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MRMC Newsletter

31st March 2006

This Month:
•OSCAR SUCCESS FOR AARDMAN
•ULTI-HEADS SHOW OFF THEIR NEW OWNERS
•NEW MSA-20 STAND ALONE SYSTEM
•INTERESTED IN TRAINING?
•RECENT CREDITS

 
OSCAR SUCCESS FOR AARDMAN
 
WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT
WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT
 
Nick Park and Steve Box win The Oscar for 'Best Animated Feature' 
 
Aardman were delighted last night when they picked up an Oscar for the Best Animated Feature.

Commenting on this fantastic news Nick Park said "Both Steve Box and myself are just overjoyed and feel very privileged to have won this Oscar. The crew at Aardman deserve this award for all the fantastic work they put into making Curse of the Were Rabbit such a success around the world." 

The Oscar winning feature was shot extensively with motion control equipment (twenty eight out of the thirty five units were motion control units).  Aardman used three of their Milo Motion control rigs and eight steppers units supplied by us here at Mark Roberts Motion Control!  “The shooting schedules were entirely worked out around the availability of the Milos because of the flexibility and range that they possess” says Tom Barnes, Aardman Features Head of cameras. “The other motion control equipment is just not capable of moves of such complexity plus all the MRMC equipment worked flawlessly for the continuous year and a half of filming.”

 

ULTI-HEADS SHOW OFF THEIR NEW OWNERS

Camera Control Inc based in Los Angeles took delivery of two Ulti-heads from Mark Roberts Motion Control in December last year adding to their two Milos and  Panther dolly.


Operators Chris Toth and Jan Beran both seriously contemplating just how good the Ultihead is!

Manager, Jason Rau had this to say "After many years of lugging around a very clunky repeatable head system we were more then excited to hear that MRMC head developed a new portable moco head. With its lightweight design, ease of setup and low cost the decision to purchase an Ulti-head proved to be an easy one. We couldn't be happier with our two Ulti-heads and are gearing up to buy a couple more!!"

Operator Digna and Malcolm Woolridge

The VFX co based in London recently invested in the purchase of an Ulti-Head pictured here with owners & operators Malcolm Wooldridge and Digna Nigoumi. Their already impressive collection of Motion Control equipment consists of a Super Cyclops, two Milos, an Eiger Carbon fibre crane system, a Juno, a mini rig dolly system and a 6 axis Motion base.

Rob Delicata of VFX says “In purchasing the Ulti-Head we are responding to our clients requests for more portable, compact and cost effective moco solutions. Primarily we see this new piece of equipment being used on restricted or low budget projects where space and location are an issue. The Ulti-Head also allows us to offer stand alone motion control repeat head for work on cranes or tripods where only pan, tilt, focus and zoom are required. Alternatively it can be mounted to our mini rig system allowing us to offer the track axis as well. Not only do we feel that we have invested in another piece of MRMC equipment that will prove to be very successful but it's a perfect solution for our ever growing needs!”

 

 
New MSA-20 STAND ALONE SYSTEM

We are proud to announce the that the Ulti-head as well being offered as a full motion control head now has an option which allows it to be purchased as a stand alone remote repeat head, without the Flair software. Connecting the Ulti-head to the newly developed MSA-20 handwheels, allows the head to be operated completely independently of any PC or knowledge of software. Simply plug in the handwheels and the head is ready for use. This means that the Ulti-Head can be supplied and operated without the use of  Flair software and the associated electronics and laptop. It is a totally intuitive system that can be operated by anyone with no more than a few minutes of training. Ideal for dry-hiring to productions and cameramen with little or no technical knowledge.

As a remote head the MSA-20 handwheels (or optional pan-bars) provide smooth operation and allow the movement to be recorded for repeat operations. Handwheel scalings and directions can be changed for user preference using a simple LCD screen and stored in the on board memory. Recorded moves are also stored in the MSA-20's on-board memory and can be played back again and again. If additional move storage is required or data for post-production, then a simple serial port import and export facility will be provided.

The MSA-20 allows the versatile Ulti-Head to be used as a pure remote head system, where motion control is not a requirement. Because of its lightweight construction you can place loads & cameras of up to 35kg when mounted on a tripod or dolly and compared to similar products less counter balancing is required therefore allowing the operator a much faster response. The handwheels themselves can be converted to use with the full motion control package by a flick of a switch and connecting to Flair. The next facility will see the evolution of wireless controls.

 

 
Motion Control training courses

We would like to hear from you if you are interested in attending a Motion Control training course.

Following several requests for various courses we would like to know what courses YOU would like to be offered and if there is enough demand to supply.

We have in the past run a series of training days for Beginners, Intermediates and Advanced operators. The full syllabuses are listed on our website www.mrmoco.com/other/maintraining.htm These courses were tutored using a Milo motion control rig and teach the setting up of a Milo, safety features within it, the basics of Flair motion control software, right the way through to advanced programming. We have also run courses instructing in the operation of Ulti-Head our new pan tilt head using Flair.

Are any of those courses of interest to you now or in the future? Or would you rather gain a greater understanding about the possibilities and applications of motion control in general? Or is it the techniques using pre-visulisation or the transfer of motion control data to 3D graphics that you require? Please email in with your thoughts and requests.

 
 
Join the discussion group today at http://www.mocoforum.com
 

Do you know anyone else who should be getting regularly informed about the industry? Let us know; we would be happy to send them our newsletters or DVD Showreel - The 2005 Motion Control Explained DVD.

If you would like to have more information about CGI, remote heads, cranes, dollies, accessories or any other filming equipment please let us know at info@mrmoco.com

Mark Roberts Motion Control Ltd.
Tel: +44-1342-334700
Fax:+44-1342-334701

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