Delaney
used FilmLight's Northlight film scanner, Baselight color grading system and
Truelight color management for the digital intermediate and to establish a
series of distinct looks that help to guide audiences through the feature's
shifts in time and perspective.
Take, starring Minnie Driver and
Jeremy Renner, is the story of a woman who travels across the desert to
confront the man who murdered her young son on the eve of his execution. The
film is told in nonlinear order, moving back and forth between the present and
the past, and between the points of view of the main characters as they reflect
on how their lives became intertwined.
According to Delaney, four distinct color treatments were
established to reflect the different time periods. "The color treatments let
people know instantly where they are in time and viewpoint," he explains. "At
the same time, we were careful not to do anything too stylized that would take
you out of the story. We didn't want to hit the audience too hard or call
attention to the look per se - merely give an indication."
Post Logic (www.postlogic.com) performed
a number of tests on cinematographer Tristan Whitman's 35mm footage to
determine how best to achieve the desired effect. The test was also used to verify the Truelight room
calibration, ensuring a closed loop from Post Logic's scanners/Barco
projectors/film recorders and the client's film lab of choice.
Delaney performed the final color grade at 2K resolution on a Baselight Four
system. Using a silver retention photo-chemical process look as a starting
point, he worked with Oliver and Whitman in creating the four looks.