Breakthrough Design- Dynamic Camera Movement for Filmmakers

At a total weight of less than 50 pounds, the Carbon XL crane is the world’s lightest, most versatile camera support.

(November 22, 2011 – Sedona, AZ) – Camera movement is a powerfully creative tool – and dynamic camerawork drives many of today’s top movies to success in the theaters. Thanks to engineer and cinematographer Neal Williams, filmmakers now have an option – Carbon XL Camera Crane – that was once available only to big budget productions. The Carbon XL system allows a camera operator to position the camera - up or down, vertically, or in a diagonal plane, swing it laterally, and pan, zoom, tilt, and dolly- all at the same time if you wish. Camera moves are the dynamic shots that focus the viewers’ attention on the screen in nearly every film today.

Design engineer and award-winning nature documentarian Neal Williams, first conceived of a multi-function carbon fiber camera support system while shooting in the Amazon Jungle. The need was there but the equipment didn’t exist – so, he invented it. At a total weight of less than 50 pounds, the Carbon XL crane, jib and dolly is the world’s lightest, most versatile camera support.

“In 1993, we produced a two-hour film for the Discovery Channel entitled "Spirits of the Rainforest." The film was shot entirely within the Manu Biosphere Reserve in southeastern Peru,” shared Williams. “We quickly realized that the most interesting stories were about making moving images that focused on animal behavior, remote cultures and conservation efforts.  We transported over 4,000 pounds of equipment into the jungle using dugout canoes. It became evident that we needed a lightweight alternative to get the effective camera shots. That is how we conceived Carbon XL 10 system.”  

Engineered from carbon fiber, the 50-pound Carbon XL System 10 can be hand-carried to any location to provide the camera motion capability of several hundred pounds of conventional camera support. Although it can be relatively expensive, carbon fiber has many applications in aerospace and automotive fields, as well as in sailboats, and notably finds use in modern bicycles and motorcycles, due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and good rigidity.

Demonstrations of the new Carbon XL system generated an enthusiastic response from producers and camera operators at NAB, CineGear, and Jackson Hole Wildlife Film festival events. “I was very impressed with the Carbon XL system and thrilled to get my hands on it recently.  It was designed by Neal Williams, who is an engineer and a cinematographer - precisely the type of person you want to make your gear,” said one filmmaker attending the recent Jackson Hole Wildlife Film festival.  “It is well thought out, packs and ship easily and is quick to set up and easy to operate.  If you work in remote places, you'd be wise to go with the Carbon XL.”

Another international client said he saves money every time he travels with his Carbon XL system.

“This is the most sophisticated combination - crane, jib, track and car mount system - I have ever seen … and I have seen a lot.  It’s the lightest in this class too,” stated the German producer. “You save - with every intercontinental flight - between 500 and 2000 $US. So if you work in remote areas, like I do, you need to have that thing, because every pound counts!”

Features of the Carbon XL System

Sixty feet of carbon fiber tubes, weighing only 16 pounds, nest in a single 36-inch tripod case, and assemble into an 18.5-foot crane with Servo Pan/Tilt.  The Carbon XL System is actually several products in one fully integrated camera support system – Camera crane, Camera Jib, Dolly with track, Car Mount, Zero-gravity head, Remote Camera Mount, Powered Rotating Platform, Powered Time Lapse Track, and more.

Using 2 or 3 light tripods for support, you can assemble a dolly track up to 22-feet long for extended tracking shoots without laying and leveling track. Add the Powered Time-Lapse Motor, and shoot moving time-lapse shots. Add a flat disk on the motor drive to shoot powered rotating artifact shots. Two people can easily lift the 15-pound track with tripods, and carry the assembly to a different location.

The track dolly converts into a door or hood car mount with 4 vacuum cups and built in ball mount. Reassemble the car mount into a Radius Dolly, which adjusts the dolly wheel angle to rotate on smooth surfaces around a fixed point without a curved track.  A unique Pan/tilt controller steers the crane mounted camera with a joystick or with the tripod arm for true one hand point and shoot remote control.

A whole carbon fiber system packs down to 3 cases less 36″ long and shipping weight under 100 pounds, including cases.  Designed for the serious video/film professional, CARBON XL delivers sophisticated camera motion at shooting locations where a grip truck and crew are not feasible.  The entire system is easy to transport by airline or light plane, load into a subcompact taxi, and hand carry up a hill to any remote shooting site. For more information:  www.Carbon-XL.com

About Neal Williams

An experienced designer, Neal Williams has previously engineered more than 60 products, which have produced over $200 million in sales. Neal applied his extensive design engineering experience to the problem at hand. The new Carbon XL 10 System is his simple and elegant solution.

No newcomers to the film-video production arena, Williams and artist/still photographer Mary Helsaple have produced 4 specials for PBS, Discovery, and Animal Planet. The programs received numerous awards, including 4 Emmys, one for the best “Informational or Cultural Program on Broadcast TV” for the year, and a Cable Ace for best “Environmental/Nature Documentary Special” on Cable Television for the year.

Williams co-produced "The Spirits of the Rainforest", a two hour special for Discovery which won 14 awards, including two Emmys for "Best Informational Program" of the year, and "Best Music", and the NEA award of the year for "Contributions to Education Through Broadcasting".

Williams was also Executive Producer for "The Great Siberian Grizzly", which won 7 awards, including a Cable Ace for "Best Natural History Program" on US cable TV for 1997.

Williams was Executive Producer and Helsaple Associate Producer for the PBS, The Living Eden’s Series, "Manu, Peru's Hidden Rainforest", which received an Emmy nomination for "Best Cinematography", and won an Emmy for "Best Music". It also won the "Best Limited Series" award at the Jackson Hole Film festival. (I believe this is the best rainforest program produced by anyone up to that date). See the website at www.pbs.org/edens/manu.

Williams was Executive Producer for The Living Eden’s Series, "Kamchatka, Siberia's Forbidden Wilderness", which broadcast on PBS, and in 20 other countries. This program includes sequences on Grizzly Bears, Fur Seals, Killer Whales, Sea Otters, Puffins, Kittiwakes, Skuas, Ravens, and Stellars Sea Eagles in Russia. The program received an Emmy for Best Sound.

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Quick Facts:  Carbon Fiber Benefits

• Low Mass
• 70% Lighter than steel
  40% Lighter than Aluminum
  35% Lighter than Magnesium AlloyExcellent Strength-to-weight ratio
  (twice the specific strength and stiffness of steel)
• Design Flexibility
• Part Consolidation
• Excellent Corrosion Resistance
• Significantly enhanced fatigue life
• Thermal Stability
• Moisture Stability Improved
• Excellent NVH characteristics

DM Productions LLC

|  Phoenix  |  Reno  |  Lake Tahoe  |

www.DMProductionsLLC.com

DM@DMProductionsLLC.com

(623) 825.9122 Ext. 2

www.Carbon-XL.com

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