Sony's XDCAM To Follow HMS Endurance On Ice Patrol

Spiderlight Films, a provider of high-end specialist factual documentaries for TV and emerging platforms, has chosen Sony's tapeless XDCAM cameras to film 'Ice Patrol' - an observational documentary for Channel Five and National Geographic UK.
By using Sony's PDW700 and EX3 cameras, Spiderlight will be able to capture both high definition images and edit the footage quickly whilst on board the HMS Endurance in Antarctica.
Andrew Black at Procam, the hire company providing the cameras, said: "Spiderlight films came to us and needed HD cameras that could capture excellent images that would allow the production team needed to be able to edit whilst on board the ship.
"The production team will be away for long periods and have a tight turn around for delivery. We worked with Spiderlight and decided that Sony's XDCAM range would provide the ideal solution."
On board the HMS Endurance, the team will be using a professional disc-based system that will allow the team to build its own editing suite around a laptop, two hard drives and a Blu-ray burner as back-up - with the PDW700 as a play-in machine.
There will be no need to take an HD deck on board the ship, or indeed store a large number of bulky tapes. The option of importing proxy data will also help editing, logging and reviewing of rushes on location by enabling the team to transfer footage at high speed into the laptop.
By copying the media onto Blu-ray discs and sending them back to the edit suite in the UK whenever possible, the team will also be able to email EDL's back and forth - so that the progress of cuts can be followed from opposite sides of the world.
Martin at Spiderlight Films said: "We wanted the best possible HD camera to capture the incredible scenery and wildlife as we travel through the British Antarctic Territory, the Falkland Islands and the South Atlantic.
"We also needed smaller HD cameras to capture life on board the ship for the crew and scientists. Sony's EX3 cameras will enable us to film within the confines of the ship with a more immediate and intimate feel, as well as providing back up for the PDW700. There are also lots of hidden benefits of using these tapeless cameras - the longer recording capacity of the dual layer discs mean that, in temperatures of minus 20 degrees centigrade, we don't have to take our gloves off so often to change tape!"
Andrew Black said: "This is an excellent example of how file-based cameras can improve workflow. Despite being isolated on a ship in the Antarctic, the production team can edit as they go and collaborate with their UK suite to turn the project around within a rapid timeframe."
(KMcA)