Blue completes post on new BBC Two documentary

Full-service facility blue has completed postproduction for 'The Confession', part of BBC Two’s forthcoming series 'Compulsion', which gives an insight into what drives ordinary people to the edge and the effects of living with addiction.
The critically acclaimed programme was an Official Selection at the Sheffield Documentary Festival 2004.
Produced by Mentorn, The Confession is a 90-minute special that looks at how compulsive gambling is every bit as addictive as drugs and alcohol. The film is a gritty documentary about James Burton, a gambling addict who has lost everything – his wife, family, job and company car – to his gambling habit. Now living in a homeless shelter, Burton spends his disability pension at the bookies or on the games machines that have appeared on the high street.
As the episode unfolds, producer/director Henry Singer’s relationship with Burton evolves from an objective filmmaker to listener and eventually a friend. It is this interaction that the film centres on as it becomes clear just how twisted Burton's world has become.
Singer had a very specific look and feel in mind for the programme. Blue's Jonathan Lieb, who completed the grade using Pogle’s Mastergrade, explained: "Before the grade Henry referenced Edward Hopper's paintings in regard to the bedroom scenes. He was keen to replicate Hopper's style, and the grade was a key component in achieving the look he wanted.”
Singer added: “Jono instantly knew what I was talking about and did a fantastic job of meeting my brief.
“He was able to convey the impression of a still image within a moving film, which is exactly what I wanted.”
The sound was another major component of the film and again Singer wanted it to be just right. Given the stark and often disturbing content of the film, it was important that the music - composed by Dario Marianelli – balanced this out. Blue’s dubbing mixer, Matt Skilton has worked with Singer on a number of projects and was an obvious choice.
“Matt always brings a fresh approach to projects that we work on. In this instance, what I didn’t want was to overwhelm the viewer with stark images and a downbeat soundtrack,” said Singer. “Matt used the perfect blend of music and special effects to balance out the images on screen adding to, rather than detracting from, the story I was trying to tell.
“I always come back to blue because they are as committed to my films - and care about them - as much as I do, and that's saying an extraordinary amount.”
Blue’s Bill Ogden completed the online post-production on The Confession, which is set to air on April 14 2005.
(GB)