Ace L Sachtlers' lightest weight tripod system West Coast Customs
Sachtler Ace L tripod and head take a ride with West Coast Customs
DP Kara Stephens on West Coast Customs chooses Sachtler Ace L
Sachtler a Hit on “West Coast Customs”
Shelton, Connecticut, December 17, 2013 —The hit vehicle-build reality show, “West Coast Customs”, which airs on Fox Sports, documents luxury automotive restyling work as it is done by the team at the world-famous shop in Corona, California. While much of the cinematic style is handheld, shots that require tripod-mounted cameras must allow the operator to mimic the handheld look, which by its very nature is unsteady. But at the same time, movement must be dampened enough so that a long lens can be used for close-ups from a distance.
“You have to be filming like a documentarian to get the best shots, to tell the best story,” says the program’s DP Kristoffer May. “I think that’s the constant struggle when you are running around trying to document something very run and gun, and yet capture a cinematic look like a narrow depth of field that requires a long lens.”
May started using Sachtler’s Ace L tripod while shooting the current season’s episodes. He applauds the simplicity of the pan and tilt drag settings, which provide three settings for each, plus a zero setting which has no drag at all. “All you need is something light and something heavy, so this gets it done without having too many bells and whistles.”
The program’s producer, Kara Stephens, who also shoots on the show, pointed out that the Ace L gives them a small tripod and head that can be easily moved around, but without performance sacrifice. “Most lightweight tripods are weak, and you just don’t get good movement. The Ace L bridges the gap between size and performance: it’s nice and it’s small and it’s lightweight, but it has the pan and tilt feel of a larger tripod.”
May has also begun to incorporate the Sachtler artemis Handheld camera stabilizer into the production. “We already had handheld shots, tripod support for the cinematic look and sliders for a dolly look, but we were missing one last tool in our arsenal: the ability to walk around the car. The artemis Handheld gives me that.”
He mounts one of the show’s 5D HDSLRs with a Canon 16-35mm zoom, balances it on the artemis Handheld, and keeps it docked on a stand and ready to go. “When I need it, it’s ready to grab, with no need for a vest. In this hectic environment, I’ve got the ability to go anywhere in the shop and get a smooth, steady, floating shot.”
The new season of “West Coast Customs” premieres in February.
For more information on Sachtler, visit www.sachtler.com or contact: Sachtler, 16 Progress Drive, Shelton CT 06484, Phone: 1 203-929-1100, Fax: 203-925-2684, Email: info.videocomamericas@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
About Vitec Videocom
Vitec Videocom brings together some of the most respected, most innovative and most sought-after brands in the industry. It acts as an endorsing brand for these market-leading broadcast, film and pro video products, encouraging multi-brand system sales and simplifying the way that customers worldwide do business.
Vitec Videocom is an operating division within the Vitec Group, an international business serving customers in the broadcast, photographic and military aerospace and government markets. Vitec is based on strong, well known, premium brands on which its customers rely on worldwide.
Vitec Videocom – innovative products around the camera.
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