Motion Control and HDcam

Client: "GULDER BEER"
Agency: GREY ADVERTISING South Africa.

SA Production company ATOMIC VISUAL EFFECTS
Motion Control equipment THE CROWS NEST

   

Motion Control and HDcam

The motion control rig is a computer controlled camera crane that controls the movement of the camera, allowing moves that would be difficult or impossible to control manually to be repeated an infinite number of times.

This was the first time in South Africa that the CineAlta system has been used on a motion control rig, though it is proving a popular format for shooting effects in the US and Europe were it helps to simplify the post production process from digital straight through to digital and eventually film.

We were also able to provide a PAL composite signal from the HDCam for video take off purposes for the first time. We were able to do this with our new Miranda box which down converts the HD component signal to a PAL composite signal which can be used with any traditional video take-off system (just like a film video take-off unit). We were able to provide the client with DVCam quality video take-off tapes with the same time code as on the camera tape on the video take off tapes as well.

Marius van Straaten, the HD digital grader on set from Magus Visual, graded the camera to increase the asa rating.The sensitivity was increased, but we still maintained grainless (noiseless) images and good shadow detail. This was important as maximum depth of field was required for the pack shot.

This commercial starts on a bubble inside a glass of beer, the camera then appears to follow the bubble up towards the top of the glass the camera then pulls out of the glass in extreme close up and travels down across the label on the glass to a final end shot of the product.

The first part of the shot is totally computer generated, the real camera then takes over seamlessly at the top of the glass for the rest of the shot.

The movement information of the camera's movement in 3D space was also given to the computer graphics team to allow the seamless integration of the real and computer generated beer.

The Canon HD lenses performed exceptionally well for this shoot holding focus and detail in extreme close up.

The lens used was the Canon 5.5 to 50 mm HD lens. The shot started on a 50mm lens at minimum focus and pulled out from the top of the beer glass.

Visuals Group Technical Department.