Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations - Canon Users?

puredrifting

puredrifting

Major Contributor
Hi all:

I just watched my latest DVR'd episode of Anothony Bourdain: No Reservations. I am a big fan and have basically seen all of this series, read the interviews with the camera guys in DV Magazine, etc. They were using HDV about a year or two ago, but then I have seen some episodes (Beirut?) where you see a producer or camera op handling an HVX200, etc. so they obviously have shot with P2 for at least some episodes. The episode I just watched was "San Francisco" and was shot in 2009. As a 5D MKII and HPX170 owner and user, I have a strong feeling that the 5D MKII was used to shoot large portions of the San Francisco episode, there are a ton of available low light interiors with super shallow DOF, tastefully shot and graded, that scream "5D MKII". This show was a notch above any other episode I have seen in look and feel, they went for a very "Bullitt" kind of look with Anthony zipping around the streets in a black Mustang, but it was the food shots and the interiors along with the time lapse and some of the street level stuff that looked very, very nice, much more cinematic and visually accomplished than the nornal episodes, which still look good.

I noticed in the credits the addition of three non-regular camera ops besides the two guys who are the normal shooters. There is also an abundance of panning day to night timelapses and street level timelapses that look very 5D. The overall episode seems to just have that Canon feel, it did not look at all like it was shot on 1/3" cameras. Anyone have an inside line on this episode and which cams it was shot on? I am in the midst of shooting my own pilot and wondered if anyone knew anything. My next step will be to contact Zero Point Zero to see what they can tell me.

Thanks,

Dan
 
DB-

I believe you are correct. Here's why…

A few weekends ago, I saw an episode of "Johnny Colt…(something, something, something)" on Travel Channel. It had a similar feel and attitude to AB:NR. Halfway through the episode, I noticed them using 5DIIs on a rock-climbing sequence in particular. No question about it.

The show is produced by Zero Point Zero, same as AB:NR.

--SM
 
I did see an episode where one of the camera guys knocked over a stack of plates in a restraunt (some 3rd world country), camera guy #2 put the cam on him real quick and he was holding an hvx200 so they did use that cam at one time.

I wouldn't doubt if they were using Sony Z7's, it seems to be the #1 goto cam for broadcast handheld stuff right now (commissioned shows, not spec). Discovery Channel loves it and lots of other cable nets tend to follow their guidlines. Reason why I'm told is because of the workflow shooting on both mini dv and CF card at the same time. It is also used for several other shows on the Travel Channel.
 
Dan, I found a production pic for No Reservations on google, it shows what looks to me like a sony Z7 with an upgraded lens on it.

1260157984.jpg
 
I found a pic of them using the hvx200's, also found a pic of older Sony HDV cams, look like a V1 or Z1.

1260158545.jpg

1260158574.jpg

1260158598.jpg
 
looks like a mix between dlsr and sony z7. Dslr for the Bulllit scenes and z7 for the rest.

"
Technicals -- two main shooters, with a third (commonly a producer) rolling B-roll, typically cut on Avid. Shows are in HD (1080i), shot currently with the Sony Z7U (24P), using Lectrosonics wireless sound, Sennheiser shotguns for ambience. We've also been known to use "weird" lense contraptions and top-secret, non-conventional camera rigs that require a special government license to operate."

http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain/ci.Q%26A_With_the_No_Reservations_Crew.show?vgnextfmt=show
 
The shotguns on the hvx200's look like the cheaper sennheiser me66's and not 416's, I'm kind of surprised by that.
 
ChipG said:
I tried to make out the reflection of the camera in his sun glasses, couldn't do it. It does have the 5Dii look to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OWPR9Ll-sQ
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haha your comment made me look for reflections too. at 5:21 you can kind of see that the camera operator has a typical shoulder mounted camcorder- it could be the 5d on a shoulder rig though who knows. or just one of the shots when they were using a different camera, that shot is not a typical shallow dof shot or anything. it wouldn't be surprising if they were using the 5d as a b-cam, hdslr's are definitely making some inroads.
 
Yes, it is nice to hear that you guys concur as far as the regular cams. This episode in particular though, had a different look. I suspect that they probably had their two regular guys, Zach Zamboni and Todd Liebler, shooting their regular cams, and then they hired some local 5D MKII shooters to get great San Francisco b-roll.

I also just found out that Zamboni and Liebler won the Emmys for outstanding cinematography for a non-fiction series this year. Bravo! They deserved it, the show does look a notch above anything else on cable besides Top Gear, they obviously also have a great colorist too.

Dan
 
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They used to use two V1Us before they switched to the Z7Us as their main cams. Their older shows, shot in dark places, do not look especially great, so they mask bad low-light capability of the V1u by using fast cutting and shakycam. Gets a bit dizzy sometimes. Too fast editing for a cooking/travel show. Also, when in handheld mode, it seems they did not use shoulder stabilizers for the V1Us, thought they did (and still do) have different contraptions for things like shooting from a car.

I wanted to rent their videos, but they are only availiable on DVD, and first couple of seasons are in 4:3 circumcised format. Too bad. And I don't have Discovery HD subscription. So I watched them on Netflx online. Discovery should put more shows on Blu-ray.

It is great if they upped the ante by going 5D.
 
subtleinspiration said:
But, take note, they "upped the ante" for b-roll. I daresay they'll stick with the Z7s/200s for the nitty gritty work of actually filming the show.
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Right. Outside they can pull back and shoot against far background and get their shallow DOF if needed and get their bright sun light. Inside shots are often done in dark and cramped places, where 5D/7D can really help. Horses for courses, no wonder they win Emmys. Great show, if only with too frenetic cutting.
 
Would anyone know what the little matte boxes are in the hvx200 pic? Are they a 3rd party sunshade or do they hold a filter? There are no rods for them, they look like they just clip on the lens.
 
Dan, anyway you can find out about their audio setup? The shotguns run direct into the camera (for ambient sound) with another cable coming from the camera mans audio bag (in the hvx200 pic) direct into the cam. That would be Anthonys Lectrosonic receiver, I'm sure there is a mixer in the bag but is there also a recorder like the sound devices 744 used? The audio is pretty good for this show so I'm surprised to see there is no soundman, or is there one that we don't know about? Anthony does seem to have a lav clipped on him for most shows and usually the guy he is talking to.
 
I will let you know if I even get a response from them. I am not expecting to get a response for a while, these guys are probably busy out shooting.

They do use a sound mixer, I have seen in many BTS shots from the show. They do normally run a boom as well as Lectros. As far as a sound recorder, I will ask.

Dan
 
Cranky said:
Right. Outside they can pull back and shoot against far background and get their shallow DOF if needed and get their bright sun light. Inside shots are often done in dark and cramped places, where 5D/7D can really help. Horses for courses, no wonder they win Emmys. Great show, if only with too frenetic cutting.
Click to expand...

I think the z7 handles lowlight very well. I can't recall any episodes where the camera struggled.. but then again, I guess they wouldn't film where the conditions would be too much for the z7 to handle.
 
astigmatic said:
I think the z7 handles lowlight very well. I can't recall any episodes where the camera struggled.. but then again, I guess they wouldn't film where the conditions would be too much for the z7 to handle.
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If you watched earlier episodes, they have quite a few scenes that the V1 could barely handle. The Z7 is obviously better. I haven't watched their new stuff yet, I am watching from the beginning, Netflix has 3 or four seasons online.
 
If you see a camera guy knock over a stack of plates (in some 3rd world country)holding an hvx200 will you make a note of that shows name? I want to compair how it looks to the new z7 episoes.
 
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