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In the past several years a number of technological advances have made the dream of low cost HD Cinema a reality. The introduction of a new generation of HD cameras like the Red One (pictured above) and the ability to edit HD on relatively inexpensive nonlinear editing systems has played a large part. But of no less importance, have been recent advances in the design of lighting and grip equipment by companies like Arri, Mole Richardson, Power to Light, Kino Flo, and Honda. A new generation of smaller brighter lights, that consume less power, have resulted in new and more cost effective production techniques. These new lights and associated techniques have also greatly contributed to making it possible for just about anyone to produce a feature length film.

ScreenLight & Grip has developed a special production package we call the "HD Plug & Play Package" (HD P&P Pkg.) For our HD P&P Pkg. we have picked lights that offer both the highest output (lumens/watt) and the most feature style production capability and combined them with proprietary distribution technology we've developed that enhances the production capability of the new Honda Inverter Generators. The lights that make up our HD P&P Pkg. are simply the brightest lights available of their wattage. While these new lights tend to be more expensive than older designs, the additional expense is more than offset by the savings of not having to rent an expensive movie blimped tow generator with all of its’ hidden costs.

Until recently, to power HMI lights over 1.2kw or Quartz lights over 2kw required a large diesel movie generator. Movie generators are not only expensive to rent, but they come with hidden costs that usually break the budget of independently funded HD projects. Movie generators require special tow equipment not found on Ryder or Penske rental trucks. For that reason, movie generators require that you rent a more expensive grip truck from a lighting and grip rental company in order to tow them. Lighting rental companies will not send out a grip truck without a company driver - further adding to the expense of renting a movie generator (driver rates run about $400/10hrs with overtime after 10hr).

Our HD P&P Pkg. takes advantage of technological advances to power HMI lights up to 6kw or Quartz lights up to 5kw off of wall outlets or the new generation of portable Honda Inverter Generators. The primary factors limiting the use of HMIs on portable Honda generators has been their inefficient use of power and the harmonic noise they throw back into the power stream. The power waveform below left is typical of what results from the operation of a couple of 1200W HMIs with non power factor corrected ballasts on a conventional portable generator. The adverse effects of the harmonic noise exhibited here, can take the form of overheating and failing equipment, efficiency losses, circuit breaker trips, excessive current on the neutral wire, and instability of the generator’s voltage and frequency. For these reasons it has never been possible to operate more than a couple of 1200W HMIs on a conventional 6500W portable gas generator. Harmonic noise of this magnitude can also damage HD digital cinema production equipment, create ground loops, and possibly create radio frequency (RF) interference. The increasing use of personal computers, hard drives, and microprocessor-controlled recording equipment in production has created an unprecedented demand for clean, reliable power on set.

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HD Plug & Play Package

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Parabeam Par Lights

What makes the Kino Flo ParaBeam fixtures capable of throwing soft light a distance is that they use CAD (computer aided designed) parabolic reflectors to focus the lamp output at about 16 feet (5 meters). This feature makes them well suited to serve as key light sources because it more than doubles the light output of the lamps where it is needed most for lighting dramatic scenes - at a medium distance.