Mersey Television purchase Polecam for Hollyoaks

Mersey Television, producer of high-rating UK television programmes Hollyoaks (Channel 4) and Grange Hill (BBC), has purchased a Polecam to be used on location and at their Campus Manor, Liverpool headquarters.
Chris Royle, Deputy Head of Cameras there, had already seen Polecam in use on Hollyoaks when the rig had been rented in for some of the episodes, and could see the potential for raising production values.
On the strength of Mersey Television receiving commissions for 12x60min dramas and a series of late night Hollyoaks specials, the decision was made to purchase their own rig, on the basis that it could be used to enhance creativity on all Mersey Television productions.
Polecam, a single operator lightweight crane, can be rigged in just 10 minutes, and mounts a 3xCCD broadcast or HD minicam on a precision pan & tilt head at the end of a carbon fibre boom, which is configurable in length from 5ft to 20ft.
Polecam will give regular crane shots, but because of the unique design and small head, allows an additional range of totally different angles that would be difficult to get any other way. It operates off a standard lightweight tripod or the supplied body harness for complete mobility.
Royle said: “Polecam will allow us a freedom in setting up camera shots that we have never had before. The quick rig/derig and the portability makes it totally practical to use, and it is great to know that we will have this possibility in place for these forthcoming productions, and for the regular programming. The fact that it will also take an HD camera on there too is significant, as we are already moving towards working in HD. I can’t wait to start using it.”
Six Polecams were used at the Olympic Games in Athens, for coverage of aquatic events including swimming and diving, cycling, the triathlon, and the opening and closing ceremonies.
Four Polecams were fitted with the DiveBag, a moulded rubber bag which fits over the camera and pan & tilt head to allow operation just under the water surface, and also allow transition shots air-water-air, as seen during the diving coverage at the Olympics.
Based near Bedford, Polecam are currently developing a new fully submersible head, FishFace, available in the summer.
Polecam, www.polecam.com
(SP)