Words and photos // Dylan Starczak
Popping up on Franklin Street over the summer, Flight Labs and Studio Labs is a film lab and a content studio all in one.
Run by Purna and Nadeesha Indigahawela, the dynamic brother-sister duo both in their mid-twenties, the story of Flight Labs and Studio Labs began with pure passion.
It all started when Nadeesha’s partner gifted her a camera early in their relationship; she was hooked.
“I’ve always been drawn to film. It was always fun looking back at negatives that Mum and Dad had,” Nadeesha explains.
“It’s a nice change from shooting with your phone. I like the aspect that you take your time.
“The photo could be awful, or it could be the best thing you’ve ever shot, and you won’t know until you develop it, which I always thought was a fun little surprise.”
Purna borrowed Nadeesha’s camera one day and quickly fell in love with it too.
“Honestly, I didn’t care about the results at the beginning,” Purna says.
“I just felt the camera in my hands; you cock the shutter and there’s no other feeling. You can’t describe it unless you go out and shoot film and use one of those cameras, just the pure mechanical feeling of it.”
Their journey to opening Flight Labs and Studio Labs was a delightful chain reaction.
After just three or four years of shooting film, Purna began scanning his own negatives.
When he moved back to Adelaide after a short time away in Melbourne, he suggested to Nadeesha that they start a film lab together.
Purna and Nadeesha were originally looking for somewhere small to open their lab, but having difficulty finding a place that suited their needs, they ended up with their current spacious 100m² location.
Unsure of what to do with all that room, the duo decided to double the space as a studio.
“We thought, ‘What would complement a film lab?’ and with this space being the way it is, it lent itself perfectly to being a studio,” Purna says.
“We’re on the outer edge of the city such that you don’t have to pay for parking — it’s so convenient.
“It’s especially useful for our dropbox outside. Having it in a central location like the CBD, anybody can come past and drop film off to be developed anytime.”
Completing all renovations themselves with the help of some friends and family, Studio Labs and Flight Labs opened in December 2023, with the goal of giving Adelaide shooters a top-notch film lab experience.
Flight Labs is about processing film at the highest quality, and Nadeesha and Purna are always ready to chat and share tips with both newcomers and seasoned pros.
Meanwhile, Studio Labs is a versatile space, which featured in Homebound’s latest Autumn Fashion Edit.
The space is ideal for anything from social media content to larger productions. High ceilings, optional natural light, and various backgrounds are just some of the perks.
The studio boasts a full cyclorama and an array of props and furniture to create different looks.
Local creator, Georgia Zadow, recently shot in the space and shared her experience:
“I love the space, and the natural light was great for the content that I wanted to create. Also, the different props that were in the studio made it easy to switch it up,” Georgia says.
“The furniture and props are modern, and they have different options you can choose from.
“You can switch it out to change the look of the content you’re shooting so it doesn’t all look the same. It’s all good quality furniture and looks great in the footage.”
Whether creators are in need of a space for two hours or eight, Studio Labs makes for an ideal central spot for creative projects.
“We’re a new studio; we’re a new lab. We’re very flexible and always happy to offer assistance,” Nadeesha says.
“We have a little space where you can sit and chill, and have a chat, ask for suggestions and give us feedback,” Purna adds.
“We hope that a versatile new place is something the people of Adelaide are looking for.”
Flight Labs & Studio Labs: 188 Franklin Street Adelaide 5000
Flight Labs Instagram & website // Studio Labs Instagram & website
