WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, AUGUST 22, 2016 — When the team at Weta Digital, the groundbreaking visual effects company, needed to add to its tripod fleet, they turned to the new arrowX 5 Fluid Head on the Sprinter II 2-Stage Carbon Fibre Tripod System from Miller Camera Support Equipment, a leader in the production of innovating camera support solutions. Weta Digital will be among the first high-profile users of the recently-released arrowX series.
A five-time ACADAMY AWARD winning visual effects company, Weta Digital is known for uncompromising creativity and a commitment to developing innovative technology. They were one of the first companies to develop performance-driven digital characters, such as Gollum from The Lord of the Rings and Caesar from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Recent blockbusters the company has been involved with include The Jungle Book, Independence Day: Resurgence,The BFG, Pete’s Dragon as well as upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 War for the Planet of the Apes, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Weta’s camera requirements are quite diverse and often vary year-to-year. In addition to its own capture stage, the facility sends teams around the world to different locations as part of the company’s on set visual effects team. Movies are increasingly incorporating visual effects from day one, either running motion capture or doing complex reference and survey work on location. Weta’s visual effects crew requires gear that is sturdy enough to stand up to the elements, while also being dexterous enough for run-and-gun applications, reducing setup time from shot to shot. The arrowX 5 is able to provide the flexibility for Weta Digital to achieve any shot required.
“After experiencing the Arrow 40 Sprinter II 2-Stage Carbon Fibre Tripod System, which we used for the upcomingWar for the Planet of the Apes film, we are excited to take the next step in this versatile fluid head range,” says Matt Tuffin, camera operator, Weta Digital. “We’re looking forward to taking the arrowX 5 fluid heads on set and, much like the Arrow 40, we anticipate they will become cornerstones of our arsenal for a long time.”
The arrowX Series features CB PLUS, a new and unique sequential counterbalance design, which takes traditional counterbalancing a step forward, resulting in repeatable, accurate and rapid setup. CB PLUS features eight large counterbalance steps, allowing the user to get to their needed position quickly and efficiently. The CB PLUS switch adds a half step enabling counterbalance refinement.
The arrowX5 has a wide payload range from 4.4 - 46.2lbs (2 - 21kg), 16 positions of counterbalance and 7+0 pan and tilt drag positions. The fluid head provides Weta with the ability to easily mount the head on flat base surfaces such as sliders with the removal of the clamp stud, or adapt for a Mitchel Base. The arrowX 5’s 120mm sliding plate travel helps the team to quickly re-balance changing camera payloads. Precision ball bearing supported pan-tilt movements deliver silky smooth starts and soft stop fluid actions. Floating pan-tilt calliper locks ensure bounce free on-off locking.
This addition of the arrowX5 is based on the company’s positive experience using Arrow 40 Sprinter II 2-Stage Carbon Fibre Tripod Systemsfor War for the Planet of the Apes. For this movie, Tuffin faced the adverse conditions of the Canadian mountainside. Rain and snow persisted throughout the shoot and were sometimes even part of the set. Miller was with Tuffin’s team every step of the way, weathering the rugged conditions.
“We needed our setup to work on the side of the Canadian Rockies in minus 20 Celsius, without giving up any of the performance we expect on the studio floor,” says Tuffin. “The Miller Arrow 40 and Sprinter II was the perfect choice in terms of support and payload for our Sony F55 camera package. The smoothness of the Arrow 40 gave us the ability to shoot long lens with no resistance. The Sprinter II being two stages gave us the versatility needed in such varying terrain and the carbon fibre was a relief when carrying the tripod up and down the mountainside! Another benefit, which is unique to Miller, is the two-stage release on the tripod being in the same place, which meant the system was safer for all of our operators to use in challenging terrain.”
Miller is continuing this support of Weta’s projects, as representatives from the company visited Weta’s headquarters to personally deliver the arrowX 5 systems. “Miller is delighted to be associated with Weta Digital” says Charles Montesin, Global Sales and Marketing Manager, Miller Tripods. “We wanted to take this opportunity personally congratulate and thank Weta Digital for their trust and confidence in Miller products, being one of the first users globally to take arrowX.”
About Miller Camera Support Equipment
Founded in 1954, Miller Camera Support Equipment designs and manufactures professional fluid heads and tripods in Australia and delivers to the film and television industry, providing support for the world’s leading camera operators. Celebrating over sixty years in the industry, Miller is a longtime, global leader in the field of contemporary camera support and holds the first patent for fluid head design for film cameras, which it obtained in 1946. Today, Miller’s tripod and camera support systems are frequently used during electronic news gatherings (ENG), electronic field production (EFP), and digital video applications by the world’s leading networks, production houses, corporate, educational and government institutions in more than
65 countries. For more information, call +61 2 9439 6377 or visit www.millertripods.com.
