Recordable Media

Sony's DigitalMaster Professional Videotape Handles Challenges During Production of Documentary

Tape's Durability Combined with Reduced Drop-Out and Error Rates Overcome Challenging Shooting Conditions and Varying Temperature Extremes

PARK RIDGE, N.J., July 25, 2005 - During the production of a documentary, it's often impossible to predict the shooting conditions from day to day, or even shot to shot. That's what Rebecca Cammisa experienced on her most recent project, and it's why she used Sony's latest professional mini videocassette tape, DigitalMaster, to give her added confidence that critical "one take only" scenes were captured.

The award-winning director/producer/cinematographer has used a variety of formats ranging from Mini DV to DVCAM™ over the course of her career, but for her latest production "Which Way Home," which chronicles the plight of unaccompanied Latin American children separated from their parents who reside in the U.S., shooting conditions varied significantly. As a result, she needed a tape that could match the rigors of her three-crew production environment.

"Often, the shots we were capturing could only be captured once and could not be re-shot," she said. "In the types of very difficult situations we encountered, you really have to just go in there and hope for the best, and that's when you clearly want the best quality stock to shoot on. When you're in the field, the camera you use is one thing but the tape's an entirely different matter."

Sony's DigitalMaster videotape is able to cut dropout rates by 60 percent and error rates by 95 percent, compared to Mini DV, due to tighter tolerances used during manufacturing. This not only provides directors and directors of photography with peace of mind when capturing critical footage, but also makes the post production process run more smoothly.

Professionals can also rely on DigitalMaster to withstand the demands of shooting in a range of environmental conditions. Magnetic tape is susceptible to expansion and contraction due to temperature and humidity variations, and excessive "shrinkage" can alter the position of recorded tracks. As a result, playback heads may not be able to accurately read information, and tracking errors can occur. In addition, machine-to-machine compatibility can be impaired.

"In some of the places where we were shooting in Mexico, we would be in the cold at night and then the next day in 90-plus degrees, and we had no problem with the tape," Cammisa said. "It's fulfilled every need I've had, with no drop outs. That has been an issue in the past with other tape, but with this tape it's not that way at all."

She noted that this current project presented some of her most difficult challenges ever, and the unique characteristics of the DigitalMaster tape really came through for her.

"This tape not only produced great-looking images, but really was able to pass every test we subjected it to," she said. "Most every person and broadcaster who has seen a cut of our sample trailer has remarked on how beautiful the footage looks."

DigitalMaster is Sony's highest-quality 6mm videotape. These 63-minute cassettes (model PHDVM63DM) use Sony's AME (Advanced Metal Evaporated) II Technology and its unique dual-active magnetic layers. The new AME II manufacturing process employs Hyper Evaticle IV magnetic grains, improved lubricants, and a refined Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) layer. DigitalMaster tape exhibits greater packing density of magnetic grains, higher retentivity, higher output and lower noise.

Prior to "Which Way Home," Cammisa finished co-directing and co-shooting "Film School," a 10-part documentary series for the Independent Film Channel that aired in the fall of 2004. She also co-directed, co-produced, and shot the feature documentary film "Sister Helen," which aired on HBO's Cinemax, and was nominated for a 2004 Emmy Award, and won the Documentary Directing Award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.

Cammisa has also been awarded the Gold Hugo Award for Best Documentary Film at the Chicago International Film Festival, the Jury Prize for Best Documentary Film at the Newport Film Festival, and the Best Documentary Film Award at the Nashville Film Festival. She was also nominated for a Distinguished Documentary Achievement Award by the International Documentary Association, and in February 2003, she received a nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary Film by the Directors Guild of America.

Her recent project "Which Way Home" is being produced with support from HBO and the Sundance Documentary Fund.