Furmanski Uses SmallHD To Monitor Search Party

DP Jonathan Furmanski uses the SmallHD 7” Series for season 4 of Search Party for HBO Max.

“I have worked with SmallHD as long as they have been around—starting with on-board camera monitors, which quickly became part of my kit,” the DP says. “When I began doing more complicated shoots with several cameras around set, I used SmallHD in ways that helped me do my job better.

“On Search Party I will sometimes pick up the camera because I love operating—it’s the best job on set. When the SmallHD 7” Series came out I could sit at A-camera and use its SmallHD system to see what the other cameras were doing. I could turn on the False Color without moving to the video village. Just one look tells me the whole story. Regardless of which model I view, I am so familiar with SmallHD’s False Color system that I’m confident in my ability to understand what’s going on.”

"I use a 703 Bolt monitor to be able to walk around set with a wireless image. Now I can do reference, settings and format with one to one reference. It keeps everyone in the loop.”

When it comes to choosing coverage options, Furmanski devised his own director’s finder by mounting a SmallHD 5.5” Focus OLED HDMI touchscreen atop his Sigma fp or Sony A7R camera.

“I have two Canon EF zoom lenses: 16-35mm and 24-105mm I use with an adapter on the Sigma fp. It is a nice, lightweight solution for playing around with different focal lengths. I also have a PL mount adapter so I can put the shooting lens on it if I want to be more precise. The Focus monitor lets other people look over my shoulder to see exactly what frame I’m choosing for faster and clearer communication, he explains.

“Now I’m not anchored to any part of the set or sitting behind a monitor 40-feet away. The combination of SmallHD monitors and Teradek Bolt transmitter enables me to be more nimble on set.”

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