Archives for July 2014

10 Tools Every DP Should Have in their Kit

July 30th, 2014 by

So you have been in contact with your client. You have set up the shoot day logistics, and you’re confident that everything will go well. Then you go to set-up for the shoot and realize you have forgotten something. Every Director of Photography has a basic kit they bring with camera, lights, and audio but outside of those main elements here are 10 items that are important for every DP onsite.

NYC PR Firm Uses Sony PMWF55

July 24th, 2014 by

A New York City public relations firm, Finn Partners, captured a new public school initiative with the Sony PMW F55. This required going into the classroom to record interviews and B-roll. Crews Control represented DP and contributing blogger Adam Shanker says this about his camera for this project. “Setting the F55 in HD in the MPEG 2 XDCAM mode we can have manageable file sizes while achieving high quality. The record format is 1920x1080P, frame rate of 29.97, with an angle shutter at 180 degrees. The HG gamma setting is set at number 3. The detail level is brought down to -7, and the aperture level to -10. I’ve got an OLED viewfinder and Arri bracket support for the viewfinder cable, an Arri top plate for mounting attachments, like the Sony DVF-L700 fly away Progressive LCD monitor. A Switchtronix Jet pack allows use of Anton Bauer batteries, and the base rig is Element Technica’s Micron with an Arri follow focus.”

Professional Mobile Recording Devices for the Best Workflow- From Production to Post

July 21st, 2014 by

In today’s fast paced production world things can change in an instant. This seems especially true with camera technology. Gone are the days of purchasing a camera, paying it off in 36 months, and then living off the profits for a few more years. These days you’re lucky if you can actually work with a camera for 18 months before its’ replacement hits the market. So how does one actually make a return on their investment? Thankfully, there are some terrific alternatives in the form of digital video recorders to extend the life of your camera. Mobile recording devices, just like your TV box at home, are designed to record images out of a professional camera in the latest video codecs.

Not Just Your Average Blonde: Photon Beard’s Platinum Blonde

July 16th, 2014 by

Photon Beard is an English lighting company known for its development of the open-faced 1K and 2K tungsten lights known as Redhead and Blonde lights. There are now many manufacturers who produce redhead and blonde lights but Photon Beard was the originator. By natural progression they have developed and teased over the last couple years an open face 1200W HMI unit known as the Platinum Blonde. The difference between Tungsten lights and HMIs are HMIs produce more light but are more efficient in their power consumption.

10 Tips for Shooting Video in New York City

July 10th, 2014 by

New York City is consistently the most scheduled location for all of Crews Control’s video shoots worldwide. Manhattan is the busiest location of the five boroughs for corporate video productions.

A Fluorescent with LED Power: Photon Beard’s Square One

July 10th, 2014 by

Photon Beard certainly sounds more like a hipster rock band than a UK lighting company that has made excellent lighting for over 100 years. Photon Beard has continued their excellence in lighting with their Square One light. The Square One is literally just that, a one square foot light panel. But unlike most lights of that size, the Square One utilizes fluorescent lights instead of the extremely popular LED lights.

Let's get started:Get a quote!