Technology & Facilities - Technicolor focuses on high def.

Technicolor Creative Services is predicting that high definition (HD) work will account for nearly two-thirds of all its daytime bookings when its HD studio opens in the new year, writes John Oates.The facility has spent more than #1m on new kit and building work including a new telecine suite (Spirit), a video restoration suite and a high-end machine room. And Simon Wilkinson, general manager at Technicolor, believes 'high definition work will account for 65 per cent of daytime bookings'.Wilkinson said one of the major advantages of the new set-up was the ability to use the kit for both high and standard definition (SD) projects.So, even if HD work isn't forthcoming, the studio will be able to work on SD projects.The company will appoint three senior colourists as part of the new studio.The three new - thus far unnamed - people taking on the TK jobs will start in the new year and will make up a team of four colourists.Technicolor, which is owned by Thomson, also claims to be the first facility in Europe using an Aaton HD card which will allow it to offer daily high definition rushes to producers or directors. New equipment to be installed in the facility include an HD Spirit, HD Pogle Pixi colour correction with ESR (electric sun roof special effects colour corrector), HD Edifis (despotting device), a stills store, various VTRs and test and measurement equipment.