The LE/Motion Picture Connection
Real-time video surveillance provides critical evidence in law enforcement investigations. Whether the operation calls for covert or overt reconnaissance, reliable, high-quality video from a compact digital video transmitter meets the mission requirement. The same level of performance demanded by Vislink's law enforcement customers also satisfies the expectations of technical units in the motion picture industry. The Vislink DT-200 digital transmitter and DR-200 digital receiver system played a critical role in the success of the motion picture Avatar.
When the director of a blockbuster motion picture wants a jaw-dropping action shot, he relies on his staff and crew to deliver the best possible result without hesitation. The show will go on, whether people and equipment are ready or not. It's in this demanding environment that Greg Johnson, president of RF Film operates, and when he's called to provide high quality results that are expected by James Cameron, the award-winning director of Avatar, he chooses Vislink digital video systems to assure success.
Much like the circumstances that are characteristic of law enforcement, Johnson's working world is one of fast-paced action, frequently dangerous and always demanding of accuracy and quick-thinking. Having an arsenal of reliable video transmission equipment is critical to his livelihood. Vislink's digital video transmitters, receivers and power amplifiers are ideally suited to these needs.
RF Film provides real-time wireless video to Directors, Directors of Photography and Visual Effects Supervisors where cabled camera rigs simply cannot go. The Emmy Award winning rf technician’s credits include Avatar, The Dark Knight, GI Joe and several other major motion pictures, lauded for their innovative production or stunt and action sequences. (www.rffilm.com)
Body Worn Transmitters
In Avatar, the DT-200 digital video transmitter was used to deliver the facial expressions of the actors in real-time to the computers which rendered the animated imagery. Each actor wore a special rig designed and built by RF Film that included a compact camera and integral antenna as part of custom manufactured headgear. The camera imaged the actors' faces, which were covered with strategically placed dots that the computers used to translate the actors' expressions directly to the animated character. This innovative use of Vislink's digital video transmitter allowed the actors complete freedom on the set without relying on wires, which could interfere with the action.
The DT-200 transmitters were fitted to the leg of each actor along with a compact battery pack. A bank of DR-200 receivers was positioned above the set in the lighting grid, providing unparalleled link reliability. A Vislink portable handheld digital video receiver allowed production staff to monitor the video from anywhere on the set.
Diverse Experience
This equipment has been used successfully for numerous motion pictures where real-time video from fast-moving aircraft or exciting car chases in an urban setting was required. Similar tough conditions which face law enforcement technical agents in their video collecting efforts are also present in the filmmaking environment. In each case, Vislink provides the best equipment for the job to insure that the video makes it to the right place for command staff decision making or enjoyment by movie audiences.
Johnson's next project will require the High Definition (HD) video capabilities of Vislink's Kamelyon family of digital video transmitters. The Kamelyon family consists of the HDT-1000 transmitter and HDR-1000 receiver. These new innovative video links incorporate h.264 video compression for very high quality HD video transmission. The Kamelyon products are small, lightweight, and power efficient, lending themselves to body-worn and concealment applications. The Kamelyon represents a new direction in video surveillance called Software Defined Surveillance. This new technology allows the user to upgrade the features and capabilities of the hardware in the field by simply uploading new software to the transmitter or receiver.
Vislink's compact digital video transmission systems have proved themselves in UAV, UGV, covert surveillance, airborne downlink, and motion picture applications the world over.
