“The Tonight Show” Opening Shot in HD video with Redrock rigs and Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR Cameras
Lightweight, compact full resolution HD video DSLR rigs power the new, edgier Tonight Show opening
Hollywood, CA – On Monday March 1, Jay Leno came back to The Tonight Show after much media attention. The show has some new elements including the New Credit Open Sequence, photographed by DP Vasco Nunes using Redrock cinema accessories and the Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR camera.
With very little time to turn around a complete show package, Director Pete Conlon and Tech Director Brian Yarnell of Wut It Is decided to go with a primarily live-action piece that depended less on their fancier post techniques and more on in-camera-magic, the kind of magic that can only be captured by a talented cinematographer. There was a need for a small, low profile, shooting strategy taking place inside of real open venues, restaurants, and exterior spaces, while augmenting natural light for strong visual frames. Shooting with a Canon DSLR camera was a natural fit.
“(Director) Pete Conlon wanted an imperfect, spontaneous and present feel to the footage,” said Vasco Nunes, Director of Photography for the shoot. “We used a combination of Canon EOS 7D cameras on Redrock support rigs to capture the energy of Los Angeles and the City’s night life without competing too much with the spaces we were entering. The camera and rig were perfect for the shoot.”
The production team relied on key features of these rigs: small compact rigs that are lightweight and ultra-mobile, extreme low light capabilities for capturing natural light, and a complement of equally small and unobtrusive accessories to keep production costs down and production values high.
“Canon video-capable DSLRs are fantastic, but lack the form factor that today’s professional cinematographers are accustomed to, especially for extended shoots,” said James Hurd, Chief Revolutionary for Redrock Micro. “The excellent work by Vasco Nunes on The Tonight Show opening clearly demonstrates the combination of Redrock cinema accessories and Canon DSLR Cameras can deliver the highest level of production at a fraction of the traditional cost.”
The Tonight Show opening was produced by Wut It Is and Mirror Films, and was photographed over a 3 day period in Los Angeles. In addition to Redrock accessories and the Canon EOS 7D camera, the team also used Nunes’ own custom bike mount rigs and handheld accessories, along with Dedolights, LitePanels LED lighting, and Marshall monitors to round out the critical accessories.
About Redrock Micro
Redrock Microsystems designs and delivers high quality cinema accessories for digital filmmakers at revolutionary prices. Redrock Micro’s products are designed to enhance DV, HD and video DSLR cameras including Panasonic, Sony, Canon, and JVC for true cinema-style shooting. Redrock’s award-winning products include the M2 Encore cinema lens adapter, video DSLR support rigs and accessories, and cinema add-ons for video cameras including Red One from Red Digital Cinema. Through a unique business approach of direct-to-customer and build-to-order, Redrock delivers the quality and features of premium solutions at a fraction of the price. This approach is ideal for independent filmmakers, owners/operators, film educators and students, and budget-conscious moviemakers. Redrock Micro has offices in Dallas, Texas, and Hollywood, California. Redrock Micro can be reached at info@redrockmicro.com and www.redrockmicro.com.
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Those HD DSLR accessories are *not* cheap. I’m sure they’re less expensive than traditional production video equipment. But I’d like to know how much all the accessory gear used with the 7D cost. My guess is that rig we see in the photos cost 3x what the 7D body cost.
Dear Photo-John… what is your point? It is all expensive, including the 7D, which is a small part of the overall cost but also useless without the rigs. These gentlemen are in production and these are their tools. It is normal.
Photo-John…Do you even have a clue what it would take to rig a bike out with a “Traditional Video Camera and Equipment”. There is nothing that chaps me more that people who think they know this business. I started as a Grip and rigger 20 years ago when getting this shot would have take 4 speed rail starters, custom made, 6 pieces of speedrail, multiple lengths, 12 speedrail swivel T’s a cheese plate with speedrail adaptors. 3 arms and heads, 3 baby grid clamps, and a tilt plate. I’d need an hour to rig it and you could ride at top speed. Now a handlebar clamp with camera mount and a handful of 3/8″ mini pipe and fittings your doing the same top speed. And you think these AKS are more expensive, than “Traditional equipment”. Do yourself and all of us who have been in this business for longer that 5 years a favor….Take the money you would have spent on the 7D and buy yourself a clue!
I don’t get it. A person ask a perfectly clear plain and simple question, and just because these guys work for network television in Hollywood, they have to give nothing but a smart ass answer. Give the guy a break, all he wanted to know is a ball park figure of all the equipment combined in case he wanted to buy the same rig to use in his own work. Can we for once in life, leave the smart answers in the network or studio coffee room.
In answer to the mans question, the all combined equipment rig they used each one was more than likely around 10 to 18 thousand dollars depending on just how you wanted it rigged out and with what camera lens. Your right, it is still expensive and a lot lower than traditional equipment.
Photo-John good luck on all your future projects and may you go far in your career. Those guys forget they had to start somewhere at one time their-self.
Sincerely,
Ron Tyler / Executive Producer
AFP Films / A.F. Productions / AFP Television Network
Hollywood, Ca / Dallas, Texas / Tyler, Texas / New York, NY / Orlando, Fla
Ha! I just noticed those replies to my comment. I’m a big boy and I’ve got thick skin. I’m no expert on video, nor do I claim to be. But I do run this site and know that the majority of users here are still photographers who *don’t* know how much video accessories cost. And “Beyond Imagination Media,” you should read more carefully. I said the HD DSLR accessories are probably “less expensive than traditional production video equipment.” Thanks for setting me straight.