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VIDEO AUSTRALASIA PROVIDES ARRI ALEXA CAMERAS ON FIRST FULL LENGTH
AUSTRALIAN FEATURE AND EXPANDS INTO TVCS
Purchases multiple ARRI ALEXA digital cameras, full set of Master Prime
lenses and new ARRI/FUJINON Alura Zoom lenses
Sydney, 7 December 2010 – Despite challenging market conditions Broadcast
video rental house Video Australasia is expanding at a rapid rate with major
purchases this month alone including multiple ARRI ALEXA cameras, a full set
of Zeiss Master Prime lenses and two new ARRI/FUJINON Alura Zoom lenses all
of which are being used on Australia’s first full length feature to be shot
with the ALEXA, Say Nothing.
Video Australasia’s MD Warren Day explained, “We have been dealing with ARRI
Australia for around five years and they have always supplied us with
excellent kit for rentals. Recently, as a result of listening to our
clients, we made a decision to expand particularly in the areas of drama,
features and TVCs. At this point the demand for ARRI kit went through the
roof so we had to make some major purchases.”
Started by Day in 2003 Video Australasia has made a point of being customer
focused whenever possible. Day continued, “We mainly supply freelancers who
are at the cutting edge of the industry and its requirements. So, if we want
to get our value proposition right, we ask them and more importantly listen
to them and what they require from a rentals house. Our last round of
research was very clear and it was all based around ARRI so we ordered a
full set of Master prime lenses, four ARRI ALEXA cameras, and two new ARRI/FUJINON
Alura Zoom lenses – one of the biggest single ARRI orders in Australian
history.”
Video Australasia is also expanding into mainland Asia. Day added, “We work
on a basic principle of supply and demand. Right now there is a major demand
across Australia for the type of ARRI kit we have purchased, especially in
our growth areas. It doesn’t stop there though as we are also experiencing
growth and broadening our client base in Asia too. Put simply, the DOPs we
service want ARRI cameras and Master Prime lenses which we think are the
best in the world. We used to supply kit mainly for ENG which was a quick
turnaround with little room for error. Now, as we grow in drama, features
and TVCs there is a lot more testing and research before a shoot goes into
production. This is where ARRI and the ALEXA really come into their own. The
ALEXA is the best digital camera around today and definitely the most cost
effective with unprecedented demand from DOPs. This coupled with ARRI’s
unrivalled service and support makes the whole proposition a very attractive
one for them to work with.”
In an Australian first for Video Australasia, ARRI and the ALEXA, Video
Australasia have supplied top DOP Jules O’Loughlin ACS with ALEXA cameras,
Master Prime lenses and Alura Zoom lenses for Say Nothing, the first full
length feature shot with the ALEXA in Australia.
O’Loughlin said, “We did extensive testing with Video Australasia and ARRI
to see just how good the ALEXA is and quite honestly I was astonished. I’ve
always essentially been a film DOP and always a believer in the longevity of
film, the quality of film and that it is technically superior to HD in
dynamic range. Now, having fully tested the ALEXA I can honestly say the
images it produces are comparable to 35mm – something I never thought I
would ever say. The ALEXA is without doubt the finest digital camera on the
market. ARRI have been successfully making cameras for over 100 years and
with the ALEXA they have absolutely nailed it from a cinematographer and
operator’s point of view. I must also say that Warren Day is a real champion
who has bent over backwards to help get this film made.”
Warren Day concluded, “We are delighted to be the ARRI equipment suppliers
for Say Nothing. This would not have been possible without the amazing help
from Stefan Sedlmeier, General Manager of ARRI Australia and the incredible
effort he and his team put in to testing all the kit both internally at ARRI
and on location. Stefan also provided a significant amount of technical
consultancy and advice to both Video Australasia and Jules O’Loughlin ACS
which, again, played a major part in securing this project for Video
Australasia and ARRI. ARRI really is the best kit for drama, features and
TVCs and I believe all drama will follow this digital workflow in the near
future. ARRI has a great name, reliable kit and bulletproof German design.
At the moment, it’s simply the best around.”
Say Nothing commences shooting mid-December 2011.
Picture credits:
ARRI ALEXA camera
Video Australasia MD and owner Warren Day
DOP Jules O’loughlin
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