Press release from Panasonic
When Queensland-based filmmaker, Warren Ryan, set out to make an Australian feature film about a rodeo legend facing his demons in a heroic comeback, against a backdrop of the wildly beautiful Australian high country, he was faced with a lot of shooting options. He could shoot with film or digitally, and if he did go digital he had even more options with the large amount of formats available. After reviewing the entire workflow and comparing costs he trusted in the ever-reliable Panasonic P2-based AJ-HPX3000G HD camcorder.
Panasonic P2HD products are designed for video professionals and incorporate industry-leading technology, which proved a great advantage for Ryan and his team.
Panasonic P2 cards are designed for professional-users to offer fast, easy IT-based operations and ultra-high reliability. They are reusable so that P2 acquisition requires no media consumption, resulting in tremendous savings in media costs. Packaged in a rugged, die-cast frame, the P2 card is resistant to impact, vibration, shock, dust and environmental extremes including temperature changes, so Ryan found this technology was perfectly suited to his film, which is set in the rough environment of the Aussie rodeo.
The film, ‘Shadows of the Past’, tells the story of a retired rodeo rider who faces adversity to reclaim his career, and the love of the women in his life. The picturesque town of Warwick in Queensland, the rodeo capital of Australia, provided the perfect backdrop for the film.
Writer, director and producer Warren Ryan described the Panasonic P2 solution and workflow as solid and flawless. “I can’t see how you’d use anything else,” Ryan said.
“Director of Photography, David Russell captured 4TB of data throughout the shoot, without any corrupted frames, so Panasonic’s reliability was clearly proven.”
The drama of the film takes place in the rodeo ring with the lead character making his career comeback; facing his fears in a rematch with the bull that had cut short his rodeo dream. These rodeo action sequences were all shot on location at a live rodeo, so the reliability and quality of the camcorder was critical.
“Shooting at a live rodeo meant we didn’t always get a second take, so we needed equipment that we could depend on,” said Ryan
“We had a Panasonic 17-inch monitor so we could review the stunts on set, to check we got what we needed.”
Another advantage of the P2 solution was the speed and efficiency of the workflow. P2 technology offers immediate access to recorded video and metadata without the need for raw-image processing, digitising, ingesting, or creating proxy files, as well as offering immediate connectivity to existing IT infrastructures and interoperability with leading NLE systems.
The production team could review the footage and even begin post production cutting during the principal shoot, instead of waiting until the end of the production. "The P2 workflow allowed our editor, Warren Meneely, to start cutting in Final Cut Pro while still on location during the shoot, reducing the post production schedule and costs.”
“This efficient workflow required no raw image processing and also meant we could react quickly if we needed more footage, or to re-shoot a scene or pickup shot, saving the crew valuable set up time as well as production costs. HD was a huge cost saver.”
Local Queensland production rental company, ProCam supplied all the photography equipment and colour grading for the production. A ProCam workflow specialist familiarised the crew with the P2HD workflow ahead of the shoot. ProCam realised that Panasonic’s P2HD solution was the clear choice over other solutions available, when considering all aspects of the production.
Tim Jarvis, Rental Manager, ProCam considers the Panasonic P2HD system a smarter choice when you consider all aspects of a feature film production. “The Panasonic P2HD workflow ultimately saved the SOTP team time and money. Because the technology is more flexible and reliable compared with hard disk drive systems, the crew achieved more in less time.”
“A perceived saving in initial equipment hire and media costs may actually cost a film more during the shoot or in post production, so it makes sense to understand the whole picture,” continued Jarvis.
“The SOTP feature was shot on time, on budget, with no IT or hardware issues that can plague a production, such as lost data. The Panasonic P2 system performs every time – it delivers simplicity and reliability you can count on.”
ProCam supplied the SOTP crew with the Panasonic AJ-HPX3000G HD camcorder. This camera is ideally suited to high end digital film productions, offering ultra high reliability and 1920 x 1080 HD image quality with the convenience of a five-slot P2 capacity and AVC-Intra 100 recording capability. The AJ-HPX3000G offers superior performance, and achieves a high F10 sensitivity at 2,000 lux (at 1080i) and a minimum illumination of .064 lux (at +56db gain-up), enhancing its low light capability.
Ryan and his crew were very happy with the images they obtained with the Panasonic HD Camcorder. “The AJ-HPX3000G HD camcorder has a 3000 DRS dynamic range. This gave us an extra stop, allowing the crew to shoot with less lighting set-ups and even in low light situations at night. The Panasonic AJ-HPX3000G was the only camera to offer this functionality, so it was a definite plus,” said Ryan.
Ryan’s project has also harnessed P2 technology to make significant gains in costs and efficiency in creating the final feature-length movie watched by audiences at the cinema. The ‘film’ is entirely digital from start to finish – from capture in the Panasonic P2 camera, post production in Final Cut Pro, to final cinematic release. Ryan’s efficient use of the technology eliminated the need and significant cost to scan to filmprint before showing on the big screen; thus removing a major budget barrier for the feature production.
‘Shadows of the Past’ has received a number of international awards since its debut, including the Silver Ace Award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival, and Mexico International Film Festival’s Silver Palm Award. The movie premiered in Australia in May 2009 and is currently screening in several cinemas across Queensland and NSW.