Goldcrest Films Improves Format Processing with Cintel and DaVinci

The expansion of OTT services and the consequent demand for good quality digital content has encouraged Goldcrest Films to digitize all the films in its archive in 4K UHD format and remaster them in 2K definition.

Goldcrest Post is using the Cintel scanner from Blackmagic Design in a major restoration project with the goal of digitizing all the films in its archive in UHD 4K format and remastering them in 2K definition.

Laurent Treherne, the company's technological director, was responsible for carrying out this idea, which involved the remastering of 16 feature films, including dance with a stranger (1985), Beginners (1986) y Passions in Kenya (1987). “Due to the expansion of OTT services, there is a great demand for original content with good quality,” highlighted Treherne.

On the other hand, Laurent explains that the Cintel scanner not only allows Goldcrest Films to provide its clients with content in 4K resolution, but also to carry out the restoration of the films within the company. "As in any restoration process, this project presented numerous challenges, such as locating suitable sources, repairing damage, identifying reference images for grading or converting audiovisual files to formats compatible with devices used today. The speed and versatility of Blackmagic products allowed us to overcome these difficulties without any problem," he comments.

DaVinci Resolve

Next to the scanner, a computer with DaVinci Resolve has been installed, in order to create a work dynamic that would not impact the tasks related to Goldcrest's digital intermediate. The film material was inspected and cleaned in the laboratory. The rolls were then digitized in 4K format to be stored on high-speed storage units, and later converted into 2K definition.

After removing dust marks, the files were graded in DaVinci Resolve Studio. Finally, the Goldcrest team rendered the material into DSM and HD versions. "We generally deliver in ProRes HQ 422 format, as this is a requirement for distribution of collections of titles. However, as there is a growing demand for 4K UHD content, this is also important for future sales strategies," explains Treherne.

Scanner performance has been extremely beneficial since the start of the project, particularly for processing negative splices. "This is one of the things that impressed us the most when we started the job. On other similar devices, the splices get stuck, but on the Cintel scanner, the material moves through the window completely fluidly. This saves time and money compared to traditional workflows that require stabilizing the shots to eliminate unwanted artifacts."

Patrick Malone, CEO of Goldcrest Post, acknowledges that "Blackmagic products make scanning, conforming and grading easier, as well as providing the flexibility to remaster content individually or in conjunction with other complementary scanners. We have been amazed at the level of detail we were able to obtain on some problematic 35mm tapes, and the speed when scanning has been extraordinary, as has the quality of the UHD material obtained from positives and negatives."