Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
29/01/2010

Vinten Radamec Live Action For BBC Studios

Three Quattro SE pedestals with Vision 250E heads from a leading provider of robotic camera support systems are being used by BBC studios and post production for a new children’s show which combines live action and virtual reality.
In Bamzooki Street Rules four teams of children design their own “zooks” – 3D computer-generated creatures – which compete with each other in a range of challenges. The zooks and their games are generated in real time, and the production design immerses the teams in what appears to be four floors of an industrial building. The series, for CBBC and BBC One, is produced in a four-wall studio at Pinewood.
Vinten Radamec, a Vitec Group brand, provided the Quattro SE and 250E to give the cameras freedom of movement but retain perfect synchronisation with the computer-generated images. The system provides high precision data on the position of each camera on the studio floor, its height, angles of pan and tilt and lens zoom, and integrates all feedback into a single data channel to the rendering system.
“We did extensive tests at Television Centre and on location, and came to the conclusion that to use sensor-based pedestals was a good and reliable solution,” said Danny Popkin, Technology Development Manager for BBC Studios and Post Production. "The Vinten Radamec system proved to be accurate enough to cope with a fast-moving game, providing very stable tracking data. And because the Quattro SE is based on standard Vinten pedestals the camera operators were at home straight away, and able to deliver complex tracking shots without any limitations."
The Quattro SE pedestals are free to move around the studio floor, calculating their positions from an unobtrusive L-shaped marker on the floor. This requires minimal alignment time and does not impose any constraints on the set designer or the camera operator. If during a hectic sequence the pedestal loses positional data, it is immediately obvious and the operator can reset by going over the target, a process which takes less than 30 seconds.
Series Producer for the BBC Rupert Harris commented: "We decided to go for a much bigger CGI game space for the fourth series to really immerse the viewers in the Bamzooki experience. Creative decisions like these significantly reduced the margin for error with the camera tracking system and virtual renderers and we succeeded in completing an extremely tight filming schedule on time and on budget, and are thrilled with the outcome."
Bamzooki Street Rules continues through February 2010.
(BMcN/BMcC)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

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

14/03/2024
XL8 Named Top AI & Data Product
XL8 has been named a Top AI & Data product in the 2024 Product Awards. The 7th Annual Product Awards, presented by Products That Count in partnership
11/04/2017
RTS Announce Scotland Awards 2017
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the nominations for the RTS Scotland Awards 2017. The awards cover all forms of production in Scotlan
29/09/2017
RTS Announces Nominations For North West Awards 2017
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the nominations for its annual awards, at an event sponsored by Audio Network. Cat
02/10/2015
RTS North West Announce Awards Shortlist
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the shortlist for its annual awards at an event hosted by CBBC presenter Lauren Lay
06/02/2018
Nominations For RTS Television Journalism Awards 2018 Announced
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the nominations for the RTS Television Journalism Awards 2018. The awards ceremony, sponsored by Gues
13/04/2016
Production News : Nominations Announced For RTS Scotland Awards 2016
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the nominations for this year's RTS Scotland Awards 2016. The awards cover all forms of production in
04/11/2014
Production News - RTS Announces Craft & Design Awards Shortlist
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the shortlist for the RTS Craft & Design Awards 2013/2014. The winners will be announced at a ceremon
17/04/2023
Ikegami Announces Addition To Its Broadcast-Quality Camera Systems
Ikegami has announced a major addition to its line of broadcast-quality camera systems. Scheduled for introduction on Ikegami’s Central Hall booth C38
10/08/2012
BBC Studios And Post Production Confirms Interim Moves To Elstree Studios
BBC Studios and Post Production, a commercial subsidiary of the BBC providing world-class television studios, post production and digital media servic
27/03/2024
RTS Intercom Systems Appoints New UK Sales Manager
RTS Intercom Systems has named sales specialist Michael Keen as the company's new Sales Manager for the UK. Keen joins forces with sales manager Jon R
19/03/2024
MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems To Unveil New Series Of openGear Solutions
MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems will introduce a new series of openGear solutions at NAB Show 2024 that will help customers build stronger bridg
21/05/2015
RTS Announces Winners Of Scotland Awards 2014
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the winners of the RTS Scotland Awards 2014. Chaired by April Chamberlain, the awards cover all forms
18/11/2014
Winners Announced For RTS North West Centre Awards
The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West Centre has announced the winners of its annual awards on 15 November at the Hilton, Manchester. The even
23/03/2016
Winners Announced For RTS Programme Awards 2016
The winners of this year's Royal Television Society (RTS) Programme Awards 2016, in partnership with Audio Network, have been announced at a ceremony
04/03/2016
Production News : RTS Programme Awards Nominees Unveiled
The Royal Television Society (RTS) has revealed the nominations for the RTS Programme Awards 2016, in partnership with Audio Network. The RTS Programm