Los Angeles based cinematographer Philip Hurn chose the OConnor 2575 fluid head for the independent feature, Trade of Innocents, directed by Christopher Bessette.
Trade of Innocents stars Dermot Mulroney and Mira Sorvino and is produced by Dean River Productions. It is scheduled for release in the US in early 2012.
Says Hurn: “I knew that it was going to be an intense shoot. Upon arriving in Thailand, I was relieved to find that the OConnor 2575 was not only available, but it was the camera support of choice for our local crews
“Part of our visual approach for this present-day story of the dangerous human trafficking world, a story of struggle, life, hope and redemption, was to have lyrical camera moves. We carried two complete RED camera packages, a set of Cooke S4s and the 24-290 and 17-80mm Angenieux Optimo zooms. We also had a Hothead crane, Fisher dolly and camera stabilizer. But the mainstay go-to support for both A and B camera was the OConnor 2575 fluid heads.
“The continuously variable counterbalance enabled us to balance those large zooms perfectly, allowing my operators Richie Moore and Somsak Srisawat to create cinematic magic. I love the fact that the head can point the camera straight down. This allowed us to achieve extreme down angle shots while keeping the camera perfectly balanced.
“In particular, we had a crane move on the GF-8 where the director wanted to look down on the actors walking in an alleyway in Shanty Town. Because of the OConnor, the shot was executed perfectly on the first take.
“Shooting in Bangkok and the surrounding countryside during the hottest and most humid time of year was particularly difficult. We typically shot with as long a lens as possible to heighten the heat waves coming off the ground. The continuously adjustable drag controls on the OConnor enabled us to shoot these 300mm telephoto shots with ease. It performed flawlessly every time.’
The OConnor 2575 is the flagship of the brand’s Ultimate range of fluid heads and offers OConnor’s stepless, ultra-smooth pan and tilt fluid drag specifically designed to allow ultimate control and stability for film-style shooting. It features OConnor’s patented sinusoidal counterbalance system for true, accurate balance at any point in the tilt range.
OConnor is a Vitec Group brand.
