KitPlus | Articles

Extreme equipment for the Film and TV industry

Issue 100 - April 2015 Big films require big shots and to get the action in camera, you need grip equipment and the latest camera support technology to make that vision a real possibility on set. Whether filming underwater or capturing high speed vehicle to vehicle action, Chapman Leonard UK have always looked to supply productions in the UK and Eu...

Submitted by KitPlus

Published 01 May 2015

DOPs discuss minicams, lenses, 4k and all

by Mel Noonan Issue 100 - April 2015 If anyone knows about the practical reality of using minicams and lenses it has to be the DOPs who are out there using them. We are now seeing minicams used in all areas of production, some with 1080p and 4K capability at prices you would not have believed possible a few years back. I spoke to some of the DOPs I...

Submitted by Mel Noonan

Published 01 May 2015

Rise of the drones

by Jeremy Braben Issue 100 - April 2015 Drones are taking TV and film productions where they have never gone before. But how can they be used to best effect, what challenges do they present and will they replace helicopters in aerial filming? Jeremy Braben of Helicopter Film Services (HFS) has some of the answers... The recent explosion of unmanned...

Submitted by Jeremy Braben

Published 01 May 2015

When the going gets tough

Issue 100 - April 2015 From the monsoonal rainforests of Papua New Guinea to the frozen Antarctic wastes , Peli cases perform in all conditions as Producer/Director and Cameraman, Alexis Girardet explains... Peli cases are renowned for their high quality, durability and dependability in extreme conditions. Offering watertight, dustproof and crushpr...

Submitted by KitPlus

Published 01 May 2015

Big rush with little fuss at new Birmingham broadcaster

by Neil Hutchins Issue 99 - March 2015 Big Centre TV is the latest of the new wave of UK Local TV stations, having launched on 28th February. But behind the calm and successful appearance was a frenzied period of activity, as Ofcom had only confirmed their licence just three months earlier. To get from nothing to on-air in such a short timescale wa...

Submitted by Neil Hutchins#

Published 01 April 2015

Outside broadcast gets a breath of fresh air

Issue 99 - March 2015Capturing what\'s happening remote from the studio has moved beyond the broadcast truck parked street-side. Your audiences are hungry. While they have the ability to bring the world of news, entertainment, sports and information to their doorsteps - wherever that may be and on whatever device they choose - someone still needs t...

Submitted by KitPlus

Published 01 April 2015

Cellular Wireless Networks

by Erwan Gasc Issue 99 - March 2015 1. What advantage do 3G/4G cellular wireless networks provide to broadcasters over satellite networks?For many years, satellite was the primary approach for real-time video delivery within the broadcast industry. That changed with the explosion of the Internet and second-screen devices like smartphones and tablet...

Submitted by Erwan Gasc

Published 01 April 2015

Capturing the action : Ocean Communications

Issue 99 - March 2015The dream of any reporter is to be on the scene when a story breaks and the action and drama unfold. This happens to only a select few. Even fewer find themselves right in the middle of events as they happen. Brian Carlin knew he\'d be getting good material reporting from onboard a boat competing in the Volvo Ocean Race, but no...

Submitted by KitPlus

Published 01 April 2015

Tune in and turn on

by Dick Hobbs Issue 99 - March 2015 It was World Radio Day last month. Friday the thirteenth, to be precise, but I do not think the date was chosen with disaster in mind. In fact the date was set to celebrate the anniversary of the launch of United Nations Radio, on 13 February 1946. Unesco created World Radio Day much more recently: the first was...

Submitted by Dick Hobbs.

Published 01 April 2015

Kit Protection - the professionals choice

Issue 98 - February 2015More than 30 years of product development has ensured Peli Cases are the market leader in essential protection for broadcast and photographic equipment. Offering watertight, dustproof and crushproof security, Peli cases are backed by legendary "You break it, we replace it\" lifetime guarantee. Professionals choose Peli cases...

Submitted by KitPlus

Published 01 March 2015

Sealife - Shooting 4k

by Kieron Seth Issue 98 - February 2015 Since the days of Jacques Cousteau and his Undersea World, marine habitats have fascinated television audiences. From 1972 to 1975 the French explorer and filmmaker brought his excitement and passion for sea life to our screens and have inspired documentary makers since. The films lay bare the lengths the cre...

Submitted by Kieron Seth#

Published 01 March 2015

Hands-on with the Antelope PICO ultra slow motion minicam

by Mel Noonan Issue 98 - February 2015 Super slow motion, or super motion, has been around for years and is mostly 3x recording speed. If you record say 3 seconds of action and play it back at normal European production frame rate you\'ll have 9 seconds of slow motion replay. These cameras must integrate with the live production workflow in use. SS...

Submitted by Mel Noonan

Published 01 March 2015

What is the future of media creation, salaries and conten...

by Thomas Urbye Issue 97 - January 2015 Often this very question is debated by experts in our industry, but many have their own agenda, whether that be advertising creation, media buying, low budget film-making, publicly funded television, subscription based services and beyond. But what is the real future for our viewing habits, those of us workin...

Submitted by Thomas Urbye

Published 01 February 2015

Still unsure about cloud editing? Read this..

by Stephen Streater Issue 97 - January 2015 For all the talk about the cloud in the past couple of years, it can still be a bit of a mystery. When it comes to editing video in the cloud, some people still struggle with the concept. Is cloud editing secure? Do I need special knowledge? Why switch from traditional editing workflows? Won\'t cloud edit...

Submitted by Stephen Streater

Published 01 February 2015

Coffee and TV: Tracking the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with mo...

by Jon Trussler Issue 97 - January 2015 When VFX artists are faced with tight deadlines, they rely on software to address particular pain points, helping them deliver the finished product in time. Such was the case when Soho-based VFX studio Coffee and TV was commissioned to hand off 70 VFX shots in just two weeks for three Samsung Galaxy Note 4 co...

Submitted by John Trussler

Published 01 February 2015