Czech mates
25/04/2024
By Contributor
Published: April 25, 2024 Updated: April 26, 2024
The writer and director of a hit Czech series tell Robert Shepherd about their approach to portraying real-life Pakistani kidnappings on the small screen, while also discussing their use of natural light on a biblical location
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
Czechian journalist Jaroslav Kmenta is renowned as his country's finest investigative journalist, having uncovered various significant events and scandals throughout his career. Notable investigations include exposing corruption in politics and business, dismantling organised crime networks, revealing financial frauds, and shedding light on historical controversies. When writer Jan Stehl k drew inspiration from Kmenta's work, it signalled the birth of Extrakto i (Extractors), a six-part espionage thriller series created by Lenka Szanto and Adam Dvorak, and produced by Voyo Origin l.
The show pays homage to Czech spies and their behind-the-scenes work, skilfully intertwining this narrative with a glimpse into the shadowy realm of international crime. Extractors celebrates the bravery and determination of spies on the front lines while serving as a poignant reminder of the often-overlooked hazards faced by journalists in their quest for truth. The series emerges as a captivating tribute to the vital role of journalism in society.
He's a well-respected investigative reporter with a vision for the screen, says Stehl k. Together, we focus on stories that could involve intelligence units. We started with the 2013 kidnapping of two girls. Extensive research informs the narrative, aiming for a gripping, authentic tale inspired by real events.
Director Roman Ka parovsk embraced the premise from the start but recognised the need for creativity, given the sensitive nature of the subject matter. We couldn't use real names or make the actual victims even remotely identifiable because it would put them in a lot of danger, if they aren't already, he explained. Instead, we used it as a stimulus, adding Czech intelligence units in place of Pakistani ones.
Ka parovsk explains that they didn't draw inspiration from big Hollywood films like Mission Impossible and went for authenticity instead. We didn't have Tom Cruise or millions of dollars, he adds. Instead, we got access to real spies and asked them how they do it because then you're watching something which is not all action. But at the same time, it is interesting because you know you're watching something what happens in reality, and that's what we went for. Eventually, we tried to make those situations as real as possible, which actually kind of makes it real eventually. Of course, the situation of the girls staying in the heart all the time, being basically locked up from the rest of the world, is very real. We talked to some people who were somehow incarcerated, and we talked to people who try to get them out or figure out how they do it.
And there was light Despite the inspiration being events in Pakistan, given the hazards associated with filming in Pakistan, the team had to consider alternatives. We could have utilised old streets and abandoned buildings in the Czech Republic. However, once in the woods, the stark difference in terrain from Pakistan becomes apparent, explains Kasparovsk . The landscapes of North Moravia or North Bohemia don't resemble those of Pakistan or Afghanistan. CGI or green screens would be necessary, which we wanted to avoid.
In the end, they selected a location that wasn't too dissimilar and settled on eastern Turkey, specifically A r Da , more commonly known as Mount Ararat, where legend has it, Noah's Ark came to rest.
We had to shoot in harsh conditions, so we condensed the crew to around 20 people, Ka parovsk says. With a smaller crew, we couldn't bring truckloads of lighting equipment, so we opted for a compact setup. We used the Sony Venice 5K, the latest version in 2022, primarily with primes for interior shots and static aesthetics. For movement, we relied on the DJI Ronin 6k with gyroscope, a camera combined with a gyroscope for flexibility. While the picture quality of the Ronin wasn't as great as the Sony Venice, its mobility suited our needs. The Sony Venice offered exceptional picture quality, akin to creating a canvas, allowing us to capture intricate details. In contrast, the Ronin facilitated dynamic camera movements. Both cameras provided sufficient resolution, with the option to enhance details during post-production.
Despite having fewer people than he was used to working with, Kasparovsk says it's simple that way. Managing a large team and all the logistics can be complicated, he adds. With a smaller setup, everyone is accountable for their tasks, making it easier to address any issues that arise.
The DOP on the series is Vladim r Smutn and he visited the locations with Ka parovsk to assess the natural lighting and plan the shots accordingly. He gives an example of how conversations went: Could you bring the lights over there? Oh, wait, let's wait for the sun.' You see? It was more about working in harmony with nature. Being 2000 metres above sea level, the journey back to the city or town would take about one and a half hours. Shooting in different angles and times of day required careful scheduling to maximise the light. We embraced working with nature, considering factors like altitude and travel time to the town. Forgetting anything meant a three-hour round trip, emphasising the importance o
More from TVB Europe
03/05/2024
Limecraft updates content delivery platform
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security By Matthew Corrigan Published: May 3, 2024 Enha...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo submit $26 billion bid for Paramount Global
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company By Jenny Priestley Published: M...
03/05/2024
Global Academy launches Manchester media school
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
02/05/2024
Can AI find a way to reduce the broadcast industry's energy consumption?
OpenDrives Trevor Morgan asks if AI has the answer to making data centres for the media and entertainment industry more sustainable By Contributor Published:...
02/05/2024
Former BT Sport COO Jamie Hindhaugh joins EMG / Gravity Media
Charlie Cubbon has also been appointed chief operating officer By Matthew Corrigan Published: May 2, 2024 Charlie Cubbon has also been appointed chief ope...
01/05/2024
NXTGENbps powers Molinare's Notorious DIT
NXTGENbps battery solutions are designed to replace diesel generators and offer silent, emission-free power for various applications in film, TV, outside broadc...
01/05/2024
NXTGENbps powers Molinaire's Notorious DIT
NXTGENbps battery solutions are designed to replace diesel generators and offer silent, emission-free power for various applications in film, TV, outside broadc...
01/05/2024
Amazon CEO: AWS has multi-billion dollar revenue run rate in AI already
Sales rose to $25bn during the first three months of 2024, up 17 per cent year-on-year By Matthew Corrigan Published: May 1, 2024 Updated: May 2, 2024 S...
30/04/2024
Hotspring unveils Slapshot ML-driven rotoscoping solution
Hotspring said the breakthrough had been achieved through the acceleration of machine learning technology By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 30, 2024 Ho...
30/04/2024
SES to acquire Intelsat in $3.1 billion deal
Speaking about the deal, Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, said: it will bring value-added, efficient, and reliable offerings for both companies media customers By Je...
30/04/2024
Bob Bakish officially out at Paramount, new Office of the CEO finalising long-term plan'
Paramount said the Office of the CEO is working with its board to develop a comp...
29/04/2024
BAFTA Television Craft Awards winners announced
The awards celebrate the craft of behind-the-scenes TV talent and the best programmes of 2023 By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 29, 2024 The awards cel...
29/04/2024
Watch: How Milk VFX helped create 259 shots for Netflix's Scoop
The team at Milk had to create and deliver the VFX and environment work for the royal residences featured in the drama from scratch By Jenny Priestley Publis...
29/04/2024
What's going on at Paramount Global?
CEO Bob Bakish is expected to leave the company as early as today, with a new leadership committee likely to run the company on an interim basis By Jenny Pries...
29/04/2024
Meet the director of media and entertainment and strategic products
Albena Ivanova, director, media and entertainment and strategic products at CHAOS talks to TVBEurope about her route into the industry By TVBEurope Staff Pub...
29/04/2024
Anna Valley brand name acquired by AV company Grand Technix
The acquisition gives Grand Technix the opportunity to expand its footprint in the audio visual and broadcast technology sectors By Jenny Priestley Published...
26/04/2024
The Story Collective opens largest film and TV studio in the heart of London
The Story Collective has gradually repurposed the former Mortlake Brewery to include production offices, workshops and sound stages By Matthew Corrigan Publi...
26/04/2024
Richard Perkett joins Amagi as chief product officer
Perkett joins the company following a 25 year career in product management, product marketing, engineering and user experience (UX) across multiple industries ...
25/04/2024
Opinion: charting a cloud driven future
M2A Medias Matt Hughes asks, is it time for news broadcasting to shift to the cloud? By Contributor Published: April 25, 2024 M2A Media's Matt Hughes ...
25/04/2024
Czech mates
The writer and director of a hit Czech series tell Robert Shepherd about their approach to portraying real-life Pakistani kidnappings on the small screen, while...
25/04/2024
Molinaire Creative Group opens new Liverpool facility
Notorious DIT will work with the Liverpool Film Office to increase opportunities for regional talent By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 25, 2024 Updated:...
23/04/2024
Creative UK launches manifesto calling for more investment in creative R&D; revised approach to trade and exports
Entitled Our Creative Future, the manifesto calls for radical new action' t...
23/04/2024
Audiotonix secures landmark' investment
The company has secured investment from private equity firm PAI Partners, which also holds a stake in outside broadcasting company EMG By Jenny Priestley Pub...
23/04/2024
James Cameron backs Marlow Film Studios proposal
Cameron also said he recognised Marlow as a potential UK and European base for his new company, LIGHTSTORM 3D By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 23, 2024 ...
23/04/2024
IBC launches 2024 Innovation Awards with new categories
The five categories cover Content Creation, Content Distribution, Content Everywhere, Social Impact and Environment & Sustainability By Matthew Corrigan Publ...
23/04/2024
Pascal Fratellia leaves Olympics role at EBU
He played a central role in securing key broadcast rights, including the FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022 By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 23, 2024 He pla...
22/04/2024
Ross Video expands graphics portfolio with Bannister Lake Software acquisition
The Chameleon solution provides access to real-time data from a range of sources, enabling users to construct tickers, L-bars, snipes, web widgets and full fram...
22/04/2024
What happened in Vegas: 2024 edition
TVBEuropes editor Jenny Priestley highlights some of the main talking points at this years NAB Show By Jenny Priestley Published: April 22, 2024 TVBEurope...
19/04/2024
How 1185 Films created the VFX on new horror, All You Need Is Death
Simon Wilkinson, head of VFX at 1185 films, talks about the technology behind the newly-released horror By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 19, 2024 Updat...
19/04/2024
Could Sony be preparing a bid for Channel 5's parent company?
The global electronics company is said to be considering joining forces with investment firm Apollo Management to bid for Paramount Global By Jenny Priestley ...
19/04/2024
EBU report highlights contribution of free-to-air sport broadcasting
The report broke the economic footprint of EBU member sports broadcasting into three main areas By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 19, 2024 The report b...
18/04/2024
How today's storage and memory decisions underpin future creativity
Ann Keefe, Regional Director - UK and Ireland at Kingston Technology, explains how storage and memory decisions made now are underpinning creativity in the futu...
18/04/2024
Escape Studios obtains UKVI licence to support international students
The newly acquired UKVI licence enables Escape Studios to recruit and retain international students By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 18, 2024 Updated: ...
18/04/2024
NAB 2024 popular among first time visitors
Attendees from more than 163 countries were present, including 34 delegation buying groups from around the world By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 18, 202...
17/04/2024
Colorfront showcases upgrades across product range
Colorfront has introduced AI vision-analysis tools to assist master QC operations with detecting framing anomalies, dead pixels, bright titles and sparkles By ...
17/04/2024
Meet the Founder and director
By TVBEurope Staff Published: April 17, 2024 Updated: April 18, 2024 Rory Springthorpe, founder and director at outside broadcasting company Vivid Broadc...
16/04/2024
Adobe previews generative AI tools to streamline professional video workflows
New generative AI tools will enable users of Adobe Premiere Pro to streamline editing all videos, including adding or removing objects in a scene or extending a...
16/04/2024
Atomos appoints Daniel Moore as new chief technical officer
Moore has led the development effort for over 20 products in the AV space By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 16, 2024 Moore has led the development effo...
16/04/2024
UNIT deliver picture post and colour grade for new BBC1 drama series
Coles enhanced colour separation, adding shape and depth to the characters through the use of a soft highlight and shadow roll off, and embracing the natural te...
15/04/2024
SiliconCore adds to XR range with new 1.2mm XR LED Display
SiliconCores patented Common Cathode driver chip delivers frame rates of 240 Hz and a refresh rate of 7680Hz, enabling slow motion, multi-camera view and multip...
15/04/2024
Naphtali Cave joins MOOV
The UK-based virtual studio, sports and events graphics company has appointed Naphtali Cave into a newly created role to drive technical innovation and creativi...
13/04/2024
Blackmagic Design unveils game-changer' URSA Cine 12K
The company has also unveiled DaVinci Resolve 19, which adds new AI tools, as well as over 100 feature upgrades By Jenny Priestley Published: April 13, 2024 ...
12/04/2024
Filming in extreme conditions: Mammals production team reveal all
Producer/directors Stuart Armstrong and Will Lawson detail the specialist cameras used to capture the footage for the series Dark and Cold episodes By Matthew ...
12/04/2024
Cinedeck partners with Paramount to create MTV integrated delivery platform
Cinedecks new ConneX Hub master tool leverages Adobe Frame.io and the companys ConneX products By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 12, 2024 Cinedeck'...
12/04/2024
Nikon completes acquisition of RED
The acquisition aims to enable the development of distinctive products, while leveraging the business foundations of both Nikon and Red By Matthew Corrigan P...
12/04/2024
Alison Pavitt joins Blue Lucy
She joins joins Blue Lucy after a number of years at Pebble By Jenny Priestley Published: April 12, 2024 Updated: April 15, 2024 She joins joins Blue Lu...
11/04/2024
Setting a new standard for storage
EditShare's new EFS NVMe storage solution allows creative professionals to deliver their 4K and 8K projects with unprecedented levels of performance and thr...
11/04/2024
It took 20 years to get here': Filmlight debuts media access tool
Nara can natively decode and playback a wide selection of media without the need to transcode to proxy files By Jenny Priestley Published: April 11, 2024 U...
11/04/2024
UK MPs call for freelancers' commissioner for creative industry
The Committee has recommended the establishment of a cross-departmental Freelancers Commissioner By Matthew Corrigan Published: April 11, 2024 Updated: Apr...
11/04/2024
Preserving TV's technological heritage
Jenny Priestley meets a group of enthusiasts who are working to preserve TV technology from across the decades, including cameras, OB trucks and telecine machin...