Geoff Haley (left), First Camera Assistant Gregory Irwin

Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema has just completed principal photography on The Fighter, after a seven week production schedule, using Aaton Penelope cameras configured for 2-perf.

Perhaps the highest profile 2-perf movie since Sergio Leone pointed a Techniscope camera at Clint Eastwood, The Fighter is directed by David O. Russell and stars Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams. It is a drama about boxer “Irish” Micky Ward’s unlikely road to the world light-welterweight title and was shot on location in Lowell, Massachusetts.

…continue reading Penelope 2Perf Feature,The Fighter, Wraps

CamTec’s Kavon Elhami with Phantom HD Cameras.

CamTec, the Burbank based cine equipment rental house, recently took delivery of the 100th Phantom HD camera manufactured by Vision Research. The milestone 100th camera is a Phantom HD GOLD, the step-up model to the industry standard Phantom HD.

Founded in 1990, CamTec is a boutique rental house, specializing in “new generation” cine equipment. They pride themselves on their fleet of meticulously maintained, top-flight cameras. Kavon Elhami, owner of CamTec, noted that this is actually their second Phantom HD. CamTec made the decision to purchase another Phantom HD, thanks to high customer demand and the camera’s excellent performance record. He cited the beautiful film-like images, reliability and ergonomics of the camera among the reasons for its success.

The full press release on CamTec’s Phantom HD acquisition is available on Vision Research’s website.

[View with PicLens]

On Saturday August 1, colleagues from Abel Cine Tech Burbank and I presented the Phantom HD high-speed digital camera at the Directors Guild in Hollywood, as part of the DGA’s annual “Digital Day”. This year’s event was named “Digital on a Dime: Create Your Own Stimulus Package”. DGA members attended seminars, watched screenings and visited exhibits, which were set up in the lobby of the Directors Guild headquarters on Sunset Blvd.

Abel’s Phantom exhibit included an interactive display where visitors were asked to break a water balloon inside an empty aquarium, then watch the super slow motion 1,000 frame per second playback shot on the Phantom camera and recorded on the Phantom CineMag. “Wow!” was the general reaction of those who saw the water momentarily hold the balloon shape, then slowly fall into thousands of droplets.

Phantom HD footage from commercials and other projects, was shown in Theater Two at the Directors Guild, along with footage from other digital cameras. We heard many complimentary comments about the Phantom HD images and how they “popped” in comparison with other cameras.

Pictured in the gallery above demonstrating the Phantom HD and answering questions, is the team from Abel Cine Tech Burbank. They are Service Tech, Juliet Verni; Digital Cinema Specialist, Sean Coles; and head of West Coast Production Sales, Jerrod Haarstad.