Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

The ALEXA 35 feels like a truly new-generation camera

10/11/2022

You created the video clip for British singer-songwriter Grace Davies' latest lead single Breathe. What were your goals for the visual style of this project?

Adam Young: We wanted the music video to look how the song sounded. Starting out with a blacked-out shot, gradually introducing a solitary spotlight, eventually bringing in a whole visual firework display of lights and colors as the music grows in intensity. The plan was to create a visual journey that builds in energy and momentum moment-to-moment, so we reach a well-earned sense of catharsis and empowerment at the very end. By the time we arrive at the final chorus, we wanted the lights to feel as though the imagery is too bright to contain and have as much of that illumination bursting out of the frame.

Did you encounter any challenges during the shoot?

Adam Young: It was a fast turnaround and a one-day shoot, so we had to work fast and efficiently. Like every project we've ever worked on, the shot list and plans are out of the window once the realities of the production and all the setbacks kick in, forcing you to improvise and find results through other methods. Originally, we wanted every shot to be locked on and handled via a dolly track to create a sense of control and stability, a reference to what the song's message is: Being empowered and standing strong! But we were quickly running out of time and decided to pop the camera off the sticks and put it on Jamie's shoulder. We realized that we were moving through our shots much quicker and the handheld aesthetic lent a raw kind of energy that really suited the intensity of the music along with Grace's performance.

The video clip for Breathe is a visual journey that builds in energy and momentum

Why did you choose the ALEXA 35 for this project and how was the performance of the camera?

Jamie Haigherty: Well, music videos are a great way to try out new cameras! We knew we were shooting with anamorphic lenses, so shooting with the ALEXA 35's 6:5 was a perfect choice. It's a seamless transition for anyone used to the ARRI ecosystem and allows the crew to maintain similar workflows on set. Everything is in the right place and with a logical menu setup that makes it a breeze to use, even for those new to the camera system. As expected from ARRI: it just works!

What's your opinion in terms of the image quality, color accuracy and sensitivity of the ALEXA 35?

Jamie Haigherty: Beautiful image quality, vivid colors, and noticeably improved sensitivity, setting the bar high as the industry standard. With many cameras uprising a dual based ISO, the Enhanced Sensitivity Mode is a huge improvement and welcomed feature when the camera needs to be pushed. The ALEXA 35 feels like a truly new-generation camera!

DP Haigherty's first impressions of the ALEXA 35: beautiful image quality, vivid colors, and improved sensitivity

How was the experience in color timing having those strong lights in frame? What was the scene contrast?

Jamie Haigherty: Latitude, roll-off, and detail in the shadows are top of the game. Incredible dynamic range with highlights retaining so much information even with our super bright in-frame lights, which were pretty hard to clip. There is so much depth in the files that its amazing to see how much it can be pushed and pulled in color grading, if needed or desired for a look

Adam Young: which is what made the ALEXA 35 perfect for the kind of video we were shooting. The lights and colors were so prominent in every sequence.

Skin tones are an important factor in the video. How did you manage to achieve the desired result?

Jamie Haigherty: The ALEXA skin tones have always been beautiful, and we expected nothing different with the new ALEXA 35. We instantly noticed how the new sensor renders all colors in such a naturally flattering way.

Adam Young: During the grading we wanted the opening shot to have this somewhat ethereal and jazzy quality, where Grace's skin tones are glowing off the screen. The footage gave Paul, our color grader, a lot of room to play around. In the end, we got those tones, colors, and textures exactly the way we wanted them for those first 30 seconds that linger entirely on Grace's face throughout.

Lights and colors were prominent in every sequence of the music video

What were your goals in terms of lighting? How was the lighting setup?

Adam Young: This project was about creating a performance-based music video and the lights were essential to the whole visual tapestry, almost replicating a live gig whilst being reminiscent to Grace's history with the TV show The X Factor. We weren't trying to conceal or hide them; they were very much in-frame and serving as the production design.

Jamie Haigherty: The lighting setup had to be fairly simple with a modest budget and lighting crew, so we needed to get lights set up swiftly and hook everything up to a lighting desk. We opted for a row of mini brutes that would give a vintage glow when dimmed down and then fill the frame with white light on the highs. They were then topped with a row of LED Source 4's set to a blue purple, after discussing with Grace and her team what color palette they wanted to go for. We knew the artist and label team would have comments on the colors of light, so we went with a couple of SkyPanel S60-C lights and an ARRI Orbiter to give us the flexibility to change up quickly.

The Breathe clip was illuminated with ARRI Orbiters and SkyPanels

How did the ARRI Orbiter support your work?

Adam Young: I wanted the opening shot to offer almost a jazz bar, film noir, femme-fatale kind of vibe, where Grace is simply by herself and isolated by a spotlight that gradually burns brighter as the camera orbits her as she sings. The Orbiter (no pun intended) served that detail up perfectly and was just what the
LINK: https://www.arri.com/news-en/the-alexa-35-feels-like-a-truly-new-gener...
See more stories from arri

More from ARRI

13/12/2022

Gaffer Franck Barrault shares his passion for light with ARRI tools

As a young electrician, Franck Barrault was part of the lighting team for Delicatessen and La Cit des enfants perdus : two legendary films, directed by Marc...

06/12/2022

ARRI's large-format system magnifies the complexities of Before, Now & Then

A captivating story of a woman's multifaceted struggles, Before, Now & Then has touched the hearts of local and global audiences alike. The film won Best ...

01/12/2022

All hands on deck: creating an immersive experience for 1899

Set on a migrant steamship, Netflix's mystery series 1899 tells the stories of a multicultural cast in search of new lives in the US, whose journey quickl...

22/11/2022

DP Jean-Max Bernard brings Netflix series Notre-Dame to life with ARRI tools

The world was watching when, on April 15, 2019, the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris caught fire. A notable UNESCO World Heritage site, Notre-Dame is considered to...

21/11/2022

Camerimage 2022 winners rely on ARRI cameras and lenses

At the 30th installment of Camerimage this year, cinephiles from around the world returned to Toru , Poland, in November 2022. Once again, Camerimage rolled out...

10/11/2022

The ALEXA 35 feels like a truly new-generation camera

You created the video clip for British singer-songwriter Grace Davies' latest lead single Breathe. What were your goals for the visual style of this proje...

03/11/2022

ARRI :

. ARRI France , 15 (Kanam Onoyama) . ESRA...

26/10/2022

La tecnologia ARRI dietro alla creazione dei quattro mondi estetici del lungometraggio Netflix "Robbing Mussolini"

Il film, ambientato nel 1945, racconta di un imprenditore milanese impegnato nel...

26/10/2022

How ARRI technology helped to create four visual worlds in Netflix's Robbing Mussolini

A longtime collaborator with different Italian directors, cinematographer Gian F...

13/10/2022

DP Italo Petriccione utilizes ARRI lenses and lights for a journey through time and color

DP Italo Petriccione has been a part of more than 50 feature films since 1986. O...

13/10/2022

Il direttore della fotografia Italo Petriccione utilizza lenti e luci ARRI per raccontare un viaggio attraverso il tempo e i colori

Il direttore della fotografia Italo Petriccione, che ha all'attivo oltre 50 ...

29/09/2022

ARRI honored with Engineering Emmy for more than a century of creativity and technology

At the 74th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards ceremony on September...

28/09/2022

Tencent elevates virtual production with ARRI Solutions

As one of the leading digital publishing companies worldwide, Tencent creates immersive, interactive content for people around the globe. Tencent Content Develo...

28/09/2022

ARRIDP

ARRI 15 ESRA International Film School ...

28/09/2022

ARRI menyoroti iklan dan video musik: DP Kanam Onoyama

Baik iklan maupun video musik merupakan bidang dengan tingkat estetika yang tinggi. ARRI Prancis menggali lebih dalam menuju jenis produksi ini dan terlebih dah...

20/09/2022

DP Christophe Offenstein captures La Tour with ARRI ALEXA Mini LF and Signature Primes

DP Christophe Offenstein was awarded with the prestigious French C sar Award for...

20/09/2022

Christophe Offenstein filme La Tour avec l'ARRI ALEXA Mini LF et les Signature Primes

C sar de la meilleure photo pour Valley of Love , Christophe Offenstein retro...

14/09/2022

ARRI cameras and lighting behind the many works of Italian DP Michele Brandstetter de Bellesini AIC

Proficient in a wide range of genera, DP Michele Brandstetter de Bellesini AIC h...

14/09/2022

I sistemi camera e l illuminazione ARRI dietro i numerosi lavori del DP italiano Michele Brandstetter de Bellesini AIC

Abile in una vasta gamma di generi, il DP Michele Brandstetter de Bellesini AIC ...

08/09/2022

ARRI Solutions delivers IP-based lighting network for Al Araby TV studios

Al Araby TV is the first major network in the Middle East to be equipped with IP-based lighting technology across the entirety of its new headquarters in Doha, ...

05/09/2022

Coldplay mixed reality promo at ARRI Stage London combines best of two worlds

British rock band Coldplay delivered a spectacular show in early 2022 as part of the delayed Dubai Expo2020. The mixed reality promotional film was shot at ARRI...

16/08/2022

ARRI Stage London unlocks creative potential for Sky Studios' The Rising

Although the Sky Original supernatural crime thriller series The Rising, from Sky Studios, initially decided on virtual production for safety considerations, ...

29/07/2022

Television Academy honors ARRI with an Engineering Emmy for more than a century of creativity and technology

The Television Academy announced the recipients of the 74th Engineering, Science...

27/07/2022

ARRI brings consistency and reliability to the set of Bake Off Japan

Amazon Prime Video recently released Bake Off Japan, a Japanese adaptation of the global hit show of the same name, where passionate home-bakers compete under...

19/07/2022

The cinematography of The Sound of Magic dazzles with the help of the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF camera

Netflix shakes up its Korean dramatic offerings with a more unique production in...

19/07/2022

ARRI ALEXA Mini LF (The Sound of Magic)

Netflix (The Sound of Magic) . ...

13/07/2022

ARRI ALEXA LF, Mini LF, and Signature Primes behind the scenes of a Portuguese feature film

Based on the successful novel by Portuguese author L dia Jorge, The Wind Whistl...

11/07/2022

ARRI spotlights commercials and music videos: DP Benoit Soler

Trained at the prestigious National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the United Kingdom, it didn't take long for cinematographer Benoit Soler to make a ...

11/07/2022

La pub, terrain de jeu cratif : Benoit Soler, directeur de la photo

Form la prestigieuse National Film and Television School (NFTS) au Royaume-Uni, le directeur de la photographie Benoit Soler naura pas mis longtemps se fai...

08/07/2022

ARRI spotlights commercials and music videos: DP Mlodie Preel

M lodie Preel, a young director of photography very active in advertising with about twenty spots per year, first went through the ESRA International Film Schoo...

08/07/2022

La pub, terrain de jeu cratif : Mlodie Preel, directrice de la photo

Jeune directrice de la photo tr s active dans la publicit avec une vingtaine de spots par an, M lodie Preel est dabord pass e par lESRA, avant de devenir assis...

06/07/2022

ARRI spotlights commercials and music videos: DP Kanam Onoyama

Both commercials and music videos are fields with high aesthetic stakes. ARRI France dove a bit deeper into these types of productions and first spotlights cine...

06/07/2022

La pub, terrain de jeu cratif : Kanam Onoyama, directeur de la photo

Japonais install depuis quinze ans en France, Kanam Onoyama est venu faire ses tudes de cin ma lESRA, apr s sa licence de litt rature fran aise lUniversi...

28/06/2022

ARRI SkyPanels illuminate World Figure Skating Championships 2022

When planning the lighting installation for this giant live sports tournament, the team around Lighting Designer Anton Weber was faced with a number of creative...

10/06/2022

Il DP Vittorio Zorini ci racconta l esplosione di colori in "Bang Bang Baby utilizzando attrezzatura ARRI

Prodotta da Amazon Studios, la serie italiana Bang Bang Baby racconta la storia ...

10/06/2022

DP Vittorio Zorini on the explosion of colors in Bang Bang Baby with ARRI equipment

Produced by Amazon Studios, Italian series Bang Bang Baby tells the story of a...

30/05/2022

La technologie ARRI dans les coulisses de Cannes 2022

Du 17 au 28 mai, la cr me de lindustrie du cin ma sest r unie loccasion du 75 me Festival de Cannes. En tant que leader technologique mondial dans le domaine ...

30/05/2022

ARRI technology behind the scenes of Cannes 2022

From May 17 to 28, the who's who of the movie industry came together at the 75th Festival de Cannes. As a global technology leader in the cinematography and...

12/05/2022

Thomas Hardmeier et Laurent Hritier sur Bigbug mettant en scne les camras, optiques et lumires ARRI

C sar de la meilleure photo pour Lextravagant voyage du jeune et prodigieux T....

12/05/2022

Thomas Hardmeier and Laurent Hritier on Bigbug with ARRI cameras, lenses, and lights

Eight years after winning the C sar for best photography for The extravagant jo...

05/05/2022

Interview avec le chef lectricien Stphane Bourgoin

Chef lectricien chevronn , St phane Bourgoin travaille r guli rement sur les nombreuses productions am ricaines qui viennent tourner en France. Apr s les tr s ...

05/05/2022

Le chef lectro Stphane Bourgoin notamment sur Le Dernier Duel et Emily in Paris avec ARRI Lighting

Chef lectricien chevronn , St phane Bourgoin travaille r guli rement sur les no...

05/05/2022

Stphane Bourgoin on The Last Duel, Emily in Paris, and more with ARRI Lighting

St phane Bourgoin is a seasoned gaffer who regularly works on the many American productions that come to France to shoot. Most recently, after working on the tw...

28/04/2022

ARRI cameras and lights behind the cinematography of Drive My Car

Drive My Car has been taking the world by storm, recently adding the Academy Award for Best International Feature to its long list of accolades. The film is wi...

19/04/2022

ARRI SkyPanels add versatility and dependability to future-forward Sportsnet Studio

In 1929, when Hockey Night in Canada began broadcasting from Toronto's Arena...

06/04/2022

Master Grips

Best overall production value EF, ENG, and cine lens control Advanced camera control Solid mechanical design Override the WCU 4 hand unit Useful features ...

28/03/2022

2022 Oscar winners rely on ARRI cameras and lenses

The Oscars returned in all its glory this year, adhering to the new normal modified COVID protocols to celebrate a year's worth of cinematic artistry and ...

08/03/2022

< > ALEXA Mini LF

< > 12 (Jack Harries) (Studio Silverback) . ...

08/03/2022

ALEXA Mini LF digunakan dalam pengambilan gambar yang berkelanjutan untuk Seat at the Table

Dibuat dan dipersembahkan oleh aktivis iklim dan pembuat film yaitu Jack Harries...

08/03/2022

Seat at the TableALEXA Mini LF

Jack Harries Seat at the Table 12 YouTube Studio Silverback ...