A Chinese feature film titled Dream Forest has been entirely shot using Blackmagic Design cameras, marking a significant use case for the company's technology in professional filmmaking. Directed by Fan Chao and starring Niu Ben, Du Yuan, Shi Ke, and Ma Su, the film explores an autistic child and his family's pursuit of their dreams with societal support.
Camera Selection and Film Grain
The cinematographer, An Chuncheng, opted for four Blackmagic Design cameras: two URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2s as primary cameras, a Pocket Cinema Camera 4K as the B camera, and an URSA Mini 4.6K on a Steadicam system. The choice was driven by the need to simulate film grain for emotional depth, akin to the technique used in the Oscar-nominated film Carol.
An had previous experience with Blackmagic's URSA Mini 4.6K since 2016 and was confident that the newer models would meet his requirements. The URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2, with its inherited filmic look and enhanced features like high frame rate recording and internal ND filters, proved suitable for the project.
Camera Features Enhance Efficiency
The use of LUTs (Look-Up Tables) in the monitoring output greatly improved consistency and efficiency. An created six different LUTs with DaVinci Resolve Studio to match various atmospheres, allowing the director to verify the visual vision on set easily.
The built-in ND filters also contributed to smoother operations during outdoor shooting in summer. The ease of use and intuitive design allowed cinematographers to quickly adjust exposure without navigating through menus.
Portability and Image Quality
The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, with its compact size and MFT mount for lens switching, was ideal for capturing establishing shots. Its high image quality was noted by the team, leading to more confident use in subsequent scenes.
The film's production spanned 26 days of intense shooting sessions, including indoor scenes shot in enclosed spaces under hot conditions. Despite these challenges, all four cameras performed reliably without malfunctions.
Post-Production and Color Grading
The final color grading was handled by Lyu Hongtao using DaVinci Resolve Studio and DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel, ensuring the film's visual consistency with its intended mood. The collaboration between Blackmagic Design's cameras and post-production software highlights the seamless workflow offered by the company.