Sad news as I’ve recently heard that Film Lab North, based in Leeds, is going to be shut down in the next few weeks. Given that it was one of the last bastions of Super16mm and 35mm in the area, giving filmmakers in the area the opportunity to shoot on film whilst getting invaluable advice from the friendly staff. Recent credits included shows such as 'Vincent' and 'Casanova' and the (underrated…

Who would have ever thought before that clipping path can be such a profitable niche in the outsourcing industry. There were brave ones who saw the opportunity, the need was there and they filled it. Now, a lot of graphic outsourcing companies are offering clipping path services and it is evident in Google once you query “clipping path”. Big offshore companies th…

Apple has updated its Shake video compositing application, adding support for Intel Macs and slashing the price from more than £1,600 has been cut from the price to £329. The industry leading 3D compositing software, behind the effects of films such as Mission Imposisble 3 and The Lord of the Rings trilogy is now within the price range of many more desktop editors. However, Ap…

  British vampire feature High Stakes - now in post production aiming for an autumn release - was shot in Penarth and Cardiff in South Wales in the spring of this year, shooting on two cameras in six days. Schedule was tight and could not run over as  the principle location was a chapel. The congregation needed it back on the seventh day for Sunday services.

For those who thought the move from linear tape or film editing to computer based non-linear editing was a big step, a host of US companies are touting what they claim is the next big thing - web based editing. Allowing, for example, a group of people who filmed a public event to upload their footage and work together on a final cut, systems such as JumpCut and VideoEgg are aiming to brin…

Ravensbourne College students have launched an online post-production business in a bid to kick start their careers. The new company, called Pretentious Post Production, will offer services in editing and sound design at an expenses-only basis, targeted on new producers working to tight budgets.