Filmed on Sony PD170,etc at DVinfo.net

Phil Kay · March 17th, 2005, 12:32 PM

Does anyone know of any well known films that were made on Sony PD170..... or any mini DV come to that? I'm looking for support to make my short film, however nobody is taking the MiniDV format seriously.....

All I can think of is 28 days later, Open water and...... thats it.

Rhett Allen · March 17th, 2005, 01:29 PM

Timecode, and Dancer in the Dark come to mind. But they used PD-150's, PD-100a's and VX's as well.
I own both of them and was really surprised by the brilliant color and image quality in Dancer in the Dark. It's a good movie too.

Matt Stahley · March 17th, 2005, 11:56 PM

Spike Lee's Bamboozeld.Though I think it was shot mostly with VX1000's.

Zach Mull · March 18th, 2005, 07:53 PM

Bamboozled was definitely shot with VX1000s. But Pieces of April (directed by Peter Hedges, photographed by Tami Reiker) was shot on a PD-150. It's a little sappy, but you can definitely pick up some camera pointers from watching it. You can also check this link: http://www.imdb.com/SearchTechnical?CAM:Sony%20DSR-PD150 for IMDb's list of movies shot on that camera. If you find any others then check the link in the IMDb sidebar called "technical specs" and click on the link for the camera. It lists Sony DSR-PD150 as a different camera than Sony PD150 so it's worth digging around to see if you can find another good list.

Wayne Orr · March 18th, 2005, 08:14 PM

The absolute best film shot with two PD150's (PAL version) was "Personal Velocity." And the great thing for students of DV shooting was that each of the three short stories has a different look, so you can get a sampling of what can be done with the DV format in the hands of a talented DP, being Ellen Kuras, who comments on the secondary audio track about "the making of."

Sorry Rhett Allen, but "Timecode" was shot with multiple digital betacams; a rather quantum leap from a PD150.

Wayne Orr, SOC

Rhett Allen · March 19th, 2005, 01:43 PM

Wayne, in the extras of the Timecode DVD they clearly showed a VX2000 (maybe VX1000) being used but IMDB lists the camera used as a DSR-1, which is actually a docking recorder and not a camera at all (but it is DVCAM and not DigiBeta). It also listed "Dancer" as being shot with the same thing (DSR-1P) but I know they used 100 PD-100a's with anamorphic adapters for the big dance scene in the factory. I don't know what they shot the whole movie with but I remembered seeing somewhere that they used several DSR series cameras.
I also thought I heard Figgis talking about using the 150's because they were easier to handle for the long "one-takes". I remembered because he was talking about the 150 and they showed the VX and I was a bit confused.
In all honesty I wasn't there for it so I can't say for sure, but that's what I remember, then "24" came out and the rest became a blur :-) I may have to go get the movie back from my friend and watch it again, it was an interesting flick.

Wayne Orr · March 20th, 2005, 12:26 PM

Munch, munch. Sound of Wayne eating his words. I don't know where I got the idea the film was shot with digibeta cams, Rhett, but I would have bet the farm on it. I remember reading about the production at the time, but obviously got the wrong impression. Thanks for calling me on it. Here is a comment from director Mike Figgis in an interview at http://www.nextwavefilms.com/timecode/

"We shot on the DSR 130 DV Cam and then upgraded to Digibeta and finally HD. It was shown digitally at the Yahoo Internet Film Festival at the DGA (Directors Guild of America) on March22, 2000. It looks amazing."

I guess he oughta know. Anyway, for those of you who have never heard of a "DSR 130," what you do is take a Sony DXC-D30 camera, which is an industrial grade betacam, and "dock" it to a DSR1 DVCAM recorder, and "Voila," instant DSR 130. The advantage is the DSR 1 is capable of recording 183 minutes on a single tape. We used one a few years ago on a concert we shot with three PD150's. We were able to lock of the DSR 130 on a wide shot of the stage and let it run straight through for the 90 minute concert, while we had to change tapes in the PD 150's. We an audio feed from the house mixer feeding the DSR 130, we were able to get a clean audio recording of the entire concert with no breaks.

But if you think we were confused, Rhett, here is a comment from hollywoodindustry.com
"Figgis shot the four stories on Sony DSR-1s, high definition hand-held digital cameras made specifically for film making that could go the distance of 93 straight minutes."

Wow. I guess I missed that camera. Sounds great.

Wayne

Mike Rehmus · March 20th, 2005, 01:00 PM

Not only that (and I know Wayne knows), the DXC-D30 camera head is just that, a camera head. What recording module you place on it determines the recorded format (other than the PAL/NTSC format which cannot, I think, come from the same head.

Rhett Allen · March 20th, 2005, 01:37 PM

Well the other thing to consider is that it has 2/3" chips, still a far cry from a PD-150.
Since they did up-res to Digibeta and then HD I guess we were all a little right, and a little wrong at the same time. I guess he used the VX for his casting calls and backstage stuff. I couldn't remember what the deal was, only that I remembered seeing it somewhere.
Still, it was a very interesting format for shooting and made for a nice piece to watch, even if they do have a hard time figuring out what it was filmed with, hehe.

Alex Filacchione · March 22nd, 2005, 12:22 PM

Sonderheims "Full Frontal" was shot with an XL1, wasn't it?

The September Tapes was also done using an XL1s.

That IMDB link doesn't list Open Water... Hmm..

Pietro Jona · March 24th, 2005, 10:39 AM

"In this world", by Michael Winterbottom, GB 2002, was shot using two hand held PD150. Great movie.

Mike Cook · March 26th, 2005, 08:23 AM

A great film is Tadpole. Shot on multiple PD150's (PAL) it is a great example of what you can do. The truely great part is the commentary you can turn on. The filmmaker tells you all about how he had to shoot including a bunch of details on the challenges and solutions to using DV and the 150.

It is like a tutorial. I watch it over and over listening to the commentary and watching the lighting. Worth the 8 bucks or so you can get it on Amazon for.

Mike

Alex Filacchione · March 26th, 2005, 12:05 PM

Just to inject a little levity into this thread...

When I was doing research on buying a camera I was searching for reviews, etc., etc.

It was either for the VX2000 or the VX2100 (can't remember which) and I came upon a review of the camera apparently done by a professional pornographer. The review was short & sweet & basically said:

"Great camera for filming porn!"

Anyway, I laughed at that & thought I'd share that here. I'm sure that there are many ummm, lets say "less professional, but commercially released" films out there done with these cameras! :-)

Alex F

March 17th, 2005, 12:32 PM	#1
Phil Kay Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Peel,Isle of Man(UK) Posts: 194	Filmed on Sony PD170,etc Does anyone know of any well known films that were made on Sony PD170..... or any mini DV come to that? I'm looking for support to make my short film, however nobody is taking the MiniDV format seriously..... All I can think of is 28 days later, Open water and...... thats it.

March 20th, 2005, 01:00 PM	#8
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Not only that (and I know Wayne knows), the DXC-D30 camera head is just that, a camera head. What recording module you place on it determines the recorded format (other than the PAL/NTSC format which cannot, I think, come from the same head. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

March 17th, 2005, 01:29 PM	#2
Rhett Allen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 607	Timecode, and Dancer in the Dark come to mind. But they used PD-150's, PD-100a's and VX's as well. I own both of them and was really surprised by the brilliant color and image quality in Dancer in the Dark. It's a good movie too.

March 17th, 2005, 11:56 PM	#3
Matt Stahley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Waynesboro, PA Posts: 648	Spike Lee's Bamboozeld.Though I think it was shot mostly with VX1000's.

March 18th, 2005, 07:53 PM	#4
Zach Mull Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 273	Bamboozled was definitely shot with VX1000s. But Pieces of April (directed by Peter Hedges, photographed by Tami Reiker) was shot on a PD-150. It's a little sappy, but you can definitely pick up some camera pointers from watching it. You can also check this link: http://www.imdb.com/SearchTechnical?CAM:Sony%20DSR-PD150 for IMDb's list of movies shot on that camera. If you find any others then check the link in the IMDb sidebar called "technical specs" and click on the link for the camera. It lists Sony DSR-PD150 as a different camera than Sony PD150 so it's worth digging around to see if you can find another good list.

March 18th, 2005, 08:14 PM	#5
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	The absolute best film shot with two PD150's (PAL version) was "Personal Velocity." And the great thing for students of DV shooting was that each of the three short stories has a different look, so you can get a sampling of what can be done with the DV format in the hands of a talented DP, being Ellen Kuras, who comments on the secondary audio track about "the making of." Sorry Rhett Allen, but "Timecode" was shot with multiple digital betacams; a rather quantum leap from a PD150. Wayne Orr, SOC

March 19th, 2005, 01:43 PM	#6
Rhett Allen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 607	Wayne, in the extras of the Timecode DVD they clearly showed a VX2000 (maybe VX1000) being used but IMDB lists the camera used as a DSR-1, which is actually a docking recorder and not a camera at all (but it is DVCAM and not DigiBeta). It also listed "Dancer" as being shot with the same thing (DSR-1P) but I know they used 100 PD-100a's with anamorphic adapters for the big dance scene in the factory. I don't know what they shot the whole movie with but I remembered seeing somewhere that they used several DSR series cameras. I also thought I heard Figgis talking about using the 150's because they were easier to handle for the long "one-takes". I remembered because he was talking about the 150 and they showed the VX and I was a bit confused. In all honesty I wasn't there for it so I can't say for sure, but that's what I remember, then "24" came out and the rest became a blur :-) I may have to go get the movie back from my friend and watch it again, it was an interesting flick.

March 20th, 2005, 12:26 PM	#7
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	Munch, munch. Sound of Wayne eating his words. I don't know where I got the idea the film was shot with digibeta cams, Rhett, but I would have bet the farm on it. I remember reading about the production at the time, but obviously got the wrong impression. Thanks for calling me on it. Here is a comment from director Mike Figgis in an interview at http://www.nextwavefilms.com/timecode/ "We shot on the DSR 130 DV Cam and then upgraded to Digibeta and finally HD. It was shown digitally at the Yahoo Internet Film Festival at the DGA (Directors Guild of America) on March22, 2000. It looks amazing." I guess he oughta know. Anyway, for those of you who have never heard of a "DSR 130," what you do is take a Sony DXC-D30 camera, which is an industrial grade betacam, and "dock" it to a DSR1 DVCAM recorder, and "Voila," instant DSR 130. The advantage is the DSR 1 is capable of recording 183 minutes on a single tape. We used one a few years ago on a concert we shot with three PD150's. We were able to lock of the DSR 130 on a wide shot of the stage and let it run straight through for the 90 minute concert, while we had to change tapes in the PD 150's. We an audio feed from the house mixer feeding the DSR 130, we were able to get a clean audio recording of the entire concert with no breaks. But if you think we were confused, Rhett, here is a comment from hollywoodindustry.com "Figgis shot the four stories on Sony DSR-1s, high definition hand-held digital cameras made specifically for film making that could go the distance of 93 straight minutes." Wow. I guess I missed that camera. Sounds great. Wayne

March 20th, 2005, 01:37 PM	#9
Rhett Allen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 607	Well the other thing to consider is that it has 2/3" chips, still a far cry from a PD-150. Since they did up-res to Digibeta and then HD I guess we were all a little right, and a little wrong at the same time. I guess he used the VX for his casting calls and backstage stuff. I couldn't remember what the deal was, only that I remembered seeing it somewhere. Still, it was a very interesting format for shooting and made for a nice piece to watch, even if they do have a hard time figuring out what it was filmed with, hehe.

March 22nd, 2005, 12:22 PM	#10
Alex Filacchione Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 129	Sonderheims "Full Frontal" was shot with an XL1, wasn't it? The September Tapes was also done using an XL1s. That IMDB link doesn't list Open Water... Hmm..

March 24th, 2005, 10:39 AM	#11
Pietro Jona Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: italy Posts: 172	"In this world", by Michael Winterbottom, GB 2002, was shot using two hand held PD150. Great movie.

March 26th, 2005, 08:23 AM	#12
Mike Cook Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland OR Posts: 190	A great film is Tadpole. Shot on multiple PD150's (PAL) it is a great example of what you can do. The truely great part is the commentary you can turn on. The filmmaker tells you all about how he had to shoot including a bunch of details on the challenges and solutions to using DV and the 150. It is like a tutorial. I watch it over and over listening to the commentary and watching the lighting. Worth the 8 bucks or so you can get it on Amazon for. Mike

March 26th, 2005, 12:05 PM	#13
Alex Filacchione Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 129	Just to inject a little levity into this thread... When I was doing research on buying a camera I was searching for reviews, etc., etc. It was either for the VX2000 or the VX2100 (can't remember which) and I came upon a review of the camera apparently done by a professional pornographer. The review was short & sweet & basically said: "Great camera for filming porn!" Anyway, I laughed at that & thought I'd share that here. I'm sure that there are many ummm, lets say "less professional, but commercially released" films out there done with these cameras! :-) Alex F