Award-winning producer/director Walter Biscardi, Jr. helmed the first week of 4K (UHD) production at Biscardi Creative Media (BCM) for the new Contemporary Living Network (CLN). Shooting with a combination of the Panasonic Lumix GH4 and the Blackmagic Design 4K Production Camera, a total of seven episodes were shot for Ice Cream Nation and Fork U over four days.Beekeeper Sergey and Chef Keith Schroeder share a laugh on Ice Cream Nation
It was both fun and a challenge to turn around a week of shooting in six locations for seven episodes of two completely different shows, plus our very first production in the 4K (UHD) format, notes Biscardi. All the research, planning, and of course the many ears of experience we have in broadcast and lifestyle production really paid off in a very smooth and fun production cycle.
Chef Keith Schroeder starts off Ice Cream Nation Day 1
The BCM crew first traveled around North Georgia with Chef Keith Schroeder to source ingredients for Ice Cream Nation. They went to the farm, visited a beer growler and finally ended the day with a memorable interview with Sergey the Beekeeper. The farm and beer growler locations were both great visually, and for the information we were getting. The cameras were performing perfectly in the two locations, and then we got to the honey location with Sergey. It was the final interview of the day and he was just a fantastic story and really lit up the screen with Keith.
Chef Keith Schroeder in the Flanders Scientific 1770W in the home studio for Ice Cream Nation.
The second day of production centered around the home kitchen where Keith prepared Vanilla, Pumpkin Spice, Honey and Beer influenced ice creams. We used the Blackmagic Design 4K Production Camera as our overview camera which also exposed the camera operators, lights and other equipment, said Biscardi. I don't believe in a fourth wall' that separates the on-camera action from the crew and our audience. The crew is a part of each series and act as the eyes, ears and mouths of the audience, actively engaging and participating with our hosts no matter what they are doing. It's more fun both for the crew and the on-camera hosts.
Chef Keith Schroeder enlists his son Jackson and Lucky the Dog to hand churn on Ice Cream Nation.
Immediately after completion of two days of production on Ice Cream Nation , the Fork U team led by Executive Producer April Simpson of Producer Girl Productions rolled into Atlanta. Fork U looks at the science behind the food we eat and examines many of the myths that have persisted through the years. The first two episodes were shot in a home-based kitchen featuring steak and salmon. The challenge here was a stove that was tucked into a back wall that took away an angle looking at both Chef Simon Majumdar and Terry Simpson while they cooked. We used a combination of a GoPro and photographer Cheryl Collins propped up on a counter to get the shots we needed for April, said Biscardi.
Director Walter Biscardi, Jr. and Photographer Cheryl Collins shooting Episode 1 of Fork U on the Panasonic Lumix GH4. Filming was done in 4k/24p/100mbps
The production team really enjoyed working with Chef Majumdar who ended up preparing all the crew meals during the first day of production. He was making these incredible steak and salmon dishes. We had a pretty small crew so when the episodes wrapped, it was dig in everybody', and we did. Boy did we ever! said Biscardi. Doctor Simpson got high marks for his cooking as well. Part of the fun was that Simon and Terry were both preparing food and approached their meals in different ways. It was neat to see science applied to what Terry was doing while Simon was doing what I guess we would call traditional' culinary approaches.
Chef Simon Majumdar hands Photographer Cheryl Collins some steak during Episode 1 of Fork U. At CLN there are no fourth walls and crews are a part of each series.
On the final day of shooting, the team went on location to Summits Wayside Tavern in Cumming, GA, home to over 200 beers on tap, many more in bottles and the largest scotch selection in the United States. For an episode aptly titled Beervana , the location was a beer lover's paradise and served as a great location for both myths and experiments. I think viewers are going to love Simon on the beer ladder. We may have gotten a bit out of control but Summits says we're welcome back anytime, so I guess we didn't disrupt things too badly. said Biscardi.
Chimichurri sauce and steak prepared by Simon Majumdar. Panasonic Lumix GH4 in background.
The first episodes now head to editorial at BCMs facility and will be posted online as soon as the post production process is completed.
Executive Producer April Simpson and Director Walter Biscardi, Jr. set up the Blackmagic Design 4k Production Camera at Summits Wayside Tavern for Fork U - Beervana.
About Contemporary Living Network
Contemporary Living Network is a multi-platform video network focused on positive lifestyle edutainment, with audience engagement and real life integration at its core. A continuously expanding library of original programming will be offered, most shot with the industry-leading 4K technology. CLN will provide inspiration and the resources for the viewer to easily re-create or be inspired to indulge in their own, unique variations of what happens in our shows.
Photographer Cheryl Collins and Director Walter Biscardi, Jr. shooting Fork U at Summits Wayside Tavern on the Panasonic Lumix GH4.
About Biscardi Creative Media
Located in Metro-Atlanta, GA, Biscardi Creative Media is a full service script-to-screen creation company at the forefront of creative media production. Emmy-award winning broadcast programming, episodics, commercials, feature films and industrial productions are some of
