Canadore College’s new post-production facility is already churning out content for the movie industry.
The high-end facility was officially unveiled to the public last week but the equipment and new program have been put to good use since the fall.
Tom Bjelic, is one of the instructors at Canadore’s new Post Production facility, which includes a Dolby Atmos mix stage with 70,000 watts of power along with 41 speakers. Along with that, it also boasts a color correction room, dialogue replacement, and specialized computer and software equipment that is not being used in any other teach facility in Canada.
See related: Canadore Post Production Facility open for business
The 5,568 sq. ft facility which will allow TV and movie crews to stay right here in the North to complete any post production from their projects. But more importantly, students are using it and making TV magic.
Most recently the school created the atmosphere audio effects for an upcoming movie starring Jean Claude Van Damme, with many of the scenes taking place in a submarine.
“The film was shot in Alabama so it was a non-union, non-directors guild of Canada signatory which meant it was open for anybody to work on it,” said Bjelic.
“When I found that out I thought it might be a good opportunity to bring the class in at the college, so I talked to the director and he was very keen on it and having the class help out with the sound design. As long as I could supervise and make sure the tracks get delivered, he loved the idea,” added Bjelic who works in Urban Productions based in Toronto as well.
“Some of the sound design was done in Texas and the dialogue was edited in Toronto with the music composed in Los Angeles and then all the tracks ended in our studio in Toronto where the final mix was done. We did more or less the sound effects of it.”
For the students like 22-year-old Dillon Bedard, it was a great way to get started in the state-of-the-art program.
“Thankfully we were a bunch of quick learners too,” Dillon said about working on the Van Damme movie sound.
“The track ended up sounding great. The producer and director were thrilled with how it turned out,” added Bjelic.
The program teaches the students how to do audio editing which to continues to improve to keep up with the advancements as the Television/film industry adapt visually from HD to 4K technology.
“The advances in technology all run in parallel, like we are looking at 4K pictures now that looks absolutely sensational,” said Bjelic.
“It is incredible the definition we are getting and what we are seeing image wise. But at the same time the same thing has to happen with audio. It has to suit the picture that you are seeing.”
Bjelic is excited about what the future holds for this facility and what it will teach the students.
“It is unlike any other facility in Ontario to have this kind of a classroom environment,” he said.
