Pepper post 'Comfortably Numb'

Pepper have completed the grade and titles for the forthcoming Channel 4 drama, 'Comfortably Numb'.
Written and directed by Leo Regan, Comfortably Numb follows two recovering alcoholics during their treatment in a 12 step rehabilitation clinic. Loosely based on a true story, Regan, keen to portray the intensity of exclusive relationships within such an environment, used a documentary style of shooting and a combination of actors and real people – the latter being counsellors either playing themselves or patients and so drawing on their own experiences.
Shot on mini DV to create an edgy, realistic feel, Pepper were heavily involved with the pre-production in anticipation of the work that would be required once the project was bought into the facility. Jethro Harris advised Regan on the lighting and filters used during the shoot to counteract the problems that arcing from 4:3 to 16:9 would create – this process often desaturates the colour, which then needs to be corrected during the grade. On Pepper’s recommendation, Regan underexposed the footage thereby enabling colourist Dan Coles to fine grade and bring the best out of every shot.
Regan said: "The team at Pepper could not have been more helpful with their advice or accommodating with their time during both the pre and post production stages. They had come highly recommended by Jane Featherstone [Spooks, BBC1] and their expert knowledge and experience proved invaluable.”
Dan Coles, Colourist, Pepper, commented “This presented a fantastic grading challenge. It was important for the grade to be hard-hitting, but natural at the same time. This, in combination with using a filmic effect and arcing pictures from 4:3 to 16:9, increased the graininess of the pictures. The result conveys the raw energy of the film - it was crucial that it seemed real to the audience, not glossy, clean and full of colour as video can tend to appear.”
The titles were created by Scott Hinchcliffe in Avid|DS. Having been given the brief by Regan , Hinchcliffe used standard typefaces and created a ‘drunken’ feel by texturing and moving the graphics over live action sequences that were drifting in and out of focus. Hinchliffe was also responsible for the FX shots and in addition, several drop out frames needed to be rebuilt . Finally, a film effect was added to make the project feel rich, whilst at the same time retain the intense, intimate aspect that shooting with a hand held camera creates.
(GB)