FilmConvert is a software company based in New Zealand, that creates powerful color grading and correction plugins for video editors. In our beginning, we worked closely alongside our sister company that focused on post-production, with many customers who would want to shoot on film. At this time, a 10-minute roll of 35mm film was around $1000 NZD (per roll), and many customers couldn't make it fit with their budget.
This then sparked the inspiration for FilmConvert, a standalone film emulation tool that was launched in 2011.
The first iteration of FilmConvert was written for the Red One specifically. After a lot of research into Film processing and a bit of help from Weta Digital, we settled on our original FilmConvert Pro looks.
Since then, FilmConvert has bloomed into the product you see today. We introduced our new version of the plug-in
“FilmConvert Nitrate” in 2019, which now features a range of different film stock emulations, grain controls, and support for all the major camera brands. In 2023, we released Halation for FilmConvert Nitrate, so you can further enhance your film look by adding the beautiful glow of Halation.
In 2020, we released our second plugin, CineMatch. We noticed a growing number of people discuss the difficulty behind matching shots between different cameras, as each camera has its own unique color science. This inspired us to create CineMatch, a designated color correction and camera matching tool, so you can easily correct and match your footage to spend more time on the creative grade.
However, this is only the beginning. We can’t wait to share our future developments with you!
There’s such an organic, dreamy, and romantic feeling that comes with shooting on film. Each film stock sees and interprets colors in different ways, resulting in some beautiful imagery. Whether it be your favourite Kodak, Fuji, or Ilford film stock, they each bring a different flavour, tone, and mood to your visual story.
Alongside the colors of your film stock, another thing we love about film is grain. Grain is a great way to add depth to your shots, as well as maintaining visual interest by the way it moves on screen. Many filmmakers use grain to their advantage, to the point where grain becomes a character in of itself.
There's a tactile feeling that comes with film. Historically, filmmakers didn't feel like real filmmakers unless they were shooting on film. This is no longer the case. That's why FilmConvert wanted to be there at the convergence of old and new mediums, merging the beautiful film look with the accessibility of modern-day shooting.