indelibly by Mads Mikkelsen in the Oscar-winning film. It was quite a sharp shock […]

Matthews Introduces New Gobo Plate XL Mounting Adapter

April 30, 2021 Staff Comments Off

Due to the popularity of the Gobo Plate line of versatile mounting plates, Matthews Studio Equipment introduces the new Gobo Plate™ XL, a beefy problem-solver offering endless robust rigging options. Like its smartly-designed sister products, this mounting essential is made to support an array of gear, from camera rigs, set pieces, lighting and grip modifiers to building materials like lumber and pipe. Built to receive 4.5” Grip heads, the XL is the […]

Next PNYA Post Break Explores Entrepreneurship in Post-Production

April 29, 2021 Staff Comments Off

The Post New York Alliance (PNYA) will feature the second part in its series on entrepreneurship in the post-production industry in the next edition of Post Break, its free webinar series. A trio of pros, with experience as freelancers and business owners, will reveal how they launched their careers and found success, and offer advice to others seeking to follow in their footsteps. With pandemic measures easing, new opportunities in […]

Accomplished Editor John Dingfield Returns to Cutters

April 29, 2021 Staff Comments Off

High-end editorial boutique Cutters is very proud to announce the return of Editor John Dingfield to its roster. The announcement was made by Cutters Studios President/Managing Director Craig Duncan and Managing Editor Grant Gustafson. Since launching his career with Cutters back in 2000, Dingfield has established himself as a go-to editor for comedic and storytelling campaigns of the highest order. Crafted alongside creative industry leaders including Directors Brian Billow, Bryan […]

Back to Work: J.J. Wiesler on Safer Sound Editing/Mixing at San Fran’s Decibelle Recording

April 29, 2021 Edward Douglas Comments Off

Many of the discussions about production and especially post since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21 hit have been about how to pivot from how things have normally been done, whether in a post-production house or an editing bay or mixing studio of some kind, to something potentially safer for all involved. Back in February, Below the Line spoke to Sound Engineer and Producer J.J. Wiesler about Decibelle Recording, a vintage […]

Picture Shop & Ghost VFX Bring World of Shadow and Bone to Life

April 28, 2021 Staff Comments Off

Picture Shop, an award-winning post production house offering comprehensive picture services, and Ghost VFX, a renowned full-service visual effects company, collaborated on the recently released series Shadow and Bone, based on Leigh Bardugo‘s bestselling fantasy novels. A Netflix production from 21 Laps Entertainment, Shadow and Bone follows mapmaker and orphan Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), who discovers she has extraordinary powers that could greatly impact her war-torn country. As she struggles […]

Small Axe, The Crown Dominate British Academy (BAFTA) Television Nominations

April 28, 2021 Staff Comments Off

On Wednesday morning, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) announced the nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards, which will awarded on June 6, 2021, airing on BBC One and BBC One HD, and the British Academy Television Craft Awards, to be handed out on May 24, 2021, streamed on BAFTA’s social channels. Steve McQueen‘s limited series, Small Axe Anthology, and the Netflix drama The Crown, topped the number of […]

Back to Work: CDC Relaxes Masking Guidelines for Vaccinated, Added Costs Still an Issue for Indies

April 27, 2021 Edward Douglas Comments Off

There’s definitely been some good news-bad news playing out in the world of film and television production over the past few days. The good news is that on Tuesday morning, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention aka the CDC has issued new mask guidelines that will be welcome to anyone who has already been vaccinated. Those who have been vaccinated will be allowed to have small outdoor gatherings without […]

Animation Showcase: Kevin Nolting Talks about Pixar Short 22 vs. the Earth

April 27, 2021 Edward Douglas Comments Off

These days, it’s pretty difficult for anyone to get anything out to the general public in secret, because there are so many people involved in every aspect of production that something eventually leaks. That’s not the case with 22 vs. The Earth, a Pixar Animation short that ties into and acts as a pseudo-prequel to the Oscar-winning animated feature, Soul. Disney just announced its existence last week, and it will […]

SMPTE, Baylor, and NASA Explore Expansion of Color Universe

April 27, 2021 Staff Comments Off

SMPTE will launch its new SMPTE + series with Expanding the Color Universe: The Next Frontier in Imaging, a hybrid of interactive events and on-demand content exploring expansion of color systems beyond RGB toward the outer limit of what the eye can see and the “colors in-between the colors.” This first of four SMPTE + events slated for 2021 will feature a half-day of live presentations, chats, demos, and panel […]