Disney’s Pair of Kings is an unusual multi-camera series – filled with incredible battles and amazing stunts as well as special effects and “lots of really funny stuff,’ according to director of photography Johnny Simmons (American Society of Cinematographers).
“We shoot both four-camera and single camera style; maintaining the use of all four cameras, shooting coverage inside the proscenium,’ continues Simmons. “On the multi-camera shows that I’ve been shooting, Vinten has pretty much been the standard. Coming from a single camera background, I wasn’t that familiar with what sitcom camera operators wanted to use. I asked for advice from seasoned operators and cinematographers and the answer was always Vinten.’
A teen sitcom, Pair of Kings is the story of a pair of Chicago raised fraternal twins – one white and one black – who discover that they are heirs to the throne of a fictional Polynesian island. It airs on the Disney XD channel.
On Pair of Kings, Simmons’ camera operators are faced with fast moving scenes with quick camera moves that test their skills on a continuous basis.
He states: “They need quality support to make those moves, and that’s what we get, thanks to our Vinten pedestals and Vinten heads paired with our Sony 1500 cameras. On some episodes, we make use of a system called Lightcraft. It is a real time virtual compositing system. We shoot on green screen and the virtual environment is recorded in real time. The environment might be a mountain range, an ancient temple or a sandy beach.
“My operators look at the composite on their monitors as we shoot the actors doing stunts, flying through the air or fighting some strange beast that isn’t there. It makes for a long day, all on green screen.’
Simmons notes that the camera moves have to be precise. “A pan and tilt needs to stop and start when it’s supposed to in this virtual world. It’s always very well planned in advance of shooting. When the operators show up, it’s all been discussed, but they are seeing it for the first time and have to perform as if they’ve been a part of the prep. Thanks to their excellent skills and good equipment like Vinten, they get it done–and done well.’
Series operator Ray Gonzales says: “The Vinten head is superbly better over the rival friction heads for smooth dependable camera moves. On Pair of Kings we’re dealing with sets that appear to be ancient temples and jungles filled with different creatures of every kind. I have to have top equipment.’
Operator Larry Blumenthal agrees. “Thanks to the Vinten heads, with their solid and consistent quality, I know I have support to follow my operating needs; from fine to coarse, in nearly an intuitive way.’
Simmons comments: “Operator Ken Herft summed it up for me recently, he told me that “as a camera operator on sitcoms, the quality of his work is only as good as his equipment. Working on shows like Pair of Kings, there is no margin for equipment failure’ We all agree – Vinten has always been the industry’s best and that’s why we use them.’
This is the second year that Simmons has been nominated for an Emmy for his work on Pair of Kings. Gonzales has been nominated for his work on the series as well.
