Armando Salas, ASC Relies on FreeSpeak II to Simplify On-Set Crew Communications

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Home chevron_right News & Events chevron_right News chevron_right Armando Salas, ASC Relies on FreeSpeak II to Simplify On-Set Crew Communications

Armando Salas, ASC Relies on FreeSpeak II to Simplify On-Set Crew Communications 1/18/2023

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Watch Armando Salas and FSII in action on-set.

Renowned cinematographer Armando Salas ASC, known for his work on Ozark, Invasion, and most recently, The Terminal List, is a trailblazer when it comes to visual storytelling, supported by his use of innovative technologies to optimize feature and episodic production. Today, his standard for on-set and remote communications is Clear-Com 's FreeSpeak II Digital Wireless Intercom System.

With a passion for cinema that developed at an early age in Miami, Florida, the Cuban native discovered Super 8 film in his teens, which set him on the path to becoming a cinematographer. After years of shooting independent features, Armando moved to large-scale episodic projects with his work on Robert Rodriguez's From Dusk till Dawn series.

In a fast-paced and sometimes chaotic atmosphere, clear and direct communication on a set is crucial, especially when crew members are working together across great distances. Fostering an environment of efficient communication during these complex and challenging sequences is critical to saving both time and money. When you're up against the clock, as we are in episodic projects, time is always your enemy, he says. So naturally, as he began shooting again during the COVID-19 pandemic, Armando admits he was worried about communication in a world of social distancing and masking.

That's when he was introduced to Clear-Com's FreeSpeak II digital wireless intercom. An IP-based, full-duplex wireless solution, FreeSpeak II is designed for extensive and continuous communications for operations in rigorous environments.

When working together for 12 hours a day, often for months at a time, having a crew that is communicating well and on board with the technology choices is imperative to a smooth operation, Armando said. Previously, I was juggling a lot of equipment: beltpacks and earbuds for the sound feed, a walkie to reach department heads, and a single-channel HME system to communicate with my operators. It was quite cumbersome. I don't simply choose technology because it's the latest; I'm always evaluating what we do and how we can improve it. FreeSpeak II has simplified our set-up and been a game-changer for our on-set communications.

As Director of Photography, Armando is responsible for many aspects of the look and feel of a show. Fundamental to his role is being able to communicate with all connected departments on set while also being available to the director to discuss creative direction. Previously, this was accomplished by face-to-face interactions or one-way comms tools and walkie-talkies. During production, I

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