Jon Fordham chooses OConnor for Feature “Aaron Bacon” Released on DVD
Fordham’s OConnor Supported Feature “Aaron Bacon” Releases on DVD
July 13, 2011 – When cinematographer Jon Fordham began prep for the indie feature “Aaron Bacon”, he knew he would need rugged and reliable support for the lead character’s journey from the suburbs of Arizona to the deserts of Utah and back. “It’s the true story of a 16-year-old kid who dies at the hands of a tough love wilderness rehab facility,” Fordham explains. “We would be shooting stark contrasting environments from director Nick Gaglia’s choice of a suburban home in upstate New York to Nevada’s uncompromising Valley of Fire.
“That’s why I made sure I had reliable support – and that, for me, is always an OConnor. I knew that I needed tools that would not only do the job, but also be rugged enough to withstand the heat and harsh desert conditions.
“Filmmaking is all about problem solving,” he continues. “I choose tools that are not only appropriate for the job but also ones I know and trust. That way I eliminate having to solve a problem with my tools and can focus on how best to tell the story.” For this feature, shot with the Sony F23, Fordham chose Canon HD prime lenses along with the Canon ACV-235 aspect ratio converter, and Schneider ND’s to help balance the desert light.
His head was the OConnor 2575C. “Yes, there are plenty of fluid heads on the market,” he admits. “But OConnor’s heads have succeeded in not only delivering excellent fluid movement but also provide repeatable adjustments for the amount of drag and tension the operator needs for a variety of moments.
“I chose to shoot in the 2:35 ratio to really show off the expanse of the wide open desert landscapes,” he explains. “My first wide shot that reveals the desert required an extreme tilt and pan move. We started high in the sky. I tilted down as I began to pan slowly revealing the desert landscape to find Aaron’s group walking through off in the distance. With a 90 degree tilt, and a virtually 180 degree pan, the OConnor 2575C was the only fluid head that could have achieved that particular shot.”
Fordham counts on OConnor for full film size and HD cameras as well as today’s smaller cameras. He recently shot two music videos back to back for director Dylan Mulick. The first with rock band, He Is We, required gentle camera moves to complement a natural beauty style of lighting. For the second video, with legendary 90’s band Sublime, he required a variety of camera movements on the streets and in the suburbs of Los Angeles. “From quiet moments portraying a group of friends to fast paced-moves of skater/actor Francisco ‘Kico’ Pederasa, the OConnor 2575C never let me down!”
“Aaron Bacon” a Justice/Over the GW film release by Vanguard, is available on DVD. Fordham’s two music videos, supported by OConnor as well, are now airing.
For more information on OConnor, a Vitec Group brand, visit www.ocon.com, email [email protected], become a fan on Facebook, follow the company on Twitter; or contact OConnor, 2701 N. Ontario St, Burbank, CA 91504, Phone: 818-847-8666, Fax: 818-847-1205.
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About OConnor
Pioneering fluid head and tripod innovator OConnor has been the choice of top cinematographers since its invention nearly 60 years ago by Chad O’Connor of OConnor Engineering. Known for their hallmark smooth feel, consistent reliability, and cinematographer-friendly features, OConnor’s award-winning fluid heads offer maximum control and stability for film-style cinematography. Today’s support line includes the Ultimate range of fluid heads and Cine HD carbon-fiber tripods. With the 120EX OConnor introduced the flagship of its new series of EXTENDED CAPACITY fluid heads—the EX range. OConnor’s new 2575D fluid head continues the legacy of the industry standard – the Ultimate range of fluid heads for cine and digital cameras. The new camera accessory line will offer a range of camera tools for high-end cinematography applications.
Along with five other leading brands in the broadcast industry, OConnor is part of Camera Dynamics Inc., which in turn is part of the Vitec Group of companies.
A Snapshot of The Vitec Group
Vitec is an international Group principally serving customers in the broadcast, photographic and military, aerospace and government (MAG) markets. Listed on the London Stock Exchange with 2009 revenue of £315 million, Vitec is based on strong, well known, premium brands on which its customers worldwide rely. Vitec is organised in three divisions: Imaging & Staging, Videocom and Services.
Imaging & Staging designs, manufactures and distributes equipment and accessories for photography, video and events.
Videocom designs and distributes systems and products used in broadcasting and live entertainment, film and video production and MAG.
Services provides equipment rental, workflow design and technical support for camera, video, audio, fibre optic and wireless technology used by TV production teams and film crews.
More information can be found at www.vitecgroup.com.