American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 12

Short Takes
A shoot for snowmobile manufacturer Polaris’ 2013 campaign took cinematographer Jeffrey Cunningham and director Adam Brummond off the beaten path and into the Rocky Mountains, where they shot primarily with Red Epic cameras.

I

Secret Sleds By Iain Stasukevich

Selling high-end snowmobiles — professionally known as sleds — is serious business. So serious, in fact, that whenever snowmobile manufacturer Polaris conducts test runs and promo shoots for its latest models, it does so in under a veil of secrecy. Cinematographer Jeffrey Cunningham isn’t even allowed to say where these shoots take place. “Somewhere in the Rocky Mountains,” he teases. One would need a fanatical enthusiasm for sleds and a high tolerance for frostbite to seek out the locations, anyway — the slopes and trails are miles off the beaten path, away from prying eyes. In early 2011, Cunningham shot the promo for the Polaris 2012 “Terrain Domination” campaign, and recently he was happy to return for a run with the 2013 models. For the earlier shoot, he used two Red Ones mounted with 16mm-format lenses and recorded in 2K, the maximum resolution possible for 120-fps capture with the camera. Everything was upgraded for the next shoot. “Our director, Adam Brummond, wanted to shoot everything in 4K or 5K, and he wanted the best glass we could get our hands on,” says Cunningham. The cinematographer decided to shoot primarily with Red Epic cameras, a set of Primo Primes and two Panavision zoom lenses: a 1990mm T2.8 Primo Compact Zoom, and a 70-200mm T3.1 Spherical Telephoto Zoom. “The zooms gave me the range, weight and sharpness I couldn’t find with any other lenses,” notes the cinematographer, who worked with Bob Foertsch at Panavision Woodland Hills to assemble the package. For a bit of dazzle, the filmmakers experimented with anamorphic flares and streaking. They used a special lens attachment
12 April 2012

(designed and built by Panavision’s Dan Sasaki) in front of the lens that warped lens flares while retaining the spherical image. (The promo spot was finished in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio.) An Optefex Blue Streak filter was also used to create flares from the sled’s headlamps. To photograph the new sled, Brummond and Cunningham decided to riff on the bullet-time effect popularized in The Matrix (AC April ’99). In this case, the effect required the simultaneous firing of 24 Canon EOS 7D HDSLRs fitted with Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8L lenses; the 24 cameras were mounted to Bogen adjustable heads along a 90degree section of curved speed rail. (The rig was designed by digitalimaging technician Dan Skinner and constructed on location.) When pro rider Chris Burandt took the 800 Pro RMK airborne, the 7Ds captured the stunt in 5184x3456-resolution stills. Meanwhile, two Epics with Primo 17.5mm lenses were mounted to an adjustable aluminum cheeseplate on both ends of the rail to capture the sled on its approach and landing. “We used the effect to show off a bit, but in a very organic way — we transition around the sled and show the viewer details he would not otherwise be able to appreciate,” says Cunningham. In the finished promo, he explains, “CG graphics pop up to explain some of the internal mechanisms.” A small HDSLR test was performed in Los Angeles before the crew went on location, but at the time of the test, most of the gear was either unavailable or hadn’t been built. “It was a real leap of faith that this would work,” says Cunningham. The crew’s faith was further tested when the specialized equipment arrived at base camp a day late. “We were hoping all of our gear would arrive a day ahead of us,” Cunningham recalls, “but it didn’t arrive till 5 p.m. on our first day of shooting, and it was supposed to go [into the field] the next day.” ➣

American Cinematographer

Photos by Ricky Bangerter, Jeffrey Cunningham and Todd Williams, courtesy of the filmmakers.



American Cinematographer - April 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - April 2012

American Cinematographer - April 2012
Contents
Editor’s Note
President’s Desk
Short Takes: Polaris campaign
Production Slate: Footnote4:44 Last Day on Earth
Vice at the Vatican
Back to School
Sundance Standouts
Filmmakers’ Forum: Haskell Wexler, ASC
New Products & Services
International Marketplace
Classified Ads
Ad Index
Clubhouse News
ASC Close-Up: Alar Kivilo
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - American Cinematographer - April 2012
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 1
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 2
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Contents
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 4
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 5
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 6
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 7
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Editor’s Note
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 9
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - President’s Desk
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 11
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Short Takes: Polaris campaign
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 13
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 14
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 15
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 16
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 17
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Production Slate: Footnote4:44 Last Day on Earth
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 19
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 20
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 21
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 22
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 23
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 24
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 25
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 26
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 27
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 28
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 29
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 30
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 31
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Vice at the Vatican
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 33
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 34
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 35
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 36
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 37
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 38
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 39
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 40
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 41
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 42
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 43
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Back to School
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 45
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 46
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 47
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 48
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 49
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 50
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 51
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 52
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 53
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 54
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 55
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 56
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 57
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 58
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 59
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 60
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 61
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 62
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 63
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Sundance Standouts
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 65
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 66
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 67
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 68
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 69
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 70
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 71
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 72
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 73
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 74
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 75
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 76
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 77
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 78
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 79
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 80
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 81
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Filmmakers’ Forum: Haskell Wexler, ASC
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 83
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 84
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 85
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 86
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 87
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - New Products & Services
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 89
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 90
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 91
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 92
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 93
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 94
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 95
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 96
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 97
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 98
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 99
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 100
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 101
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - International Marketplace
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Classified Ads
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Ad Index
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 105
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Clubhouse News
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - 107
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - ASC Close-Up: Alar Kivilo
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - April 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0110
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com