I Shouldn't Be Alive 3
Randy Murray Productions (Phoenix, AZ) & Darlow Smithson Productions (London, UK) recently co-produced two episodes of I SHOULDN'T BE ALIVE III.
The program tells the stories of ordinary people who face incredible circumstances. The subjects of the show narrate their life-threatening experiences while actors re-enact their experiences.
Photo Courtesy: Adam Wheeler
11 days on location in Northern and Central Arizona carried the cast and crew through canyons, creeks, cliffs, and mountain summits. The diverse locations which make Arizona great for production, also made for a challenging, yet creative environment.
The Sound Department represented by Optimum Dynamics, had its hands full most days, as did the rest of the crew. Coincidentally, there was a great wrap party after the final day of shooting! Look for I SHOULN'T BE ALIVE III on Animal Planet early 2010.
Photo Courtesy: Adam Wheeler
Michael Jackson Coverage
Optimum Dynamics joined the media masses on the west coast for a little MJ coverage. We spent 7 days working for NBC News along side cameraman Mike Kellogg. Our crew was posted outside Staples Center during the Memorial with NBC News correspondent Mike Taibbi live via satellite. Prior days were spent enjoying the California weather while working on various assignments for Nightly News and The Today Show.
Summertime Jailhouse Doc
The heat is here...almost.
June is Phoenix translates to hot days, and lots of them. Although it has been relatively mild so far, the summers in Southern Arizona can be blistering. Temperatures often reach triple digits by mid-day, which makes shooting here all the more challenging.
Optimum Dynamics has teamed up with Hoff Productions for a third project focusing on the Chain Gangs of Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The one-hour Documentary follows the the inmates of Tent City Jail and the Chain Gang program that some inmates are eligible for. The Program is set to air on the Discovery Channel early 2010.
Going into the production meant streamlining a documentary sound kit to allow for mobility and functionality while keeping the weight of the kit to a minimum. Since inmates cannot be mic'd, the majority of production sound is captured via a Schoeps CMIT-5U. Working long days in the heat with lots of boom work, a lightweight sound package is paramount.
A Zaxcom Digtial Wireless run-bag is rigged for shooting un-tethered, when working with a smaller HDV camera. This option provides greater flexibility during production. Both camera and sound can work independent angles to cover more of the action. Comtek Monitors provide an ear for our P.A. to take production notes, and Lectrosonics SMa radio mics help capture dialogue of the Detention Officers.
Introducing the CANTAR X2!
Now available at Optimum Dynamics is the new Sync Sound Package!
Featuring the Cantar X2 digital recorder by Aaton.
The Cantar X2 is an 8-Track recorder built specifically for use under extreme conditions in the field. It can sync to multiple cameras via lock-it boxes while recording isolated tracks and mix-down tracks to ensure a clean mix every time without timecode drift. It also excels in extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, able to operate in temperatures down to 20 below freezing or the sweltering summers of Phoenix, Arizona.
