A new holiday film titled Christmas Down Under, directed by Louis Mandylor of My Big Fat Greek Wedding fame, has been released using Blackmagic Design’s URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 cameras and DaVinci Resolve Studio for editing and color correction.
Film Production Details
The film, distributed by Ion Network in the U.S. and Level 33 globally, was produced by Adam Horner of Ignite Pictures. It follows an American woman named Ellie as she travels to Australia to find her husband and his diverse family. The production took place over three weeks across 20 locations in Australia during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Camera Choice
The URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 cameras were chosen for their ability to handle harsh Australian sunlight and produce high-quality footage, despite the challenging conditions. DP Luke Walker used three URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2s simultaneously in some scenes, leveraging the camera’s ease of use and setup flexibility.
Post-Production Efficiency
Post-production was handled by South Sky Pictures in Tasmania, with Maarten ‘Fish’ Talbot serving as second unit DP and co-producer. The team transitioned from another editing software to DaVinci Resolve Studio, finding the process intuitive and efficient during strict COVID quarantine rules.
Adaptability During Pandemic
The film’s producers faced additional challenges when network executives requested three new scenes during peak pandemic conditions. Despite most talent being unable to gather in one location, the Blackmagic Design workflow enabled rapid cutting and coloring of these scenes within days.