Mexico. The post-producer Digital Sprockets has used the Cintel scanner and the DaVinci Resolve program to restore several classics of Mexican cinema filmed in 35 mm during the decades of the forties, fifties and eighties.
Digital Sprockets was founded in 1994 by Benjamín Fernández Rodríguez Maribona and has offices in Mexico City and Los Angeles. The company offers film scanning services in 4K (35 mm) or 2K (16 mm and Super 16) RAW format with high dynamic range, tape restoration, color grading, post-production, mastering and quality control of DCP files.
Recently, the post-producer has dedicated herself to restoring feature films in 4K resolution for one of the most important on-demand content platforms (VOD) in Mexico, as well as various films of "ficheras", a comic film genre typical of that country.
For such purposes, the first step is to check that they are complete, as scenes are often missing. After marking each roll chronologically, Fernández places them in the Cintel scanner to begin scanning the negatives.
"I've been using this scanner for years because it's so reliable and effective, and it doesn't consume as much power as other similar devices. On the other hand, it is very simple to use, and during complex projects, it allows me to work more efficiently," said Fernández.
Thanks to this device, Digital Sprockets is able to scan two movies in 4K resolution per week.
"Being able to perform the restoration automatically is a big plus. First I digitize all the images and audio, and the next day I take care of the synchronization," Explained Fernández. "In addition, the scanner comes with a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio, which includes exceptional restore tools. These give me the possibility to remove dust, streaks, stains and other imperfections usually present in this type of films. It is much easier to carry out such tasks."
After cleaning and digitizing the tape, Fernández relies on DaVinci Resolve Studio to scan images, edit them and reduce noise.
"DaVinci Resolve Studio is an extraordinary program. It is very simple to use and allows me to do all the post-production with a single application. It's never been easier to adjust lights and shadows or combine scenes to flow. In addition, the Fairlight module includes exceptional features to eliminate background noise and balance loudness," added Fernández.
"The Cintel scanner is an essential tool for the work we do at Digital Sprockets. It provides us with everything we need to carry out projects quickly and effectively, which in turn has allowed us to participate in more projects and expand our business over the years," he said.
