Life after....Life?

[John Bannister]

So, not to sure how many of you watched the recent series of Life on the Discovery Channel, I for one am a big sucker for that kind of programming. Although I fully enjoyed the breath taking cinematography and was left with several "how the hell did they do that" moments, I found myself wondering how much this kind of subject matter will benefit by embracing RED, EPIC and for that matter Scarlet technology.

Nothing against what the Disc. Channel accomplished, it was awe inspiring, but I couldn't help but wonder what a curtain shot may have looked like if it had been shot on RED.

On one of the episodes I saw footage that could have come straight from one of Tom's Timescape reels, but it seemed to lack the depth and clarity Tom has captured with his RED footage. If the is better subject matter that could benefit from the tools Jim and his team has created, I would like to see it ....So I am left thinking what the limitations of using RED TECH in capturing Wildlife and Nature footage? are there any? and what direction can Life go... ..after Life ?

[Elsie N]

John, didn't see it but it sounds like my kind of program.

Just as the series on NBC by the same name was my kind of show.

I really liked that show and shall ever hold NBC responsible for taking it off the air.

But back to your point, there's some great TV out there, and then there are time slot fillers.

[Tom Lowe]

The guy who shot the Bristlecone timelapse in Life is a member here. His name is Keith, and his big circular-track day-night-day timelapse up at Bristlecone was absolutely stunning!! We discussed it in depth at the Timescapes forum. Since then, Keith has built even more advanced moco rigs, including custom laser-cut circular track. He is ten times more accomplished than I am.

Make no mistake... there are some serious BBC shooters who post and lurk here. They are well aware of Epic and DSMC.

BBC is printing money at this point.. tens and tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars off their Planet Earth and now Life series. What's next is probably 3D, 4K and even higher FPS shots on Phantom Flex. Some of the stuff they pulled off in Life was beyond ridiculous... high-speed macro dolly shots of lizards chasing mice like 50 feet across dirt... HOW???

In terms of what's next?.... how about dual Scarlet 120fps 3D rigs flown on RC helos.. chasing lions as they make kills in Africa? The sky's the limit!

[michael zaletel]

Exciting times.

-michael zaletel

[John Bannister]

The guy who shot the Bristlecone timelapse in Life is a member here. His name is Keith, ...

Outstanding! So was this footage shot on a RED ONE?

What's next is probably 3D, 4K and even higher FPS shots on Phantom Flex. Some of the stuff they pulled off in Life was beyond ridiculous... high-speed macro dolly shots of lizards chasing mice like 50 feet across dirt... HOW???

Exactly. I had several of those moments. The time-lapse of the vines growing on the trees was incredible...chase scenes as you mentioned. I am an engineer by trade, but I am stumped with what they were able to pull off ...sigh.

In terms of what's next?.... how about dual Scarlet 120fps 3D rigs flown on RC helos.. chasing lions as they make kills in Africa? The sky's the limit!

I sometimes feel very frustrated that I didn't start shooting much younger...or get into the industry out of college. I feel that only now at 42 I have found what I want to do..what have always wanted to do...And now with my discovery of RED TECH I feel like I just don't have the time to experience it all. So many exciting things to come.

[Kemalettin Sert]

Outstanding! So was this footage shot on a RED ONE?

No Not Red

[Tom.Wong]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_%2...ies%29#Filming


under "filming" section it says they used high definition miniature cameras and high speed up to 8,000 fps. My best guess is a lot of scientific cameras were used rather than your typical everyday cinema camera. Possibly SI 2K because of the miniature bare sensor rig you can build from it.

and possibly for the 8k fps

http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2008/07/3...es-per-second/

[KETCH ROSSi]

Yeah, I pre-order it in Blu Ray off course, loved the Planet Heart series so this was no brainer, truly inspiring how beautiful our planet is!

The work this guys are doing is simply stunning, the revelations thanks to Super Slow motion presentations possible by this amazingly fast cameras is truly incredible, the amount of detail is WOW!

[Eren Ozkural]

The Beeb's wildlife and nature programming is second to none. I'm quite torn between between continuing in my current path of narrative films/music vids/entertainment TV or try to get in some nature/wildlife shooters good books at the Beeb. I've seen them using compositing tricks to get some shots done which seems like the point I can jump in at...

Great thread John but the title's got THIS stuck in my head now...

[Iannis Holwech]

One behind the scenes you tube video; BBC Life - Plants (On Location) in HD