SHORT FEATURE, “MARKET 175,” SHOT WITH PANASONIC
AG-DVX100 MINI-DV 24P CAMCORDERS

Great American Country Series Also Captured with DVX100

SECAUCUS, NJ (January 12, 2004) - “Market 175,” a 40-minute feature depicting life on the job at a small (#175) market television station, was recently shot with two Panasonic AG-DVX100 Mini-DV 3-CCD camcorders by Linn Productions, a full-service advertising agency and production studio based in Rapid City, South Dakota. The feature was well received at last year’s Los Angeles Short Film Festival and is now on the festival circuit.

Linn Productions purchased its AG-DVX100s to shoot “Market 175” as well as for assignments ranging from features to original network programming. The company has already utilized the cameras to shoot the South Dakota segment of the Great American Country (GAC) network’s “Made in America “with Aaron Tippin (a series shot in its entirety with the AG-DVX100). The breakthrough AG-DVX100 is a unique Mini-DV 3-CCD camcorder with exclusive CineSwitch™ technology that supports 480i/60 (NTSC), cinema-style 480p/24fps and 480p/30fps image capture. Panasonic is now delivering an upgraded version of the AG-DVX100, the AG-DVX100A, with more than 20 new features.

“Market 175” was suggested to Company principal Michael Linn by an actor friend, Toby Brusseau, who stars in the feature. Linn, who functions as both a director and director of photography, said, “Because of our location, I am privileged to work as a videographer for numerous national shoots, photographing Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, The Badlands, the Sturgis Rally, and numerous other Black Hills locations for the Discover Channel, MSNBC, the History Channel, GAC, and others. Until recently, most of our shooting was done on Beta-SP cameras. I never thought I would fall in love with a mini-DV camera.”

Linn continued, “As a video production company that also makes independent films, we have been following the arena of 24p cameras with great interest. We took some basic training courses in shooting in HD 24p, and were sold on the amazing images that came from these cameras--but unable to come up with the capital necessary to own one. So when we heard that Panasonic was making a 24p mini-DV camera, it seemed too good to be true.”

Linn recounted, “’Market 175’ was actually made to test the AG-DVX100, and see how it handled under various lighting conditions. Our company acquired two cameras almost as soon as they were available, and we needed to get familiar with them before taking it in the field on network shoots. When Toby brought ‘Market 175’ to us, the timing was perfect. It turned out I needed to have the skills with this camera almost immediately, when I was hired to shoot the ‘Made in America’ segment.”

He added, “When we made the decision to purchase the AG-DVX100, we were really pre-sold on the camcorders. We had seen the film mode offered by Canon’s XL1 and didn’t think it looked any different than de-interlacing our own video footage. We wanted the look of film. I found some early footage of the AG-DVX100 online, downloaded the clips, and played them on my television monitor. We were all extremely impressed, but the footage was generic, and we really wanted to see how it handled in a film shoot. The affordable price in combination with the positive buzz prompted our decision to go ahead and purchase one. We bought our second camera not long after.”

“Market 175” was shot in six weekends with a budget of about $700 for food and miscellaneous expenses, i.e., a labor of love by actors eager to expand their resumes. Commenting on the shoot, Linn said, “We lit the movie using a basic Tota/Omni tungsten light kit with Chimeras, and were pleased with how the AG-DVX100 handled the lighting. In some cases, such as a shoot outside a restaurant, we could not use lights because we would disturb the patrons. The AG-DVX100 handled the natural, low-light situation amazingly well. This kind of unobtrusive shooting environment would not have been possible without this camera.

“ We shot ‘Market 175’ with the camera in standard 24p mode. However, the news segments were shot in 60i, because we wanted the proper news video look. It was wonderful having a camera that could switch back and forth with ease. We could shoot the film segments, and then just turn the settings dial and shoot the video/news segments without even switching cameras or tapes.”

“Market 175” was edited on Avid Xpress DV, mastered to mini-DV, and is being released on DVD and VHS. It can be viewed at Linn Productions’ web site, www.linnproductions.com.

Linn concluded, “If you are serious about making independent movies, then the Panasonic AG-DVX100 should be at the top of your purchase list. I have tried and tested every film look process out there, and nothing beats acquiring in 24p. Although no camera can make you a better filmmaker, the AG-DVX100 is an affordable alternative to film that will take your projects to the next level.”

The AG-DVX100A offers over 20 new user-requested features, plus all the top-performing functions of its predecessor. New features include enhanced 24p and 30p progressive mode functions; improved color reproduction; new cine-like gamma curves and enhanced image adjustments; a slow shutter function for higher sensitivity and dramatic motion effects; smoother zooming and focusing; a new squeeze mode for 16:9 recording; and new auto focus assist and interval recording modes for improved ease and versatility.