Australian digital cinema company Blackmagic Design gave insight into the camera equipment and post-production products being used to complete more than 55 new and returning US television shows and streaming series. From “Charmed,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “The Big Bang Theory,” joining a list of hundreds of top shows created with Blackmagic Design products over the years.
Capture:
Australian Director of Photography (DP) Judd Overton relies on Blackmagic Design’s URSA Mini Pro and Micro Cinema Camera to capture unique angles and provide additional coverage on “No Activity” for CBS All Access.
“I shoot a very cinematic look on a tight schedule,” he said. “I need to know my camera has the latitude and flexibility I need. The URSA Mini Pro and Micro Cinema Cameras are designed to work for post production, and I know they have the image quality I need for the show. I’m always eager to put the Blackmagic Design cameras into play on a scene.”
Los Angeles based InvisEffects relies on DaVinci Resolve for a number of fall TV shows. “We use DaVinci Resolve almost every single day. It’s a vital part of our VFX workflow,” said Mike Gaines, owner of InvisEffects. “We use DaVinci Resolve to conform and export hundreds of shots every episode, and it has saved us many times, such as when we tried to conform 8K to 4K and HD in a couple of different aspect ratios. It’s pretty incredible.”
Hollywood based VFX studio Muse VFX depends on Fusion Studio for VFX work and compositing on a wide range of shows.
“Fusion Studio is a major part of our pipeline,” said John Gross, founder and creative director of Muse VFX. “It’s a powerful creative tool with great flexibility and low overhead. It easily competes with other node based compositing options at a fraction of their cost.”
TV series cameras and hardware include:
• “Jack Ryan” DP Richard Rutkowski used Micro Studio Camera 4Ks as action and crash cameras, as well as to capture unique, remote angles;
• “Madam Secretary” DP Learan Kahanov used Pocket Cinema Cameras for specialized shots, including webcam, surveillance cameras and cell phone footage; and
• “No Activity” DP Judd Overton used URSA Mini Pro, URSA Mini 4.6K, Micro Cinema Camera and Video Assist 4K.
For on set grading and DIT work:
• “All American” DIT Urban Olsson used DaVinci Resolve and Smart Videohub 12×12 and 20×20 routers, as well as UltraStudio HD Mini Recorder, DeckLink Mini Recorder and DeckLink Mini Monitor
For capture and playback;
• “Bull” DIT Gabe Kolodny used Smart Videohub 40×40, Videohub Smart Control, SmartScope Duo 4K monitor and UltraStudio Express;
• “The Goldbergs” DIT Kevin Mills used Micro Videohub 16×16, Mini Converter SDI Distribution, DeckLink Mini Monitor, DeckLink Mini Recorder, SmartView Duo, DaVinci Resolve and Smart Videohub CleanSwitch 12×12;
For VFX with Blackmagic Design cameras, DaVinci Resolve and Fusion Studio:
• BluFire Studios Owner and VFX Supervisor Matt Hoffman and his team used Fusion Studio for “The Outpost;”
• Muse VFX Founders and Visual Effects Supervisors John Gross and Fred Pienkos and their team used Fusion Studio to composite “Charmed,” “Madam Secretary,” “NCIS” and “The Neighborhood;”
