Sachtler ™
A Vitec Group brand
Sachtler ™
A Vitec Group brand
Marco Hoffman learned his craft by doing – at both Boston University and The American Film Institute, where he received his Masters in Cinematography. Since then, he’s been in the enviable position of being able to move easily between reality television, commercial, infomercial and documentary work, as both Director of Photography and cameraman/Steadicam operator. He counts the past two years working on location in Cincinnati, Ohio for MTV as one of the most interesting and challenging jobs he’s ever done.
THE PROJECT
One of the most popular reality shows on the air, the competition and challenges the passionate dancers face during each episode of Taking the Stage floods the pages of Facebook, is analyzed by millions of Bloggers, and airs on MTV. Every unscripted episode features interviews, life events and live performances by each of the young dancers competing for the ultimate #1 spot.
THE CHALLENGE
The challenge for camera is to shoot dynamic footage that will maintain the excitement of the moment and show what talent and competition are all about. “Taking the Stage is a four-camera one-hour show,” explains Hoffman. “We shoot between 20 to 30 hours a week of dance – several hundred hours for each season. We needed a shooting package that allowed us flexibility to move between dance sequences, interviews, and real life events.”
THE PACKAGE
Both being able to move quickly and still create stable images (especially when shooting dance sequences) lead Hoffman to choose both the HDX900 and VariCam cameras for this project.“When we shot the pilot, I was shopping
around for rental houses,” Hoffman recalls. “I found a local Cincinnati house that could supply us with all our camera equipment. Unfortunately, they did not have enough Sachtler Video 20s to support our show. I was concerned that no other head would give me the reliability and quality that I have come to expect from Sachtler, so taking another brand was not an option. As our show is very intense, and requires precise movement, I ended up renting our equipment from Los Angeles. By the second season, I had five Sachtler Video 20s on set working, helping make all the right moves.”
THE HEART AND SOUL OF EMOTIONS
Hoffman relies on Sachtler for both scene work and dance sequences. “We set the heads to zero resistance and give it a handheld look, especially when we are capturing the ballet or hip-hop sequences,” he explains. “This way, Sachtler gives me everything from graceful gliding moves on a ballerina to fast, popping, re-compositions of different shots on a hip-hop artist.
Sachtler was instrumental in making these moments experience the visual music that is dance. For example, in one sequence the sun was flowing in through frosted pane glass. One of the stars of the show was silhouetted against that window pouring her heart and soul into her performance. Only the Sachtler Video 20 allowed me to match camera movement to her emotion. Whether I’m tracking up a super macro tight shot of pointed shoes or gliding along her arms and face, I would not trust any other head.”
WHY SACHTLER
“Why Sachtler? I’ll start from the ground up about why I love Sachtler,” Hoffman says. “The rubber feet are great. They form a nice solid base. They are easily removable, so if you need to film on a hillside, you can get a good firm grip in the dirt or sand. For me, there’s nothing more annoying than a high-maintenance tripod where the spreaders are constantly falling off the legs! The spreaders never fall off the Sachtler tripods. The spreaders are easy to adjust. And the tie downs are reliable, so you don’t have to worry about the legs spreading when you aren’t expecting it.
Another feature I love is how the legs come out and lock. It’s very easy to adjust heights and, once it’s locked, you know it. I can’t stand tripods that have a twist lock. They take more time to set and I never really trust that they’re locked. In addition, the action of the head is great. It’s smooth and steady every time. The other feature I love is the glow leveling bubble. I didn’t realize how much I used it until I had to live without it!”
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