CVW Adds HPX 500 to its list of camera options

The HPX 500 becomes the eleventh camera option available for CVW clients to choose from. Along with the Panasonic HVX 200, the Panasonic HPX 500 is the second high definition camera available.

TURBO STRUTS IT'S STUFF AT THE SPRING GALA

In addition to John Williams, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, the 2008’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Spring Gala also featured another key member; Creative Video’s new Grass Valley TURBO iDDR.
Creative Video projected edited film clips such as ET and Indiana Jones’ Last Crusade & Dr. Zhivago, along with many others the John Williams had written special musical scores for each.  The clips were projected onto a 27’x15’ screen at the back of the Concert Hall stage, 160’ from the projection booth. The National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Williams accompanied the movie clips.  Technical Director, Matthew Eidemiller, used the power of the Turbo to send the film clips to two Barco FLM-18HD projectors, while simultaneously playing a directors copy of the films to John Williams’ stage monitor.  This was made possible through the Turbo’s dual channel playbacks.  Projectionist Malcolm Peplow used the two Barcos to project both 4x3 and 16x9 aspect ratio films at a brightness of 18,000 ANSI lumens.

For more information on pricing or rental opportunities, or to find out if the Turbo iDDR is right for your event, please contact Creative Video of Washington.  Additional information can also be found at Thompson Grass Valley’s website at www.thompsongrassvalley.com.

CREATIVE VIDEO INTRODUCES IT'S TURBO iDDR

One of Creative Video’s newest inventory additions is the Thompson Grass Valley Turbo iDDR (Intelligent Digital Disk Recorder).  The Turbo has been heralded as a new class of VTR replacement that can combine clip recording, storage and playback with basic clip editing.

The Turbo possesses three separate channels, a record and two independent playbacks.  Thanks to these three separate channels, users can record and playback simultaneously.  Yet another advantage to the Turbo’s dual channels is the capability to simultaneously play back two independent clips to two different destinations.  Creative Video used this feature to its benefit during a recent productions at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The system reduces the reliance upon tape, and can eliminate the need for live tape playback during some shows, thus cutting down on the chances for tape or deck malfunction.

The Turbo can record in SD-SDI, composite, S-video and component formats, and plays back in SD-SDI, composite, S-video and all DVI-I formats.  JPEG, BMP and TIF files can also be imported as still images.
For more information on pricing or rental opportunities, or to find out if the Turbo iDDR is right for your event, please contact Creative Video of Washington.  Additional information can also be found at Thompson Grass Valley’s website at www.thompsongrassvalley.com.

NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWSHIPS CONCERT

Creative Video was once again asked to record the 2007 National Heritage Fellowships Concert at Strathmore Music Center on September 20th.  The event is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Darden Restaurants Foundation and is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts.  This was the 25th anniversary of the program and features the 2007 Fellows performing their specific talent or skill and being interviewed on stage by host Nick Spitzer of New Orleans Public Radio’s “American Roots” distributed by American Public Media.

The production took place on the concert hall stage at the Strathmore Music Center.  Because the show has more of a theatrical stage requirement, the challenge for set designer Tony Cisek was to convert the wide open concert stage into a more traditional looking stage that would allow curtains and various looks.  Integrated into the portal were two large screens that were used for I-Mag and to support the artists and craftsmen on stage with pictures and video of their crafts.  Director Paul Douglas Michnewicz and Producer Madeleine Remez crafted a wonderful evening of music, song, crafts and performances that the packed house at Strathmore truly enjoyed.

Creative Video was called upon to not only record the show and at the same time projecting a combination of the four camera switch, stills of the art, crafts and video to supported the Fellows onstage interviews.  The key was a combination of our primary Broadcast Pix Slate 2100 switcher for the screens and our Panasonic MX70 sub switcher for recording the four camera switch.  The Broadcast Pix which includes dual digital disc recorders, an extensive still store capability, and the ability to operate our remote pan tilt cameras was ideal for switching the show for the audience to see on screen.  Tech Director Matt Eidemiller set up the dual switch back stage and had an audience looking over his shoulder most of the night as performers, artists and craftsmen, prepared to go on stage or just got off stage.

Projecting onto the two 10.5’ x 14’ screens required front projection due to the lack of space behind the screens and the stage entrances.  The throw was a little over 100’ feet and with the stage lighting, Creative Video chose two Eiki XT-4 12,000 ANSI projectors to do the job.  To get the projectors above the audience, Creative used two of their “Shark Cage” projector stands that stand 6’ tall and skirt nicely.  They were located nest to the audio board and one of our two 36x long lens cameras.  We also used one of our Hitachi Pan Tilt robotic cameras flown high above the stage for the top down look on a wood carving display and for musical numbers.

The crew included Tech Director Matt Eidemiller, Engineer/Cameraman Sean Hovan, Cameramen Camron Bartlett and Pete Josendale.  The finished production will be combined with the Capital Hill Ceremony, where the Fellowship Awards were presented, on a DVD that will be given to the Fellows.

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