Digital Video - April 2008 - (Page 6) DV UPDATE NAB ‘08: CONNECTING THE DOTS INSIDERS SUGGEST THE VEGAS CONFAB WILL OFFER SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN JUST ANOTHER “NEXT BIG THING.” BY DAVID E. WILLIAMS T he secret to keeping people excitedly coming back to the annual National Association of Broadcasters Show each and every year is simple, says Robert L. Ott, Vice President for Optical and Professional Products at Sony Electronics. “Just keep coming up with new and exciting products,” he deadpans, explaining how the technology giant will continue to ride the wave of excitement over their recent camera introductions, including the HVR-Z7U, HVRS270U and, in particular, the PMW-EX1. “But we will have a surprise announcement at the show. I’m guaranteeing a surprise.” That’s not really a surprise, though, is it? The NAB “surprise” is an institution as old as the organization itself, which enters its eighth decade this year. (Oh, but will Sony’s surprise involve the EX1? “Yes,” Ott confirms with an almost imperceptible chuckle and nothing more.) dv april 2008 “Scarlet” was the one-word reply offered by Red Digital Cinema spokesman and ”Leader of the Rebellion” Ted Schilowitz when asked about his company’s big NAB secret for ’08, alluding to what has been described by the rumor mill as a “pocket professional digital cinema camera,” presumably using the Redcode RAW codec. “You’ll have to come to the booth to find out.” Schilowitz adds that while NAB has no special power to help launch a product, “you have the attention of the industry for a brief moment and you have to capitalize on it.” Red has famously capitalized on the marketing power of the “NAB announcement” since unveiling the Red One camera concept in 2005, and then wowing the crowd last year with their “test footage” short Crossing the Line, directed by Peter Jackson. “You’re probably giving us too much credit; that was just luck the way that came together,” Schilowitz says, offering a “we’ll see” when asked if his iconic crimson www.dv.com 6 http://www.dv.com
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