Sony’s Professional Solutions of America group (PSA) unveiled its Digital Motion Picture Center (DMPC) on Stage 7 at Sony Pictures Studios. Officially opening May 1, the Center will offer hands-on training for directors, cinematographers and other professionals in the film and television production industries on the use of Sony’s groundbreaking F65 CineAlta™ digital motion picture camera and the production workflows supporting this new, state-of-the art digital acquisition system.
“This will be a place for the Hollywood production community to share experiences with their peers and help make the transition from 35mm film to digital production as seamless as possible,” said Alec Shapiro, PSA senior vice president. “Here, on one stage, filmmakers and other content creators can shoot 4K pictures, process them through a 4K workflow on site at ColorWorks and view the results on a 4K projector.”
Shapiro, who is also assuming responsibilities as president of the Sony DMPC, added that the extensive expertise of the professionals on the Sony Pictures Studios lot will be invaluable in launching this breakthrough camera with its unprecedented 8K image sensor.
“Critical to our future success is listening to the industry for their ideas and input to further advance the state of the art in digital production,” he said. “This new Center will offer those capabilities on a level unmatched by any other facility in the world.”
Several F65 projects are already underway across the industry. The first two movies being shot with the camera are Sony Pictures’ recently announced “After Earth,” the latest film from the production company Overbrook Entertainment and acclaimed director M. Night Shyamalan, and the Universal movie “Oblivion.”
“We’re pleased that Sony is making this commitment to the filmmaking community and has chosen Stage 7 as its home,” said Gary Martin, President, Production Administration at Sony Pictures. “The Center offers professionals an opportunity to see this exceptional camera in action and learn the best practices for using it.”
Curtis Clark, ASC and chairman of the ASC Technology Committee, will play a critical role in directing the educational and training activities provided by the Center.
“The F65 is a sea change for our industry,” said Clark. “We can shoot with this camera as we do with film. Since cinematographers and directors have decades of experience with shooting film, they know its capabilities and what they can expect from post finishing. With its 16-bit color and 4K spatial resolution, the F65 expands on these capabilities. This Center will help everyone become familiar with the tremendous potential of this new system and the workflow that supports it. ”
In addition to the F65, the Center will offer training and education for film and television production on Sony’s range of Super 35mm digital systems, including the PMW-F3 camcorder and others. To help Sony keep the DMPC relevant to the needs of the production community, an industry advisory board has been selected. Members include: Ray Feeney, AMPAS Chair of IIF (ACES) project; Michael Goi, President, American Society of Cinematographers; Tom Walsh, President, Art Directors Guild; Hawk Koch, President, Producers Guild of America; Elizabeth Daley, Dean of USC School of Cinematic Arts; Steven Poster, President, International Cinematographers Guild; Leon Silverman, President, Hollywood Post Alliance; Gary Martin, President, Production Administration, Sony Pictures; and Curtis Clark, ASC.
Sony also plans to make the DMPC available to local rental companies and resellers to conduct training for their respective customers as well as 3rd party workflow partners including: Assimilate, Avid, Blackmagic, Codex, ColorFront, FilmLight, MTI Film and YoYotta.
Sony Pictures is currently conducting intensive F65 training workshops, following in the tradition set by its popular 3D TechnologyCenter program. These sessions focus on digital workflows, DIT cart and dailies solutions. These workshops are linked to ColorWorks, Sony Pictures’ digital intermediate facility, where F65 camera data will be evaluated in a digital intermediate color grading suite.
