Cameras: News and Updates

Fox Television's Dramatic Series, "Dollhouse," Shot with Panasonic AJ-HPX3700 P2 HD Varicam Camcorders

By Staff
posted Oct 23, 2009, 16:55

Advancing the art of high-end cinematography by teaming VariCam's renowned filmic-look, variable frame rates, and subtle tone control with master-quality, 10-bit 4:2:2 AVC-Intra recording as well as Dual link RGB 4:4:4 output.

(Secaucus, NJ) The second season of Twentieth Century Fox Television's hour-long thriller, Dollhouse, is being shot with the VariCam 3700, Panasonic's premier solid-state P2 HD VariCam camcorder. The network series premiered Friday, September 25 at 9 p.m./8 p.m. Central.


Pictured: "DOLLHOUSE: Director of Photography Lisa Wiegand. �2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Adam Taylor/FOX."

Offering the ultimate in image quality, the VariCam 3700 (model AJ-HPX3700) advances the art of high-end cinematography by teaming VariCam's renowned filmic-look, variable frame rates, and subtle tone control with master-quality, 10-bit 4:2:2 AVC-Intra recording as well as Dual link RGB 4:4:4 output.

Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, starring Eliza Dushku, Tahmoh Penikett and Olivia Williams, follows a highly illegal and underground organization that employs individuals who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas. Hired by the wealthy, powerful and connected, the Actives don't just perform their hired roles, they wholly become - with mind, personality and physiology - whomever the client wants or needs them to be. Whether imprinted to be a lover, an assassin, a corporate negotiator or a best friend, the Actives know no other life than the specific engagements they are in at that time. When they are not "at work" the Actives or Dolls are confined between missions to a secret facility known as the "Dollhouse," which gives the show its name.

While the first season was shot on 35mm, season one's last episode (not broadcast, available on DVD) was shot in HD.

"I own Panasonic HD and digital cameras (AG-HPX170 and AG-DVX100 camcorders) and thought I would like the HPX3700 for Dollhouse," commented Dollhouse Director of Photography Lisa Wiegand. "We do a lot of handheld work, and the VariCam is more lightweight, streamlined and faster than video cameras with heavy decks on-board. Also, I'm a huge fan of Panasonic flesh tones, and our 'dolls' obviously need to look their best."

The Dollhouse production rents two HPX3700s outfitted with Panasonic's new AJ-CVF100G color viewfinders from Panavision (Hollywood, CA). An AJ-HPX3000 is used for second unit photography, and the production utilizes an AJ-HPX2700 P2 VariCam for high-speed shots and an HPX170 1/3" P2 HD camcorder for specialty shots, notably those conveying an apocalyptic vision of the future. The series is shot in 1080p AVC-Intra 100, and using Zeiss DigiZoom lenses (wide and long lenses for each HPX3700), as well as small Zeiss DigiPrimes.

The production is utilizing the HPX3700's enhanced Film-Rec 600% setting, which provides additional latitude in shooting, particularly for day exteriors with white production design.

"The HPX3700 has been an excellent choice for Dollhouse," Wiegand said. "It provides considerable recording time with the five card slots, and solid state is decidedly more reliable and environmentally-friendly than a tape-based system."

For more information about Dollhouse, visit www.fox.com/dollhouse.



Resources: VariCam 3700 www.panasonic.com/P2HD Panasonic Broadcast www.panasonic.com/broadcast Dollhouse (The Television Series) www.fox.com/dollhouse.