Battery Life Key Part of Success in Documentaries

Bookmark and Share

Tue, 06/11/2019 - 09:57 -- Nick Dager

Documentary filmmakers understand that the job requires contending with all kinds of weather, environmental conditions, outside noise and un-trained talent. Freelance cinematographer Neil Fernandez, owner of Lucky Finn Productions, has traveled to the Black Rock Desert to shoot a short about Burning Man, along Route 66 filming Alien Highway for the Travel Channel and to Bora Bora, Jamaica and the Bahamas to shoot various swimsuit campaigns.

Freelance cinematographer Neil Fernandez, owner of Lucky Finn Productions.On the road, battery life is critical. With an ever-changing project scope, and unpredictable circumstances at-large, Fernandez always opts for reliable, long-lasting equipment, such as Indipro Tools’ V-Mount Li-Ion and Micro-Series V-Mount Batteries, along with the company’s Quad Pro Charger, SafeTap Regulation Cables, V-Mount Mounting Plates and a variety of other accessory items.

“Fortunate as I might be to have my dream job, I wouldn’t be able to do it without the best gear,” said Fernandez. “Second only to cameras, my top priority is my power source. In my world, the Red and Blackmagic [cameras] reign supreme, so I want to make sure I’m supporting my cameras with an equally reliable complement, which, in my case is a variety of equipment from Indipro Tools.”

He added, “I chose the V-Mount Li-Ion and Micro-Series V-Mount Batteries as the backbone of my rigs because of product reliability. Though these solutions offer an unmatched level of power, it is the simplicity of the company’s designs that makes its gear affordable and reliable.”

Lucky Finn films includes a wide variety of projects, from documentaries and scripted productions to music videos and commercials, so Fernandez’s workflow changes from one project to the next.

“I might be flying solo for something and working on set with a crew the next,” he said. “The Micro-Series V-Mounts are small and compact, so they are perfect for powering my camera on a gimbal. This means I don’t have too much weight bogging me down as I run around the jungles of Africa, filming wild animals. The size, weight and power of the Micro-Series have gotten me through thick and thin."