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MillimeterRon Fortunato Discusses Using Panavision Genesis on Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Nov 13, 2007 12:00 PM
Director Sidney Lumet shot his new movie Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead in high definition, as he had several projects in recent years, dating back to his HD debut in 2001 for several episodes of the A&E TV series 100 Centre Street. This time, however, at the urging of his cinematographer, Ron Fortunato, Lumet used the Panavision Genesis digital camera system for the first time, replacing his longtime camera of choice—Sony’s HDW-F900 system. During production, Fortunato’s team used two Panavision Genesis cameras, outfitted with Primo primes and Primo zoom lenses, usually recording 4:4:4 RGB data to HD-SR tape via onboard Sony SRW-1 recorders, but occasionally recording to offboard recorders when the cameras were used in small spaces, such as inside vehicles.
Fortunato says he lobbied for the change to Genesis in order to use 35mm-style lenses, and generally, to take advantage of the camera’s increased sensitivity—thanks to its larger sensor and other advances over earlier generations of HD technology.
The DP recently sat down with millimeter to discuss using Genesis for Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead. To read a detailed article on production of the movie from Fortunato’s point of view, click here. To listen to an excerpt from Fortunato’s interview with millimeter, in which he explains why he prefers shooting HD generally and using the Genesis specifically, click here 
