You thought 3D was the big buzz word in our industry this year?  Well that doesn’t even come close to the kind of reaction you get if you mention the term HD SLR to film and video professionals! I have been doing a fair amount of research these days about HD SLR video and I have found some interesting info out there.  Originally, I was skeptical about turning a “still” camera into a “video” camera – being a 14 year video/film guy and all – but the research is pointing me in a different direction.  The video below from Stargate Studios, the VFX company responsible for most of 24’s visual effects, is an eye-opener.  Make sure you listen to the interview with Rodney Charters, A.S.C, C.S.C and Sam Nicholson, A.S.C. about :40 into the video.  Rodney Charters talks about how the 5D Mark II (and similar HD SLR cameras) are “game changers in the motion picture industry this year.”

In case you missed it, Sam Nicholson, 24’s Visual Effects Supervisor, describes the role of the Canon 5D Mark II and the Canon 1D Mark IV in shooting 24.  Currently, they are using it for all of the driving plates in this season but Sam also mentions that they are moving it into principal photography.  It sounds like it will be going into second unit work first but first unit stuff will not be far behind.  This is a big deal.  Especially since 24 is primarily shot on film.  How much first unit work will it get?  That remains to be seen but I’ll do my best to find out more.

VFX and the use of Background plates

Some of you may be new to how all of this stuff works.  Let me explain.  The way that Stargate Studios is using the Canon HD SLR footage is as a background replacement for the driving shots.  When you see characters in a vehicle on a TV show or in a film, they are typically in a real car, however the car is usually in a studio and the background is a green screen.*  The green screen background is replaced with “plates” in post.  These are the “plates” that are being shot in the above video.  The camera car has an exoskeleton, designed by Curt Von Badinski, that captures multiple angles of the background as the car is driving.  The angles are predetermined by the directors of photography based on the angles that they will be using for the actors in principal photography.  The VFX artists match the proper background angle with the corresponding shot of the actors and everything is seamless.  It’s a bit more involved than that, but that should give you a pretty good idea of the process.  Visit Stargate Studio’s website for more examples about how they utilize this technology in their work.

More about HD SLR video

You haven’t heard the last of HD SLR.  This is definitely not a fad.  The real trick will be to integrate the full frame DSLR chip size into an actual video camera.  Some companies, like RED, are working on this already but the “coming soon” reports that never seem to change lead me to believe that there are still some hurdles ahead of them. Canon seems to be first to market with the 5D Mark II, but even they don’t realize the value that they have in the video industry.  Someone needs to make this happen because the first company to release an affordable camera that properly captures audio, has a real acquisition codec and doesn’t overheat will definitely win.  Now let’s get to it and make a real “game changing” video camera.  I’m talking to you Canon, Panasonic and Sony. My money is still on RED because they are already promising what I am describing, it’s called the Scarlet.  Canon, Panasonic and Sony probably aren’t going to listen to me.

* In addition to using VFX and green screen replacement for driving shots, some films put the actors in a car and on a flat bed truck.  This gives the appearance of motion without putting the actors in danger of having to act and drive a car.  Some directors are purists and will close down a street just so that the actors can drive in the scene.  Still others will just rig a camera to a car and let the actors go off into the wild.  It really depends on the budget, the shot that is required and the willingness of the actor.

Photo:  20th Century Fox Television