Category Archives: Full Length Articles

Broadcast TECH UK June/July

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Stefan Sargent

I wrote 2,000 words – Broadcast’s TECH editor re-wrote it into their dreary, house style and cut me back to 500 words – he did an OK job, except it doesn’t sound like me. I took my original piece and … Continue reading →

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BLACK IS BLACK, I WANT MY FACILITY BACK

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Stefan Sargent

LONDON – GROUND ZERO I cross the park in Soho Square, go up to a black shiny door at number two and press the buzzer. It’s 1964 and I’ve just arrived from Australia. Eventually the lock on the door clicks … Continue reading →

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HERO SHOT

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Stefan Sargent

No longer a niche camera for blond, blue-eyed surfers and mud-splattered sporting enthusiasts, GoPro HERO2 is now an incredible tool for ALL filmmakers. The lens is twice as sharp, the processor twice as fast, the chip twice as big. There’s … Continue reading →

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MONDO NAB – THE SHOCKUMENTARY

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Stefan Sargent

Births, Deaths, Flagellation, Public Suicide, Ritual Killings, The Kiss of Life, Human Vivisection – it’s all here Many moons ago, three Italian producers made Mondo Cane (A Dog’s Life). If you haven’t seen it, you should. It’s instant view on … Continue reading →

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FLIGHTS OF FANCY

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Stefan Sargent

OR HOW I GOT INTO (and out of) VIDEO LONDON 1975 I get a phone call from my favorite conference client, Herb Kanzell. “Stefan, got a little job for you. My new client, Redifon, makes flight simulators to train pilots. … Continue reading →

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COME ON BABY, LIGHT MY RIG – June 2010

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Stefan Sargent

Way back in June 1982, I opened four new edit suites at Molinare. The cost? About a million each with Grass Valley and ADO digital effects. All four suites looked like this but with different paintings. We charged $600 an … Continue reading →

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MT FRIEND FLIPA Apr ’10

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Stefan Sargent

It’s Christmas. My son-in-law, George, has a local vid-prod-co. He’s feeling magnanimous. “Stefan, we’re getting a Sony PMW-350 – you can use it anytime. No charge.” “Thanks, George, that’s really generous [as the 350 is a whopping $22K] but I … Continue reading →

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DIY POLE ARM CONSTRUCTION: The Making of Roman

Posted on December 15, 2008 by Stefan Sargent

What are some of the movie shots that really impressed you? Not whole sequences, just single “gee-whiz” shots. Chances are that those you remember best are high-angle, moving shots. Maybe the opening shot of Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil, the … Continue reading →

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ELEGANT SOLUTIONS Feb ’07

Posted on February 1, 2007 by Stefan Sargent

October 2006, San Francisco. I’m writing this on my laptop at San Francisco International Airport. I got here too early and now the flight has been delayed 2 hours. Sitting here by myself with my two carry-ons-a small, nothing-special camera … Continue reading →

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