Production

Cameras

Broadcasters and filmmakers are heading to Las Vegas, Nev. to have a tech-filled good time at the 2012 NAB Show. This year’s event will have extra excitement for content creators looking to capitalize on an array of new equipment with better quality at considerably reduced costs. For these visionaries, the words “lighter, portable and less expensive” are like music to the ears — and NAB will not disappoint them. The show floor is expected to be busy, filled with many new products and approximately 100,000 attendees ready to purchase the technology of the future. Here’s the first look at some of the companies slated to appear at NAB 2012.

Read more: NAB 2012 Preview: New Technology for the Digital Age

Cameras

At last month’s Academy Awards, seven of the nine Best Picture nominees were shot on Kodak film. But as digital technology continues to advance, we should expect to see more nominees like Hugo and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as digital filmmaking becomes more prominent in Hollywood and across the world stage.

Read more: Cinematographers on Filmmaking and the Movement to Digital

Cameras

While the last few years have seen a substantial movement toward 3D, it’s now safe to say that 3D projects are here for a long haul as it is the next wave of movie and television entertainment. Most of the television sets that are now being made will be 3D enabled while the advent of 3D theatrical viewing in multiplex theaters sprout up in record numbers — and consumers are forking out the extra cash for this entertainment. Large corporate companies, like ESPN, are also moving into 3D and consumers can now find 3D entertainment in most sports and live-event programming. “They were brave, they were smart, they are pioneers and they’ve done a really good job at it,” says Marty Shindler, CEO of The Shindler Prospective, a management consulting team for companies in entertainment and entertainment technology. Shindler promotes the 3D movement and often holds 3D sessions at trade show events, such as Digital Hollywood and the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Read more: The Movement to 3D

Audio

Working as a production sound mixer in Los Angeles, where it’s consistently sunny, it’s possible to take the weather for granted when recording audio in the field. But what if the job is recording audio for a documentary in the Arctic, like for Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch,” where there’s the incessant pounding of salt water? Or how about recording a reality show during the rainy season in Washington State? Getting clean audio can be difficult in good weather, but harsh conditions can present unique challenges to production sound mixers in the field. Luckily, there are some products that can offer protection for productions in need.

Read more: Extreme Audio

Cameras

Believe it or not, it’s been barely 15 years since high definition made its first appearance in North America, yet most of us — even production professionals — have had little hands-on experience with HD until the past five-to-seven years, the most intense stage in its evolution. Cinematographer Randall Dark caught the high-def bug 15 years ago after watching an HD demo in his native Toronto, and he hasn’t looked back since launching his high-def production company HD Vision Studios in the early ’90s. “The goal of all documentaries is to capture reality without manipulation, and HD captured it especially realistically,” says Dark.

Read more: Documentary Cinematography

Lighting

In the signature scene from the upcoming film Knife Fight (starring Rob Lowe), a political campaign manager advises his candidate that in order to win, he must be willing to “bring a gun to a knife fight.” One of the key moments in this political drama takes place in an attorney’s office atop a tall office/apartment building with a falcon’s-eye view of San Francisco. For Cinematographer Steve Kazmierski, shooting this scene in a penthouse suite — while maintaining a spectacular view from its wall-to-wall picture windows — was a lot like bringing a knife to a gunfight due to all the lighting challenges.

Read more: Lights on Knife Fight

Support & Accessories

Just a few years ago, 3D rigs, monitors and other production gear were few and far between and hence quite expensive to rent, let alone to buy. Moreover, much of what existed, especially in terms of 3D camera rigs, was large, heavy and fairly immobile. Today, the number and size range of rigs and integrated cameras are growing steadily as is the toolset of peripherals for improving and simplifying 3D production.

Read more: 3-Dimensional Discoveries

Cameras

Choosing a profession is a decision we all have to make at some point in our adult life. For Martin Lisius, the choice was easy. He became a cinematographer and producer of programming that covers severe weather, including thunderstorms, stormy seas, blizzards and chasing the mother of all natural disasters: tornados. And after shooting these events, he sells the footage to production companies where it can be used in their film projects.

Read more: Capturing 3D Storm Footage

Lighting

B&M Lighting and Universal Studios announce a brand new lighting product, Mac Tech LED. Using specially developed LED lighting tube technology, B&M Lighting has created four product lines that use 30% to 70% less power than conventional lighting, offer consistent color temperatures at both daylight and tungsten and are lightweight for easy load-in and strike. Universal Studios Set Lighting is the exclusive rental agent.

Read more: B&M Lighting and Universal Studios Partner on MAC Tech LED Lighting

Cameras

For the past two years Eric Arndt has been part of Fletcher Camera & Lenses’ Chicago and is now transitioning to Fletcher’s Michigan offices to lead the marketing efforts for that operation.

“Continuing to build our Detroit operation (opened in 2008) is a top priority for us,” says Zoe Borys, General Manager of Fletcher Camera & Lenses’ rental division. “Although the Michigan film incentive is currently being reviewed, we are committed to growing and supporting the day-to-day commercial and corporate business in Detroit.  It’s our goal to invest long-term in this market, providing the latest equipment, technology and educational resources to the area.”  

Says Arndt, “Fletcher Camera & Lenses is like family to me, and I’m proud to work with a company whose name is so well-known and respected in our industry. They’ve given me a great opportunity to nurture the active film and commercial community in Michigan – a state that I think has a very bright future in this space.”

Ardnt joins Fletcher Detroit's long-time film rental house veteran, Steven Oatley and part-timer Devin Laster in running the Michigan office. Recent inventory additions include Arri ALEXA and Sony F3 cameras with RED Epics coming soon; RedRock Micro DSLR rigs; and additional Angenieux Optimo Zoom lenses. "This office is committed to continue Fletcher's national reputation of hosting regular educational events for the crew as well as producers," explains Arndt.