Elite Finishing Labs

Who we are

Elite Finishing Labs is a boutique post-production studio in Burbank’s Rancho District founded and led by Paul Carlin. With 35 years of finishing experience, including 15 years as a senior conform artist at Company 3, Paul brings the same technical excellence and creative rigor that the major studios demand to independent films and documentaries.

At EFL, you pay for expertise, not overhead. You receive the identical level of precision, reliability, and craftsmanship that the largest facilities provide, without the corporate pricing structure.

Paul Carlin's IMDB Profile: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0137534

Services Tailored for Independent Films & Documentaries

Full-Service Finishing

Complete online conform, archival restoration with Topaz Video, color grading and final delivery.

Conform-Only Option

If you prefer to take the final color pass to another facility (Company 3, Light Iron, etc.), we will deliver a rock-solid, fully locked timeline with all Fusion opticals and Topaz restorations completed, ready for seamless hand-off.

What Sets Us Apart

Proven Big-Studio Pedigree, Independent Pricing

The same hands that have finished over 100 features and episodics for every major studio and streaming platform are now focused exclusively on independent productions.

Our color bay is built to SMPTE ST 2086:2018 standards:

• Dolby Vision and DCI P3 certified grading monitor (FSI XMP310)

• Calman Studio HDR/SDR calibration with proper bias lighting

• Neutral gray walls, dedicated sound-baffled room, and Genelec monitoring

• Official Dolby Vision Trim license and user certification

We are equipped to master and deliver:

• Dolby Vision HDR (i.e. Netflix IMF, all platforms)

• 2K and 4K Theatrical DCP (encrypted or unencrypted)

• Broadcast and OTT SDR

Archival Footage Restoration

Paul Carlin is widely recognized among documentary filmmakers for his mastery of Topaz Video AI (a licensed user since 2021). With years of daily, production-level use across dozens of projects, he has refined workflows that extract maximum authentic detail and texture from degraded film scans, videotape transfers, and historical sources, while completely avoiding the telltale “plastic” over-processed look that plagues inexperienced AI restoration.

Ironclad IP Security

Major studios have entrusted Paul with their most sensitive material for 15 years. We protect yours the same way: hardware firewalls, air-gapped workstations, and battle-tested network security protocols.

Solutions, Not Roadblocks

We exist to solve finishing problems, not create them. Decades on the most demanding timelines mean we know exactly what can be achieved directly in the conform (using Fusion for split-screens, eye-blink removal, rig/boom/crew/T-mark removal, speed ramps, QC fixes, etc.) and what truly requires a VFX pull. You will always receive an honest, practical assessment of your projects needs, and a willingness to make it work.