Grading World War II: Behind Closed Doors

November 2008: BBC Post Production has edited and graded a new compelling documentary series for BBC Two, called World War II: Behind Closed Doors. Drawing on material available since the opening of the archives in Eastern Europe, it provides a new approach to the most secret and dramatic events of the Second World War.

Joseph Stalin, the supreme leader of the Soviet Union, was a dictator responsible for the deaths of millions. He had some unlikely relationships during the Second World War, not only with the leaders of the great democracies, such as Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, but also earlier in the war with Hitler.

Written and produced by the award-winning film-maker and historian Laurence Rees, the six part documentary series examines the inside story of the meetings between Stalin and the Allies at Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam. The series re-visits the key decisions made by the leaders, exploring the high politics as well as providing insight into the personal experiences of those on the ground, who bore the consequences of their decisions.

It is a television history like no other made before, as all the dramatic reconstructions contained in the programmes have been carefully sourced from archive material, only available since the fall of Communism. The films also contain documentary footage shot across Europe and interviews with eyewitnesses, including members of Stalin's secret police who have never before spoken on camera.

BBC Post Production designed a tapeless workflow for the series, based on Apple’s Final Cut Pro and Color grading system. It was edited at BBC Post Production’s White City Village by Alan Lygo and Colourist Chris Packman carried out the grade, creating a distinct look for each of the three elements – drama reconstruction, archive and documentary material.

For the drama reconstruction of the meetings between the leaders, shot in 16:9, Chris wanted to give it an archival feel, so he used a sepia diffusion filter to give the material a slightly de-saturated semi-sepia tint, defusing the highlights to provide depth of field. Much of the rich genuine archive material was in black in white, such as interviews with Allied seamen who reveal how they braved the Arctic convoys and with Red Army veterans, who talk on how they killed Germans in hand-to-hand fighting on the Eastern Front. Chris gave this material a sepia tone and the documentary footage was graded to bring out the best in the source material.

Chris had to work with a wide range of mixed aspect ratio sources, in both colour and black and white. The programme needed to be delivered in both 16:9 and 4:3, so the BBC Post Production team took care to design a workflow that ensured that the pictures would undergo just one ARC conversion. The series was edited offline on Final Cut Pro and conformed, before being graded on Color. The Color system is hugely powerful and its ‘effects tree’ facility enabled Chris to work much faster and be extremely creative, as he could make his own looks and tools. He was able to achieve fantastic results, grading a 60 minute episode in just four hours. Final online finishing was carried out in a tape suite and the programme was dubbed in a BBC Post Production sound theatre at Television Centre.

‘World War Two: Behind Closed Doors’ transmits over six weeks on BBC Two beginning Monday 10 November.

About BBC Post Production

BBC Post Production, a division of BBC Resources Ltd, is located in London, Bristol and Birmingham and offers award-winning creative solutions using the latest technology. Working in partnership with a variety of broadcasters and production companies, BBC Post Production’s extensive range of services include SD and HD editing across all platforms, 5.1 audio and telecine, as well as Media Solutions, its new consultancy service. The BBC Post Production team brings talent and experience to a vast range of productions, across all genres. Credits include: BAFTA Craft Award nominated Seven Ages of Rock, Strictly Come Dancing, Eastenders, Match of the Day, Ski Sunday, Gardeners World and the award winning Planet Earth.

For more information visit www.bbcresources.com/postproduction

back to top