Have you ever watched the Discovery Channel's hit television show “MythBusters” and wondered how they got so many great shots? On August 4th Blackmagic Design announced that DP Scott Sorensen is using ten Pocket Cinema Cameras to capture secondary footage, as well as shooting cold openings and the new title sequence. Scott is also using a MultiView 16, SmartView monitor, and numerous mini converters analog to SDI to remotely and wirelessly control the Pocket Cinema Cameras.
“MythBustters” is now in its 14th season of helping viewers find out the truth about urban myths and legends. Based in a San Francisco production studio, some myths can be shot right in the studio, while others demand dramatic experiments that require the crew to travel.
“Going into every shoot, we are as prepared as possible, but we can never exactly predict what is going to happen during an experiment. It’s why the secondary cameras are so important,” said Scott. “We use the Pocket Cinema Cameras to capture every possible angle so we don’t miss any of the action.”
Originally, the team chose the Pocket Cinema Cameras because they wanted to improve the image quality of the secondary footage. However, they quickly found out that the cameras codecs, size, flexibility and versatility were all beneficial as well. “We wanted the secondary footage and openings looking as good as possible, and the Pocket Cinema Camera has a real cinematic image with greater depth of field,” said Scott. “Also, both production and post love the open file formats because they expedite the overall workflow. So much time can be wasted dealing with tape or foreign file formats.”
As far as lenses go, Scott uses Bower 7.5mm MFT and Panasonic Lumix G 14-140mm glass along with MetaBones Speed Boosters and their existing arsenal of Nikon F Mount glass. Depending on what a particular experiment calls for, the Pocket Cinema Cameras are used daily in machine cages, custom blast houses and underwater housings. After years of rolling cameras and then running for safety the crew is happy to monitor and control the cameras from the safety of a blast bunker when working with explosives. They use the MultiView 16, SmartView Monitor, Mini Converters and a LANC based wireless control system.
“When we arrive on location, we immediately break out the cameras and put them in time lapse mode on a c stand with a Kessler CineDrive, and it’s been huge for us to easily get nice time lapse footage while everything is being built for an experiment,” Scott Said. “Once the experiment is set up, the Pocket Cinema Camera’s form factor is perfect because it fits wherever we need it to. It only takes a minute to throw them on a dashboard or windshield, or I can grab some gaff tape and glue and place them in a tight spot. The flexibility is great because the experiments vary so greatly.”
Scott continued to praise the versatility of the Pocket Cinema Camera saying “We use them a fair bit with a shoulder rig, which is still tiny and light even when you throw a bunch of audio gear on,” as well as claiming that the cameras were especially effective with Ikelite Underwater Housing for Pocket Cinema Camera during filming for the Shark Week episodes. “We had access to every function and setting while underwater, and we didn't lose a single camera to sharks or sea water.”
It is amazing to think that "MythBusters" is in its 14th season, it has been one of my favorite Discovery Channel shows for a long time. They test new myths in an interesting and innovative manner and make continue to use great camera equipment in a progressive way. "MythBusters" premiers throughout July and August 2015 on the Discovery Channel on Saturdays at 8/7c.
It's pretty friggin awesome to see how often smaller, smarter tech is getting used in film and TV these days.
This is shocking to me. Isn't this the camera that has a built in battery?
Nope, the pocket cinema camera has a removable, but fairly low capacity, battery.
Ohh this is the pocket version. The first one that came out had a built in battery. https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/za/products/cinemacameras/design
Removable, rechargeable Lithium Ion. Definitely an amazing camera, Especially for the price.
I know a few guys that do a fair amount of solid regional and local commercial video stuff and these things are their bread and butter. It's hard to argue the results.
I miss Tory, Grant and Cary