Companies support Mideast filmmakers
dubai — Several companies have strengthened their support for filmmakers in the UAE, with the launch of a wide variety of products especially designed to help filmmakers with their projects.
Exhibiting at three-day Cabsat 2017 exhibition in Dubai, Canon Middle East unveiled its flagship cinema camera, the EOS C700, as well as a number of products and solutions that are cost effective with good cinema quality. Canon also invited its brand ambassador Nayla Al Khaja, the UAE’s first woman film producer, to share her views on the role of film making technology through an interactive workshop.
Speaking on the burgeoning filmmaking industry in the region, Al Khaja said: “The Middle East region is recognised for its thriving creativity, and the availability of Canon’s flagship camera, the EOS C700, will bring to life films that appeal to the world. Filmmakers in the region realise the potential of combining creativity with technology, and this camera does just that, right from feature films to documentaries and TV series.”
Anurag Agrawal, managing director of Canon Middle East, said: “Our engagement with the filmmaking industry is a journey which we started many years ago and now gives all of us an opportunity to highlight our support to women. It is a great sign of optimism and encouragement for all women in the region which coincides with our corporate philosophy of ‘Kyosei’ that lies at the heart of our brand, philosophy and brand awareness.” Venkatasubramanian Hariharan, business unit director, B2C Canon Middle East, explained that the DSLR technology pioneered by Canon has changed the motion picture industry and has made it possible for the average person to shoot video with a tight budget. In addition, by using Canon DSLR cameras, independent filmmakers will only need a smaller crew when producing a film.
Panasonic, another exhibitor at the exhibition, also took the opportunity to showcase its latest solutions for HD content creation in both live studio and remote production. Masa Kitamura, GM of the broadcast division at
Our engagement with the film-making industry is a journey which we started many years ago and now gives all of us an opportunity to highlight our support to women
Anurag Agrawal, Managing director, Canon Middle East
Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa, noted that the filmmaking industry in the UAE is still quite small, however the demand for products in the segment and the interest in filmmaking was definitely on the rise. A new entrant in the broadcast market, Panasonic was not just targeting large studios and big production houses with its products, but also had a range of solutions for young filmmakers just starting on their projects, Kitamura pointed out.
“Panasonic offers a comprehensive range of 4K and HD studio cameras capable of meeting the demands of modern broadcasting and filmmaking, both in the studio and in the field. We provide a cost-effective solution and our recognised 4K solutions are growing around the globe. Moreover, our newly launched Media Over IP promises exciting opportunities,” he said.
Panasonic’s line-up includes the latest Ultra High Definition AKUC3000 4K live camera, which outputs 1080p at 240fps high-resolution content in UHD. The company’s products ensemble consists of end-to-end production solutions, including high-efficiency switchers, Media over IP (MoIP), HD camcorders, and workflow solutions. Panasonic is also expanding their existing camcorder line up with AVCCAM series of professional AVC HD camcorders.
Peter Kyriakos, head of marketing at Sony Professional Solutions, also highlighted the importance of providing technological support to consumers. One of the ways that the company does this is through its ‘Knowledge Portal’. Kyriakos explained that the resource portal was a one-of-a-kind portal that provides free content in the form of video editorials, white papers, and small courses that give consumers a better understanding of the technology that they are dealing with. “Many of our consumers buy their camera equipment, but there are many different features that they never use because they weren’t aware of them, or because they didn’t know how to properly use them,” he said.
Sony also took the opportunity to showcase its all new HDC camera renowned for it’s 4K, HD as well as Ultra-Slow Motion and Super-Slow motion capabilities, at the event. Furthermore, Sony Professional also unveiled the Sony PXW-Z450 – the world’s first 4K shouldermount XDCAM.