“100 YEARS OF FLIGHT,” DVD IN CELEBRATION OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, SHOT WITH PANASONIC AG-DVX100 MINI-DV 24P CAMCORDER

SECAUCUS, NJ (February 10, 2004) - Ohio-based filmmaker Allen Farst, director/executive producer of Niche Productions (Dayton, Ohio), recently shot a 130-minute DVD with the Panasonic AG-DVX100 Mini-DV 3-CCD camcorder. Called “100 Years of Flight: 17 Days of Glory,” the DVD is replete with never-before-seen footage documenting the events that shaped a community's celebration of the aviation groundwork laid by native sons, Orville and Wilbur Wright.

Through sheer initiative, Farst was able to secure sole access to document the 17-day festival held in Dayton last summer, in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the Wrights’ 1903 maiden flight at Kitty Hawk. The DVD features exclusive footage, from the Opening Ceremonies with President Bush to National Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies hosted by Harrison Ford, all of which were brought to a stunning finale at the 26th Annual Vectren® Dayton Airshow. Additional footage includes interviews with politicians, former astronauts and such pilot/celebrities as John Travolta. The DVD also takes a first-ever look inside the Wright Mansion at Hawthorn Hill, a tour hosted by Wright granddaughter Amanda Wright Lane. The DVD is being sold locally, and Farst is close to finalizing national distribution deals.

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.

Farst, who served as director and DP for the project, shot in 24p advanced mode and 30p with a few scenes in 60i.

“The camera is a workhorse. I shot in a wide range of light levels from inside the Air Force Museum to several clear days at the air show. However, some of the best contrast was shooting inside the Goodyear blimp with a look outside the window in the same shot. The camera made the shot work, and I achieved a nice blend of the pilot and the outside world.

The most demanding day was flying with the Shell Acrobatic Team. We flew in the diamond formation and pulled 5 G’s during loops and barrel rolls. I was holding the camera free hand.”

The project was edited on Apple Final Cut Pro 4.

For more information about “100 Years of Flight” and Niche Productions, visit www.nicheproductions.com.

The new 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.