Forge Media Takes To The High Wires With Polecam

Jason King, Principal of Indiana-based production company Forge Media, has reported "electrifying results" with his Polecam camera system.
One of the USA's most experienced Polecam operators, Jason was commissioned to work on a new season of the popular US television show 'Desperate Landscapes' for DIY Network. Each programme in the series looks at structurally and scenically challenged property and demonstrates various ways of achieving improvements.
Jason explained: "We were invited to a particularly challenging house which appeared to be surrounded by power lines. Using the Polecam rig at its maximum 20-foot extension allowed us to obtain high visual-impact close-up video from a Toshiba TU-51 camera with TU-53 head.
"The Polecam joystick control panel has a large-print warning sign: 'Do not operate near overhead power cables'. That is good advice as the boom's carbon-fibre components are highly conductive, let alone the camera and its cables.
"In fact, I knew the potential hazard having owned and operated a carbon-fibre workshop repairing and creating parts for auto racing. Insulating ourselves with rubber gloves and the Polecam base with non-conductive matting, we were able to achieve very precise control of camera position and very impressive high-viewpoint images."
Mel Noonan, Polecam Sales & Marketing Manager, added: "Jason has produced stunning content with his rig since he founded Forge Media in 2002, including coverage of concerts, winter sports, motor racing, basketball and wildlife documentaries. His latest venture merits the Polecam Award for Bravery!"
Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Polecam was established in 1998 by extreme sports cameraman/director Steffan Hewitt. While directing a series of windsurfing kit commercials in Hawaii, he needed to obtain close wide-range front shots of a windsurfer in action, shot from a tracking boat or jet ski. He improvised a rig comprising a miniature camera on a carbon-fibre windsurfing mast. Returning to Britain, he developed a lightweight go-anywhere rig with a remote joystick-controlling a high precision pan and tilt head. Polecam now sells successfully around the world from its base near Bedford.
Further information is available at: www.polecam.com.
(KMcA/JM)