
Francis Kenny, ASC Keeps Action High with Help of Bolt 4K Max
data-src=https://creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/avatars/263018/5fa08c562aaf4-bpthumb.jpg data-srcset=https://creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/avatars/263018/5fa08c561c0e7-bpfull.jpg 2x class=lazyload avatar avatar-80 photo height=80 width=80 />
Brie Clayton June 11, 2021
0 Comments
CBS mega hit S.W.A.T. has always been fast moving-on air and on set. Shot on multiple stages at Santa Clarita Studios and diverse locations throughout the Los Angeles area, the series averages 100 set-ups per day. Giving life to the adrenalin pumping story lines has always been a creative feat for accomplished cinematographer Francis Kenny, ASC (Justified, Heathers, Bruce Beresford's Bonny & Clyde, New Jack City), and his crew.
But when it was time to work on the 2020-2021 season they faced an extra challenge- the pandemic was in full swing. This meant shortened 10-hour days, smaller crews and safety protocols. We were the first test show to start up again. Production would have been set back another six months if S.W.A.T. had failed, explains Kenny.
data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172757/Kenny-holding-rig-inside-Black-Hawk-scaled1200-1024x677.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2411648 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172757/Kenny-holding-rig-inside-Black-Hawk-scaled1200-1024x677.jpg 1024w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172757/Kenny-holding-rig-inside-Black-Hawk-scaled1200-300x198.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172757/Kenny-holding-rig-inside-Black-Hawk-scaled1200-768x508.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172757/Kenny-holding-rig-inside-Black-Hawk-scaled1200-624x412.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172757/Kenny-holding-rig-inside-Black-Hawk-scaled1200-50x33.jpg 50w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172757/Kenny-holding-rig-inside-Black-Hawk-scaled1200-100x66.jpg 100w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172757/Kenny-holding-rig-inside-Black-Hawk-scaled1200.jpg 1200w data-sizes=(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px />Greater Monitor Dependency
Our camera crews were required to social distance from both actors and each other; cameras moved further apart, crews were limited in size and segregated between the cast, A crew, and B crew. Video village, which once gathered many crew and guests, was eliminated, replaced by multiple video stations, some of which were sent to remote areas allowing the writers upstairs and producers to see images live from an increased number of monitors.
When planning gear for the new season, dependability was at the top of Kenny's list. Production moved up to 8K RED Monstro cameras, supported by tools like Teradek Bolt 4K Max, SmallHD 17 1703 monitors, DJI Ronin and Steadicam Air. There was no skimping on tools when it came to helping the crew make their day.
Increased Range - More Receivers
With so many stakeholders relying on monitor viewing as a safer way to collaborate, a reliable, real-time camera signal was vital. So the show's three cameras were each outfitted with Teradek's newest generation wireless video. The Bolt 4K series is the first generation to include the game-changing BB3 chipset, made to deliver reliable signal transmission and reception over more frequencies (13x 40MHz), faster reconnection times, automatic signal switching, and a more robust frequency-hopping algorithm. It fit the bill to serve S.W.A.T.'s high-traffic locations with excessive interference from other wireless devices. And while its predecessor accommodated four receivers, the new BB3 equipped Bolt 4K systems sync up to six transmitters to enable more multiple points of viewing so necessary under remote conditions.
data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172810/S.W.A.T.-camera-with-rig-with-Teradek-Bolt-Max-scaled1200-1024x768.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2411649 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172810/S.W.A.T.-camera-with-rig-with-Teradek-Bolt-Max-scaled1200-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172810/S.W.A.T.-camera-with-rig-with-Teradek-Bolt-Max-scaled1200-300x225.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172810/S.W.A.T.-camera-with-rig-with-Teradek-Bolt-Max-scaled1200-768x576.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172810/S.W.A.T.-camera-with-rig-with-Teradek-Bolt-Max-scaled1200-624x468.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172810/S.W.A.T.-camera-with-rig-with-Teradek-Bolt-Max-scaled1200-50x38.jpg 50w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172810/S.W.A.T.-camera-with-rig-with-Teradek-Bolt-Max-scaled1200-100x75.jpg 100w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/11172810/S.W.A.T.-camera-with-rig-with-Teradek-Bolt-Max-scaled1200.jpg 1200w data-sizes=(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px />Demanding Dependability
We could not have done it without the Bolt 4K Max, adds Kenny. The newer system is even more dependable under challenging locations. It is fast to set up and has a quicker reconnection rate than previous designs and it transmits longer distances where proximity between transmitters and receivers is no longer possible. This is especially true when on location-shooting in small rooms, where multiple video signals are required to transmit through walls and other barriers.
Case in Point-1000' to a Downtown Rooftop
One location was the Presidential suite of the Biltmore Hotel in busy downtown Los Angeles. The script called for police surveillance 1000-feet away, across a park, on top of the 26-story City National Bank building. With
North America Stories
12/07/2025
Ryan Coogler accepting the 2013 Vanguard Award. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez.
Editor's Note: In honor of Fruitvale Station s 12th anniversary, we're d...
12/07/2025
Key Code Education, the professional training division of Key Code Media, proudly announces a major update to its Adobe Premiere Pro Engineering and Advanced Op...
12/07/2025
Key Code Education, a leader in instructor-led post production training for over...
12/07/2025
As the death toll continues to mount, with at least 120 killed and more than 170 people still missing on July 10 from devastating Texas floods, a number of broa...
12/07/2025
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., and MIAMI -DirecTV and TelevisaUnivision have signed a deal that will make the ad-supported premium subscription tier of ViX, ViX Premium wi...
11/07/2025
PARK CITY, UTAH, July 11, 2025 - The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the 11 producers chosen for its annual Producers Labs, returning to Ucross Fou...
11/07/2025
L3Harris Technologies President of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Jason Lambert and General Manager of L3Harris Waco facility Sean Ling held a ce...
11/07/2025
ARLINGTON, Va. WETA, the flagship public media station in the national capital area, has launched WETA+, a new streaming service tailored for the local Washingt...
11/07/2025
The Federal Communications Commission has emerged as one of the central players in the broadcast TV landscape in 2025, with its deregulatory policies sparking h...
11/07/2025
Calrec will introduce usability, customization and system enhancements across its entire range of Argo consoles during IBC2025, Sept. 12-15, at the RAI Amsterda...
11/07/2025
LONDON Encompass Digital Media said it will support live and on-demand viewing of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup across multiple global regions for sports enterta...
11/07/2025
Two-thirds of broadcast engineers reaped the benefits of a pay raise within the last year....
11/07/2025
CARY, N.C. SmallHD has launched the Quantum 27, a new 26.5-inch Quantum-Dot OLED monitor designed to deliver postproduction image quality in a compact, set-frie...
11/07/2025
The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau and Tegna have entered into a consent decree that will settle an investigation into the accidenta...
11/07/2025
WASHINGTON Following news in early July that Paramount had settled President Donald Trump's lawsuit, Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Ben Ray Luj n (D-N...
11/07/2025
Model/Actriz Performs Lead Single Cinderella on The Late Show with Stephen Colbe...
11/07/2025
Behind the Mic: Amazon Prime Preps for First Season of NBA Action; MSG Networks ...
11/07/2025
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Suite Studios' Craig Hering on Adapting to Client...
11/07/2025
2025 SVG Content Management Forum Breaks Down AI's Impact, Continued Transit...
11/07/2025
A Journey HOME: University of Nebraska's HuskerVision Goes IP Leaders from the HuskerVision and Lawo share their IP learnings By SVG Staff
Friday, July 1...
11/07/2025
CMSI, Remote Picture Labs, Ace ESPN's Cloud-Based Editing Efforts for Wimble...
11/07/2025
Netflix Enters the Live-Boxing-Production Ring for Round 2 With Historic Taylor-...
11/07/2025
Back to All News
Too Hot to Handle: Italy Is Coming on July 18 Only on Netflix
Entertainment
11 July 2025
GlobalItaly
Link copied to clipboard
July 11, 20...
11/07/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Will Release Death Inc. Seasons 1, 2 and 3
Entertainment
11 July 2025
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Season 1
Season 2
Se...
11/07/2025
Ceramics - the humble mix of earth, fire and artistry - have been part of a global conversation for millennia.
From Tang Dynasty trade routes to Renaissance pa...
10/07/2025
NEW YORK - July 10, 2025 - Nielsen, the global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics, today announced that it appointed Richard Pacheco as head of ...
10/07/2025
Local newscasts don't exist in a vacuum. News directors and station management constantly evaluate what's working, what isn't and perhaps most impor...
10/07/2025
Lawo has announced that Stuttgart Media University (Hochschule der Medien, HdM) has comprehensively modernized its central recording studio after selecting an I...
10/07/2025
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) has opened early-bird registration for the Media Technology Summit, which will take place in a ne...
10/07/2025
NASHVILLE, Tenn. TNDV Television has launched Aspiration 35, a new version of its 40-foot Aspiration truck reimagined for cinematic multicamera productions....
10/07/2025
BURBANK, Calif. Key Code Education, a provider of instructor-led postproduction training, is growing its curriculum with new programs for beginner and intermedi...
10/07/2025
HACKENSACK, N.J. Actus Digital will demonstrate how broadcasters can transform compliance monitoring from a necessary expense into a strategic revenue driver at...
10/07/2025
The Federal Register has published a summary of the Federal Communications Commission's Public Notice seeking comments on its ownership rules that lists a d...
10/07/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Presents the Official Trailer for SuperestarPlay Video
Play Video
Entertainment
10 July 2025
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard...
10/07/2025
In the race to understand our planet's changing climate, speed and accuracy are everything. But today's most widely used climate simulators often strugg...
10/07/2025
As one of the world's largest emerging markets, Indonesia is making strides toward its Golden 2045 Vision - an initiative tapping digital technologies and...
10/07/2025
5G for all? What the DFL's use of Easy5G and RefCam could mean for events in...
10/07/2025
Save the Date: PGA TOUR Studios Welcomes SVG Remote Production Summit on Oct 14-...
10/07/2025
Cloud on the Road: How Remote-Production-Service Providers Are Adapting to a New...
10/07/2025
Seattle Kraken's Ryan Schaber on the NHL Team Taking Live Game Productions I...
10/07/2025
FOX Sports Reboots Small Control Room in Los Angeles as Hub for Vertical-First P...
10/07/2025
SVG Sit-Down: MSE's Zach Leonsis, ViewLift's Rick Allen Go Deep on Joint...
10/07/2025
Back to All News
Bringing Culture Into Focus on My Brilliant Career': Firs...
10/07/2025
Strategic Alliance Combines Daktronics' LED Display and Content Management S...
10/07/2025
Grab a friend and climb toward the clouds - PEAK is now available on GeForce NOW, enabling members to try the hugely popular indie hit on virtually any device.
...
10/07/2025
Coding assistants or copilots - AI-powered assistants that can suggest, explain and debug code - are fundamentally changing how software is developed for both e...
09/07/2025
By Bailey Pennick
There's something arresting about the way Jomo Fray captures the world. The cinematographer, now best known for his unparalleled work on ...
09/07/2025
Key Highlights
Centralized management interface for full control, monitoring, and diagnostics
Scalable, multi-site OTT decryption and distribution
Secure int...
09/07/2025
MELBOURNE, Fla., July 9, 2025 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) has appointed Rob Mitrevski as President, Golden Dome Strategy and Integration, a new role cre...
09/07/2025
Collaboration will result in improved data quality and understanding of genre-le...