TCS Skquattro Camera Pedestals Chosen For Royal Shakespeare Company Live Telecast Of Richard II

Squattro tracking camera support systems from The Camera Store (TCS), a Vitec Group company, captured the Royal Shakespeare Companys highly acclaimed production of Richard II in Stratford-on-Avon on November 13. The play was televised live to 346 cinemas across Britain and will be relayed as encore screenings to cinemas around the world. RSC artistic director Gregory Doran directed David Tennant in the title role with Jane Lapotaire as the Duchess of Gloucester, Emma Hamilton as The Queen, Oliver Ford Davies as the Duke of York, Michael Pennington as John of Gaunt and Nigel Lindsay as Bolingbroke.

This montage shows two of the TCS Skquattro camera support systems on standby for the RSC production of Richard II, plus images of the production itself.

The camera script, prepared by screen director Robin Lough, made the TCS Skquattro pedestals essential, comments senior cameraman Paul Freeman. The theatres main stage extends into the auditorium on an 11.5 x 7.5 metre forward-thrust platform. This created the opportunity of televising the production, in front of a live audience, from all three sides provided we could meet the challenge of keeping the cameras out of sight in relation to each other.

The Skquattro pedestals allow a fantastic range of camera movement including the freedom to crane up from very low angles and achieve very steady and dramatic close shots. The front Skquatrro faced square on to the stage and handled all the left to right tracking shots under the control of a cameraman and grip. Right and left side Skquattros were moved along their respective tracks by their cameramen to achieve the correct angles when the action moved up or down the thrust. Tracks were essential as traditional wheeled camera mounts are not intended for use on theatre auditorium floors.

The Skqattro is unique and made possible a huge variety of angles and dynamics. It is ideal for capturing live theatre to big screen cinema where smooth and stable shooting is even more important that on modern large-screen home television. The production schedule was tight but the results were fantastic.

Sony HD cameras mounted on the TCS Skquattro tracking pedestals were cabled to a Telegenic outside broadcast truck and then transmitted live to the 346 UK cinemas.

The RSCs production of Richard II plays live at the Barbican Theatre in London from December 9 to January 25, 2014. Encore screening dates for cinema replays of the November 13 performance can be seen at http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/cinemas-and-tickets/default.aspx

About the Royal Shakespeare Company

The role of the Royal Shakespeare Company is to connect and help others connect with Shakespeare and produce bold, ambitious work with living writers, actors and artists. The RSC is an ensemble company so everyone, from directors, writers and actors to production, technical and administrative staff, has a part to play in creating distinctive theatre.

The RSCs home is in Stratford-upon-Avon. In 2010 it reopened the Royal Shakespeare and Swan theatres after a £112.8m transformation to bring actors and audiences closer together. The company plays regularly in London, Newcastle upon Tyne and on tour across the UK and the world. See http://www.rsc.org.uk

About The Camera Store

Established in 1996 and based in West London, The Camera Store (a Vitec Group company) draws on many years of experience as television cameramen to guide clients in their choice of equipment. It has a large stock of standard equipment, including pedestals, tripods, heads, crane arms, lighting, fibre-optic cable and camera-support accessories. The Camera Store offers a countrywide rapid response delivery and collection service embracing large or small items. It is always ready to meet the challenge of improving existing kit or developing new production tools. See http://www.thecamerastore.co.uk

About Vitec Videocom

Vitec Videocom brings together some of the most respected, most innovative and most sought-after brands in the industry: Anton/Bauer, Autoscript, Litepanels, OConnor, Petrol Bags, Sachtler, Vinten and Vinten Radamec. It acts as an endorsing brand for these market-leading broadcast, film and pro video products, encouraging multi-brand system sales and simplifying the way that customers worldwide do business.

Vitec Videocom is an operating division within the Vitec Group, an international business serving customers in the broadcast, photographic and military aerospace and government markets. Vitec is based on strong, well known, premium brands on which its customers rely on worldwide.

Vitec Videocom - innovative products around the camera. See http://www.vitecvideocom.com

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