Digital Film Lab complete post on 'The Magdalene Sisters'

Digital Film Lab have completed post production work on Peter Mullen’s directorial debut feature film, 'The Magdalene Sisters', which has recently enjoyed top international recognition from the Venice Film Festival the Toronto Film festival.
The film, a dramatisation set in the 1960's, is based on the true experiences of several young girls who were unfortunate enough to be sent to one of the Catholic Church's many Magdalene Convents. Although the story is set in Ireland, most of the principle photography took place in an old Covent in Dumfries. This location was perfect for the feel of the film, but introduced a few practical problems such as lighting in the cramped rooms. Some scenes used mostly natural light, which was later enhanced with digital colour grading.
After grading was completed, effects were added to the film in Digital Film Lab's two Inferno effects suites. This included reflections added to close up shots of eyes during tense sequences and special transitions during picture montages to represent years of Magdalene convent life passing by.
On completion a digital negative was re-recorded via a ARRI laser to produce a check print made by Soho Images Laboratory.
Digital Film Lab also produced a two-minute trailer from the archive data tapes, five months after the feature had been completed, without having to resort to a separate re-grade from the original over-cut negative. The existing high-resolution data files were simply imported and conformed by Senior Inferno Artist Gary Brown prior to adding new titles. The digital negative was sent to Bucks Laboratories to produce a check print and subsequent bulk prints.
‘The Magdalene Sisters’ is due for release in Ireland at the end of October and will have a UK release by 2003.
(GB)