Festival Short DocDreaming of a Better Place Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 2, 2023
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that the short film Dreaming of a Better Place was graded using DaVinci Resolve Studio editing, grading, visual effects (VFX) and audio post production software.
Directed by SixTwentySix director Cameron Thuman, Dreaming of a Better Place is a documentary short that cinematically details the inspiring story of Jeff Gostlin, who carries on his father's legacy by operating Keefer Lake Lodge, a cat skiing business nestled deep in Canada's Monashee Mountains, with his cousin and most trusted friend Dave Gostlin. While primarily a tribute to the elder Gostlin, the film is a stunning visual tale told in snow, around fire and within a storm, with each visual element designed to drive the emotional story forward.
Director of Photography Christopher Clark worked closely with Thuman on the visual style early in the process. We aimed to break the traditional style of ski documentaries and do something never seen before, said Thuman. The film's look stems from visuals that exist between reality and a dream; we framed the story to play as a heartfelt winter tale told around a roaring campfire.
With striking visuals, Thuman knew a great colorist would be critical, and he turned to Company 3's Parker Jarvie. With this high level of nuance placed on the aesthetics, we entered pre production already intending to work with Parker, continued Thuman. I always put a lot of emphasis on the right colorist for a job, but this time it felt vital to the fundamental way we were telling the story. Parker was perfect.
Jarvie connected with the project at once, eager to contribute. Having recently lost my father to cancer, I had an immediate emotional connection to the film and really wanted to play a part in helping tell this story, said Jarvie. The way Chris captured the surreal snowy landscapes mixed with both slow motion and fast paced skiing really helped inspire me in the grade. I wanted to make sure the grade was in keeping with the dynamic photography throughout.
The film's diverse lighting and shooting conditions, including both interior and exterior as well as snowscapes from nighttime to bright daylight, provided Jarvie with a creative tableau to work from using DaVinci Resolve Studio. For the nighttime and blue hour shots, I leaned heavily into deep shadows and rich blue tones to help contrast with the daytime skiing footage, he added. I used several Power Windows to shape the frames and keep the shots from feeling flat. For example, I would add a soft gradient to the sky, window the background and lower the contrast, and then add more contrast and saturation to the foreground. Then I would find one interesting subject' within the shot and selectively add a bit of contrast and sharpness. This combination, I felt, helped not only draw the viewer into each frame, but kept each shot feeling individual and new; your eye could explore the shot and everything within it, but it also felt grounded to one point of interest.
May 3, 2023Event AG and ICF Church refresh AV solution in Zurich's THE HALLAlready a three time winner of a Swiss Location Award ,
May 2, 2023John Deere Financial: A Journey Through TimeRecently, the Spanish arm of John Deere Financial, the leading manufacturer of
I had a similar approach to the daytime skiing footage in using Power Windows to help focus the viewer's attention and create depth. In terms of color, I wanted to create separation wherever I could. I leaned into the classic warm highlights/cool shadows vibe but kept it from feeling too forced or manipulated in that way. From there, I brought out the predominant color of the subject within each shot, such as in the orange of the skier's jacket, so that your eye goes straight to what is most important. Lastly, I'd use any chance I had to throw in subtle Power Windows to add warmth where the sun would hit the snow or coolness to further enhance the depth of the color and draw the eye in.
Thuman and Clark worked closely with Jarvie throughout the process, providing mood boards as reference and making specific notes of styles they were looking for in certain scenes. The first session was setting the look with Parker and exploring variations for each world, said Thuman. In the second session, we could deep dive into all the details and look at the grade contextually shot to shot.
The grading process was smooth throughout, something Thuman appreciated in working with Jarvie. Sometimes, there isn't a technical way to explain a gut feeling, so instead, I phrased ideas emotionally and philosophically with Parker, keeping our choices story focused. We always fully trusted Parker's eye, and it was incredible to watch how quickly he could translate our ideas in DaVinci Resolve. He made the process effortless and very collaborative, added Thuman.
Dreaming of a Better Place was produced by NativeFour and released online with Teton Gravity Research. The short film world premiered at the 2022 Whistler Film Festival and screened at the Academy Awards qualifying American Documentary Film Festival in Palm Springs. For more information contact Carrie Wick of CWPR at carrie@carriewick.com
Watch the film online at https://vimeo.com/cameronthuman/dreamingofabetterplace
Enjoying the news? Sign up for the Creative COW Newsletter! Sign up for the Creative COW newsletter and get weekly updates on industry news, forum highlights, jobs, inspirational tutorials, tips, burning questions, and more! Receive bulletins from the largest, longest-running community dedicated to supporting professionals working in film, video, and audio.
Enter your email address, and your first and last name below!
-- Sign up: * indica
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
Festival Short DocDreaming of a Better Place Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio 
