In Broadcast - October 2016 - 40

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 6 - Issue 10 | October 2016

InStudio

Vinten: Rugged Composure
Vinten has teamed with international award-winning filmmaker David Spurdens
for a collection of short films to promote its Vision range of camera supports...

n a career that has spanned
over 30 years and earned
honours such as the World
Press Photo Golden Eye
and the Gold Lens from
the International Olympic
Committee,
filmmaker
David Spurdens has covered
everything from world-class
tennis tournaments, such
as Wimbledon, to extreme Vinten: 'Innovating Perfect Control'
sports in remote locations, including the Vector 750 used in this year's Rio
the North Pole and Tasmania. Now the games, have a long standing legacy
filmmaker has partnered with Vinten, of award-winning engineering and
a Vitec Group brand, for a series of technology that has proven to be
short films highlighting the brand's ahead of its time. The range offers
acclaimed camera supports.
users the ability to perform reliably
"The concept of these films was and consistently in application
to bring a different aspect of the areas such as multi-camera studio
Vinten brand to life with each one," production and live sports.
explained Spurdens. "For the first
film, which I titled 'Innovating Perfect First Time
Control,' I had the opportunity to film
"Very rarely are there second
multi-million dollar race horses in the chances in my world," explained
United Kingdom. These horses have Spurdens. "So I need my tripod to
been carefully bred and genetically deliver the goods in any condition -
designed to perform consistently, working with difficult moving subjects
reliably and with great precision. from minus 20°C (minus 4°F) on
Each horse has thousands of pounds glaciers to holding tough oneof power behind each stride, and yet chance pans. If a snowboarder
they run effortlessly and with perfect drops a 70-foot icy face, a
control. This concept of perfect control B.A.S.E jumper launches from
and effortless, fluid movement really a towering cliff, or if a surfer
personifies Vinten's range of head and rides the wave of a lifetime you
tripod system."
can hardly ask them to go back
Vinten's range of camera supports, and do it again because your
from the Vision blue series, used by equipment failed on you the first
Independent Content Creators, to time around. The people I have

worked with for years would cease
to trust me right there and then,
which is game over for me."
While he was used to working in
difficult environments, it was even
more important to get his shots
the first time since he was dealing
with unpredictable 1,000-2,000
lbs. horses that were sprinting at
him.
"During the shoot, a huge
stallion powered towards me in a
slight arc at full speed, seemingly
through
the
viewfinder,"
said
Spurdens. "As I looked at the stallion
rapidly growing larger in the frame, I
knew I couldn't flinch because it was a
one-time opportunity. The stallion had
his own mind and may never make this
trajectory again. He may choose to roll
in the mud or run to the end of this big
paddock and start feeding on the lush
grass."
For such a crucial and complicated
project, Spurdens used the Vinten
10AS head with Carbon Fibre sticks.
"The 10AS was great. It offered a quick

release for the rig if I had to move
quickly, portability in an unpredictable
environment, and the strength to
handle the weight of a cumbersome
rig," said Spurdens.
Perfect for a wide range of digital
camcorders in ENG configuration, the
Vinten 10AS pan and tilt head comes
equipped with an extensive camera
payload capacity of 6.5 to 17kg (14.3
to 37.5lbs). Thanks to its infinitely
adjustable Perfect Balance, advanced
LF drag system, and Sideload plate for
rapid camera attachment, Spurdens
didn't have to hold back when it came
to getting the shots that he needed.
"I'm pulling focus, zooming, panning
and the whole time creating a fulcrum
as my large frame and the heavy rig
starts to put ridiculous pressure on
the tripod. While the pressure was too
much, in that split second, I knew that
this shot was going to be something
special and there wouldn't be another
chance to take it. Most other tripods
would have buckled at some point
in that movement, wobbled the shot
completely spoiling the pan,
or even given way. Luckily, my
Vinten 10AS was not one of
those tripods. The flexibility
of Vinten's counterbalance
and its rigidity enabled me to
get those shots that would be
nearly impossible to get with
any other brand."
For more of Spurdens' work,
The films promote the Vinten Vision range follow him on rapt.tv

"Rarely are there
second chances..."
Faultless support in
extreme conditions

David Spurdens

http://www.inbroadcast.com https://youtu.be/3KqdjJeStto http://www.vinten.com/en/product/vision-blue-pan-and-tilt-head http://www.rapt.tv https://www.facebook.com/rapt.tv/

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