Gossip Girl shoots on the F23

The second series of hit US show Gossip Girl is shot entirely in high definition using the F23 digital cinema camera. The show, which is made by Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Paramount Telelvision, was shot by cinematographer Ron Fortunato, ASC. The F23 camera was supplied by Band Pro’s New York office.

Gossip Girl is based on the best-selling series of young-adult novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, and is told through the eyes of an all-knowing blogger – Gossip Girl – who is determined to uncover and fuel every scandal possible via constant, avidly read, text messages. The series is filmed in New York and post produced in Los Angeles. It centres on the rivalry of two girls, Serena (Blake Lively) and Blair (Leighton Meester). Following the success of the first series in the US and UK, the second series will air on ITV-2 in the UK in early 2009.

Fortunato says the F23 proved itself on the first series, where it was used in conjunction with an HDW-F900R, also supplied by Band Pro.

“It’s a show that should be very natural, but with a hint of glamour,” says Fortunato. “The girls, and everything else in their world, need to look pretty, no matter what.” On the first season, with a limited budget, Fortunato used the F23 on the first unit and the HDW-F900R HDCAM camcorder on the second unit, with images blending seamlessly in post.

“The Sony F23 is better than the F900, a little more sensitive, with less noise. I know I can push it,” he explains. “It’s an interesting challenge, shooting in New York and working with a post house in Los Angeles. However, one of the things that we have in our favour is the F23. We can do so much timing, colouring and shading on location.”

13 January 2009