OConnor Chosen As Best Support For Leverage

OConnor, a Vitec Group brand, has announced that cinematographer Dave Connell has again chosen the 2575 Ultimate fluid head to support TNT's hit series Leverage.
Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton from Dean Devlin's Electric Entertainment, is a caper series described as a combination of The Rockford Files and Mission Impossible with a little It Takes A Thief in the mix.
This fast-paced one-hour action/adventure drama centres around a group of con artist/thieves/grifters who have crossed over to using their skills to help the underdog. The action features a variety of camera tricks from what the team calls Ninja Zooms and Bullet Time Shots to more conventional action coverage.
Dave Connell said: "The backbone of our support is OConnor's Ultimate Fluid Head. It's simply the best solution for the challenges we face. We shoot this series with the RED camera. It may be a modular system, however, that certainly doesn't imply that it is lightweight. When fully accessorised and wearing an Optimo 24-290, a RED camera will weigh as much as any 35mm camera system, thus it deserves to be supported as one."
Often the story calls for what the team has dubbed Ninja Zooms. They are extremely wide shots that zoom in to an extreme close up. The typical zoom is done in three segments, with an Optimo 24-290. The initial shot is composed and the total distance is measured from the first position and divided into three segments, utilising two other zooms to get the desired effect. Connell said: "The OConnor is rock-steady. It gives us the ultimate control needed when doing these in-camera effects. I have always relied on OConnor for my support. The system is consistent, easy to use and stands up to the rigors of episodic television. The ultra-smooth pan and tilt fluid drag gives me consistent control and stability. The counterbalance is accurate at any point in the tilt range. And, the pan and tilt fluid drag is ultra-smooth. When I'm using OConnor, I know i can challenge my camera to up the anti in my action segment, without worrying about getting the take and moving on to keep up with a fast-paced production schedule."
(KMcA)