ColorCorrection.com Meets the Grade Online

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPress Release from ColorCorrection.com

Los Angeles—An innovative approach to providing professional color correction services to independent film productions has been launched by ColorCorrection.com, according to Ryan Byrne, Founder and CEO of the Web-based service.

“ColorCorrection.com was born out of frustration.” said Byrne.  “Simply put, we felt that this part of the post-industry wasn’t set up in a way that allowed every indie filmmaker the opportunity to access professional color correction.” Byrne also pointed out that, if a filmmaker doesn’t reside in a filmmaking center, access to quality color correction service is extremely limited.

“When I was directing my first feature film, I quickly learned that there was a lack of a clear structured approach to help filmmakers like myself feel artistically in control during the color grading process. I didn’t feel like I was able to work with a colorist in a way made me feel like my artistic vision was really being translated into the look and feel of my film. And the high hourly rates they were charging certainly didn’t help things either. ColorCorrection.com changes all that in favor of the filmmaker.”

“Not every filmmaker knows their way around a color studio,” said ColorCorrection.com’s Co-Founder and Chief Colorist Charles Haine.  “So a lot of time is often spent just helping people learn how to talk about color so they know what to ask for.  And when you’re paying $200-$300 an hour, it’s, understandably, a frustrating experience for the client.

“I have a lot of clients who love to come and sit in the suite. That’s a great experience, but I was seeing an increasing number of clients who were very busy or geographically remote, and they were saying to me, ‘Isn’t there a way we could do this remotely?’  ColorCorrection.com was the answer.”

To get started, filmmakers simply upload a still image from their project on ColorCorrection.com and then receive back a set of color corrected ‘looks’ to choose from. They can refine and rework those options until they are satisfied.  “It’s our way of helping filmmakers see how great their film can look without having to shell out any money or get locked into a commitment before seeing what we can do,” said Martin Roe, Co-Founder and Head of Operations.

Once filmmakers have established their key look, ColorCorrection.com mails a hard drive to collect a copy of the filmmaker’s media files, or gives them direct upload access.  Communication is managed on the Web every step of the way, allowing filmmakers to remotely communicate with a colorist who might not be geographically where the filmmaker is. Utilizing DaVinci Resolve and Apple Color, ColorCorrection.com implements the grade until it is locked and then mails the material back.

“Filmmakers are just charged a simple per-minute-of-footage rate to implement their look.” says Roe. “This approach to pricing also has the added advantage of allowing filmmakers to get a much clearer idea of their color correction costs up-front.”

“That way, you don’t pay extra when a colorist is having a bad day or because you don’t quite know how to describe what you want,” adds Haine.

“With ColorCorrection.com,” said Byrne, “we have created a model that both gives access to independent filmmakers and also allows them the time and the process to take advantage of professional-grade color correction services. But above all, what’s most important is that we are a company of filmmakers, not just a company of colorists and we believe that’s something filmmakers need.”

About Ryan Byrne

Ryan Byrne wrote and directed the feature film “A Colombia” which won the Audience Choice Award at both Cinequest and Moondance. He also founded The Buzz Lab, a motion graphic/ animation studio where Byrne has written and directed more than 40 commercials and promo spots and he continues to write and develop feature film projects.

Previously, he was founder and CEO of GorillaGuide, a dot com startup up in the travel industry.  Prior to that, he worked in venture capital/private equity.

About Charles Haine

Charles Haine has graded national broadcast commercials for clients including Chevy, Ford, Jeep, Intel, Burger King, McDonald’s, and many more.  He’s graded music videos for Fitz & the Tantrums, My Chemical Romance, the Chapin Sister, Spindrift and countless others.  He has graded more than a dozen feature films, most recently “Disconnected” for MTV Films.