Czech Agency shoots with HDW-F900R

We bought an F900R three years ago and another last year — it was the right choice. We wanted a digital camera that came as close as possible to the film look,” says Lukas Rak, managing director of post production at the All In Agency in Prague, a company that works in HD throughout the region. “The F900R renders colours very well, especially complexions, and the camcorder is nicely set up so that in most cases presets can be used when filming.

“To the HDW-F900R, we added a P+S Technik PRO 35 film lens adapter. It’s well-known that film-makers like a small depth of focus, as it is one of the features of the film look. We did a comparative test between the P+S Technik with a range of Zeiss lenses and our Fujinon Cine Style lens, and found that it’s possible to cut a mid-shot with a close-up.”

HD is producing impressive results, says Rak. “I was amazed recently by a comparative test between 35mm film and HDW-F900R (HDCAM). I thought the HDCAM result would be lower quality but it wasn’t. The cameraman’s approach is a very important part of the puzzle — if you work with the HDW-F900R in the classic film way, using the same lighting etc, the results are similar.”

Prison drama

All In Agency have used their HD kit to make one television project and two feature films, both currently in post production. The Name tells the story of a teenage couple who break into a deserted old baroque fortress, formerly a prison, to spend a romantic night together. In the morning they find that they are not alone, and slowly realise that they have gone back in time to the year 1953. The film’s director was Ján Novák, cameraman Patrik Hoznauer and it was produced by KrausHouse Production, LLC.

This was the first movie to be filmed in the Czech Republic or Slovakia recording on to the SRW-1 HDCAM SR portable recorder.“This set-up was used especially because there were lots of dark scenes in an old prison,” explains Rak. “We had wanted to use that combination earlier to film a presentation spot with lots of post production work for Audi Exclusive Limousine Service, but given the demands of filming, time constraints and the need to film with two cameras at different locations, in the end we used HDCAM.”

Mixing HD and film

For the film project, however, the mix was perfect. “When we bought our F900R we ran a comparative test using the same lenses for 35mm film. For keying, we filmed shots of hair in a blue box; on the studio recording from the HDCAM SR, and after enlargement in post production, we saw better images than from 35mm film. The other criteria were comparable, and we therefore decided to buy an SRW-1 portable recorder and offer it in combination with the F900R, especially for special effects.

“Such a recording has, I think, more than twice the amount of information than with compressed HDCAM. Prague post production studios, including our own, are increasingly promoting the use of this equipment, mostly for ad-spots, as there are big savings for producers.

“Currently we are filming a classic Czech fairytale, complete with devils, set in wonderful old castles and cliffs, where a relatively large number of special effects will be used. The film-makers accepted the recommendations for our HD setup, and we are looking forward to this project very much,” adds Rak.

The film’s director is Miloslav Smidmajer, the cameraman is Martin Duba and producer is Bio Illusion.

29 September 2008