Over the course of 2015 the production of the short film „Touch The Limits“ by SPHAIR and produced by Zentrum elektronische Medien (ZEM) was made in a couple of weeks.
The client wanted to have a blockbuster-looking image film, which explains how you can become and what it takes to be a parachute specialist in the military.
For this production, they chose the RED Dragon camera which shoots in 6K.
1st AC Nikolas was responsible for prepping the camera for Marc Bachmann – who was chosen as DOP (Director of Photography) for this project.
As the whole crew was on set for several weeks in a row, file management on set was crucial. Backing up all RED RAW files on several targets was achieved with our self built DIT Case „The Prodigy“. A mobile on-set solution, perfect for productions sizes like this one.
Transcoding dailies for post production at ZEM were also made on set, so the Editor Markus Aeschlimann was able to start making selection while shooting was still ongoing.
The team from Luftruum was also part of the production, delivering beautiful close range aerial shots such as the opening shot.
And even our office at Seestrasse 422 in Zurich was used as a location. You can see it in the scenes where the two talents study together.
Furthermore we provided this production with the following:
- RED Dragon
- Zeiss, Canon and RED Lenses (mainly shot on RED Lenses)
- U-Lex Wireless Focus System
- Wireless Monitoring
- Assistent Camera (AC) and Digital Intermediate Technician (DIT)
- Mobile DIT Case „The Prodigy“
- Drone Camera Operator
Here’s a little making of cut together by Christian Dietiker, Director of the short film.
Of course not everything went smoothly. To set up the camera’s parameters, Nikolas used the REDMOTE to change all the values from the camera while being away from it. If the DP was setting up a shot, Nikolas did not have to manipulate on the camera itself to change settings. But the REDMOTE unfortunately broke. Twice. And so this little piece of gear was out of the game for the rest of the production.
Shoot was done and all files had been backed up and transcoded when they called it a wrap. All the dailies went to editorial while the RAW files were copied to our server for archival and color grading.
To give it the perfect film-look, Touch The Limits was color graded by our inhouse colorist Tobias on our HP grading suite. In a constant exchange with the client and DP, the movie got his final touch.
Shooting out of planes and helicopters, jumping out of them on a small mountain top, shooting a shootout with exercise ammunition and and and… lots of new experiences we have gained through this production and we wanted to thank the producers and the whole team for an amazing journey in making this film.
Credits
Produced by ZEM | Client: SPHAIR | Director: Christian Dietiker | DOP: Marc Bachmann | AC/DIT: Nikolas Reigel | Gaffer: Hans-Peter Wieland | Make Up: Claudia Kälin | Colorist: Tobias Wüthrich