Belgian cable network produces on HDCAM

European cinema group Kinepolis runs two HDTV film channels hosted by Belgian broadcaster Indi. The channels broadcast up to 11 films a day to the Flemish-speaking part of the country. Film-related material is shown between films, including InBox TV, a weekly one-hour programme shot on an HDW-750P HDCAM camcorder.

Freelance cameraman Gery Hoebanx, who bought the HDCAM camcorder early in 2007, interviews cast and crew behind the scenes. Hoebanx says, “People don’t realise how good HD looks. The difference between HDCAM and DigiBeta is huge. Apart from the extra detail, the HDW-750P produces such nice colours in low light. I watch the results and still think, amazing.”

Belgian production company AcTVty, which helped Kinepolis launch the HDTV channels in October 2006, produces InBox TV. AcTVty’s Abe Wouters says he can rely on the Sony equipment to produce a consistent look. “We sat down with the cameraman for a day and worked out the saturation, colour and balance we wanted. Now if the camera changes hands, we know it will still give us the look we want.”

AcTVty edits and mixes the HDCAM material using two HDW-M2000P HDCAM VTR decks. The VTRs also perform up conversions from SD and aspect ratio conversions. “They are versatile machines. The quality of output is rather good,” says Wouters.

Hoebanx and AcTVty also produce HDCAM videos for corporate clients, including Volvo, BMW and Siemens.

Belgian cinemas also ran a 30-second trailer Hoebanx shot on the HDW-750P and converted to film, advertising the 2007 Ostende Film Festival in September.

15 October 2007