Posted 13th October, 2002

Arizona Gets First Sony CineAlta HD 24P Camera

High-Definition camera now available to Arizona Filmmakers.

Show-N-Tell Productions, producers of award-winning video and multimedia productions for nearly 20 years, today announced the first local availability of the same high-definition video production equipment used in major motion pictures such as Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Spy Kids 2, as well as weekly episodic programs, Witchblade and 100 Centre Street.

"Star Wars creator George Lucas has been moving toward all-digital production for some time," said Steve Wargo, Show-N-Tell director, producer, and videographer. "He finally achieved the quality he demanded, combined with the cost savings he was looking for.

"Now, we're bringing that same quality and cost-effectiveness to our clients, as well as to those of other producers in Arizona, by adding the Sony F-900 CineAlta 24P HDCAM to our complement of available production equipment. We also have qualified technicians available."

The combination of cinematic quality joined with the low operating cost of video makes this a true breakthrough for the Arizona production community, as well as the businesses and individuals it serves. While the equipment costs for a traditional 35mm motion picture camera and the new high-definition video camera are about the same, producers can save as much as 97 percent of the cost of film, developing, and transfer charges by using the HD camera.

This makes images of the highest quality affordable for feature films, episodic television, broadcast, and commercial productions, some of which may have been put on hold or abandoned for cost reasons.

Lucas reportedly saved nearly $2 million on Attack of the Clones production costs using Sony's CineAlta camera. Lucas stated "I think that I can safely say that I will probably never shoot another film on film."

Word of the camera's availability has already spread through the production community and demand is high. "We're slated to work on five feature films already. And the camera was in town only one day before Salt River Project rented it for a full week," said Wargo.

Significant time savings are another benefit the camera brings. "Most ad agencies won't want to distribute their commercials in high-definition, but they'll still get the depth of color and detail that's associated with 35mm film work," Wargo said. "With this type of video, they can shoot in the morning, transfer the images to whatever editing format they want to work with, and be editing by afternoon. There's no film to develop and no lengthy film to video transfer process. They get all the benefits of 35mm without the pain and expense."

In addition to benefiting producers and their clients, the crews who work on Arizona video and motion picture productions will benefit, too. "Instead of all the top-quality assignments going to Los Angeles companies, many will now stay with local producers," Wargo said. "That should mean more production work for everyone in the business!"
 
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