Sachtler ™
A Vitec Group brand
Sachtler ™
A Vitec Group brand
Conspiracy, a big budget, 12 episode criminal TV series was introduced to the Croatian TV market two years ago. Because this market is much smaller than most European markets, many thought a production on that scale would not achieve commercial successes. But AVA producer Roman Majetić, director and writer of Conspiracy, had other thoughts.
He made a unique, big budget TV series to be shot on locations in all of the former Yugoslavian republics, using actors from those countries. For the project my camera equipment consisted of two Sony D50 cameras equipped with P+S Technik Pro 35 adapters and Carl Zeiss film lenses. To speed the pace of production and to add to the reality of the footage, no dolly was used in the production. Instead, all the camera moves were made with a camera stabilizing system and camera cranes. It was the first time in the history of Croatian cinematography that a camera stabilizing system was used during the everyday shooting, which lasted 4 months. For shooting conditions such as these, I knew I would need a reliable, modular and an easily assembled camera stabilizing system.
Before I invested in a new system, I went to the IBC Show in Amsterdam and tried every professional camera stabilizing system on the market. After that research, I chose the Sachtler´s artemis Cine. It’s easy to use, reliable, and capable of working with any kind of professional film or video camera. Another advantage the artemis system provided was that the entire system is built in the metric standard. If I loose a screw, I can go to any home improvement or tool store and buy a new one instead of having to order it from the manufacturer, pay for the shipping and handling, and worst of all, wait for a few days, all because of a simple screw! Another important detail I paid attention to with this purchase is that the repair service for Sachtler’s artemis is relatively nearby, in my case a 5-hour drive. That means no matter what happens, I can have my
system repaired in two days! All technical goods require service eventually, and when this happens the service and willingness of the repair service shop becomes apparent. In my experience with Sachtler products and their service, I have witnessed the reliability and efficiency that the company’s repair service provides.
The use of the camera stabilizing system during the filming of Conspiracy was very specific. Because we didn’t have a dolly, most of the movements with artemis Cine were slow, and most shots were filmed using a 35, 50 and 65mm lenses. Even some of the running movements were done with a 135mm lens in order to avoid the shaking effect of the camera which would have certainly been overstressed had it been filmed hand-held. Filming took place in three countries, beginning in winter and ending in summer. As a result, the artemis equipment had to withstand all weather conditions. During those four months of filming, the equipment proved its reliability. I had no problems with any of the equipment at all. No matter how stressful and difficult work on the series was, as the artemis operator I found it to be extremely enjoyable, primarily due to the challenge it offered me. I quickly realized that this series was going to be something new to this region due to the program’s specificity of the region itself.
I was asked to shoot film like I’ve never done before. I have to admit that when you are asked to run with a 135mm on an artemis, or when you are asked to walk a distance of ten meters in one and a half minutes, as slow as possible, you can’t help but wonder whether the director is joking or serious. In Croatia, no one has ever used a camera stabilizing system in such ways.” But for Roman Majetic the word average does not exist. All he said to me was “don’t worry about a thing, every thing is going to be super.” And he was right. The series beat all records as the most watched TV series in all of the countries that made up the former Yugoslavia.
Born in Pula, Croatia on Nov. 16 th 1973
Photographer, cinematographer for many TV shows, cameraman on many sporting events, camera stabilizing system operator
In 2006 teacher on Camera Stabilizing Systems Seminar for Cinematography students at the Academy of Drama Arts in Zagreb
Owner of a Sachtler artemis Cine and artemis EFP
Lives and works in Zagreb, Croatia
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