AV Specialist Africa Edition Volume 94 - (Page 24)

Defence force goes on recruitment drive The South African National Defence Force’s communications division recently embarked on a two-year recruitment campaign designed to profile the DOD as an ‘employer of choice’. T he SANDF’s television unit, Defence TV, was tasked with producing two television commercials and two radio advertisements (a first ever for the Department) in support of this campaign. Apart from being broadcast on national TV, the TV ads will also be screened on inflight media as found on commercial airlines, tour busses, at the movies as well as at shows and exhibitions countrywide. During the production of the commercial, Defence TV decided to make use of the services of some of its former employees, now all successful freelancers. Etienne Neser (DOP), a former Air Force and Navy cameraman, was given the opportunity to shoot the commercial on his new JVC GY-101E camera. For more SANDF members “Although I consider myself an One of the first challenges presented to DOP Etienne Neser was to film three Hawker jets flying in tight formation behind a Casa transport aircraft. “It was an awesome experience to see these newly-acquired planes only 10-feet away,” he says, “and while the standard 16x lens wasn’t ideal, I used a wide-angle converter that gave very little distortion.” ‘old-school’ cameraman I have never been opposed to using the new generation HDV camcorders,” he says, before voicing his concern that these lower-cost auto-setting cameras have created a generation of cameramen who don’t understand the discipline and craft-skills required to be a competent camera operator. “The camcorders of today undeniably offer an amazing array of excellent features with advanced menu settings, but I’m sceptical about whether new-generation cameramen really understand how to use them effectively,” he says. When JVC launched the GY 100 range it immediately caught Neser’s attention. It was not only affordable, but its ergonomic design and professional features made it ideal for a freelance cameraman. “When you buy a camera you shouldn’t have to pay it off forever,” he says. “You need to invest in technology 24

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AV Specialist Africa Edition Volume 94

HD: the winners and losers
The future of news
De Beers Diamond World gets Christie cut
The magic of cinema
SANDF on recruitment drive

AV Specialist Africa Edition Volume 94