FotoKem’s nextLAB played a pivotal role in the production of demonstration footage to support the launch of the Canon Cinema EOS C500 and the Cinema EOS C500 PL (for use with EF-mount and PL-mount lenses respectively). Both upcoming cameras will be capable of originating 4K (4096 x 2160-pixel) resolution digital motion imagery with uncompressed RAW output for external recording.
FotoKem provided complete production support for the Cinema EOS C500 demo film, Man & Beast, which premiered April 15 at NAB. NextLAB’s powerful color capabilities were utilized to grade dailies and set the look of Man & Beast, which was shot by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth, ASC (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network, Fight Club), and produced by MJZ for Canon. Margarita Mix, a FotoKem company handled the mix for the film.
From the early beta stages, FotoKem collaborated and consulted with Canon on the design of an end-to-end, 4K production-to-post file system. FotoKem built nextLAB’s high-resolution pipeline on the Academy Color Encoding Specifications (ACES) architecture, making the EOS C500 the first Canon camera to take files from production all the way through post in ACES.
FotoKem’s nextLAB was developed by the company’s software group, which operates as a development arm and launch pad for new services.
NextLAB is a mobile system for on-set media and asset management – an extension of FotoKem’s in-house services. Its proprietary core application software enables the nextLAB Mobile system to essentially bring FotoKem’s data management systems to production.
Based on an open architecture, nextLAB Mobile bridges the gap between production and post, while interacting with other platforms.
“It has been exciting to work with Canon at the very edge of new camera technologies, experiencing first-hand the latest features available to filmmakers and defining the way they finish their work,” said FotoKem vice president Mike Brodersen. “Our nextLAB software has helped to define on-set services across a number of productions, and our original, all-in-one dailies and media management platform has evolved to the next level in this process. With Man & Beast, we are seeing the next phase of creative technology for filmmakers come to life.”
“About 99% of the file-based TV and feature projects at FotoKem utilize the nextLAB software,” said Tom Vice, vice president and general manager of the nextLAB system. “Its powerful features provide assurances to cinematographers and directors that their digital media files are safe, viewable, and maintain data integrity at every step of the process. We look forward to working with Canon again in the future to help continue to break the barriers of technology.”
