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The Digital Filmmaker:
Star Circle Pictures
based in Virginia Beach, Virginia has just wrapped production on a
micro feature called “Samaritan,”
the third venture for Star Circle, which represents the next chapter
in the firm's evolution. The project was shot for the express
purpose of demonstrating the company's belief in “cost efficiency,
faster production flow and good quality.”
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DP Robert Pitman (left) frames a shot with
the Panasonic AG-HVX200 HD camera as writer/director Kimball Carr
looks on. The camera's small form factor made handheld shooting
very comfortable. |
For “Samaritan,” Star Circle Pictures may be one of the first in the
world to use a transformative new camera along with several other
unique methods. “Samaritan” is a film "about how an armed robbery is
thwarted by a stranger, the Samaritan, named Victor who uses his
non-physical abilities to disarm the assailant. A veteran detective
has more questions than answers. The picture explores an uncertain
world and why we fear what we do not understand.
Producer Richard Marten: "With the making of “Samaritan,”
Star Circle is challenging the existing way 'it has always been
done. This industry has traditionally been slow to change when new
technologies arise. The addition of sound, color, non-linear editing
- all of these innovations had long roads before becoming widely
adopted. On the other hand, the revolution is imminent.”
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Director Kimball Carr and script supervisor
Sheri Beyru (right) look over the trio of notebook computers used
to run the production of 'Samaritan'. With full resolution HD
video previewing on one laptop, 3D previsualizations on a second
and the third displaying the shot list and shooting schedule, the
production was able to move quickly and average 40 setups per
shoot night.
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Producer/director Kimball Carr: "This project was conceived
as a proof of our goal. We're excited about the ways in which we can
show how far the technology can be pushed to support and augment
creativity. Technology without the passion of the people shaping it
is worthless - it has to service the vision. With Samaritan, we
believe it has. Our task was formidable: shoot a micro motion
picture comprised of 81 setups in just two nights. We started
planning in October of 2005. When we had an agreed on script I knew
the crew and the cast would need a lot of preparation. We knew that
pre-visualization could play a significant role in facilitating the
project. For this, we turned to Innovative Software's Frame Forge 3D
Studio. Storyboarding isn't new, but small, guerrilla production
houses usually don't have the ability to pre-viz an entire
production. I wanted the picture shot before we actually shot it. I
pre-visualized every shot, scene by scene in the weeks before the
shoot. It was so helpful the DP and me to view the animated boards,
and then walk through the shots. Then, on the day of rehearsal we
put it all up on a screen, to show the cast, and crew every shot.
They were able to see the entire picture before we captured the
first megabyte. It was invaluable."
Producer Ethan Marten: Even the most gripping script and best
planning will amount to little if the final product doesn't look the
part. When it came to the format and technology the Star Circle team
would use, they had an ace up their sleeve. The new AG-HVX-200 HD
camera by Panasonic is the first of its kind in the world. There's a
lot to love: DVC PRO HD recording format; P2 solid state recording
media; handheld form factor; Varicam capabilities which mirror those
of cameras in the $70,000 and up price range.”
Richard Marten: Originally, when we decided upon HD for the
project we had settled on HDV. But as preproduction got underway, we
had our eyes and ears open. When we heard that the new Panasonic
offering was nearing its debut, we shifted gears and altered the
entire production flow overnight. We were determined to use this
groundbreaking camera. After weeks of searching and fruitless dead
ends, we hit pay dirt. With the camera secured for our use for the
middle of January, the rental house told us we were the first crew
in the world to use this camera for a motion picture.”
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DP Robert Pitman captures a scene between
Michael Hunter (Detective Ramsey) and Johnny Alonso (Victor). For
tripod mounted shooting the team used an arm mounted HD monitor
for fine focus and color balance work. The AG-HVX200 HD camera's flip out screen
was perfect for zebra/exposure monitoring and P2 card storage
info. |
Ethan Marten: “We were on the extreme edge of motion picture
technology and creativity. The camera was only part of what made
this shoot special, though it was integral. Securing its use was a
major component in our ability to demonstrate what Samaritan was
conceived for in the first place."
Kimball Carr: "During one of my conversations with Steve
Weiss, co-owner of Zacuto Rentals in Chicago, he was protective
about the camera. He told me not to break it, and I kind of chuckled
and he said, 'No, really – this camera is the only one I have. Some
of the accessories are prototypes. We haven't even taken photos of
her yet for our catalogue!' I knew that moment how special this
experience was going to be.”
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Veteran film actor Michael Hunter plays
Detective Ramsey, the grizzled cop who must attempt to unravel a
mystery he doesn't understand. After a career of solving cases and
tracking down the guilty, Detective Ramsey is left this evening
with more questions than answers when he is confronted by the
enigmatic figure known only as Victor. This is a still frame from
the HD stream – click on the image
to see it larger - note the color vibrancy and detail in the
character's face and the texture in the background. |
Film and TV actor Johnny Alonso embodies the
role of Victor, the figure who may be man, or something
superhuman. After successfully saving the life of a beautiful
woman during an armed robbery, he is inexplicably unharmed even
after apparently having been shot many times at close range. This
is a still frame from the HD stream –
click on the image to see it larger
– see the extreme clarity visible most notably in the
whiskers of the actor's chin. |
Ethan Marten: “So what's the big deal? Aren't there other
crews shooting HD out there? What's so special? I can answer that.
The difference is vast. Forget about film. The new Panasonic camera
even makes it possible for a motion picture team to say good-bye to
tape. Equipped with Panasonic's new P2 media cards, the HVX-200 is
the first camera on Earth that not only records High Definition
video but also does so on 2, 4 or 8-gigabyte data cards similar to
PCMCIA cards. The data can then be transferred directly to a laptop
workstation on set - no time consuming capturing of footage, no risk
of tape dropouts or breakage – just clean, HD quality footage.”
Kimball Carr: "I have dreamed of creating a lean and mean
production flow like this for a long time. I have done a lot of DV
shooting over the years and looked forward to moving to HD but I
wanted more than just pretty pictures. I wanted the other advantages
that come with this new camera."
Ethan Marten: “During the shoot, the team was able to view
full resolution views of shots from an Apple Powerbook. Not
reconstituted video tap feeds of native footage. For "Samaritan", we
were viewing full screen 720p 24 HD footage within 2 minutes of
shooting. The ability for to confirm the quality of the actual
footage and even perform quick assembly edits to examine shot flow
was crucial.”
Kimball Carr: "Before we'd even shot a single megabyte of
footage “Samaritan” had already generated interest as an example of
motion picture arts and technology. We've been asked to provide
footage for an upcoming conference on technology in motion pictures.
We're excited to be on the crest of the wave. In early December
2005, I was speaking with an editor for one of the largest
commercial and industrial producers on the East Coast. He was
stunned that we were going to utilize a full-fledged HD production
flow from pre-production through postproduction implementing the
technologies and techniques we had harnessed. Even if he had known
some of these tools were available, I am not sure he knew we could
combine them in the way we did. He actually said to me, 'You can't
do that.’ I said, 'watch us.'"
 Ethan Marten: “Star Circle has big visions. Not content to
stop at state of the art cameras and motion picture making
processes, the team wants to be a part of next generation advances.”
Kimball Carr: "Film is antiquated. For all of its beauty,
it’s difficult to shoot with. On the other end of the process -
exhibition - film carries with it another host of issues. We want to
be one of the early adopters of a new and improved way to exhibit
motion pictures."
Ethan Marten: “Star Circle has plans to exhibit “Samaritan”
and, they hope, future projects via high definition streaming media
stations in movie houses. The technology is only just now being
introduced in a small number of theaters in the United States and
Star Circle predicts that HD exhibition is the future for the
medium.”
Partner Josh Levy: "Simplicity, quality and security are just
a few of the advantages that we see. Streaming an HD movie file to a
theater, one that won't degrade after many viewings like film, is
such a superior process for the theater owner, audience and the
motion picture maker. Added to the quality of the image and ease of
use and transmission are the safeguards against piracy. This is the
way the industry has to go."
Ethan Marten: Our true passion: storytelling. As much as we
are committed to furthering technology -- the integrity of story and
character comes first. Star Circle Pictures insists technology is
always subsidiary and never dominates the human element - in front
of or behind the camera. It was ingenuity as well as technology that
allowed the completion of the 81 set-ups, on schedule, on budget in
only two nights. Star Circle is still receiving letters from cast
and crew describing what a fun, and relaxed set it was to work on.”
The Digital Filmmaker: For our March issue, we will
feature clips from “Samaritan” and behind-the-scenes interviews with
Samaritan lead actors Johnny Alonso (star of One Tree Hill on UPN)
and film veteran J. Michael Hunter.
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