Matthews announces the answer for safely mounting Astera Hyperion, Titan and Helios as well as T12 tube lights to standard grip equipment. The Claw is a new generation clamp, designed to solve real on-set issues, by Sci-Tech Award-winning Key Grip Richard Mall with gaffer Jeremy Launais and crafted by the team at MSE headquarters in Burbank, California.

RED DIGITAL CINEMA® unveiled the new V-RAPTORTM 8K VV camera today, launching its first entrant into the next generation DSMC3 platform. Building on RED’s bold dedication to advancing image quality, the camera is RED’s most powerful to date.

Tiffen announces that new Blender® XL LED lights are now shipping. The bi-color Blender XL puts out a tunable narrow flood beam—up to four times brightness of a traditional 1x1 panel light—yet its durable metal housing is compact enough to hold in one hand. It’s a soft light with punch, ready to be dialed to an infinite choice of color temperatures for diverse location uses.

Cine Gear Expo LA will open at the Los Angeles Convention Center, September 23-25, 2021. This lively event offers the film community an opportunity to meet, learn and experience the newest art, techniques and technology—live—for the first time in over two years.

Mo-Sys™ Engineering has released a new multi-node media server solution for LED volumes to meet the demands of final pixel XR production for film and TV.

Mo-Sys VP Pro XR is a hardware and software solution combining multi-node nDisplay architecture, an improved VP Pro real-time compositor/synchroniser, and a new XR toolset. This XR media server system is focused on delivering cinematic capabilities and standards for Cinematographers and Focus Pullers.

Change is a constant in production, with new technologies, formats, and standards continuously challenging professionals to adapt and evolve. When the global pandemic struck, production professionals quickly found new ways to forge ahead, even amidst travel restrictions and social distancing regulations. To keep productions on the rails, remote workflows became the industry’s new normal, and professionals looked to technology to support everything from longer distance cable runs on-set to geographically dispersed monitoring and review sessions. Well positioned for the shift, UK-based Director of Photography (DoP) Michael Sanders had already dabbled in remote production for documentary films, corporate videos, and other projects for nearly a decade. In building out and refining his workflow over the years, Sanders quickly uncovered the AJA U-TAP SDI USB 3.0 capture device, which is now part of his standard camera kit.

Due to the popularity of the Gobo Plate line of versatile mounting plates, Matthews introduces the new Gobo Plate™ XL, a beefy problem-solver offering endless robust rigging options.  

Like its smartly-designed sister products, this mounting essential is made to support an array of gear, from camera rigs, set pieces, lighting and grip modifiers to building materials like lumber and pipe. Built to receive 4.5” Grip heads, the XL is the big brother of the family—designed to couple heavier duty gear found on the rigging side of production that requires versatile support options and above all, safety. It easily bolts to standard cheese plates, hood mounts and hostess trays, etc. or may be nailed or screwed to lumber, set walls and overhead beams.

Litepanels has announced the launch of the latest addition to its Gemini RGBWW LED panel range. Litepanels’ Gemini 1x1 Hard RGBWW LED Panel delivers an incredibly bright output of over 3000 lux @10ft/3m to produce the brightest and most accurate 1x1 panel ever.

To accommodate today’s preponderance of video streaming, DoPchoice now offers the patented Snapbag®softbox and Snapgrid®20/30/40/50-degree grids to pleasingly soften and direct the output of the industry’s respected Cameo® F-Series Fresnels.

The Vitec Group plc has announced the acquisition of Quasar Science, a leading LED lighting technology provider. Quasar Science is an innovator in linear and tubular LED lighting solutions for cinematic applications. The business will become part of the Group’s Production Solutions Division alongside Litepanels the award-winning supplier of LED lighting panels for television lighting and cinematography acquired by the Group in 2008.

Markus Förderer, ASC, BVK doesn’t take chances on set. He considers shooting days precious so he rigorously tests new gear, new moves and new ideas long before he gets to set. “Shooting days are there to shoot” he says, “not to set up and light,” so he comes to the set prepared.

MSE does it again with another smart mounting solution to add to their Gobo Plate™ line—this time using Matthews must-have grip essential, the 5/8” Baby Pin. Like their other Gobo Plates, the Gobo Plate Baby Pin is a US-made, rock-solid machined hardware solution. Designed to save time and energy when mounting 2.5” grip heads to an endless variety of equipment and set architecture, this professional answer has an MSRP under $40.

Whether Star Wars has changed the course of your life or merely your viewing habits, if you have a soul chances are it will be touched by Our Star Wars Stories. Jordan Hembrough hosts this original digital series from Lucasfilm and StarWars.com. He chats with fans as they unravel their true-life inspiring tales that are a result of their Star Wars bond.

Few know underwater cinematography and how to light the great blue sea, better than Pete Romano ASC. His unique specialty has made him sought after for most major films where’s there’s any underwater action. His 40-year underwater track record is unmatched. IMDB tries but at 159 credits for film and television they just skim the surface, especially considering the multitude of commercials, music videos and documentaries to count.

DoPchoice introduces two new Snapbags® especially created for single tube Helios and Titan lights from Astera. Made to give filmmakers maximum control of their lighting, both premiere similar groundbreaking softbox benefits including intensified output, adjustable beam spread, simplified pack-up, and an easy track mounting system—all in a lightweight Snapbag.