For Zeke Kamm, a week does not go by without a call from someone in the industry looking for production equipment advice. A self-described “gear head” filmmaker with more than 20 years in the industry, he decided to create Gear Dictionary, a free online educational series, to collect his advice on a number of subjects in one spot. Kamm, who serves as CEO of Aviator Camera Gear in Bend, Ore., began posting episodes to www.geardictionary.com in April.
Shot in and around Kamm’s Oregon-based studio, the six-episode first season of Gear Dictionary discusses gimbals, microphones, camera rigs, lens filters, light modifiers, and cine lenses. According to Kamm, it is less of a “how to” site and more of a “why” site, describing the characteristics of particular production tools and explaining their uses. “A lot of people don’t go to film school,” he offered, “and if you’re not coming up as an assistant, there are certain things you’ll never learn.”
The series was shot in 4K using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 equipped with Zeiss Prime CP.2 lenses. A GoPro HERO4 (shooting at 2.7K) was also used for B-roll and studio wide shot cutaways. Gear Dictionary was edited in 4K using Adobe Premiere Pro and output in 1080p for the Web.
Kamm is a storyteller at heart, and he emphasized the importance of lighting for film and video projects. “Lighting is one of the most powerful ways to tell your story,” said Kamm. “If you’re not thinking about light, you’re missing out on the ability to structure storytelling for your viewers. Lighting gives you options, and that makes it a powerful tool.”
For Gear Dictionary, Kamm used two daylight-balanced Zylight F8-100 LED Fresnels in the studio, one of which was equipped with a Chimera soft box and used as his key light. The second light was used as a background set piece that also provided a spotlight on the set background.
While the F8-100 delivers close to the light output of a traditional 1000-watt Fresnel, it only draws 90 watts and can be powered by a standard 14.4V camera battery or AC adapter. Kamm ran the F8-100 at minimal brightness on battery power – and never swapped the battery throughout the six-episode shoot.
The F8-100’s quantum dot technology provides a more refined and balanced natural light output, delivering a high CRI (Color Rendering Index) and a high TLCI (Television Lighting Consistency Index). A patented focusing system allows spot and flood operations, while its eight-inch SCHOTT glass lens maintains single shadow traditional Fresnel beam shaping. For location shoots, the F8-100 collapses to less than four inches thick for easy transport.
“When I saw the F8, I said, ‘There’s magic in there.’ It’s so small and powerful,” Kamm recalled. “I was really excited by the different cinematic options that these lights gave me. I had very high expectations and it did not let me down.”
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More