Canon Inc. has released the Canon C300, an all-new interchangeable-lens digital cinema camera and Midtown Video, based in Miami, Florida have been selected as one of only seventeen authorized retailers in the United States.

This state of the art camera combines incomparable imaging performance with outstanding mobility and expandability to meet the demanding production needs of today’s motion picture industry.  Featuring a newly developed Super 35 mm-equivalent approx. 8.29-megapixel CMOS sensor, the camera will be available in two models: the EOS C300 Digital Cinema Camera, equipped with an EF lens mount for compatibility with Canon’s current diverse lineup of interchangeable EF lenses for EOS single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras and new EF Cinema Lens lineup; and the EOS C300 PL Digital Cinema Camera, with a PL lens mount for use with industry-standard PL lenses.

The new camera allows users to adjust image quality to match that of professional camcorders and EOS-series digital SLR cameras, and offers maximum freedom in post-production editing and processing. The EOS C300/C300 PL features a 24.00p mode, matching the 24 frame-per-second frame rate of film cameras for high compatibility with common film-production workflows.

The camera’s video and audio recording file format uses the industry-standard MXF format, ideally suited for non-linear editing systems. Recording to CF cards, the EOS C300/C300 PL realizes high cost-performance and, equipped with two CF card slots, makes possible the concurrent recording of video data to two CF cards.

Other features include fast-motion shooting, and slow-motion down to 1/2.5x. Frame rates between 1 and 60 frames per second (fps)can be adjusted in increments of 1 fps. Additionally, a selection of Custom Pictures lets users freely adjust image quality for greater control over how content looks.

To learn more about the Canon EOS C300/C300 features visit Midtown Video online at http://midtownvideo.com.

Terra.com, owned by Telefonica, is the largest Hispanic website portal in the U.S.  offering news, sports, football, videos, novels, music, entertainment and much more in Spanish and English. Terra Networks reached out to Midtown Video when it came time to create a new facility in located in Coral Gables.
Midtown installed a new control room and studio for their on line international news service, live streaming sporting events, and online videos.
Phase one has already been completed and includes upgrading the network from Standard to High Definition, installing Robotic Sony Cameras and Panasonic Plasma Displays,  a lighting grid with KinoFlo lighting, complete sound proofing, and a green screen set up for chroma key. In addition, the system is Fiber ready for the next phase to install a SAN system in 2012.

To learn more about Terra.com click here.

To learn more about Midtown Video’s turnkey installations, click here.

The world of television production just got a whole light brighter for the students at the Doral Academy Preparatory School who are now practicing their production skills in a brand new control room and studio designed and installed by Midtown Video. As part of the class curriculum, students are required to produce a video profile, public service announcement, interview, news broadcast, music video and commercial.

Students are producing the school’s morning announcements and student productions, in a control room outfitted with an HD switcher and filming in a studio with Sony’s new HXC 100 Studio Cameras.

Carlos Ferrals, TV production teacher said,” Fernando and the Midtown Video team met with the architects in the planning stages. From the consulting process on, Midtown Video was extremely helpful, and knowledgeable; they are always just a phone call away, they did an outstanding, job!”

In addition, the students are using AJA KiPros for a tapeless workflow. They are editing their stories on IMacs in the classrooms and pushing the stored video to the control room where there’s another Apple station for airing the video. Conduits connect the TV control room and studio to the Gym and auditorium with Triax cables.

Added Ferrals, “This hands on experience is the ideal preparing these student for the highly competitive world of television production, They’ll be doing all of this now with state of the art equipment.”

Last fall, Bet Shira Congregation in Pinecrest was looking for a way to integrate those congregants who couldn’t attend services due to their health or long distance. They reached out to Midtown Video for a solution to enable congregants to watch the services and events in the comfort of their home.

After meeting with the Midtown team, Bet Shira Congregation decided it was time to enter the digital age and begin streaming the synagogue’s services and other events live to their website.  They had two special requests, one, the system had to be simple enough to use that a video technician would not be needed to operate it and two, that it required a minimal amount of manual labor during the filming of the Sabbath services.
Gigi Sopo, Member Services for Bet Shira Congregation shares, “The Midtown team is great! They are all warm, friendly and professional. Whenever we’ve had an urgent issue that needed to be addressed, they were there. Virge Castillo has been my go-to person for all technology questions and has helped us a great deal.”

Midtown handled the Sony and Apple products installation and provided all the technological tools the synagogue needed, as well as providing training on the flash player set up, proper broadband selection and additional support as needed. The installation itself was a challenging one, as it required careful wiring to maintain the aesthetics of the sanctuary due to the type of existing ceiling tile.

“We have been using our equipment for several months now and we are very satisfied!” continued Sopo, “Our Tricaster is fabulous and the camera is high definition. The training that Midtown provided me was superb and has allowed us to use our new equipment effectively.”

Since they began video streaming the services the synagogue has received several e-mails expressing appreciation as well as contributions. Many of the web viewers aren’t even congregants. They are watching from Spain, Israel and other countries. The webcasting of synagogue services was most appreciated during High Holy Days when many people cannot afford tickets or are unable to attend due to illness. Added Sopo, “Streaming services brings our community together in a way it’s never been before.”

Bet Shira Congregation is a conservative synagogue in Pinecrest, Florida offering enrichment programs, adult-learning opportunities, social events, preschool and religious school. For more information, visit www.betshira.org.

To learn more about Midtown Video’s turnkey installations, click here.

When Felipe Marrou completed his documentary on pilots entitled Aviator’s Journey he approached local PBS affiliate WPBT-Channel 2. The station agreed to air the piece which Marrou had produced and filmed himself.  Recently, WPBT in turn, reached out to Marrou when the national cooking show Simply Ming was coming to Miami. The show was going to be filming on location and needed a Director/Cameraman and crew. Simply Ming featuresEmmy Award-winning host Chef Ming Tsai who along with renowned guest chefs creates one of a kind East-West pairings.

Marrou agreed and soon found himself out on location with host Chef Ming Tsai. The crew shot for several days at a variety of Miami locations, each with a local celebrity guest chef joining Chef Ming Tsai. Chef Michelle Bernstein as well as 3 others were featured preparing dishes unique to South Florida.  Professional golfer Annika Sorenstam was featured in a segment that was filmed at Turnberry Isle golf course.

“PBS requested a specific camera be used, the Panasonic 900, I knew Midtown Video carried it, so I rented it from them,” explains Marrou. “Everything went great, in fact,” continues Marrou,” this particular episode was nominated for an Emmy which was pretty cool.”

Soon after Marrou found himself in the process of a very different kind of production. His company VTM Productions was contacted by client Bupa Health Insurance with a request to do a live studio production and transmit it to locations across the globe. The live webcast went off without a hitch. “It’s great working with the crew over at Midtown, you can always count on them to be on time and do a good job,” said Marrou. “They do live transmissions all the time, they have experience, and you want to work with someone that is able to tackle the issues, someone you can trust.”

Marrou’s most recent shoot was for a local law firm which involved filming in a courtroom and required rapid set ups and break downs. He was pleased with one particular piece of equipment and wanted to share its benefits with others. “We used a new dolly that Midtown is carrying called the Dolly Wolly,” states Morrou. “It is a very helpful tool, very easy to use, set up and transport and at a good price.” Morrou is happy with how the commercial came out and plans to show the client the completed piece before he moves on to the next job. All in a days work for Felipe Morrou.

When it comes to the cruise ship industry it is a never ending game of can you top it, each new ship that comes on the scene in Miami’s booming cruise port is sure to feature the latest and greatest in fun, relaxation and recreation.  Such is the case with Carnival Cruise Line’s newest vessel, Carnival Magic, which features the ultimate in outdoor fun and fitness at the innovative SportSquare.
When creating the designs for SportsSquare, Carnival wanted to include a 2×2 video wall for outdoor gaming, but were faced with all of the challenges that come with an outdoor video installation. Carnival Cruise Line awarded the bid to Midtown Video for the custom outdoor enclosure and high brightness video screens.

“Account Executive, Chari Hill and her team were very helpful when it came to reviewing the available options for the equipment on board,” shared James Riccio, Supervisor of AV Media for Carnival Cruise Line, “They delivered a product that fits the area and everyone on board really enjoys it.”

The line’s most extensive outdoor recreation area by far, SportSquare is surrounded by a jogging track and features SkyCourse, the first ropes course at sea, (suspended above deck); an outdoor fitness area, a court for basketball, volleyball, and soccer and Carnival’s first two-level nine-hole miniature golf course.

What do you get when you combine a tough, veteran breaking news photographer, who has filmed every major air and traffic accident in central Florida in the last 15 years with a seasoned man of the sea, once a diver for famed treasure hunter Mel Fisher, today a charter fisherman and colorful character in his own right? Well when its junior high school classmates and life long friends, Robert Kilroy and Roy Blanchard, you get a great looking fishing series with a natural born star.

It all began when Kilroy went out on the docks in his hometown of St. Augustine, seeking a charter fishing trip to take a break from his long work hours.  While on the dock he ran into childhood friend Roy Blanchard, otherwise known as Capt. Sharkey. Once a freelance Master diver, Blanchard worked for Mel Fisher, diving the priceless treasure cargo of the fabled lost Spanish galleon Atocha. Diving from the lead boat, the Endeavor. Blanchard found numerous artifacts and treasures including jewelry, emeralds, fine china and antiquities. An injury forced an early retirement and a move above water into the charter fishing business.

Capt Sharkey offered to take his old buddy out on a fishing trip and Robert was immediately enthralled. “The minute Capt. Sharkey started showing me what I was doing wrong I had the idea to turn this into a show,” shared Kilroy. “I went out fishing and discovered a star.” “Robert is a really good photographer” adds Capt Sharkey,” he sets up these natural backgrounds, just a perfect combination of worn driftwood and old buoys along the river, his equipment works beautifully and the footage looks magnificent.”

Kilroy and Blanchard have since filmed several instructional clips as well as fishing reports. The segments can be found on the St. Augustine Record’s website at http://staugustine.com/captsharky <http://staugustine.com/captsharky> . Fox 30 in Jacksonville has also expressed an interest in airing the quirky fishing clips.  The duo has been working together for eight months and have received a positive response from both the newspaper and viewers. The plan is to continue to grow the show and promote it more by taking on sponsors such as local bait shops and restaurants.
When it came time for Robert to upgrade his equipment, he reached out to Midtown Video,  purchasing an HRZ5 Sony camera with an SD card reader as well as a laptop. “I went with Midtown because in the end it is about getting people to talk to you. Jesse Miller is really qualified, shares Kilroy. “He knows what he is talking about and takes the time to go over things with you. After work, after hours, this guy will talk to you.”

Kilroy continued, “On a recent documentary project Hallmark asked for a specific kind of look. Jesse explained how to adjust the settings on the camera to achieve more of a film look that they were looking for. He likes to talk about cameras and he takes the time for a little guy like me.” On a scale of one to ten I would give Jesse and Midtown Video a fifteen or twenty, just off the charts.”
The fishing show is actually a far cry from Robert’s usual vocation. On a typical workday, Robert receives notice by radio of an accident right after it occurs and the location, which could be anywhere in central Florida. Robert is first on the scene in his fully equipped mobile unit and films the accident for the Florida Highway Patrol giving him exclusive rights to the footage.  In addition, Kilroy is able to upload the footage via mobile satellite to local area news stations and CNN.

While Kilroy continues his work as a freelance news photographer, future plans call for the two to continue producing the weekly or biweekly fishing reports as well as additional instructional videos and on locations shoots. The trailer for the Hallmark documentary can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOYvVr6TGUE.