Sachtler ™
A Vitec Group brand
Sachtler ™
A Vitec Group brand
Sailing the oceans for two years is an exciting challenge. Kevin Augello, producer, DoP and founder of New Earth Films, is a specialist in adventure, culture, travel and wildlife. Thus “The Green Miles“ project is just up his alley. Kevin talks here about how the documentary came about.
”I have some experience with long-term projects. I’ve just finished a two-year project quite successfully– crossing the icy grounds of Greenland. So I agreed to take on the two-year sailing project Arajen and Florian described to me in which people are to be made aware of the state of the world’s oceans. I figured I’d give them both a few Sony HDV cameras and some tips for the road and then just see what they were able to make out of it. But it didn’t exactly work out that way: Arajen and Florian inspired me with their enthusiasm when they told me about the 550-foot-long sailboat “Pegasus,” planning out the route on a little globe. It made my mind start to work. I had visions of them landing on a remote island, attempting to avoid tropical storms and watching out for pirates. It promised to be an extraordinary adventure.
When my friends told me that they wanted to visit projects of the WWF and the Red Cross I had to change my concept. Making films about important eco-political and humanitarian projects is something different from a travelog. Therefore I decided to join the team. Equipped with a good story, I set off with a TV partner from National Geographical Benelux for the shooting locations
on the mainland, our first stop being the Dutch Antilles. There we visited STINAPA, an organisation supported by the WWF.
The 24-hour sailing trips proved to be a great challenge for our team. They had to be able to capture emotions, regardless of adverse weather or lighting conditions. At the IBC 2008 in Amsterdam I first discovered the Sachtler Reporter LEDim camera light. This extremely sturdy product has become my first choice. You can feel it when equipment is high quality. When I held the camera light in my hands for the first time I could virtually feel its quality. After all, Sachtler is famous for its high-quality camera support, which is why I knew I could depend on their camera light. I particularly like its weather resistant quality, primarily because of the spray water caused by the waves. I was also impressed by the option of using the Reporter LEDim in combination with the Sony HVR-Z5 and linked to the Sachtler FSB CELL battery, guaranteeing a power supply, especially important on board a sailing ship. The Reporter LEDim is so bright and efficient that the boys even used it in their cabins as a powerful light source!
I also equipped the team with Sachtler’s SOOM tripod system and the FSB 8 fluid head. I wanted equipment that was compact and easy to use and at the same time extremely robust; the Sachtler equipment continued to meet my expectations. Even inexperienced camera people can effortlessly execute smooth pans with the functional FSB 8. I’m really pleased with the results we were able to achieve with the Sachtler equipment.”
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