We have reached a point in the early stages of the digital camera age where technology is developing so quickly it is getting harder and harder to keep up with what’s new and hot. Or you may even know what’s new and hot today, but by tomorrow it’s become old news. In fact, just a few years ago Panasonic DVX100 was the perfect, affordable, digital camera for small productions, but last week I saw one panhandling under the L in Kensington begging for work. The prosumer camera race is on and gaining speed. There are no signs of decelerating, plateauing, or anyone pulling ahead. Competition is finite and the market is growing: economic ideology for camera manufacturers. But what about the consumers? How do we keep up? How can we be certain that our equipment investments are safe?
The answer is, do your research. Know what it is you are looking for in a camera before you even begin looking. Maybe you can’t live without simple workflow, or maybe you lust a shallow depth of field, or perhaps it’s the range of color and chroma control that is the key to your cinematic heart. Whatever your preference may be, and whatever bizarre means you choose to express that preference, there is something in the market for you. As for the actual camera comparisons and research, there’s plenty of literary info out there, but what about real results? When it comes down to brass tacks, (which is a phrase totally void of etymology, btw. There’s no such thing as brass tacks. They’re all aluminum.) how does the actual footage of each camera match up to the competition? For results, look no further than our own backyard.
The Producer’s Guild of America (East) recently had an techy get-together to compare some of the top cameras in the market today. Rounding up cameras and operators from the local Philadelphia market, the PGA setup a side-by-side camera assessment and format comparison at Blue. DPs, Chris Landy, Paul Hazlett, Rob Parker, Kevin Ritchie and of course GK’s Kevin Hack were on hand, to compare the RED One MX, Canon 5D, Canon 7D, Sony EX3, Pani AF100, Pani HPX3700, and Pani HPX170. The comparison was to evaluate chroma keying, depth of field, and light sensitivity of each of the cameras. The results will be revealed on May 17th at the Camera Assesment and Format Comparison, also being held at Blue. It is an invitation only event, and the results will be properly disseminated from the event. For more details check out PGA’s event page.
When asked recently how he planned to handle the loss of his biggest right-handed bat from the 2011 line-up, with #28 heading to DC (to take advantage of those snazzy Nat’s uniforms, and the 10-15 thousand fans that pack National’s Stadium on home game days), Phil’s Manager Charlie Manuel conceded that ‘it would hurt, but that the game keeps moving along’. Asked further if he’d opt to snatch up one of the potential high profile Outfielder free agents in this off-season’s market, he offered the confident reply that ‘someone would step up’ and thus make JW’s departure that much less painful. They ‘always do’, he stated!
Managing a small business in this current economic downturn is much like that, and Get-Kinetic has found a number of resourceful ways to weather the storm. More importantly, and more to the point, they’ve done it without compromising what is most important in this industry…creativity and aesthetics. Being an owner-op shop for the preferred of Digital Cinema formats, the RED One camera, has certainly helped. Relying on internal support rather than heavy freelance outsourcing has been a competitive advantage as well. The company may not be recession-proof, but perhaps it’s adapted enough to be recession-realistic.
I guess you could say that GK is sort of like the slinky of film and video production services…somehow, the company always finds a way to overcome whatever obstacle is placed in front of it. Whether the challenge is the strained budgets of its clients, a seemingly impossible deadline to turn a project around, or the dizziness-inducing changes in media technology that take place at an ever-increasing pace, GK prides itself on addressing the hindrance, and remaining focused on the priority: finding a creative solution. After all, that’s what keeps things fun and engaging on a daily basis…and it’s a healthy distraction from the stress!
Maybe it’s the plethora of 1-year-olds running around the world of Get-Kinetic this year that serve as a reminder of the 2009 holiday season. Or perhaps it’s the decorative lights & bows that adorn the perimeter of GK’s studio exterior these days (thanks Tom)! At any rate, things have certainly begun to take on an air of holiday-esque appearances over here on Fletcher Street for sure. Not that we’re planning on marketing ourselves as Santa’s Fishtown-based workshop anytime soon, but here are a few of the jolly goings on in the world of GK these days…
DP Kevin Hack & Co found themselves back in studio recently, this time for the latest in a long-running series of creative collaborations for a local music artist. The promotional shoot, which was and uber-festive two-day ordeal at Hill Theater Studios in NJ, witnessed the impressive transition of the studio into a veritable winter wonderland. The holiday makeover was thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of local Production Designer Noah Grant-Levine and his band of merry art department cronies. The endeavor also served as another successful partnership between GK and the talented fellas over at Backseat Conceptions. The production even went so far as to find a few members of the crew decked out in total elfin attire…but we’ll leave those folks to the safety of their pointy-toed anonymity.
And if that’s not a big enough helping of holiday egg-blog for ya, GK staff producer Paul Irwin has just stepped into the role of Line Producer for the feature film “Christmas Heart”. The original script, penned by Browntown Film’s John Charles Hunt, is a heartwarming tale based on the true-life story of John’s wife & Browntown Executive Producer Kathlyn Hunt. The project will be in creative and financial development for the remainder of the year, with the hopes of a 2011 principal photography schedule.
So there ya have it, your very own peppermint-infused update on the behind-the-scenes @ GK…and be sure to keep a lookout for the mistletoe!
As Get-Kinetic continues to enjoy its evolving status as the go-to RED One production entity in the market, we are happy to report on another collaborative effort in the digital cinema arena. Recently commissioned by the California based production entity Kenilworth Films, GK spent a week shooting DVD supplemental materials on behalf of Kenilworth’s recent feature film effort “Standing Ovation”. Working in tandem with Director Stewart Raffill (“Ice Pirates”, “The Philadelphia Experiment”, “Passenger 57”), DP Kevin Hack led a camera & lighting dept for the multi-cam RED One effort, alongside b-cam operator Joe Hennigan of Kphat Productions. Filming consisted of five principal days, with three of those studio days (spent at Hill Theater Studios in Paulsboro), and two location days in Times Square & Atlantic City.
GK spent a few days in NYC this month, shooting interviews for world-renowned technology leader Intel Corporation. GK’s field producer Paul Irwin spent two days with Wall Street investment buy-side & sell-side experts on behalf of Intel’s senior management and investor relations teams, conducting nearly a dozen interviews over the course of the two-day stint. The company enlisted the production support of its NY based headquarters, with Parlay Studios DP John Welsh behind the camera for the interview days. GK was also able to honor a very tight post delivery deadline for its client, which witnessed all assets in the hands of their Intel contacts within 48 hours of wrapping production on the big island.
We were also happy to hear that the GK short film “Location Location” received another public screening opportunity, with this most recent exhibition as a part of the Greater Reading Film Festival. Reading Film Commission Chair Santo D. Marabella alongside fellow member Tracy Schott has been working tirelessly over the past few months in an effort to afford the short every opportunity for exposure…keep up the great work guys!
GK has been keeping busy with an amalgamation of opportunities as of late, what with old friends and new friends alike looking to get us out and about. Last week witnessed another collaborative effort with the folks over at Versus, as we took to the field (or, the rink as it were) with the RED package in tow for a production day at the Flyer’s Skate Zone in Voorhees. A quick word to the wise…if you ever find yourself forced to shoot on a literal ‘sheet of ice’, be sure to have the proper footwear. And never underestimate the value of helmet!
GK found itself pairing recently with the production duo of Old Harbor Productions and Digitas, for a one-day multicam shoot on the Canon 5D. The project, lensed by GK’s in-house DP Kevin Hack, is part of a series of owner testimonials for automaker Buick and will be continuing to film nationwide over the next few weeks. A viral launch is currently scheduled for sometime in 2011.
The Get-Kinetic team is also happy to welcome Green, Tweed to its growing list of clients. GK has been collaborating with local Cinematographer JR Campbell on an industrial project for the locally based Green, Tweed (who call Kulpsville, PA home to one of their largest worldwide headquarters). The project, consisting of several interview and b-roll production days with the RED One camera package, was field produced by GK staffer Paul Irwin. JR set up behind the lens in the DP role, and Dan Gauthier will be handling all editorial and VFX work on the project’s behalf. The promo piece is currently being posted in-house at GK, with a project completion set for mid-November.
