SPIRIT GIVES NEWSREEL LOOK TO ‘BLOODY SUNDAY’ FILM

FOR the production of Granada Film’s controversial film ‘Bloody Sunday’, the producers wanted to heighten the drama and recapture the gritty texture of the newsreel pictures of the time.
The effect that was eventually achieved has received much acclaim. The film itself records one of the darkest days of the troubles in its recreation of the events of January 30 1972 when 13 people were shot and killed by the British army following a civil rights march. The film convincingly reproduced the feel of the newsreel footage images which resonant most in many memories.
The filmmakers turned to Soho Images and Digital Film Lab to collaborate on the project to produce grainy, documentary-style images. Using the Spirit Hi-Def Datacine, they achieved the desired effect.
Telecine colourist Giles Livesey said: “As the film was shot in a documentary-style using only the available light, grading on the Spirit Datacine allowed us to give the feature a specialised look. We were able to balance out the variable lighting conditions to produce a natural consistent feel.”
Hailing the work of Soho Images and Digital Film Lab, director Paul Greegrass said: “We were looking for a system that could offer flexibility and ‘grading edge’ required for this production. The result from the test produced by DFL and Soho Images were impressive and that was reason I chose them.”
Once completed the film was digitally re-recorded at the Digital Film Lab for release printing at Soho Images.
The film is due to be shown on ITV later on in the year. (GMcG)