Photos courtesy of: Scotty Waugh, Mike Svitak and Derek Edwards

Photos courtesy of: Scotty Waugh, Mike Svitak and Derek Edwards

 

I’ve just finished editorial on the feature film 6 BELOW starring Josh Hartnett and directed by Scotty Waugh (Need for Speed, Act of Valor). This is my 10th feature film as an editor and a very welcome challenge both creatively and technically. It’s also the first feature film to be edited natively in 6K. I’m cutting the original RED 6K Dragon files (R3D) with no transcoding or proxies in Adobe Premiere Pro. We are framing for a 2.76:1 aspect ratio like The Hateful Eight and using Panavision Primo 70 lenses.

 

 

Vashi Nedomansky in the 6 Below editing suite.

Vashi Nedomansky in the 6 Below editing suite. Photo by Jon Carr

 

I have cut many music videos and short films in native 4K (RED, Samsung, Canon, Sony) but the challenge of 6K is a brand new beast! 6K files are nine times larger than HD. To handle the pixel pushing power we need for real-time playback, we are using custom made DELL Precision Tower 7910 Series workstations with 20-core processors. These are outfitted with 128GB of RAM and NVIDIA Quadro M6000 12GB video cards. The 6K frame is 6144 x 3160 pixels and needs massive power to push it around smoothly. 64TB of RAID 5 storage is shared across 10GB ethernet.

 

http://artbyphil.com/phfx/red/dragon/images/phfx_redDragon_whatIs6K.jpg

http://artbyphil.com/phfx/red/dragon/images/phfx_redDragon_whatIs6K.jpg

 

I will be sharing my experiences on this ground breaking project and document the post production process and workflow I have designed specifically for 6 BELOW. Since it has never been done before at this level, I look forward to the challenge of editing in a 6K native workflow and will keep you in the loop on our 20-week editorial run.

 

Editing notes and script for 6 BELOW

 

 

We are shooting 6 weeks in Salt Lake City and the mountains of Park City right next to the Sundance Film Festival. We then return to Los Angeles where we will have an additional 14 weeks of editorial. We are looking at a late 2016 release date for this dramatic winter survival story. 6 BELOW is based on the true story of Eric LeMarque, an Olympic hockey player that got stranded for 8 days in the mountains while snowboarding. Coincidentally, I’ve known Eric for almost 20 years, played hockey and trained with him in California before his ordeal. The personal responsibility to best tell his tale is always in the back of my mind….

 

Here’s the first official image of Josh Hartnett in 6 BELOW

Josh Hartnett in the survival thriller 6 BELOW

 

 

6 BELOW production and editing office in Salt Lake City

 

We have an amazing team of filmmakers on this film. A common bond is that most of us have worked at the production company Bandito Brothers over the years. Scotty Waugh was one its founders and he has hand picked the crew for 6 BELOW. We all hope to chip in with our skills, passion and energy to help cross the finish line with the best film possible.

Lastly…this is also the first narrative feature film that will be presented in the BARCO ESCAPE format. It has a 7:1 aspect ratio and covers 3 screens horizontally to give an immersive, panoramic and next level experience. To give you a taste of what the Barco Escape frame projection looks like…it is the yellow section in the image below.

 

The Barco Escape 7:1 aspect ratio

The Barco Escape 7:1 aspect ratio

 

 

The 6K Barco Escape Theater

The 6K Barco Escape Theater

 

 

Editing in 6K. What’s next…

 

The 6K Premiere Pro edit bay

The 6K Edit Bay

 

 

UPDATE #1 – The Scene Board. How I organize and keep my scenes current.

All 140 scenes from 6 BELOW and their current status during editorial.

All 140 scenes from 6 BELOW and their current status during editorial.

 

UPDATE #2 – The Film Information and Inspiration Board.

The shooting schedule, crew list and inspiration art. Also the code word to enter the edit bay.

The shooting schedule, crew list and inspiration art. Also the code word to enter the edit bay.

 

UPDATE #3 – 6K RED Dragon Native Pancake Timeline

7-minute timeline using the Pancake Timeline editing 6 BELOW in native 6K

Editing with The Pancake Timeline in native 6K with a 34″ Dell curved widescreen monitor.

 

UPDATE #4 – Organization of my Premiere Pro Project

3 of the many Premiere Pro panels I use to organize my film projects.

3 of the many Premiere Pro panels I use to organize my film projects.

 

UPDATE #5 – Timeline Tuesday after 4 Weeks

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

 

UPDATE #6 – 24 Hours of Dailies on One Timeline

24 hours of footage represents the first 9 days of filming on 6 BELOW.

24 hours of footage represents the first 9 days of filming on 6 BELOW.

 

UPDATE #7 – The Edit after 5 Weeks (68 minutes)

I don't edit assemblies. I edit complete scenes that play.

I don’t edit assemblies. I edit complete scenes that play.

 

UPDATE #8 – My Office after 5 Weeks of Crushing the Edit

My work station after 5 weeks of editing 6 Below

My work station after 5 weeks of editing 6 Below

 

UPDATE #9 – Back in Los Angeles Editing with Scott Waugh

Editing in native #6K with 6 Below director Scott Waugh

Editing in native #6K with 6 Below director Scott Waugh

 

UPDATE #10 – Comparison of the Raw and Deliverable Footage

The original 6K and editing formats

The original 6K and editing formats

 

UPDATE #11 – First Full Cut is done after 10 Weeks

The importance and impact of every cut affects the film.

The importance and impact of every cut affects the film.

 

UPDATE #12 – Screening 6 BELOW with the director after 11 weeks of editing

2 hours 20 minutes is the running time of the first official edit.

2 hours 20 minutes is the running time of the first official edit.

 

UPDATE #13 – Frame.io on my iPhone

64TB of footage accessible at any time on my iPhone thanks to Frame.io

64TB of footage accessible at any time on my iPhone thanks to Frame.io

 

UPDATE #14 – Full 6K frame from 6 BELOW

Full 6K R3D Dragon image shot with 70mm Panavision Primo lens

Full 6K R3D Dragon image shot with 70mm Panavision Primo lens

 

UPDATE #15 – The Notes Process

Notes from the director that must be addressed. Fine tuning at it's finest!

Notes from the director that must be addressed. Fine tuning at it’s finest!

 

UPDATE #16 – 6K VFX in After Effects and Mocha

All the VFX is done at 6K inside After Effects and Mocha

All 300+ VFX shots are done at 6K inside After Effects and Mocha

 

One of 300 VFX shots. This will require Rotoscoping, Keying and a sky replacement

One of 300 VFX shots. This will require Rotoscoping, Keying and a sky replacement

 

UPDATE #17 – Frame.io interview about 6 BELOW is available HERE

The 4 man post production team of 6Below

The 6 BELOW post production team. All 4 of us.

 

UPDATE #18 – The First Cut and Final Cut

The first and final cut of 6 Below

The first and final cut of 6 Below

 

 

UPDATE #19 – PICTURE IS LOCKED. 20 WEEKS of editorial.

The edit is done. Picture LOCKED.

The edit is done. Picture LOCKED.

 

 

UPDATE #20 – Reframing 6 BELOW for BARCO ESCAPE in the Edit Bay

3 Sony 4K TV Barco viewing edit bay

3 Sony 4K TV Barco viewing edit bay

 

UPDATE #21 – Screened the 4K DCP in Spielberg’s theater at Amblin 

4K DCP screening in Spielberg's Theater at Amblin

4K DCP screening in Spielberg’s Theater at Amblin

 

It’s in theaters October 12th and available to stream in HD on October 13th.

Until next time…

vashivisuals.com

@vashikoo