Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

For the First Time, the Super Bowl Halftime Show Was Shot Using Cinema Cameras

23/02/2021

For the First Time, the Super Bowl Halftime Show Was Shot Using Cinema Cameras PRG's LIVE35! technology supported the massive show with sensor cameras By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 - 3:21 pm

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

This year's Super Bowl Halftime Show, starring Grammy-winning artist The Weeknd, may forever be known as the performance that birthed a million memes, but, in live-video-production circles, it will also be remembered for taking significant steps in the evolution of live entertainment production.

The show, produced by Roc Nation and seen in more than 90 million U.S. homes, marked the first Super Bowl Halftime Show to deploy cinema cameras as part of its equipment arsenal.

Emmy Award-winning camera operator Tor Livia uses an ARRI AMIRA camera on a Steadicam to shoot The Weeknd during this year's Super Bowl Halftime Show in Tampa, Fl. (Photo: PRG)

With the help of production-facilities provider PRG, this year's Super Bowl Halftime Show featured a sharper, more film-quality look. Director Hamish Hamilton (handling his 12th Halftime Show) worked with PRG's 35Live! system, which replaced traditional multi-camera broadcast workflows and allowed internal transmission of digital 35mm cameras and lens/iris control needed to integrate the pictures seamlessly into the traditional broadcast infrastructure.

It was a perfect storm of a lot of things, says Morgan Kellum, VP, TV and Film, PRG, for whom this was his first Super Bowl Halftime. Hamish has always been a big proponent of cinema cameras, and we've done a large number of concerts and live comedy shows using this system. We tried to keep it as simple as possible, and it just worked out pretty well.

Inside the Arsenal PRG is no stranger to supporting the Super Bowl Halftime Show, having supplied lighting in past years, but this marked the first time the company delivered camera and broadcast tech as well. And it made quite a splash.

The LIVE35! technology allows a broadcaster to incorporate almost any super-35mm sensor camera or camcorder into a traditional multi-cam broadcast environment, using 35mm motion-picture cinema lenses along with traditional broadcast lens and iris control.

This offers such benefits as super-35 depth of field and the sophisticated colorimetry and image processing provided by newer 35mm camera sensors/camera systems.

The system is camera-agnostic. On this show, the lineup of cameras included two ARRI AMIRA units and seven ARRI ALEXA Minis. One of the AMIRAs was on a Steadicam operated by Emmy Award-winning camera operator Tor Livia; one of the ALEXA Minis, used by Emmy-winning camera operator Jofre Rosero to shoot the memorable Infinity Room, was fitted with an Ultra Prime 8R fisheye lens on a handheld mini jib. It was that camera that captured many of the close-up shots of The Weeknd that became fodder for many of the memes flooding social media.

Also deployed were two RailCams (commonly seen in sports gliding along the sideline of the court during the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four), managed by technicians Rick Compeau, Johnny Harkins, and Brian Sheid).

LIVE35! provides several fiber camera-back systems for the 35mm sensor cameras with base-station receivers at the other end of SMPTE or alternative fiber. It also incorporates traditional cinema lens control for a focus puller with wireless Focus/Iris/Zoom control.

Lead 1st AC Adam Kirschoffer played a critical role, working with the PRG engineering team to configure the lens control. Tech supervisor, cameras, Jakes Coker developed a customized, more than 500-ft.-long extension cable for the lens control.

The advantage of this setup, according to PRG's Kellum, is that the show crew is not tied to any one motion-camera manufacturer or model. He notes that the calibration process can be specific to the camera model, which is an advantage.

The technology behind the lens control was critical to the show's success. PRG has developed a lens-control system with cmotion technology, allowing use of traditional hardwired Canon or Fujinon focus and zoom controls with 35mm motion-picture lenses with motors on rods. This was seen at the Super Bowl Halftime Show through the use of a pedestal camera (operated by Allen Merriweather).

The show's equipment list included five MultiDyne 4K systems (for fiber) and four 4K AVS wireless systems (for wireless). The whole production was supported behind the scenes by a talented team of engineers, including Coker, Vince Warburton (camera engineer), Dave West (control room video engineer), and Don Burkhart (fiber specialist).
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2021/02/23/for-the-first-time-the-super-bo...
See more stories from svg

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

09/10/2026

Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026

September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026 New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...

07/10/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Media Operations from Ingest to Distribution

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...

15/09/2026

IBC2026 Announces IBC Innovation Award Winners

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

15/09/2026

IEEE BTS to Host Broadcast Technology Forum at NAB Headquarters

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

15/09/2026

Huw Mills Joins Technetix as SVP, Global Operations

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

15/09/2026

TiVo Introduces Agent TiVo

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

15/09/2026

Study: Younger Fans Are Watching More Sports Than Ever

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

15/09/2026

NFL Melbourne Game Scores 18.5 Million U.S. Viewers on Netflix

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

15/09/2026

Applications open for Future Leaders Delegation to BitSummit 2027

Applications open for Future Leaders Delegation to BitSummit 2027 15 September 2026 Applications are open for Screen Australia's annual Future Leaders Dele...

14/09/2026

ESPNs MNF Gets in Tune With Apple Music, Adds Ludacris to In the Air Tonight Open

Lil Baby's Dead Fresh kicks off ESPN's Week 1 Monday Night Football, ...

14/09/2026

ESPN's Monday Night Football Begins Its Super Bowl Run With Year 2 of Flagship, New Tech, and 4K HDR Distribution

With Super Bowl LXI waiting in Los Angeles, ESPN will use the regular season to ...

14/09/2026

Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Padraic McKinley, the Director of The Weight

By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. ...

14/09/2026

Sony expand WH headphone line-up

Three new models introduced Sony have just announced the launch of three new pairs of headphones that span their premium, mid-range and entry-level line-ups...

14/09/2026

Audient unveil Horizon interfaces

New flagship Thunderbolt units aimed at pro studios Audient's latest announcement sees the company introduce three new high-end audio interfaces designe...

14/09/2026

Cobalt Digital to Bring New and Enhanced Practical Solutions to Evolving Broadcast Workflows at IBC2026

Cobalt Digital IBC Stand 8.F90 // Journalists: Click to visit Cobalt Highlights...

14/09/2026

TV Tech Unveils Best of Show Winners at IBC2026

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

14/09/2026

TV Skyline Becomes 'World's First Ultrix FR30 Customer

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

14/09/2026

Bitmovin AI Scene Analysis Selected by Nine to Enhance it...

Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming solutions, has announced that Australia's largest media company, Nine Entertainment (Nine), has deployed Bit...

14/09/2026

Creativepool Annual 2026 Winners Announced

Creativepool Annual 2026 Winners Announced Brie Clayton September 13, 2026 0 Comments The creative industry's Most' awards celebrates another...

14/09/2026

Award-winning network Sky Mobile to Offer iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, and AirPods 5

Monday 14 September 2026 Award-winning network Sky Mobile to Offer iPhone Duo, ...

14/09/2026

Major updates for Apple\u2019s software platforms are now\u00A0available - UPDATE - Posted on 14 September 2026

Apple's latest software updates introduce Siri AI, a more intelligent, knowl...

14/09/2026

WTA Awards Tier 4 to Agility Beyond Space Subic Bay and Cikarang sites

WTA Awards Tier 4 to Agility Beyond Space Subic Bay and Cikarang sites...

14/09/2026

Perplexity Portable Computer Is Now Available on Windows, Powered by NVIDIA RTX

As local models become more capable, AI agents can handle more work directly on a PC while keeping sensitive information on the device. Portable Computer is a ...

14/09/2026

First look image of The Walsh Sisters series two released

RT in association with the BBC today released first look image from the second series of The Walsh Sisters, inspired by the novels of international best-sellin...

13/09/2026

Elektron reveal the Outbox 8

Offers eight audio and CV outputs via USB Elektron's latest launch offers a convenient way for users to integrate hardware instruments, effects and mixe...

13/09/2026

Pixel Academy Announces Autumn Courses

Pixel Academy Announces Autumn Courses Brie Clayton September 13, 2026 0 Comments The ACT Entertainment tvONE and Green Hippo Pixel Academy has releas...

13/09/2026

2Vision Powers Dawid Podsiado's Obrotowy Tour with Blackmagic Design

2Vision Powers Dawid Podsiad o's Obrotowy Tour with Blackmagic Design Brie Clayton September 13, 2026 0 Comments Touring multicamera workflow buil...

13/09/2026

Chyron, Matrox Video Partner At IBC 2026

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

13/09/2026

Sky releases trailer for Crystal Lake, an A24 produced prequel series to Friday the 13th, coming this October

Sunday 13 September 2026 Sky releases trailer for Crystal Lake, an A24 produced...

12/09/2026

If I Go Will They Miss Me Explores Fractured Fatherhood Through a Poetic Lens

J. Alphonse Nicholson, Danielle Brooks, Walter Thompson-Hernandez, and Bodhi Dell attend the premiere of If I Go Will They Miss Me at the Library Center Theat...

12/09/2026

Transformer Boost from Great Eastern FX Co.

Latest Obsolete Devices pedal announced Great Eastern FX Co. have just launched the latest pedal in their Obsolete Devices series, a range of effects pedals...

12/09/2026

Colorfront And Qumulo Team-Up To Make Every Frame Of Footage Searchable For The Life Of A Production

September 11, 2026 BUDAPEST & SEATTLE, 10 September 2026 - Qumulo and Colorfron...

12/09/2026

New Type RT console and Apex M6 Modular I/O Platform

Calrec expands its IP ecosystem with new Type RT console and Apex M6 Modular I/O Platform at IBC 2026 Type RT is the centrepiece of Calrec's news at IBC 202...

12/09/2026

Calrec expands its IP ecosystem with new Type RT console...

At IBC 2026, Calrec has unveiled Type RT, a new 6, 12 and 18-motorised fader console range that condenses everything a broadcast audio desk needs into a compact...

12/09/2026

Matrox, NVIDIA Integrate ORIGIN, Holoscan For Media

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/09/2026

Ross Video Debuts New Live Production Technology at IBC2026

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/09/2026

FCC Nominee Thumann Severs to Testify in Senate Sept. 17

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/09/2026

TV Skyline Becomes The World's First Ultrix FR30 Customer

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/09/2026

Ikegami Introduces VN Versions of Four UNICAM XE Cameras At IBC2026

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/09/2026

Riedel Technology Powers Record Breaking Esports World Cu...

WUPPERTAL, Germany Sept. 11, 2026 From July 6 to Aug. 23, 2026, Paris hosted the Esports World Cup (EWC), a seven-week live production spanning eight stages...

12/09/2026

Mediacom Deploys Riedel Easy5G for Wireless Camera Covera...

Riedel Communications today announced that Mediacom has purchased and deployed Easy5G , Riedel's Private 5G solution, for live broadcast coverage of La Vuel...

12/09/2026

A Decade of Innovation AMP VISUAL TV Builds on Ten Years...

AMP VISUAL TV is continuing the evolution of its production infrastructure with further investments in Riedel technology across its OB fleet and fixed productio...

12/09/2026

Touring Video Expands Flexible Production Workflows With...

Riedel Communications today announced that Touring Video, a premier entertainment mobile production service company, continues to expand its production workflow...

12/09/2026

Atomos Expands Accessory Ecosystem with New SHAPE and Sma...

Atomos (7.B19) today announced new third-party accessories for Sumo PRO-19 and Shinobi 7 II, developed by SHAPE and SmallRig to give production teams more ways ...

12/09/2026

Deity Microphones Brings PR 2ii, TC-2, and D4RX to IBC2026

Deity Microphones Brings PR 2ii, TC-2, and D4RX to IBC2026 Brie Clayton September 11, 2026 0 Comments The Deity PR-2ii arrives with production firmwar...

12/09/2026

Blackmagic Design Announces Special Pricing for Ultra HD Products

Blackmagic Design Announces Special Pricing for Ultra HD Products Brie Clayton September 11, 2026 0 Comments Now customers can afford to upgrade to Ul...

12/09/2026

Grass Valley EDIUS Future Assurance Program launched at IBC2026

Grass Valley EDIUS Future Assurance Program launched at IBC2026 Brie Clayton September 11, 2026 0 Comments New program gives EDIUS customers access to...

12/09/2026

Berklee Students Develop New Ideas for Live Entertainment and Travel in London

Berklee Students Develop New Ideas for Live Entertainment and Travel in London This summer, a group of music business students collaborated with Heathrow, Bri...

11/09/2026

IBC 2026: Calrec Launches Type RT Console and Apex M6 Modular I/O Platform

Calrec will introduce two new products at IBC2026 (Stand 8.C47, RAI Amsterdam, September 11-14): the Type RT broadcast production console and the Apex M6 Modula...