A year ago, Dame Blanche announced the extension of its activities from "sound" to "image", after buying out HoverlorD. Their end goal being the creation of a one post shop for image and sound, the Genval-based company now adds another complementary service: special effects.

Etienne Dontaine hardly announces services which are not yet in use. If Dame Blanche now communicates its new position, it is nothing more than a confirmation of a development started months ago. "Originally, we were sound service providers. However, since a year we have been developing our image activity, which has been established bit by bit. Today, our image 'lab' works on dozens of films, television films or series for channels from several countries. Among other things, we are working on the scanning and the grading of two feature films, Bye Bye Blondie (by Virginie Despentes) and La Fée (by Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon and Bruno Romy). Suerte by Jacques Séchaud is also with us for grading."

Indeed, it is possible to request each post-production performance independently from the others. This is a common practice in the world of film. The choice of this or that service provider for the different stages of production and post-production largely depends on their skillset, but also on the financial set-up. Most often these incorporate regional aid, which means it is not exceptional that the filming happens in one region, part of the post-production in another and the rest in a third.

"Structures offering services must, above all, be able to show their capacity of managing the post-production work." Dame Blanche has proven its aptitude to deliver services in the domain of sound (music, sound effects, mixing, dubbing). Since a year, they added digitalising (scan), grading and editing. Special effects are a natural extension. "We figured we'd start it off slowly, but we are lucky enough to already have orders for three films." This is how Nicostratos, le pélican by Olivier Horlait is already in production for special effects, scanning and sound (editing, sound effects and mixing), a project perfectly illustrating the concept of a One Post Shop.

"We are meeting a demand from the producers," Etienne Dontaine continues. "We do not aim for films in which the special effects take up an import place. Most of the films have a couple of shots to treat, and that is our primary goal. At least, for now." Soon, a big name in the field (coming from Hogwarts) should join the team at Dame Blanche.