Indie Film “Odd Brodsky” on Solid Ground Thanks to Sachtler

Matt Irving chooses Sachtler for Odd Brodsky

Indie Film “Odd Brodsky” on Solid Ground Thanks to Sachtler

Valley Cottage, New York: June 4, 2012 – For the quirky feature “Odd Brodsky”, director Cindy Bear and cinematographer Matthew Irving  (“Waitress”, “Waiting”) wanted a smooth and lyrical feel that “harkens back to a more classic era of feature films, rather than the reality-show handheld look that is so fashionable right now,” says Irving. “But we also knew we would be in ‘run and gun’ mode most of the time, shooting in practical, and many times cramped, locations.” Irving decided to shoot the project with the small Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 7D cameras, supported by a tripod and fluid head from Sachtler, part of Vitec Videocom, a Vitec Group company.

“It was clear that our tripod and head needed to be robust and compact,” he adds. Irving called on his favorite Sachtler, the DV 6 SB, which he’s had in his arsenal for the last eight years. “It has supported me on many a challenging shoot,” he adds. It provides the versatility and feel of the larger heads I’ve used for many years, shooting 35mm feature films,” he explains. “At the same time, it is lightweight enough that I was able to hike into a remote park area with the camera and Sachtler slung over my shoulder, in order to grab some beauty shots overlooking Hollywood with minimum crew.”

Irving further states, “The Sachtler Speed Balance technology allowed me to do fast and precise setups, regardless of the camera configuration. Whenever I’m using the smaller DSLR cameras, the weight and balance of the rig will change dramatically, depending on whether I’m using a heavy long lens or a compact prime. Often the lens is heavier than the camera body! With the Sachtler, I could make changes and balance the rig quickly, without losing precious time.”

The quality of the Sachtler fluid head came in particularly handy during what Irving calls his “lyrical” dolly shots. “Due to size limitations of the practical locations, many of these shots were accomplished on a slider rather than an actual dolly,” Irving explains.

“This presented a unique challenge, since the camera operator must execute the move at the fluid head instead of relying on a separate dolly grip, while simultaneously panning and tilting to maintain desired composition. The counterbalance settings on the Sachtler and the smooth drag of the fluid head provided the tools we needed to get the shot right every time.”

“Odd Brodsky”, a quirky comedy about a lovable loser named Audrey Brodsky who quits her steady day job to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming an actress is in post-production. The first assembly is now in place and the project is about to go through sound design and score. The project will begin making select festival rounds later this year.

For more information visit www.sachtler.com or contact: Sachtler, 709 Executive Blvd., Valley Cottage, NY 10989, Phone: 845-268-0100, Fax: 845-268-0113, Email: info-cd-usa@vitecgroup.com

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About Sachtler

Sachtler, founded in 1958 by cameraman Wendelin Sachtler, is a worldwide market leader for professional camera support systems for cinematography and television production, its name a symbol of top quality and reliability for decades. With an extensive range of camera support systems as well as a finely modulated product line of reportage lighting, Sachtler is the highly qualified partner for broadcast and film applications. Since 2000 Sachtler has been offering the artemis modular camera stabilizer system. With its numerous workshops and training sessions, the Wendelin Sachtler Academy has become a top address worldwide for invaluable know-how and the exchange of information, creating the ideal international platform for creative talents.  Along with other leading brands in the broadcast and professional videographer industry, Sachtler is part of Vitec Videocom, a Vitec Group company.  For more information on Sachtler, visit www.sachtler.com

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