Actor Chris Kapcia holds the “boom cam” above actresses Catherine Gibson (left) and Jessica Grant (right). Dummy head operator Arman Rogers stands behind.
Old Lyme, CT (October 23, 2013)—Neumann’s KU 100 microphone inspired writer/director Guy Chachkes to produce a short film starring the “dummy head.”
With the 12-minute film shot entirely from the perspective of the boom microphone, capturing a realistic, authentic sound was a fundamental concern during the filmmaking process. “Since the movie is called Boom Up! it was very important to have the best possible sound. My producer [Jesse R. Tendler] came across the concept of recording in binaural surround sound, and after doing some research, we determined that the Neumann KU 100 would be perfect,” Chachkes recalls. “In most applications I’ve seen, the KU 100 microphone is stationary—but we moved it around with the camera itself. We pointed the ‘dummy head’ wherever the camera was looking, and it helped create a very realistic experience.”
The binaural sound picked up by the Neumann KU 100 was augmented by a Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic, which was also mounted to the pole. Additionally, there were 14 Sennheiser MKE 2 Gold sub-miniature omni-directional lavalier microphones positioned on the actors and crew, which were used in conjunction with 14 Sennheiser EM 300 G3 receivers and 14 SK 300 G3 bodypack transmitters.
“We combined the binaural tracks from the Neumann KU 100 and Sennheiser MKH 416 with the other lavalier tracks, and it created this 3D sensation like you are right there with the actors. The sound is incredible!” says Chachkes.
The video for the movie was captured in a similarly unconventional fashion, using a GoPro 3D system consisting of two small cameras mounted to the boom pole. “We needed a camera that was high quality, yet light enough and durable enough to capture the exact motion of the boom pole to which it was attached,” says Chachkes.
Chachkes says he couldn’t be happier with the outcome of the film, which has since been submitted to the Sundance Film Festival and 11 other festivals for consideration.
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