‘Deadline’ triumphs at Cannes with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K

The short film ‘Deadline’, which won Best Original Story, Best Acting Debut and Best Short Film Director at the World Film Festival in Cannes, was shot using the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K (Blackmagic Design).

Directed by Shihan Shoukath (a filmmaker based in the United Arab Emirates), Deadline tells the story of how the working day of a person who works at an unusual customer service phone line goes from bad to worse. In this short film, Shoukath attempts to explore deep themes, such as suffering and personal identity, through introspection and empathy.

The short film, which integrates narrative techniques that defy conventional norms, was shot in just one night and with only one actor (Ishan, who is Shoukath’s brother), while the script, direction and cinematography were by Shoukath. After researching the market, the filmmaker opted for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K and used a comprehensive workflow based on the Blackmagic RAW format. In his own words: “We did a lot of research before investing in the 6K Pocket camera because we didn’t have a big budget. Factoring in the camera’s size, battery duration, and its abilities, this was the right one. Even with a bigger budget, bigger crew and more color supervisors on board, we would still choose this camera.

For Shoukath, the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K is a “perfect” cinema camera with “great” colorimetry and dynamic range. “Its false color feature played a vital role in the visual storytelling, helping us to monitor exposure levels accurately and light on set while maintaining the desired tonal range to create visual contrast. The camera’s dynamic range helped us to capture a broader range of highlight and shadow detail, resulting in visually stunning and immersive imagery, which enhanced the narrative’s depth and atmosphere,” he continues.

Post production with Blackmagic RAW and DaVinci

Shooting in Blackmagic RAW gave the team additional advantages, as editing and the rest of the post production was done in DaVinci Resolve Studio. Although the short was shot in just one night, Shoukath spent more time in post, partly out of necessity because some important crew members were overseas, including supervising colorist Valerio Morini, who was in Italy.

DaVinci Resolve Studio was used to edit the footage, color grade the recorded material and mix the audio. These processes took three to four months, and were done via video conferencing. According to Shoukath, this was the most enjoyable part of post-production: “The camera’s ability to capture footage in Blackmagic RAW ensured maximum flexibility and control during color grading. This seamless integration allowed us to easily fine tune the look and feel of the film, achieving the desired grade and overall visual aesthetic,” notes Shoukath, who also adds that “the powerful tools and efficient workflow within DaVinci Resolve, combined with the native support for Blackmagic RAW, facilitated a streamlined and cohesive post production process, saving time while preserving the integrity of the captured imagery.”

Looking back, the filmmaker believes that the success of the short film could be attributed to two major factors: “Firstly, the film’s compelling storytelling, which engages viewers on an emotional level, played a significant role, coupled with the recognition at renowned film festivals, which highlights the film’s ability to resonate with audiences. And secondly, the technical excellence a Blackmagic workflow delivered elevated the production quality, resulting in a visually striking and immersive experience.”