Sony Cameras Used To Shoot New Feature Film 'MAGNETIC'

The brand new feature film 'MAGNETIC' by Nuit de la Glisse director Thierry Donard premieres at the Cinema Grand Rex in Paris on 30 November.

Extreme sports fans will be able to experience the ambitious project shot in some of the world's most extraordinary and remote places, from New Zealand to Pakistan and Tahiti.

The modern-day adventure presents footage of 15 different extreme sports and some of the best athletes in the world in 4K quality. Thanks to Sony – a supporter of Nuit de la Glisse for several years and supplier of cameras including the PXW-FS7 II and the PXW-FS5 II, the production team was able to overcome the technical and creative challenges in the field, in order to cover strong moments.

Shooting MAGNETIC involved a crew of over 10 people. Sony’s compact, lightweight FS7 II and FS5 II camcorders endured extreme temperatures ranging from freezing cold to +40 degrees C, in locations from the French Alps to the towering peaks of Pakistan. Their light weight also allowed the filmmakers to carry three or four cameras for a whole day’s shooting, together with lenses and batteries. Teaming the latest camera technology with athletes at the pinnacle of their game, Nuit de la Glisse brings all the emotion and excitement of a modern-day adventure to audiences across the globe.

MAGNETIC documents surfing, freestyle BMX, snowboarding, windsurfing and other extreme sports disciplines. While various cameras were used during shooting, the production team chose Sony’s FS5 II and FS7 II for the most challenging scenes where it was essential to get the right shots fast. “Their light weight, ergonomics and the fact that they’re cameras you can pull out of your backpack in a second and be ready to shoot – when filming extreme sport this is crucial so you won't miss opportunities," said director Thierry Donard.

After shooting the critically acclaimed feature 'Don't Crack Under Pressure' in 2015, Donard was already familiar with Sony's 4K camcorders. This time the Nuit de la Glisse production team chose latest-generation FS7 II and FS5 II models to benefit from their refined performance in extreme conditions.

"Being able to shoot slow motion with the FS5 II was a great addition," noted Thierry Donard. "The lens mount on the new FS7 II was a great addition in order to carry heavy lenses. The recording codec of the FS5 II is also a big plus, especially as it facilitates shooting with an external recorder. The new FS7 II viewfinder delivers much better quality as well."

Rather than shooting in RAW, the team chose Sony's XAVC codec and S-Log to capture 4K content with extraordinary quality, while maintaining practical file sizes. This enables a fast, efficient workflow to save and manage content while on the move.

"We are once again delighted to support La Nuit de la Glisse," said Eric Embid, Head of Product Marketing, Sony Professional Solutions Europe. "Through our continuing sponsorship – and thanks to our latest technologies and innovations – Sony allows the filmmakers to capture unique moments, unleash their creativity in the field… and Go Make Tomorrow."

'MAGNETIC' by Nuit de la Glisse is released to over 1,000 cinemas across Europe from 06 December 2018.

Image Credit: Tomas Konya