Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
14/05/2004

Mark Roberts Milo and Cyclops systems used on medical productions

Two major medical productions in Britain and the USA have been completed using Mark Roberts Milo and Cyclops motion control systems.
The Visual Effects Company, based in London, used its Mark Roberts Cyclops in a production by Therapy Films for the UK National Health Service. The objective was to explain some of the realities of epilepsy including the fact that sufferers are often unaware that they have the condition until it causes them injury. The production then proceeds to explain the assistance NHS specialists can provide. A male is seen walking home at night along a crowded street. He faints and falls while descending a concrete staircase. The director stipulated that the head of the shot, up to the moment of fainting, be filmed at 50 fps. As the actor begins to fall, the camera ramps into 100 fps slow motion. The camera follows the fall and returns to 50 fps by the end of the move where the subject awakes, unaware what has happened to him.
Cyclops was chosen for its ability to handle the high speeds required for the move and for its long reach. The move began 17 feet above ground, moving to ground level. It was worked out at 50 fps after which variable speed was applied to the points at which the director required the action to take place. The actor initially falls onto crash mats. His movement is then copied by a stuntman for the remainder of the fall. Various foreground and background elements shot at 50 fps fill the scene, enabling transition passes between actor and stuntman. Clean passes and lighting passes were shot for restoration and reflections. Rain passes were also shot to sustain the atmosphere of a rainy evening. The position of the stuntman at the end of the shot was then matched by the actor.
In the USA, production company Mad Monkey hired Turner Studios, Atlanta, to shoot a commercial for the Lexington Medical Center. The aim was to advertise the skills and expertise of the Lexington's doctors and to dispel the stigma around mental and neurological diseases. Turner Studios' operator Nigel Rowe collaborated with Marc Cote of Camera E-Motion, Canada, to shoot the commercial. The Milo motion control rig was used to shoot repeat passes of the same actor in various locations, simulating a multiple-personality disorder. The Milo-mounted camera moves down onto and around the patient seen sitting alone in a large room. Layered 3D graphic models fade to and from x-rays of the human brain, showing the power and reach of modern medicine. A 180 degree move into the side of the patient's head was achieved by extending the filmed sequence into a 3D graphic progressing to the microscopic level of neurons sparking and firing. The production was shot in daylight so a clean pass was taken after each approved take to help with difference matting. The XYZ data was given to the 3D animator on set with a computer; he was able to show the director a simulation of the effect as it was filmed. Finally a move was built that pulls out from the top of the patient's head and then tracks back to show him sitting in a sunlit field with his grandchildren running towards him as the nurse from the previous scene fades away. Further multiple passes were shot to create the effect of people appearing and disappearing. XYZ data was used to combine the two moves with the 3D journey through the brain.
(GB)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

07/07/2023
Vizrt Helps ELF Move To Cloud Live Production
Vizrt has helped the European League of Football (ELF) achieve its vision of moving to cloud live production for its 2023 season, in just three weeks.
05/04/2023
disguise Teams Up With Move.ai
disguise has teamed up with markerless motion capture technology provider, Move.ai. With a vision to democratize virtual production and metaverse expe
13/11/2023
SMPTE Publications And Standards To Move To SMPTE.org
SMPTE® has announced that SMPTE publications and standards accessible as part of the Society's individual and organisational membership options will b
02/11/2023
Limecraft Helps SVT Move Closer To Digital-First Strategy
Sveriges Television AB (SVT) is Sweden's national public TV broadcaster and online streaming platform. As a publicly funded organisation, SVT has a ve
01/03/2023
Move.ai Unveils New Mobile app
Move.ai is bringing high-fidelity markerless motion capture to the masses with software that extracts human motion from video using advanced AI. Throu
27/08/2021
'Making Their Mark' Shot With Cameras From Blackmagic Design
Blackmagic Design has announced that 'Making Their Mark', the Amazon Prime Video series that gives viewers access into the Australian Football League'
04/06/2018
Avatar Sequels To Be Shot With Sony VENICE System
James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment has deployed the Sony VENICE camera system to shoot the upcoming 'Avatar' sequels.   The first Avatar movie,
18/05/2017
Anatomy Of A Shot
I have just return from one of the most challenging shoots I have been involved in. The shoot took place over 5 days in and around Tromso in Norway. T
29/11/2016
Filming Begins On US TV Production Shot In Wales
Filming has started at Dragon Studios, Pencoed, on the biggest budget US TV production ever to be shot in Wales. 'Will', a high end drama series based
04/10/2016
'Midsomer Murders' Being Shot With Uncoated Cooke miniS4/i lenses
Cooke Optics has announced the latest series of the long-running British drama series 'Midsomer Murders' is being shot with uncoated Cooke miniS4/i le
01/06/2016
Production News : Sky To Broadcast First Tee Shot Of The Open Live
Sky Sports is to broadcast the first tee shot of The Open live for the first time as part of its round-the-clock coverage of golf's pre-eminent Major.
23/06/2014
'Life Of Hers' Shot On Blackmagic Production Camera 4K
Blackmagic Design has announced that Cardy Films has shot 'Life of Hers' on the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K. Written by Samantha Chioma, directed
22/05/2014
'Dead Men Float' Shot On Blackmagic Cinema Camera
Blackmagic Design has announced that 'Dead Men Float', the first new film in more than a decade from 'American History X' producer and the creator of
20/05/2014
'Kill Game' Screening At Cannes Shot On Blackmagic Cinema Camera
'Kill Game', a new suspense thriller/horror film produced by Marty Murray of Full Throttle Pictures and directed by Robert Mearns, was shot entirely o
17/12/2012
First British Feature Film To Be Shot In True-4K
Sony Professional Solutions Specialist Top-Teks has announced that upcoming Pinewood Films release 'BELLE' will be the first major British motion pict