Visual and sound post for ITV’s Breathless

Technicolor completed a range of post-production services including colour grade and sound mix, for ITV’s new ‘60s-set drama, Breathless. The six part series reveals the scandalous private lives and loves of a group of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital on the cusp of the sexual revolution.  

The stylish period drama goes behind the scenes of a busy gynecology unit at this pivotal point in British history. The series goes beyond the professional façade to reveal the professional jealousies and personal secrets that simmer in a working environment still marred by social and gender inequality.  Co-created and written by Paul Unwin (Agatha Christie’s Marple) Peter Grimsdale (Dispatches) and Simon Tyrrell (The Vice), Breathless stars Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean) with a strong supporting cast including Joanna Page (Gavin and Stacey) and Zoe Boyle (Downton Abbey).

Breathless was shot on Arri Alexa and as the shoot was split between three separate directors, the series posed some very specific challenges, Technicolor senior colourist Paul Ensby explains: “To ensure consistency across each of the six hour-long episodes, we decided to create a colour bible so everyone could work to a particular look, form example to maintain an overall colour saturation and to control the flesh tones.

“We wanted to offer a realistic feel throughout, but also to make the most of the rich primary colours used on set, and I had to reference back to the colour bible continuously throughout the grade.  We also used colour to apply a subtle vignette around the edge of every shot which was just enough to bring the eye to the centre of the action, this allowed us to keep the important details in the main parts of the frame.”

Watch Breathless on UK’s ITV channel on Thursday’s primetime slot of 9pm.

Technicolor Credits
Senior Colourist: Paul Ensby
Online Editor: Richard Cradick
Sound Mixer: Richard Straker
Producer: Emma Hulme