In the late winter of 2014, Leonardo DiCaprio called actor and documentarian Fisher Stevens with an idea: he wanted to collaborate on a documentary that would explore the causes and effects of climate change around the world, and the urgent need to transition away from using fossil fuels — and he wanted to get started right away. They chose Antonio Rossi to be their director of photography.
Arri has promoted Sebastien Laffoux to director of sales, camera systems, effective immediately. In this new role, he is responsible for managing the entire camera sales team for North America with regional representatives based in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto. Laffoux reports directly to Glenn Kennel, president of Arri Inc., who is based at Arri Inc.’s headquarters in Burbank, California.
Sony is expanding its FS Series Super 35mm professional family with the addition of the FS7 II camcorder, which adds advanced features including Electronic Variable ND technology, a lever lock type E-mount, and a new mechanical design for faster and easier set-up. The new FS7 II camcorder is designed for long-form shooting and production applications, especially documentaries and independent filmmaking.
The makers of the Jaunt One camera have expanded their rental program. Abel Cine in New York is the latest company to offer the camera for rent. The camera can also be rented from Radiant Images in Los Angeles.
Ben Davis, BSC has become an old hand in the Marvel universe. Doctor Strange marks his third Marvel film as director of photography. He also shot the global hits Avengers: Age of Ultron and Guardians of the Galaxy. “Marvel very much is a universe with its own language, but the three films I've done have been vastly different.”
Award-winning UK visual effects company Framestore used Vicon motion capture cameras for Marvel Studios latest superhero film Doctor Strange.
Panavision will showcase many of its newest offerings, including the Millennium DXL 8K Camera and T Series anamorphic lenses at the 2016 edition of the Camerimage International Film Festival, which runs November 12-19 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Panavision is also presenting two workshops, and exhibiting alongside subsidiaries Light Iron, Lee Filters and Panalux.
Red Digital Cinema is now shipping the highly anticipated Red Epic-W and the newest Weapon. Both cameras feature the compact design of the DSMC2 form factor as well as the new Helium 8K S35 sensor.
DP Colin Noel says there are certain locations that a cinematographer dreams of shooting and, for him a Ferris wheel at night is one of them. When the music video concept of Hartford, Connecticut-based Bronze Radio Return’s Only Temporary was presented to him, it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
Cinematographer Gareth Paul Cox recently shot up-and-coming director Aundré Johnson’s tentatively titled project, The Driver, an ambitious 15-minute short that takes place mostly inside a car. It tells the story of a limo car service driver, who ventures off the beaten path to start his own car service using borrowed money from individuals with possible mob ties. For Cox, there were several big challenges for the low budget short, including driving and shooting on L.A. streets without a process trailer, or any serious rigging.
