GY-HD100 SERIES STILL FRAMES FROM AUSTRALIAN FILM GABRIEL
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RELEASES WORLDWIDE ON
NOVEMBER 15
Wayne, NJ (November 13,
2007) -- Director Shane Abbess shot
Gabriel, a gothic action drama, entirely with JVC’s GY HD100 Series ProHD cameras. The independent film has been transferred to
35mm for cinematic release worldwide on November 15th.
Abbess and his writing
partner, Matt
Hylton Todd produced over 20 short films, music videos and TVCs
together. With Abbess’ extensive experience, he already knew many of the tricks
needed to employ in order to shoot a great idea in a unique way. Abbess
enlisted the producing skills of Anna Cridland and Kristy Vernon who pulled
together the team of talented people to make the movie.
“I went out and tested every 3CCD camera on the market to get a real idea of what we could expect from a progressive movie look. When I say we tested every camera on the market, I mean every one,” Abbess explained. “None could do what we wanted until I went to the Digital Media Festival and saw the JVC’s GY HD100 Series which was, quite literally, a revelation. Unlike all the other camcorders you could pull focus, set focal points, change lenses, it was excellent in low light and shot in true progressive. At that point, we also saw the tests of Endurance Island (Reality Check) and were hooked. It was a no-brainer. JVC’s camera was, without a doubt, the best HD camera on the market in its range.”
Abbess
put the camera through the most intense testing. “I knew this camera was going to change the
film industry due to its progressive shooting, calibrated lens and amazing
size-to-quality ratio. I also did not have the budget to buy a PNS adaptor and
had to make do with a wide angled lens. The first time we did a 35mm blow up
there were a lot of people wondering if JVC’s camera was too good to be true
until they saw the results. It was stunning.
Everyone was amazed. We knew we
could take Gabriel into cinemas,” said Abbess.
With the input of the producers, Abbess and DOP, Peter Holland set about making sure that all 26 locations were able to be low-lit correctly. Holland and his crew took the next five weeks to create controlled lighting situations allowing the ‘movie look to work’.
Abbess continued, “That first shot was magical. It just worked. The camera was brilliant. It looked great. It looked cinematic. We did lots of long lens, dirty frame, hand-held shots. With the GY HD100 Series being so compact, we could get it into places that other cameras couldn’t go.”
According to Holland, “We made subjective rigs for the camera including one where we bolted it onto a knife. The size and weight allowed us to do things we simply could not have done with other cameras. This wasn’t traditional shooting. There were lots of hand-held and steadicam shots and the operators were delighted with JVC’s camera. We were able to avoid the jerky DV look and motion because the camera can be shoulder mounted making it as smooth in every situation. It’s a really flexible camera. After three weeks, we decided to buy another camera. JVC was incredibly helpful in making this happen. Their service and support throughout the entire shoot was brilliant.”
With the shooting completed, editor Adrian Rostirolla used Final Cut Pro and completed the cut in six months. Abbess and Post Production Producer, Matt Graham, tackled the challenge of 800 FX shots, big sounding music score and a complex sound design.
At this point, Screen
Corporation showed the movie to Sony Pictures™. “Soon I was flying to LA to sign the
deal with Sony® and the rest is history,” said Abbess. “I can honestly say that Gabriel has been the most challenging project of my career and if
it wasn’t for the help of people like Noel Oakes (from JVC Professional
Australia/NZ) and the excellence of the GY HD100 Series the movie would not
have been made.”
JVC National Sales &
Marketing Manager, Noel Oakes said, “JVC is delighted that our camera played such a pivotal role
in the making of such a great movie. Gabriel
is the first feature film shot entirely with the GY HD100 Series that has been
signed for worldwide release, which speaks volumes for the quality of these
cameras.”
For more information and high-resolution photos of JVC’s
ProHD cameras, please visit JVC’s Web site http://pro.jvc.com/newsroom.
ABOUT GABRIEL
A gothic action drama
starring Andy Whitfield (movie debut), Dwaine Stevenson (Small Claims, The
Nothing Man) and Samantha Noble (See No Evil, Court of Lonely Royals) Gabriel
tells a story of the battle between good and evil set in Purgatory.
ABOUT JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY
JVC
Professional Products Company, located in Wayne, New Jersey, is a leading
manufacturer and distributor of a complete line of broadcast and professional
equipment. For more information about this, or any other JVC Professional
Products Company product, contact JVC at (800) 582-5825; or Candace Vadnais at
PFS Marketwyse 973-812-8883, ext. 430 or visit JVC’s Web site at http://www.jvc.com/pro.
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