Many of the new generation of PANAVISION’s senior design personnel have had recent experience in the aerospace, electronics and computer industries and have successfully integrated into the design team to work alongside all of those who are long established cinematographic engineers with many years of experience. With this formidable combination Film Producers can be assured that the latest technologies are available to them and that the means of making films has not been left to wallow in the horse and buggy era.
Time Code
For Producers seeking to use new technology as a means to reduce post-production time and costs, PANAFLEX cameras can be fitted with the PANAVISION AATONCODE time code system. This 35mm system is based upon the well established AATON 16mm system which combines SMPTE time code with legible, ‘man-readable’ information on every frame of negative and print.
With a PANAVISION AATONCODE time code generator fitted inside your camera, alongside each frame of film there will be a series of computer-readable dots, known as the “SMPTE time code”. This “time stamp” records the precise date and time that the film was exposed (accurate to 1/100 sec. over an 8 hour period), together with the Production No. (very useful when shooting an episodic TV production), the type of filmstock used and the camera No. and ID letter. In addition, the date, the time, the “start frame”, the Production No., the filmstock type and the camera No. and ID information, will all be displayed in “man readable” numbers and letters once every second.
The impact of the PANAVISION AATONCODE time-code system is greatest in the video post production stage of film making where the cost savings can be quite substantial.
PANAVISION welcomes the opportunity to discuss the use of time-code and other new and emerging technologies with all who handle the image and sound, in whatever form, from when it leaves the camera until it reaches the screen as a finished product.
Research and Development
As this book goes to press PANAVISION have announced that they have recently entered into alliances to jointly develop products with such companies as Lightstorm Technologies, Hughes Aircraft, Mantis Wildlife Films and Lockheed Missiles & Space (now Lockheed Martin). These and future partnerships, along with an ever accelerating in-house research program, will ensure that PANAVISION continues to introduce new and innovative products well into the next century.
Direction of Travel >
1. PANAVISION AATONCODE camera unit fitted to a PANAFLEX GII camera, 2. PANAVISION AATONCODE time code film clip showing man-readable figures interspersed with computer-readable time code information.