In September last year 4K London’s two senior DITs, Nye Jones and Dan Carling, together with Workflow Supervisor Chris Vincze, flew out to Russia to commence work on an epic 3-camera action feature starring Rutger Hauer and Michael Madsen. The film is being produced by Arsenal TV of St Petersburg. It’s their first time with the RED camera and it’s an ambitious project. The team first spent time testing the kit, set-up and workflow in Russia and Thailand, to make sure that everything would be achievable.

The shoot began in earnest in Thailand, one hour from Bangkok. Since then, Nye and Dan have spent three months overcoming the challenges of shooting in jungle conditions on a full digital system, successfully managing data far away from available power supplies, battling over-heating issues in a hot and humid climate. It’s fair to say they have been pushing the RED One to its limits in previously unexplored territories, including attaching it to the top of the world’s highest crane, at 32m high, it was custom made for the shoot. It’s also been attached to a steadicam rig in a multitude of set-ups, including the front of a motoring speedboat with a three-axis power pod head. The RED’s been submerged in the stunning Erewan Waterfall and it’s been attached to a Libra Head (stabiliser) on a helicopter. With the waves battering them, they went handheld in the sea, and the camera’s been safely capturing explosions from the inside of a crash box.

Nye and Dan fly to Russia this week to face the final leg of the shoot, this time the extreme conditions will be at the other end of the scale as they, RED cameras and our kit brave -10 degrees temperatures. We look forward to filling you in on their return.