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ENTERPRISE Begins Production on "Storm Front", Shoots in Digital Video

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By BWilliams / 09:43, 16 July 2004 / Enterprise

Production on the fourth season of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE began on Thursday, July 15, but with a twist: the series will now be shot in high-definition digital video, as opposed to standard film.

Director of photography Marvin Rush filmed the first scenes for the fourth season premiere, entitled "Storm Front", with a new Sony 900 digital camera after conducting a series of tests on the standing ship sets and outdoor locations. The test shots proved more cost-effective than standard celluloid film.

"If anything," Rush said in an exclusive interview with StarTrek.com, "it's neck-and-neck with film. And I'm just talking about aesthetics, image to image. I'm not talking about other aspects of how easy (it) is to work with or how flexible it is."

Rush's test footage, which was more than expected and under budget, so impressed series creators and executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, that they said, "Wow, why weren't we doing this before?"

Rush had high praise for the switch to digital video. "I think that the problems get solved a little quicker with the HD camera. Ask me in a week and I'll give you an answer, because we'll have done it, we will have shot a show."

Rush added that the look of the show will remain consistent, though viewers may not notice much difference between digital video and standard film. "My question is, do you really want it to look the same? I think that there are some aspects to the HD look that are superior - you see a little more detail in the shadows. My personal taste is, why not keep them - it's just more fidelity, you know."

Production on "Storm Front" began Thursday, June 15, with scenes filmed in Sickbay, the Bridge, and the Situation Room with the entire cast minus Scott Bakula, who reports to the set on Friday to begin filming. "Storm Front", the first chapter of a multiple-episode arc that will resolve the conclusion of the third season finale, is expected to continue production until next week and will air some time in late September for the season's premiere.

Click here to read the full report. Stay tuned to StarTrek.com and TrekWeb for the latest news on ENTERPRISE's fourth season.



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RE: Wasn't the pilot shopt on high def? | Report this post to moderator
By: Ben (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:59:08 on Jul 16, 2004

Quote:
I seem to recall that the pilot was shot using high def (digital) cameras and I seem to remember reading that here when the pilot was in production. I could be wrong.

That said, switching from film to high def has more to do with economics than anything else. It was decided in 2002 not to shoot Enterprise in high def because pyrotechnics just didn't shoot very will with high def cameras and for a number of other reasons. With the production budget slashed they have to save money somehwere and shooting on video will defintiely help save on production costs.

Viewers may notice a slight difference in the overall look of the show, especially anything shot on location.


The production budget hasn't been slashed as you say. The license fee that UPN pay to Paramount has been slashed, not the actual show budget. Production budgets remain the same.

I think its great news that ENT is being filmed in HD, we're up there now with the likes of George Lucas' techniques.

The only reason why film (celluloid) is the most popular choice is one of two things.

1) Its more commonly used in the mainstream and everyone in the industry is able to work with it effectively

2) As Sofia Copolla said when asked by her father to film Lost in Translation in HD "film is more romantic".

The benefits of filming in HD truly outweigh the benefits of using film. HD has better picture quality, it’s more flexible and if you are willing to accept the change and adapt to a new format it is more logical in this day and age. If not then no harm no foul, its just more lucid.

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RE: Wasn't the pilot shopt on high def? | Report this post to moderator
By: Ben (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:58:49 on Jul 16, 2004

Quote:
I seem to recall that the pilot was shot using high def (digital) cameras and I seem to remember reading that here when the pilot was in production. I could be wrong.

That said, switching from film to high def has more to do with economics than anything else. It was decided in 2002 not to shoot Enterprise in high def because pyrotechnics just didn't shoot very will with high def cameras and for a number of other reasons. With the production budget slashed they have to save money somehwere and shooting on video will defintiely help save on production costs.

Viewers may notice a slight difference in the overall look of the show, especially anything shot on location.


The production budget hasn't been slashed as you say. The license fee that UPN pay to Paramount has been slashed, not the actual show budget. Production budgets remain the same.

I think its great news that ENT is being filmed in HD, we're up there now with the likes of George Lucas' techniques.

The only reason why film (celluloid) is the most popular choice is one of two things.

1) Its more commonly used in the mainstream and everyone in the industry is able to work with it effectively

2) As Sofia Copolla said when asked by her father to film Lost in Translation in HD "film is more romantic".

The benefits of filming in HD truly outweigh the benefits of using film. HD has better picture quality, it’s more flexible and if you are willing to accept the change and adapt to a new format it is more logical in this day and age. If not then no harm no foul, its just more lucid.

Reply
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RE: Wasn't the pilot shopt on high def? by TheShadowKnows @ 16:33:50 on Jul 16
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