Few know underwater cinematography and how to light the great blue sea better than Pete Romano ASC. His unique specialty has made him sought after for most major films where’s there’s any underwater action. His 40-year underwater track record is unmatched. IMDB tries but at 159 credits for film and television they just skim the surface, especially considering the multitude of commercials, music videos and documentaries to count.
With 2020 having been a highly unusual year for the recording industry, the release of Taylor Swift’s Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions on the Disney+ platform at the end of November provided a welcome, intimate insight into one of the biggest recording stars of our time. A mix between documentary film and live performance, the 106-minute-long movie sees Swift perform all the tracks from her Folklore album live at the secluded Long Pond Studio in upstate New York.
When Graham Sheldon got the call from showrunner Johnny Fountain to be his DP for remote production on the new Behind Every Man series, he felt up to the challenge. Sheldon’s technical background, and his willingness to try new and potentially unproven shooting methods gave him the confidence to capture the interview-heavy documentary-series amid COVID-19 restrictions.
German cine lens manufacturer Ernst Leitz Wetzlar has added a Henri cinematographer’s viewfinder to the new Leica SL2-S camera. The upgraded cine application of the new SL2-S was the main trigger for Leitz to collaborate on this project.
In response to increased demand for Matthews Studio Equipment’s practically-sized 40-inch by 40-inch Flags and Floppies, the company has added the new Matthshield Floppy to the lineup. The quick set-up clear Floppy facilitates protection for crew, actors and gear. Like the rest of the 40-inch by 40-inch line, it is portable enough to travel in a hatchback car and compact enough to work in tight locations.
DPA Microphones and Rycote have joined forces to support the film industry during these unprecedented times. The brands are launching a pay-it-forward campaign for first-time and independent filmmakers who will have the opportunity to win a customized DPA/Rycote filming kit. Among the film experts helping to support the giveaway by judging for this effort are Tim White, Bryan “Sol” Aponte, Antoin Cox and Stéphane Bucher.
One of the challenges for Cooke Optics for the remaining months of 2020, according to the company, will be demonstrating to current and potential customers how it believes its /i technology provides new technical solutions to age old problems. And few problems have been given as much of a twist in recent years as keeping focus while shooting full frame.
Lindsey Optics has introduced the Large Format Viewfinder to provide optical through the lens viewing. With a sleek, modular design, it supports an unprecedented range of formats from Super 35 to Alexa 65. Company CEO Dwight Lindsey says, “We created our LF Viewfinder for filmmakers who prefer to test a ‘look’ by viewing directly through the actual lens instead of electronic means like monitors or digital tools. Our Large Format Viewfinder solves the viewing issue, while also meeting the need for format diversity.”
Radiant Images, a subsidiary of Hawkeye Systems, has introduced Meridian, an innovative light field capture system that aims to push the next evolution of immersive content creation and filmmaking. The company says the Meridian represents the Holy Grail for content: photographic 6DoF or six degrees of freedom.
Illumination Dynamics has moved its Los Angeles headquarter from San Fernando to a new location in Santa Clarita. The new, 67,639 square-foot facility is located at 21335 Needham Ranch Parkway, within sight of the 14 Freeway and just a few miles from Interstates 5, 405, and 210. As such, it allows easier access to the thriving film industry in the Santa Clarita Valley, while still remaining just a short distance from Hollywood.
