The Black and Blue

Filmmaking Tips for Camera Assistants

That’s no moon. It’s a Panavision!

by | March 28, 2014

For lustful eyes only, here are a couple of pics (courtesy of camera operator Andrew Bikichky) of the blacked out Panavision cameras that will be shooting Star Wars Episode VII over the summer:

Star Wars Panavision Panaflex Camera
A camera, nicknamed “Death Star”
Star Wars Panavision Panaflex Camera 2
B camera, nicknamed “Millennium Falcon” (look at the inscription beneath the Panavision logo)

The Panny’s are custom made for Star Wars and will be the production’s “A” and “B” cameras, nicknamed “Death Star” and “Millennium Falcon.” Pretty badass so long as they’re “fully operational.”

Mounting on the front of these bad boys will be Panavision anamorphics and they’ll be loaded up with Kodak film stock 5219, as was revealed by cinematographer Dan Mindel, ASC, BSC last summer.

Thanks to Reddit user forceduse for posting it and Andrew Bikichky for sharing it with us all.

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Happy Labor Day: The Film Industry Should Treat Crew Better

Today is Labor Day in the United States and, as we recognize this national holiday dedicated to the achievements of the American workforce, it's important to acknowledge that the crew in the film industry – the labor – hold more skill, talent, and power than is being recognized and rewarded.