We have been asked over and over to share whats in Ferro’s production package.  Below is a complete list of the major equipment we are using to capture all the behind the scenes footage of the Van Halen and Kool & The Gang Tour!

Camera

JVC ProHD 790 (2)

Our cameras had to be light enough to carry for hours because shooting Documentary/Reality requires our operators to be rolling almost none stop.  This stuff is all UNSCRIPTED... Content can happen anywhere.

Capture protocol / parameters:

-A format that would ingest / transfer directly easily into Final Cut Pro (system being used in post).

-The ability to shoot in all lighting extremes (backstage, on-stage dark lights, on-stage bright lights).

-Time code to sink all cameras for ease of post production alignment of footage.

-Operator friendly access to controls: Since we might be hiring shooters locally we needed cameras that each operator would understand intuitively.

We ultimately chose the JVC ProHD 790 because it met all of the parameters we were looking for…Plus the 790 is simply an awesome camera that our operators fell in love with during the NFL Post-Season and Super Bowl production weeks.

Our JVC ProHD 790's (captured w/ DROID)

 Audio

Our Wireless Packs & Mics (captured w/ DROID)

All of our audio captured was based on a typical ENG Package.

Lectrosonics UM400 Wireless packs (4)

Tram TR50 Mic’s (4)

Shure FP33 three-channel stereo mixer  (1 )

K-Tek K81CC Boom Pole with Sony ECM678 Shotgun Mic: only for large crowds (1)

Our main audio concern was over coming loud background noise and soft spoken subjects…  The solution was wireless lavs for mic’ing marque talent.  Aside from beating the background noise, the use of wireless lavs also allows talent to go about their daily routine without the imposing boom pole hanging on top of them.

Lighting

Litepanels Hilio lighting fixture (1)

We opted to leave our typical “just in case” lighting package in the warehouse for several reasons.  Knowing that our primary shooting locations would be in close quarters or on stage nothing we could use would accommodate those environments.  Secondly, most venues are union houses with restrictions for using house power. Finally, bulk and weight were a consideration because of the limited crew size and the flexibility to shift location quickly.

The only light we did carry was a battery powered LED flat box by Litepanels, which we had in case supplemental light was needed for sit down interviews.

Litepanels Hilio LED lighting fixture (captured w/ iPhone)

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