Fergus McCall, The Mill NY’s Head of Colour, collaborated with Director Jim Hosking on his feature film debut, 'The Greasy Strangler'.
The surreal, midnight-horror comedy follows Ronnie and his son Brayden, who together run the family business, Big Ronnie’s Disco Walking Tour. When Braydon attracts the attention of an alluring redhead, an intense father-son competition begins. It also signals the appearance of a lard-covered serial killer who stalks the Los Angeles streets at night.
The film combines gag-inducing visuals and cringe worthy sex scenes with a unique, heartfelt father-son story. Director Jim Hosking was inspired by older films with deeper colours and thicker textures, using stills from old Rainer Werner Fassbinder films and John Cassavetes films for colour reference.
He wanted the grade to feel like an old film print without the addition of film grain. Having previously worked together on the short film 'Renegades', the director viewed the grading process as a collaboration. Hosking explains, “I come in with certain references but I choose everybody I work with because they are going to bring something fabulous to the production that I am unable to envisage myself. I seek inspiration through collaboration. Ferg (McCall) has strong ideas and you need strong ideas from everybody that you work with.
“We worked instinctively and quickly to reach a point that excites both of us. We wanted the film to be rich but also moody, dark at times, and to feel like a wholly individual world separate from our own. I’ve been thrilled that even people who find the film itself utterly confounding have complimented the film on its grade and cinematography.”
The result is an elegantly disgusting homage to the cult of B-movies; a colourful film noir look slathered with the oily sheen of filth and depravity. Hosking puts it best, “The subject matter is at times rather rude and grotesque but the film is never less than beautiful. I think that helps to unhinge certain audience members. They are being seduced while being defiled.”
Production Companies: Drafthouse Films, Rook Films, SpectreVision, Timpson Films
Director: Jim Hosking
Executive Producers: Tim Leagues, Ben Wheatley, Theo Brooks
Producers: Ant Timpson, Elijah Wood, Josh C. Waller, Daniel Noah, Andrew Starke
Director of Photography: Mårten Tedin
See full credits: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4381236/?ref_=ttco_co_tt
Colour: The Mill
Group Colour Director: Dee Allen
Colour Producer: Natalie Westerfield
Colour Coordinator: Evan Bauer
Lead Colourist: Fergus McCall
Colourist: Josh Bohoskey
Colour Assist: Elias Nousiopoulos