News archive

ONSIGHT is delighted to have supported Cinesite on two major feature films.

The work consisted of providing 3D VFX shoots and 3D Plates Processing for the upcoming blockbuster John Carter 3D and the well known Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which are both productions from Walt Disney Pictures.

To watch the anticipated John Carter trailer and visit the official site, click here. 

ONSIGHT has been awarded a contract for operating the Flypack that will make use of three dedicated 3D camera rigs from 3ality Technica. The equipment will be used to produce live and recorded coverage of entertainment and sport events for Sky’s 3D channel.

ONSIGHT’s CTO Richard Mills designed the System in conjunction with Chris Johns, BSkyB Chief Engineer, supported by Sony’s Professional Services division. This is the first commissioned 3D Flyaway constructed by Sony.

Richard Mills explains: “Sony P1 cameras, mounted on 3ality Technica Pulsar 3D rigs, will provide a flexible solution for both standalone documentary and multi-camera…

ONSIGHT welcomes back The BSC Show, returning to the George Lucas Stage at Elstree Studios on 3 and 4 February. Our stand will consist of the latest kit, showreel material and a team of staff to discuss our unique services.  From Camera Rental to Lab & Post, we can guide a project in both 2D and 3D through the entire production process. 

Two years since their last show, The British Society of Cinematographers’ new equipment and technology event continues to focus on the art of cinematography through high-end kit, facilities and services for the UK production community.  There was no doubt we…

Bear Grylls has returned to our screens with a new set of adventures, produced by Dragonfly Productions for Channel 4.

Bear’s Wild Weekends sees him not only challenge himself, the crew and not forgetting the kit, but also two well known celebrities.

Aired over the festive season, Bear Grylls takes Jonathan Ross to the volcanic island of La Palma, where Europe’s only rainforest exists. Episode 2 shows Miranda Hart in a world of mountains and glaciers in none other than the Swiss Alps. Under Bear Gryll’s bold and expert guidance, it’s an intense and entertaining watch.

Red Dwarf is returning with their tenth series, Red Dwarf X, and ONSIGHT is delighted to have won the service contract for the full camera and post solution.

We are providing cameras and accessories, DIT hardware, multi-platform editing, VFX management plus post and mastering.

The RED Epic, with its 4K resolution, was selected using a mixture of ARRI Alura and Angenieux Optimo DP zoom lenses.  Shooting with a live studio audience at Shepperton, where our Camera Rental is conveniently based, the media is transferred and backed up there and then, making the rushes immediately accessible via the offline Avid system.

This classic…

ONSIGHT is proud to announce a brand new DI Reference Suite, installed at our post production office in Soho. This state of the art facility includes projection from Barco and stereoscopic 3D by RealD to maximise large screen quality in both 2D and 3D.

ONSIGHT is committed to high end finishing and providing services throughout the entire production process. This unique room allows them to offer clients a true depiction of how the completed film or programme will look in a theatrical environment.

The technology has been an essential part in meeting these standards. Sound Associates supported the…

We congratulate Atlantic Productions and the teams involved in creating another stunning documentary – The Bachelor King 3D with David Attenborough. The project started some time ago and tells the story of a King Penguin’s life struggles and successes in the remote Sub-Antarctic.

Shot on location in South Georgia, ONSIGHT embraced the challenge of designing a bespoke workflow and a compliment of equipment to suit the enormously challenging conditions. The Camera Rental department supplied cameras and accessories plus skilled crew. RED Ones and SI-2Ks were selected using 3Ality Technica Quasar and Neutron rigs for quality, flexibility and reliability the…

Action thriller Last Passenger is a new UK film, set around a turbulent train journey. With the shoot wrapping last month, we congratulate those involved, including our Camera Rental department.

The BFI and Pinewood Studios, in association with Future Films/2B Pictures, Pathe and NDF International are co-producing this exciting production shot at Shepperton Studios.

ONSIGHT’s camera team was pleased to supply an ARRI Alexa Plus shooting package, combining Anamorphic lenses with the squeeze software upgrade for DoP Angus Hudson. Last Passenger is the first British film to have shot with this camera in an anamorphic format.…

ONSIGHT has expanded their Camera Rental department with new premises at Shepperton Studios. Having relocated at the end of last month, the additional space allows the bookings team, operators and technicians to meet the increased demands.

With their second building at Shepperton Studios, this makes ONSIGHT the largest tenant. The existing office, which has housed the camera business for over twenty years, is now where the Edit Rental department is managed from. This conveniently locates both rental businesses at the studios. In the last few months, ONSIGHT supplied Alexa cameras and offline edit stations to Last Passenger, the…

BVE is continually known as ‘the essential exhibition for broadcast, video and audio professionals’. Next month sees their first regional event, taking place at Manchester Central on 16 and 17 November. ONSIGHT is pleased to be a sponsor of the 3D Revolution Theatre, as supported earlier this year at their London Broadcast Video Expo.

The 3D Revolution programme will cover opportunities, practical advice and case studies in this growing medium, led by industry experts. On both days, ONSIGHT is holding the session ‘Supporting 3D Documentary Filmmaking’. Presented by Andy Shelley, COO, we will focus on the shoot to post…

Further congratulations goes to Atlantic Productions and National Geographic for Flying Monsters 3D.  They won ‘Best 3D Program’ at yesterday's film competition last week on 6 October in Wyoming, USA.

Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough for Sky 3D continues to fly high this year, having been awarded the first BAFTA for 3D and the IBC2011 Special Award.  The project has pushed boundaries in the medium of 3D under the creative vision of Atlantic Productions and Sir David Attenborough.  It was an ambitious and complex project to recreate this prehistoric world.  However, with our team of…

As IBC2011 draws to a close, ONSIGHT is thrilled to have seen Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough featured at the RAI Amsterdam and recognised at The IBC Awards on Sunday 11 September.

Congratulations to Atlantic Productions for receiving the IBC2011 Special Award with contributing partners Sky 3D, SGO Mistika and our team at ONSIGHT. This reward was for exceptional 3D vision in creating Flying Monsters 3D.  It is given to a project, person(s) or programme that has pushed boundaries. ONSIGHT also made IBC2011 Innovation Award Finalist, with SGO Mistika as supporting partner, for post production in…

For the fourth consecutive year, ONSIGHT’s Edit Rental Department supplies and supports the systems to capture The Tour of Britain 2011 for Century Television.

Multiple HD capable Avid systems were installed a week in advance to prepare for this extensive live coverage of Britain’s biggest cycle race.  It stretches from Scotland to London with 8 memorable stages, involving some of the world's top cyclists. Our Camera Rental department also gets involved, providing XDCAM HD cameras. 

Every day our technical support engineer relocates to each stage’s finishing line.  With an Avid Unity shared storage system onboard as…

ONSIGHT and Eagle Rock Entertainment have joined forces again, this time for the concert film, Peter Gabriel: New Blood Live In London. As 3D pioneers, we were more than happy to assist Eagle with their 3D debut.

Shot at the Hammersmith Apollo in Stereoscopic 3D, we provided 3D minicams alongside Telegenic’s studio style cameras and facilitated full lab and post services.

With Peter Gabriel universally recognised as an innovative performer, it was a pleasure working on this stand-out piece when innovation is a key part of what we do - fulfilling our clients’ visions through cutting…

Congratulations to the team for completing the shoot of AFG (working title). This is a production for Salt Film, written and directed by Tom Petch. ONSIGHT is pleased our Camera Rental department could provide the high performance ARRI Alexa for a feature film. We also supplied the Sony F3.

Shot in the Morroccan desert over the summer meant that conditions were particularly challenging, but the Alexa using Optimo zoom lenses stood up to the test. Stuart Bentley, DoP, said, “Nothing proved to be a problem - from dust, blazing heat, extreme contrast or long hours, the Alexa handled it…

Congratulations to our clients Atlantic Productions for Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough and Oxford Scientific Films in association with Principal Large Format for Meerkats 3D, in reaching the short-listed stage within ‘Best 3D Program’ at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. It is fantastic to see these projects recognised at this renowned competition for natural history filmmakers. It is confirmed that a record number of entries were received and judged by over sixty judges from around the world.

ONSIGHT played a significant part by providing production equipment and full post production services to two out…

With technology innovation always in mind, our camera team has developed a lightweight high resolution Stereo 3D shooting package.  The solution uses a combination of the new Element Technica Atom rig and Epic cameras from RED Digital Cinema, which we have recently received.

Although the size of a rig can be an issue at times, this fusion takes advantage of the small form factor of the Epic and still allows for full-sized PL mounted lenses.  The result is a 5K-3D setup offering superior resolution than comparative systems, whilst weighing as little as some 35mm camera packages.

As usual,…

We are extremely excited to be nominated in the Content Creation category for the BAFTA award winning Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough.

This hugely ambitious project produced by Atlantic Productions for Sky and IMAX, made BAFTA history by becoming the first ever Stereo3D winner during the 2011 awards.  It required the latest in technology and resolution to bring to life the prehistoric world with cutting edge Stereoscopic live action and CGI images.

Having designed a bespoke workflow from the complicated shoot to the extensive postproduction process, Onsight also networked two SGO Mistika systems together to…

A Day in the Life of an Audi Driver features Audi Le Mans team leader Allan McNish describing what it takes to win the legendary Le Mans 24-hour endurance sportscar race – an event the German manufacturer has won nine times since 1999.

BBH Creative Directors Kev Stark & Nick Kidney conceived the concept for the film after viewing a presentation by the charismatic McNish, the Audi race team lead driver, describing the intensity, focus, precision & endurance required to succeed in the race.

Keen to find a way to convey the true intensity of McNish’s world, himself…

Barcelona claimed their fourth European Champions crown in style at Wembley Stadium last week after beating Manchester United with a displays of skill, flair and attacking brilliance that was finished with three sensational goals.

At a venue befitting such an illustrious occasion as the Champions League Final, proclaimed by both manager’s in the prelude to their meeting, the game certainly didn’t disappoint, living up to its pre-match billing.

Behind the scenes NEP Visions and ONSIGHT also proved a winning team with another technical display. ONSIGHT supplied a full HD Avid Nitris DX Media Composer solution for the live…

ONSIGHT has certainly come a long way over the last 21 years.

Today, our services include camera rental, editing equipment hire, a digital lab and full post production services. We're experts in all digital film formats and have become a leader in 3D technology, with a string of industry-firsts to our name.

And seeing as we make sure that all of our client’s work looks as great as possible, we thought we should spruce our own look up a bit.

So although we have a new logo, rest assured ONSIGHT still offer the same great service you…

We are pleased to welcome Neil Mockler to ONSIGHT, as Head of Development. With his extensive background in the film industry and more recently working as MD at Soho Film Lab, Neil brings great experience and knowledge to our team. Based at our London office, he is managing client relationships and focusing on the feature side of the business.

Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough has become first stereo 3D programme ever to win a UK BAFTA award. 

Sir David Attenborough's venture into the prehistoric era brings a magnificent view of an unobserved world, back to life on 3D television and the giant IMAX screen.

Due to the enormous scale of the project, two SGO Mistika systems were networked together on Hewlett Packard Z800 workstations in order to improve efficiency where the online workload could be shared in real-time.  VFX & Stereo 3D Artists, Andy Lee…

ONSIGHT chosen by Sky to help capture the Royal Wedding in 3D: Facilities company ONSIGHT supplied filming equipment and technical crew to assist BSkyB in capturing the Royal wedding in 3D.

In specially selected locations, ONSIGHT installed camera rigs to capture one of the most significant events ever witnessed on the capital's streets for future generations to experience.

Due to the historical significance of this event the decision was made to record all the images at the highest possible quality, ensuring the footage can be used as a valuable archive in years to come. ONSIGHT supplied camera kit…

The drama, romance and in-fighting in the world of king penguins is being brought to life in 3D.

Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Penguin Island 3D is set on the island of South Georgia. It will be made by the team behind the new documentary Flying Monsters 3D, which debuted on Christmas Day.

Penguin Island 3D will be shown on Sky and released in cinemas and giant-screen theatres around the world. It will offer intimate access to the lives of the birds as they endure the tribulations of life on the edge of Antarctica. Filming penguins in 3D…

Serpent Productions have just completed work on the eagerly awaited live DVD from AC/DC’s sell-out shows at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires.

We have a long history with Serpent Productions so when director David Mallet decided to shoot the live show in Argentina using multiple RED cameras, ONSIGHT was the natural choice to turn to.

After workflow planning for the three day 20 camera shoot, it was up to ONSIGHT to make sure everything went smoothly. The Camera Rental team took care of all HD cameras (including 15 REDs) as well as the production equipment. Axis…

With 64TB SAN, both of its Mistika systems have been upgraded to 4K playback. The new kit will allow ONSIGHT to edit, conform, restore images, composite and grade for 2D and 3D. The firm’s recent credits include Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough.

The article above was published by Broadcast Magazine in February 2010.

ONSIGHT's original Mistika purchase proved to be a world first, read more here

BVE 2011 is billed as the ‘Essential Exhibition’ for broadcast, video and audio professionals in the UK and takes place at Earls Court 2 from the 15-17th February.

ONSIGHT is proud to be an industry partner for BVE’s first ever 3D Revolution Programme, which features a range of exciting 3D seminars.

Our pick of the bunch would be the 15th Feb 11am seminar The Prince’s Trust Rock in 3D presented by Nineteen Fifteen’s 3D Producer Vicki Betihavas . Another not to miss would be the case study on Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough presented by Head of…

ONSIGHT is proud to announce a brand new DI Reference Suite, installed at their post production office in Soho. This state of the art facility includes projection from Barco and stereoscopic 3D by RealD to maximise large screen quality in both 2D and 3D.

ONSIGHT is committed to high end finishing and providing services throughout the entire production process. This unique room allows them to offer clients a true depiction of how the completed film or programme will look in a theatrical environment.

The technology has been an essential part in meeting these standards. Sound Associates supported the…

Producing a CGI doc about extinct creatures that would be fit for both the TV screen and Imax took a lot of work and planning, says Anthony Geffen, Producer and CEO of Atlantic Productions.

When Sir David Attenborough and I sat down at the end of a day’s shooting in the Canadian Rockies, we had no idea what it would lead to. David has a fascination with pterosaurs and we began talking about bringing them back to life using CGI, based on the latest research. Then we came up with the idea of telling the story in 3D. A…

Meerkats 3D, from the makers of Meerkat Manor, will get even closer to the ups and downs of family life for these universally popular creatures in their natural habitat.

Meerkat 3D is an Oxford Scientific film in association with PLF, shot in the Kalahari for National Geographic Channel. The show will also be appearing on Sky's 3D channel. ONSIGHT have provided equipment rental and full post-production services.

Get in touch with your inner meerkat at the Animal Planet Meerkat fansite.

ONSIGHT is supporting a 3 day series of intensive 3D workshops and hands on seminars for industry professionals at BAFTA and Twickenham Studios.

Taking place over the 25th, 26th and 27th of January 2011, the programme will be led by 3D producer and trainer Phil Streather with special guests and 3D experts.

Day One will be held at BAFTA for a maximum of 220 attendees. It will cover everything you need to know in order to decide if your project is right for 3D; whether it’s a feature film, commercial, high end documentary or an ‘as live’ concert.…

ONSIGHT's Lab & Post team provided stereoscopic post production services including 3D offline suites and 3D Mistika for mastering for the star-studded line up in this 3DD / Nineteen Fifteen production.

The music extravaganza, which was filmed in 3D, was be hosted by comedians Rob Brydon and Barry Humphries as Dame Edna Everage, took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall, on Wednesday 17 November.

The line-up of music legends performing included Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Mike & The Mechanics, Alison Moyet and Tom Jones.

The Rock Galas of the 80’s were formed when the UK…

The core purpose of the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA®) is to advance the business of producing and presenting giant screen experiences.

ONSIGHT is proud to become a memebr of the GSCA, which boasts membership of more than 250 organizations in nearly 30 countries engaged in the production, distribution, and exhibition of giant screen film experiences. Member organizations include giant screen filmmakers, distributors, theaters, suppliers and manufacturers from around the world.

ONSIGHT is currently working on an 3D IMAX edit of Atlantic Production's 'Flying Monsters with Davis Attenborough'.

For more information on the Giant Screen Cinema Association…

ONSIGHT's Lab & Post team have provided the 3D online and mastering for theatrical release for Animals United 3D film trailer by Creative Partnership.

Wanting to prove to his adoring son Junior that he’s not the screwball loser everyone thinks he is, Billy sets out to find water, accompanied by Sokrates. On their journey, they meet a truly wild and funny bunch of animals from all over the world.

The film features voices of Jim Broadbent, Omid Djalili, Jason Donovan, Dawn French, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley and Billie Piper with the realese date set for the 17th December.

ONSIGHT's Edit Rental team helped design and deliver a winning Avid installation for OB company Visions at the 38th Ryder Cup.

The 2010 Ryder Cup was staged in Wales for the first time last week with the USA as the defending Cup holder. The competition was held at the newly-constructed Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor, specifically designed for the event.

Heavy rain caused several delayed starts but did not dampen the spirits of Team Europe, with captain Colin Montgomary leading them to victory with a final score of 14½ to 13½.

Visions supplied OB Facilities for…

ONSIGHT's Lab & Post team provided 3D online services for Rankin Photography’s 3D music video for Kelis’ ‘Scream’. The track is the third international single from Kelis’ fifth studio album ‘Flesh Tone’ and is released today.

Additional services provided by the Lab & Post team included the 3D offline, 3D online, stereo grade and mastering for 3D and 2D TV delivery.

Kelis works up a sweat in the neon video for “Scream,” the David Guetta-produced single off her dance-minded album Flesh Tone. Running on a treadmill in slow motion during the song’s slower moments, the fashionista rocks an…

ONSIGHT's 3D Camera Rental team are now able to offer its hire clients a 3D ready package that includes factory matched Optimo zoom lenses from Angenieux.

Thales Angenieux is a world renowned manufacturer of precision optics and 2010 marks Angenieux’s 75th anniversary. Axis Films has recently purchased Angenieux Optimo DP 16-42 factory matched lenses to compliment its digital 3D camera hire fleet. 

The Optimo DP 16-42 has an extremely fast aperture of T2.8 with no ramping and is designed for digital camcorders, with with perfectly calibrated focus rings and easily adjustable tracking. For more information on renting the…

cineo82 3D projectors from projectiondesign® have just been used by ONSIGHT in the final grading of the National Geographic Channel (NGC) and Samsung 3D commercial for Anglo Filming.

This was achieved inside the world-class 3D SGO Mistika Suite at ONSIGHT in Soho, London. Another set of cineo82 3D projectors are also to be found at ONSIGHT's new 3D Centre located at Shepperton Studios, UK.

The projectors, distributed through RGB communications, were supplied, installed and aligned in early 2010 by post production specialists, Kaurus® who also provided the projection screens and custom filter systems for the multi-standard 3D…

ONSIGHT's Camera Rental team are hiring 1 Beyond products to complement a range of 3D camera hire packages, such as the Arri Alexa, Red One and SI-2K.

The 1 Beyond Mini DDR is designed to work in conjunction with SI-2K cameras. This compact unit is capable of recording both 2D and 3D in RAW or interleaved formats. It has a very bright screen with touch-screen interface and a separate HDSDI monitoring output. Recording is to 256GB removable SSD magazines, giving up to 2 hours of recording time.

The 1 Beyond Super Wrangler is a rugged multi-purpose platform primarily used for location…

A major upgrade for the RED One camera, the new Mysterium-X sensor offers improved resolution and superior dynamic range when compared to the original sensor.

The highly acclaimed CMOS sensor offers a much lower noise floor with a corresponding improvement in high contrast and low light scenes. Axis Films are upgrading their entire fleet of Red cameras.

A preview of the Mysterium X reel can be downloaded at http://red.cachefly.net/M-X-REEL.mov

"I have had a chance to visit ONSIGHT and spend significant time with their staff. I've seen their level of professionalism and skill with the RED ONE…

Element Technica have applied their knowledge and innovation gained with the larger Quasar rig to the miniature Neutron 3D rig.

Robustly constructed and capable of Over/Through and Under/Through as well as Side-by-Side configurations, the rig is ideally suited to lightweight operations.

Fitted with SI-2K or Cunima cameras the all-up weight can be as low as 8Kg. Despite its small size is has full wireless control of IO and Convergence and is capable of a maximum IO distance of 88mm.

For more details on either the Neutron or Quasar 3D rigs visit www.elementtechnica.com or call one of the…

In© has created a content campaign for Mercedes’ new SLS AMG in 3D with the help of ONSIGHT's Camera Rental team.

The film is the centrepiece of a £1 million campaign for the new gullwinged supercar; it features ex-Formula One driver David Coulthard, who drove the car at speeds of up to 165mph along a closed section of the Isle of Man TT course.

In© (www.incword.com) is an agency that uses a 300-strong team of London and NY-based freelance editorial talent to create broadcast, digital and print content with independent credibility. Clients include 3, Martini, Rolls-Royce, Tourism Australia,…

Why Talkback is migrating its C4 series Grand Designs to file-based production on the Sony PDW-700 and PMW-EX3

Channel 4's Grand Designs, the flagship series in which Kevin McCloud showcases the efforts of self builders pursuing their dream homes, has never been short of architectural innovation. But recently the show's production team from Talkback Thames has been undergoing a few innovations of its own.

Traditionally the show has been shot on HDCAM tape using Sony's HDW-750 cameras, but this year the decision was taken to start file-based acquisition using the Sony PDW-700 in combination with the PMW-EX3. Talkback…

ONSIGHT have been unveiled as one of four UK kit rental companies to take delivery of Arri’s new Alexa digital film camera.

The Super 35mm format CMOS sensor-based camera, which started shipping this month, offers a 3.5k pixel count that provides for both HD (1920x1080) and 2K DI working.

It costs around £40,000 and shoots directly to native Final Cut Pro codecs ProRes 422 and ProRes 4444.

According to Arri business development manager Milan Krsljanin, the number of enquiries for Alexa has ‘gone through the roof’ since NAB. “If we had 500 cameras in the UK, I…

Atlantic Productions is producing a groundbreaking new 3D film in preparation for the launch of Sky 3D – Europe’s first 3D TV channel.

“Flying Monsters 3D” is a pioneering documentary about the prehistoric world, and will be written and presented by Sir David Attenborough, one of the UK’s best known broadcasters.

The film focuses on pterosaurs – flying vetebrates with a wingspan of up to 45 feet who lived 160 million years ago. It will use cutting edge 3D TV technology to bring the prehistoric world alive. Viewers will be immersed in the environment that these creatures –…

The brand-new Freestyle Rig from P+S Technik is especially designed to offer a maximum of creative choice for camera movement in 3D production and is now available to hire from ONSIGHT's 3D Camera Rental team.

Designed for constant equilibration, the rig always keeps camera weights in perfect balance when wireless adjusting the stereo base. By using patented Carbon technology, also used for Formula 1 race cars, the best combination of load capacity, stability, form and weight was achieved.

Integrated motors for stereo base and angulation adjustment optimize weight and are compatible with available wireless remote control…

Ivan Dunleavy, Chief Executive of Pinewood Shepperton plc, formally opened ONSIGHT’s 3D Centre at Shepperton Studios yesterday. The aim of the 3D Centre is to bring visitors up to speed with stereoscopic production with 3D demonstrations, screenings, seminars and one to one expert advice.

ONSIGHT are 3D and HD experts, providing everything from the latest 3D camera rigs to secure data back-up, digital lab services and 3D post-production. Their special relationship with the industry’s leading manufacturers has kept them at the forefront of production technology for over 20 years.

The 3D Centre will showcase the latest in 3D…

SCI-FI-LONDON is the UK’s leading genre event and an internationally recognised launch pad for genre movies.

The festival is now in its 9th year and will take place Wed 28th April – Mon 3rd May 2010 at The Apollo Piccadilly Circus Cinema, London’s most luxurious cinema. Each festival features at least a dozen UK premieres and in the last few years they had the first public screening of 28 Weeks Later and the world premiere of Bruce Dickinson’s Chemical Wedding.

ONSIGHT is proud to support both SCI-FI-London and Apollo Cinemas and with HD Hire donating a Sony HDCAM…

Marc Hoeferlin, Juan Reina and Barney Broomfield are the filmmakers behind Albino United. Shot by Barney Broomfield on a Panasonic P2 Varicam and coming soon to the True Stories strand on More4 and National Geographic, their film follows a team of Tanzanian albino football players as they use sport to try and dispel the myths that have lead to many albino killings.

For decades, the albinos of Africa - known as the 'tribe of ghosts', 'zeros zeros' or 'the invisibles' - have suffered appalling treatment at the hands of their own neighbours and are murdered for their body parts,…

ONSIGHT's Camera Rental team continue to expand their range of 3D camera equipment with the purchase of an Element Technica Quasar 3D rig.

Los Angeles based Element Technica strive to make products as aesthetically pleasing as possible with the guiding design principle being functionality.

The Quasar’s modularity allows it to be configured as either a beamsplitter system for close work with wide lenses or alternately set up as a converging side-by-side system for use at live broadcast events with extreme focal lengths. For the first time the precision and refinement of a beamsplitter system is offered…

Pink Banana Studios have produced a 3D cinema ad for Jersey Boys, an internationally acclaimed hit musical based on the lives of one of the most successful 1960s rock 'n roll groups, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

The documentary-style musical opened on Broadway in 2005, before making its West End debut at London's Prince Edward Theatre in February 2008. It has gone on to win 28 Major awards worldwide, including the Olivier Award for best new musical. Pink Banana Studios have been working with AKA Promotions to use emerging digital and innovative platforms to promote the production.

ONSIGHT camera technicians have just returned back from Angola, after assisting Lunatus SL on their recent 3D shoot for the Angolan Government.

The Republic of Angola commissioned production company Lunatus SL to produce a 4D experience promoting Angolan businesses for the upcoming Shanghia Expo.

Lunatus chose 3D camera hire experts ONSIGHT to supply cameras and technicians. Panasonic HDX900E camcorders and a customised Calcutta 3D camera rig were hired for the 12 day shoot. Monitoring was taken care of by a Transvideo and a RED Rover through 3Di 3D monitor.

A wide selection of different shots were taken…

While it may at first appear hugely complex, 3D need not be less straightforward, or vastly more expensive than conventional production. Adrian Pennington of Broadcast Magazine highlights speaks with Andy Shelley and gives some top tips

1) 3D or 2D?

Does the project really benefit from being 3D? Just because the technology is available, it doesn’t mean it is applicable to all ideas.

2) Understand the basics

“A production manager needs to understand the basics of 3D and therefore the parameters that will work,” says Andy Shelley, head of development at On Sight. “Before deciding on kit, they…

Taking place at the George Lucas stage at Elstree Studios, the BSC New Equipment & Technology show gives BSC members a chance to look at the latest kit & services on offer in the film & digital market.

ONSIGHT were on hand at the show last weekend to promote the unique link between its Shepperton Studios' based camera hire department, and its Lab & Post facility located in London W1.

The relationship between the acquisition and technical services sides of the company means it can fully support clients throughout an entire workflow. This allows them to pick and…

The 2010 Kinetica Art Fair opened last week at P3, the cavernous underground art space at the University of Westminster. The fair combines new developments in the arts, science and technology, with over 25 galleries and organisations specialising in kinetic, electronic and new media art taking part with over 150 artists exhibiting.

Musion’s Eyeliner, a high definition holographic video system, caught a lot of attention at the show. ONSIGHT staff got to see their logo in a holographic form for the first time with other attendees at the fair including McLaren’s Ron Dennis and mentalist Derren…

HD & 3D experts ONSIGHT have just had work on their new 3D Mistika suite completed. The purpose built room at their Berners Street location offers 3D viewing through a pair of DCI compliant projectiondesign projectors.

ONSIGHT's SGO Mistika is used for stereoscopic productions and handles files up to 4K in size with real time 3D colour grading. Audio is taken care of by a 5.1 surround sound system.

ONSIGHT purchased their SGO Mistika system back in 2009 and were the first company in London to place an order. Geoff Mills, director of sales and operations for SGO…

The debut video to be taken from the album 'AC/DC: Iron Man 2' is 'Shoot To Thrill' with Marvel making the video available to view online this week. Iron Man 2 follows on the success of the 2008 film and features stars including Robert Downey Jr, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlet Johansson.

Through a unique collaboration between Marvel Studios and Columbia Records, AC/DC's music will feature in the film. "Jon Favreau's vision and passion for AC/DC's music blend seamlessly into this incredible film" said Steve Barnett, co-chairman of Columbia Records. "The music really…

adidas Originals have just sneaked a teaser of their latest promo, featuring a collaboration with Star Wars, onto YouTube. Nima Nourizadeh of Partizan (named by Campaign as the top production company of 2009) shot the piece on film and HD.

His first commercial, fittingly, was for the hugely exciting House Party for adidas Originals, which celebrated 60 years of the sports brand. The film, which Nima shot in Los Angeles, featured Missy Elliott, Russell Simmons, David Beckham, Method Man, Redman, DMC, Kevin Garnet, Estelle, Katy Perry, the Ting Tings and many others.

ONSIGHT's Camera Rental team tested camera…

One of the most eagerly awaited films is now out in screens across the globe. Avatar, the monumental sci-fi epic by James Cameron, is a film destined to be even bigger than his previous effort, Titanic. 

The 3D world of Avatar was conceived by Cameron 15 years ago and has been in production for more than four-and-a-half years, with its ground-breaking technology making it the most expensive film ever made.

After writing the story many years ago, Cameron discovered that the technology he needed to make it happen did not exist. So, he went out and created…

Rock legends AC/DC have just completed 3 nights playing at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires to sell out crowds. Serpent Productions were there to catch the action using 20 HD cameras, including 15 REDs.

We have a long history with Serpent Productions so when director David Mallet decided to shoot the live show in Argentina using multiple RED cameras this month, On Sight was the natural choice to turn to.

After workflow planning for the three day 20 camera shoot, it was up to On Sight to make sure everything went smoothly. Axis Films took care…

Be sure to catch the epic two-part drama starring Dougray Scott, Joely Richardson, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Eddie Izzard and Jason Priestley this Christmas. "The Day of the Triffids" is a new version of the sci-fi classic and will be simulcast on the BBC HD channel (available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media) this December.

Based on John Wyndham's best selling post-apocalyptic novel published in 1951, this epic and futuristic drama is a co-production between Power and Canadian producer Prodigy Pictures for the BBC and was shot on two Sony F35 cameras.

On Sight provided a digital dailies…

After it's sold out debut earlier in this year, the stunningly beautiful Oscar winning film Peter & the Wolf from Breakthru Films returns this December, with live music from the Philharmonia Orchestra and a newly commissioned script by renowned poet Simon Armitage.

Taking place at the Royal Festival Hall (Southbank Centre, SE1) from the 28th to the 30th December, this is perfect for introducing children to the orchestra as well as getting the chance to peek inside models of the original film set. Free workshops run on the 28th and 29th December in the Clore Ballroom.

On Sight's…

X Factor finalists JLS performed three of their singles in a special 3D performance for T4 this weekend. JJ TV, part of the JJ Stereo Group, produced the 3D promos that where used as part of Channel 4's 3D week.

Axis Films supplied a stereo technician, two RED cameras and a 3D P+S Mirror rig with Vision3 as stereogrophers. On Sight's HD Lab then provided file-based back-up services and took care of the online using our 3D SGO Mistika edit system, with real-time 3d convergence, geometry and stereo grading tools.

Final delivery was a 3-D 30 second…

There’s really no other place quite like Abbey Road, which is why producers Michael Gleason and Peter Van Hooke chose it as the location for their unique TV concept Live From Abbey Road.

Since opening in 1931, EMI’s world-famous Abbey Road Studios have been at the cutting edge of music and technology so its a natural choice of venue for the Channel 4 series, which has now been broadcast in over 27 countries around the world.

Live From Abbey Road features new performances, interviews and revealing behind-the-scenes footage from both old and…

The expedition: Rowing solo 18,000 miles around the world in the most hostile marine environment.

This amazing documentary from Pendragon Production’s George Olver, is the story of adventurer Olly Hicks, who this year became the first man to row solo from Tasmania to New Zealand.

Hicks, 27, already holds the record for the first man to row solo from New York to the UK in 2007, when he received a rapturous welcome, on his arrival in Falmouth.

The trip, supported by Google and Virgin, was recorded in high definition using bullet cameras, with footage uploaded…

The RTS Innovation Awards aim to recognise outstanding achievement in the development of new technologies in distribution, production and manipulation with Axis Films nominated for an award for their 3D work.

The award categories are designed to highlight the growing interdependence of technology and content, reaching out to new users and new ways of communicating.

Jeff Henry, Chair of the RTS Innovation Awards, said: "The standard this year has been exceptionally high. The shortlist of hopefuls is a testament to the outstanding level of innovative ideas currently within the media industry."

"Technology is constantly evolving and…

Since The British Society of Cinematographer's formation in 1949, its prime objective has been to promote and encourage the highest standards in the art and craft of cinematography and On Sight were proud to become a Patron member this month.

Their membership, which is by invitation only, comprises of some of the most talented Directors of Photography and Camera Operators in the United Kingdom. It also encompasses many distinguished friends and patrons from the film and television industry.

Richard Mills, On Sight's Head of Engineering, has previously spoken at many BSC events including their Film & Digital Camera…

The exceptional television coverage of the 2009 Isle of Man TT has won a prestigious award.

North One Television and On Sight were presented yesterday with a Sports Video Group award for their work on the 2009 TT.

The Sports Video Group, formed in 2006, is an international networking organisation for the professional sports production community. Members include leagues, owners, rights holders, teams, players, broadcasters, webcasters and consumer technology providers.

The group’s objective is to share best practices that contribute to advancements in sports production and distribution, and ultimately improve the overall consumer sports experience.

The…

Shooting Bear Grylls’ extreme survival series Man vs.Wild is no picnic and only the toughest cameras and crew need apply.

Bear Grylls’ Man vs. Wild could almost be a TV show designed to prove a camera’s ability to withstand extreme environments.

The Discovery/Channel 4 show from Diverse, now in production on its 4th series, has in its time featured Bear Grylls scaling cliffs, parachuting from helicopters and planes, paragliding, ice climbing, wading rapids and free climbing waterfalls in some of the world’s most inhospitable places.

Of course, anywhere Grylls goes, his five strong crew follows. Executive producer…

Specialist British film companies are preparing to exploit the hype created by Avatar, James Cameron's epic 3D science-fiction blockbuster. The film's epic 3D science-fiction blockbuster.

The film, which reportedly cost £180m to make, will open up new opportunities for an elite group of 3D specialist companies in the UK. Avatar is already expected to join the handful of films that have grossed more than $1bn at the box office. Tantalising trailers of the film this weekend whetted the appetites of rival Hollywood studios which are now scrambling to…

July 2009 saw the first BSC Film and Digital Image Evaluation screening where On Sight's head of Engineering Richard Mills was asked to hold a talk to 400 BSC delegates in attendance.

Encompassing 18 different film and digital cameras, The BSC Film and Digital Image Evaluation 2009 was shot at Pinewood Studios in February and was designed to show an unbiased assessment of current camera technology available for shooting moving pictures for film or television.

This material provides information for the industry which will enable film makers to assess the options open to them in today’s ever changing…

The smooth integration of EVS and Avid technology was crucial to NEP Vision’s outside broadcast coverage of Wimbledon for US TV networks.

Wimbledon is one of the jewels in the crown of the British summer sporting calendar, a watercooler event not just for British fans but for tennis enthusiasts around the world.

That’s why US broadcasters NBC, ESPN and the Tennis Channel once again joined forces with OB company NEP-Visions to produce their own packages of live coverage, interviews and highlights throughout the two-week tournament.

Project manager Tim Allsop at NEP-Visions explains the entire operation required three…

Producer North One revolutionised coverage of the Isle of Man TT Races this year with help from On Sight’s Axis Films and HD Hire departments.

When North One took over coverage of the Isle of Man TT races this year the challenge was simple. The sports producer promised to get under the skin of one of the most exciting events in the motorcycle racing calendar and bring the story of the 2009 race to a bigger worldwide audience.

For North One’s 60-strong production team the challenge was how to bring the personalities behind the race to the fore…

Richard Mills, On Sight's Head of Engineering, spoke on behalf of manufacturers Sony and Panasonic as well as joining Axis Films' head of cameras Paul Carter for a seminar on the RED One at this years Broadcast Video Expo.

The Broadcast Video Expo is the UK technology event for production, post, delivery, AV and new media and took place at Earl's Court this February. On Sight and Axis Films (our recently acquired camera specialists) have a proven track record in new HD broadcast technology, something that was reflected by the number manufacturers who asked us to hold seminars at…

Renowned documentary maker Nick Broomfield became the first ever to win a third Grierson as he collected Best Drama Documentary with The Battle for Haditha. 

This, his latest feature film, retraces a real-life story of violence and retribution in Iraq. The film marked the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and examines the legacy of the prolonged military presence in the country.

For Broomfield, HD production suits his intimate shooting style, with the small crews possible on HD productions getting the best results. It's an approach he's exploited to the full on his two most recent…

The Wildscreen Festival was founded by Sir Peter Scott in 1982 and has been organised every other year for the past 25 years.

Held in Bristol, the world's centre for wildlife filmmaking, it attracts hundreds of delegates from around the globe and is organised by UK-based charity Wildscreen, which runs a number of initiatives that use the power of film and photography to inspire conservation.

Industry luminaries including Sir David Attenborough and leading tiger expert and conservationist Valmik Thapar will speak at this year's Wildscreen Festival.

On Sight are proud to be present at the Festival's Trade…

ITN Factual has made its first ever HD series for Animal Planet with the help of Sony, a six parter about one of the Earth’s most endangered species the Giant Panda, shot on location in China on the HDW-F900R HDCAM camcorder.

An ITN team headed by director Amanda Feldon went behind the scenes of the first, largest and most successful panda breeding centre in the world at Wolong in South West China to make Pandamonium, which witnesses the daily struggle of keepers and staff to preserve one of the planet’s most at-risk species.

Feldon teamed up with Beijing-based…

'Rock n Roll Train' is the first single taken from 'Black Ice', Acca Dacca's first new album in eight years. 

Serpent Productions were chosen to produce the video, which consisted of a multi-camera shoot using 6 RED cameras, with a variety of 35mm prime and zoom lenses. 

It's not just the capturing the action that proved to be a challenge though as the post production turn around had to go from shoot to approval in just one week. That week entailed offline, render to film-resolution dpx sequence for the post-effects treatment, compositing of a greenscreen as well as…

On Sight’s reputation in HD quality control and conversions now has an international reach. South African production company Aquavision Wildlife Filmmakers is just the latest to benefit.

With a progressing level of formats to choose from in the fast-developing HD marketplace it’s no surprise that broadcasters are setting increasingly stringent benchmarks of HD quality for producers to meet.

It’s certainly an issue in the world of natural history production, where HD formats have had a huge impact. Take South Africa’s largest natural history producer, Aquavision, for example. The company makes around six films a year for major HD…

Being an Apple Solutions Expert and an early adopter of Final Cut Pro for HD broadcast work, On Sight's HD LAB was possibly the first professional facility to use Final Cut Pro as a HD editing platform.

Final Cut Studio 2 is now used for HD conforming. Due to a surge in demand for HD FCP projects, On Sight has been exploring ways in which to improve efficiency, ensuring that it can cater for the increasingly complex needs of clients.

Over a period of 18 months, On Sight conducted considerable research and development with the aim of improving uncompressed HD…

Eagle Rock have announced a deal with On Sight's technical facility, the HD LAB, to manage and distribute it's entire programme catalogue.

Eagle Rock is one of the UK's leading distributors, specialising in the production and distribution of music and entertainment programming. On Sight's HD LAB will be providing Library management, quality assessment and technical re-versioning for the entire SD and HD catalogues.

The move by Eagle Rock will enable them to take advantage of the technical capabilities of On Sight and ensure the quality of programming being delivered to broadcasters around the world.

Claire Higgins Head of…

As one of the few IMAX recording facilities outside of the USA, RPS Film Imaging offers a highly specialised and unique service, capable of recording at levels up to 8K IMAX resolution.

So when the HDCAM SR tape of the latest Ford Focus commercial was sent to RPS for IMAX conversion and was found to be not up to scratch, RPS technical director Simon Burley knew he had a problem.

The copy, which featured an orchestra playing instruments constructed from Ford Focus components, was very soft and was smothered in film grain, recalls Burley, the result of a sub-standard conversion.

The HD LAB's encoding operation, is an area of the business that has grown rapidly thanks to an explosion in the range of different media formats – from Standard Definition TV to HD and Blu-ray, as well as for mobile and web-based video applications.

“People come to us because encoding requires specialist equipment and the technical experience to achieve high quality results, and our SAN has capture cards which give us the capacity to do encoding with large files,” says On Sight facilities manager Tony Maher.

For Maher, finding the best encoding route for files is a…

Getting away from it all has taken on a new meaning. Or it will in a couple of years, when Richard Branson plans to take his airlines business to the next level – offering the world’s first commercial space flights aboard his Virgin Galactic spaceline.

Future astronauts can find out more by watching a promotion film about the venture, which delves into the technology and the people behind Virgin Galactic, directed by film-maker Carl Fospero of Made in the Shade Productions.

Shot on Sony HDCAM at 50 and 60i, Fospero was granted three days' exclusive access to designer Burt…

Take That's Beautiful World Live DVD was the result of a two day shoot at the O2 Arena in Docklands, at the culmination of the group’s national tour last December.

The group wanted this DVD to look different from the pace of their last production, recalls director Matt Askew, who has worked with the band on their last two tours.

“The band didn’t want it to be a heavily cut concert – the last one was quite staccato and this time they wanted something more film-like. That was the brief – I had to translate that into something that works.”

"They are the awards the media really want to win, a unique set of awards that recognise commitment, originality and verve"- Jon Snow, Channel 4 News

On Sight would like to congratulate John Pilger, Youngheart and Granada on their first co-production "The War on Democracy" winning the One World TV Documentary Award.

The One World Broadcasting Trust is a UK-based organisation which aims to increase global understanding through effective use of the media. Their annual One World Media Awards is one of the foremost Awards events in the UK and rewards excellence in media coverage on the vital…

On Sight’s latest range of high end tapeless cameras from Panasonic and Sony are set to raise the bar on tapeless production and meet broadcaster’s stringent HD requirements.

HD specialist On Sight’s reputation for being ahead of the game with the latest kit was underlined recently with the order of the latest large format tapeless HD cameras from Panasonic and Sony.

On Sight is set to become the first company to take delivery of Panasonic’s newly-launched 1920 x 1080 P2 Varicam range – officially unveiled at NAB in April. On order for delivery this autumn will be the AJ…

Congratulations goes out to the Third Eye Film Team for their recent success with Three Miles North of Molkom. 

After World Premiere sell-outs in competition at IDFA, Three Miles North of Molkom won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Gothenburg International Film Festival (out of 450 dramas and documentaries), before appearing at Hot Docs.

Variety commented on the film "Production values are first-rate, especially Mike Hill's sound and Joseph Russell's HD work, which captures the haunted, shadowy sunlight of a Swedish summer and makes the colours of the surrounding village pop like it was the cover…

Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday tribute concert in Hyde Park in June was one of the musical high notes of the summer – a fitting salute to the world leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Named the 46664 Concert, the event was the latest in a series held around the world to raise money for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 HIV/AIDS charity. The number refers to the former South African president’s prison number on Robben Island, where he was notoriously incarcerated for 18 of his 27 years behind bars.

Timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the June 1988 Free…

Nike 'Take it to the next Level' wins Gold at Cannes

Next Level" is new take on Football from Nike. Made to inspire football obsessed teens, the film is a first-person journey up the football ranks-from being discovered by Arsenal in a youth match to a life-defining moment playing for our national side. Along the way we experience success (finishing a cross from Cesc Fabregas) as well as frustration (getting burned by Ronaldinho). The film celebrates playing the game with purpose and passion. It shows what it takes to become a modern, brilliant fofotballer - to take…

Distributors are finding that they need to keep a closer eye on the quality of masters in a world of HD production.

There’s little doubt that the business of programme distribution has gotten more complicated over the last few years. While on the one hand high quality HD formats are becoming standard, delivery requirements are anything but, differing not just from territory to territory but from client to client. The result has been a surge in demand for technical advice about HD by programme distribution companies.

Amsterdam-based distributor Off the Fence, which last November hired On Sight…

Expert advice was what Bikini film director Andy Soup needed when he decided to use Panasonic’s P2 tapeless system for the first time, on a music video shoot for artist Leon Jean Marie.

“The concept was to get all the props and furniture in Leon’s studio to move in time to the music Fantasia-style, switching between locked off live action shots and stop frame animation, using P2’s ability to switch between individual frames and live action,” says Soup, who visited

On Sight with several members of his production team to discuss the workings of the Panasonic HVX200 cameras, storage…

Son of Rambow is a project that Hammer & Tongs (Garth Jennings and Nick Goldsmith) worked on for some years. Its development was interrupted when they were asked to make The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and is their second major feature film. 

The story is set during a long English summer in the early 80's where two boys are about to form an unlikely friendship. Will Proudfoot has been brought up in a strictly religious household, forbidden to watch TV or listen to music. But after Lee Carter, the school trouble-maker blows Will's mind with a pirate copy…

High definition solutions provider On Sight is to become the first hire company in the UK to take delivery of the new Sony XDCAM HD PDW-700 camcorder.

Billed as one of the best cameras ever produced by Sony, the latest XDCAM camcorder is set to cause quite a stir when it arrives. 

Scheduled for delivery in April, the PDW-700 is the latest in Sony’s XDCAM range, capable of 50Mb/s HD recording onto 50 GB dual layer professional discs with three 2/3-inch CCDs for RGB image capture, each with full 1920 x 1080 resolution. On Sight, which…

The first live-by-satellite 3D sports broadcast - of Scotland versus England from Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon - was a small but significant critical triumph in the history of moving pictures with rugby players in them. I have seen the future of big-event sports broadcasting and it wears funny plastic glasses and sits in the dark with its mouth wide open.

BBC Resources, in collaboration with a consortium including Axis Films, chose last weekend to trial a televisual experience intended to be several notches more immersive than you might get at home over a mug of tea and a…

Programme-makers are showing an interest in tapeless production despite the steep learning curve it requires.

If high definition has been the big story in broadcast technology in recent years then 2008 is set to be the year that tapeless production takes off. Increasing levels of HD commissions from broadcasters, coupled with the emergence of a new breed of broadcast-quality tapeless cameras is making tapeless HD a reality.

It’s a trend that hasn’t escaped On Sight head of engineering Richard Mills, who estimates that currently around 5% of TV production in the UK uses tapeless technology – a figure that is…

How film-maker Nick Broomfield’s latest film used HD to detail the reality of the War in Iraq.

Film-maker Nick Broomfield is no stranger to documenting tragedy. In 2006, he dramatised the real life story of the 23 Chinese cocklepickers who drowned at the hands of Chinese gangmasters in Morecambe Bay in 2004.

His latest film, released last month, details the true story of the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians at the hands of US troops in a revenge attack following the death of one of their own soldiers.

Both films were shot in HD using Sony HDW-750P cameras and small…

For a long time 3D movies and TV shows have been a bit of a gimmick. They have been used to re-energise a tired franchise, help a film stand out at a crowded box office or to give TV viewers a glimpse of what the future might hold.

But many in the 3D production industry now say that future may be closer than ever before. Film makers, technology companies and post-production outfits recently gathered at the historic Shepperton Studios to assess just how far…

Tangerine Films recently produced a spot for Jaguar’s new XF range, produced entirely on the Red One Camera System, with full backup & on-set support from Axis Films.

Shot on location in the south of France north of Nice & Monaco, the cameras were subjected to the extremes, mounting on fast moving tracking vehicles and attached to the cars via the Quickrig system. Helicopter Film Services also provided a Red Camera-modified Wescam for some spectacular sequences in the Verdon Gorge.

Production Company: Tangerine…

A British ROM COM without Hugh Grant, is that as much risk as it used to be? Well Director Col Spector didn’t think so when he shot the movie Someone Else a couple of years ago in Super 35mm.

The film is a kind of Bridget Jones for men and relies heavily for its ‘COM’ on ... timing. Not a problem at the time of the shoot or at the film transfer stage but it was

when Col went to get a DVD copy made that the full impact of the ‘mis’-timing hit him.

“We shot at 24…

Eagle Rock’s – Queen Rock Montreal is a special Christmas release for the legions of Queen fans still eager for more of the Band.

The latest film scanning techniques together with new HD consumer DVD formats brought the possibility of resurrecting the band at the peak of their powers with the best re-mastering methods currently available.

The original 35mm film was scanned at 4k in the US at DTS who used the latest technology to enhance the quality and sharpness of picture. The 4k files were then returned to the UK where they were re-edited and graded to…

HD filming helped to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Commercials showcasing the quality of high definition in recent years have tended to be big, spectacular, eye-catching affairs. But agency Young & Rubicam Singapore’s latest 30-second spot for Sony Asia, What is Beauty?, has taken a more low-key approach.

The creative brief given to directing duo Samuel Christopher at production company Hungry Man, and DoP Luke Scott, was to reveal in HD the hidden beauty of ordinary objects that wouldn’t normally get a second glance – from a car abandoned in woodland, to dead leaves, puddles, clouds or…

Yoav Segal is a man on a mission. A fire has been lit beneath him ever since his Grandfather told him stories of fascism on the streets of East London in the Thirties and the heroic men and women that held their own against it.

The sting is that the stories were true and the man portrayed in the story was really his very own Grandad.

Yoav had already made a documentary about this piece of history – when Sir Oswald Mosley’s Black Shirts were given permission to walk through the mainly Jewish area of East London. But…

Bringing the classic 1930s children’s tale Peter and the Wolf – intended by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev to introduce youngsters to the delights of orchestral music – to a new generation is easier said than done.

With children’s expectations conditioned by HD video games and 3G movies, the bar has been raised in terms of production values.

Producer Hugh Welchman and his Breakthru Films team realised that to capture a child’s imagination today, the stop-frame animation would need to exude production values that its audience would not be able to resist.

The 13-month project was made at…

P!NK’s recent Wembley Arena Concert was yet another epic HD shoot for Serpent Productions, typical of the slick style they produce on regular basis.

The event was Directed by David Mallet, shot by NEP Visions on about 20 HD Cameras at 1080/25p and posted entirely by On Sight Upstairs. On Sight digitised all the material after the shoot on multiple dedicated digitising systems for speed.

The edit was put together by Nick Morris on Final Cut Pro before on-lining in HD at On Sight Upstairs, where it was graded in HD and played out various

HDCAM masters: an…

Pinewood Studios Celebrated it's 70th Birthday on the 7th July 2007 and Axis Films were there to help out.

As part of the festivities a bank heist was recreated on a disused set and Axis Films were on hand to film the action. Shooting on 4 cameras including a Polecam with Iconix Camera, we shot the gun battles between the good guys and the baddies. 

A great…

After committing to a beta testing programme over a year ago On Sight found themselves one of only two companies in possession of one of the most sought after high definition broadcasting ‘pieces of kit’ in the world, the other company being the BBC.

Snell & Wilcox’s Alchemist Ph.C-HD has a legacy of the best motion compensation and standards conversion going back to the early nineties, the era of high definition meant that the proprietary algorithms had to perform that much better, On Sight were on hand to help that happen.

For Snell & Wilcox that meant looking…

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour is a rock legend with a reputation for quality.

“As the leader of Pink Floyd, David has always been an artist who has never compromised with his work,” insists Andy Murray from Gilmour’s management company, One Fifteen.

No surprise then that when One Fifteen Management suggested he should make a DVD of his latest tour, Gilmour and director David Mallet opted for one of the highest quality HD formats available – Sony HDCAM SR.

Remember That Night: David Gilmour Live At The Royal Albert Hall was shot last May at the culmination of…

Panasonic has selected camera hire company On Sight to be its back-up hire company for the AJ-HDX900E camcorder.

The AJ-HDX900E is the "BBC's preferred camera for factual and learning," says Panasonic. On Sight has purchased five camcorders and says it is experiencing high demand for HD from all areas of programming.

Film-maker Heath Jones’ first film, Lady Godiva: Back in the Saddle, had an unusual inspiration.

The chance purchase of a box of Godiva Belgian chocolates in a Detroit airport gave the film’s US based screenwriter and producer the idea for a film based on the famous lady’s naked ride through the city of Coventry in the 11th century.

Set for a cinema and DVD release this autumn, the £3.5m British comedy from Koralis Productions is a romp in The Full Monty tradition, centering on controversial plans to build a casino in the city’s memorial park.

Shot on…

Nick Broomfield is leading the way for a new generation of film-makers turning to high-definition shooting.

Over the years, Nick Broomfield has perfected his own, individual filmmaking technique. His documentary portraits – from rock singer Courtney Love to white supremacist South African Eugène Terre’Blanche – have been intimate portraits shot with a skeleton crew.

Which is one reason that he doesn’t like using film formats such as 35mm for his work. “A film camera dictates a lot of things. It has a huge impact on the production in terms of the number of personnel,” declares Broomfield.

“Shoots get…

It’s hard to overestimate the importance of the E3 games expo to a company like Sony.

As the electronics industry’s biggest annual showcase it’s where the next generation of cutting-edge gaming technology is unveiled to an eager audience of 60,000 industry professionals.

So there was a lot riding on the launch of its high definition PlayStation 3 games console and on the quality of the videos and trailers which Sony needed to prepare for the launch.

Says Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s Arran Green: “Once you could get away with simple images to promote consoles and games but…

High-definition was the only choice for shooting Elton John’s musical spectacular The Red Piano.

Celine Dion’s legendary music extravaganza at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas now has a rival in the shape of Elton John’s The Red Piano – a similarly super-charged visual spectacular guaranteed to send Elton fans into raptures.

For those unable to make the trip to Nevada, it was decided to make a televised version of the show in high-definition – the perfect format for capturing the show’s dazzling visuals. But capturing The Red Piano for a US network special on NBC and a DVD for release…

How On Sight conjured up a few moves of its own when it put together Ocelot Productions' compendium of trendy tricks - The Book of Cool.

Ocelot Productions producer/director Fred Rees had been planning this project since early in 2004. ”The book of cool was a concept that grew out of an idea to make a football skills video, but I wanted to spread the net much wider than football by tracking down some of the coolest tricks on the planet and get some of the best in the world to give us a masterclass,” says Rees.

Rees had…

Jim Henson's Mirrormask, the innovative debut feature film of Dave McKean, is the first film in this country to output onto the new HDCAM SR format.

"As the film's producer, it was important for me, using a brand new technology, that not only could On Sight supply the equipment we needed, but, more importantly, they understood how it worked - and as a bonus, provided a service that alway came with a smile."

Simon Moorhead, producer, Mirrormask 

Cutting edge technology was instrumental in creating the right look for a film on the steel industry.

Given that the assignment involved making a short film about British Asian steel millionaire Lakshmi Mittal, the richest man in Britain, you might assume that Connected Pictures would have gone for film - the most expensive format. but producer Adam Penny had a different aim: "We wanted it to be made using cutting edge technology because Mittal is at the forefront of the steel industry."

The solution was to use an On Sight Panasonic Varicam camcorder, combined with a swing and…

An altogether bigger show handled at On Sight's HD Lab is Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet, an all new 26-part CGI programme with new scripts, characters and stories.

The show, produced by Anderson Entertainment for broadcast in February 2005, has kept a 130-strong production team busy at Pinewood, with four teams including animators and TDs taking eight weeks to complete each 22 minute episode.

The show was edited by Andy Walter and finally conformed using Final Cut Pro HD at Anderson's Pinewood HQ. Phil Stone, the online editor, played out the programme to Sony HDCAM, which was then…

Andrea Vecchiato is one of a pioneering new breed of film directors making the most of the creative potential of HD production.

Filmmakers have often been sniffy abouot the use of new formats such as HD over 35mm film, but for director Andrea Vecchiato has a message for them. "They should not be so lazy," he declares. "In fact, it upsets me when I talk to DoPs who think that 35mm film will always be better."

And Vecchiato knows what he is talking about. He shot Hadaly Pictures' Luminal, an adaptation of Italian writer Isabella Santacroce's shockingly futuristic…