efilm opens
september 2007
Atlab announces new era of digital facilities with Efilm Australia
The growth and success of digital postproduction in Australia is set to be cemented with the announcement today by Australia's longest established film laboratory, Atlab, that it will bring the world's most advanced digital postproduction brand - Efilm - to Australia, opening in Sydney in October. It is planned to open a Melbourne branch of Efilm at Cinevex, in the New Year.
Atlab, recognised as the leading film processing and postproduction laboratory group in Australasia, including Cinevex in Victoria, has invested in world class new technology and assembled a dynamic local team to launch the creative facility in Sydney alongside its traditional services - providing for the first time a one stop location for the entire postproduction process.
"Although we have been offering some creative and expert digital post services for sometime, including working on such projects as the sound for Happy Feet and Digital Intermediate work on films like Home Song Stories and December Boys, the Efilm alliance provides the top end services and facilities Australia needs to meet the demands of this sector," Efilm Australia's NSW General Manager Anthos Simon said.
Efilm will absorb Atlab's growing digital Design Department and long-established film resolution Digital Intermediate service and offer new services including standard and high definition (HD) rushes transfers and digital dailies, and a range of other HD postproduction operations through to e-cinema mastering.
Efilm Australia will have access to the world's best digital intermediate (DI) technology through their partnership with the Hollywood sister company.
But it is the local expert and creative people that have been assembled and recruited for Efilm Australia who will create the exciting and exceptional environment at Efilm.
World renowned colorist Olivier Fontenay is joined at Efilm by experienced telecine colorists Kieran Bleakley and Luke Buckley, who, alongside Facilities Manager Catherine Duroux and Video Operations Manager Michael Robinson, each bring well over 10 years experience in the sector. Pioneer of digital film postproduction in Australia Rob Sandeman will be Efilm's Digital Services Manager, and with Digital Supervisor Beck Dunn and lead designer Michelle Hunt will head up a team of 18 creative and technical staff at Efilm.
Anthos, himself a 20 year veteran in the industry, said the creation of Efilm Australia emerged from many discussions with filmmakers and Atlab customers about their needs.
"We will offer filmmakers the chance to work truly closely with a team in this new creative digital facility, while continuing to utilise Atlab's traditional film laboratory services. It will be a one stop shop, yet be an intimate and modular boutique solution," Anthos said.