INDUSTRY IBC REVIEW
ready with CloudIO, a remote diagnostics tool perfect for rental houses and large productions. Along with better pixel control and colour accuracy, the S60 Pro has built-in power and wireless control options, all in the same familiar form factor, making it an appealing upgrade for any lighting set-up. Astera, meanwhile, was showcasing the versatility of its popular LunaBulb – which resembles a vintage tungsten bulb but with modern LED performance. The team was keen to show off a brand new accessory kit which brings a range of tools including snap-on blockers, diffusers, reflectors and lenses – all designed to modify the light’s direction, intensity and quality, and ultimately make the LunaBulb more adaptable for both indoor and outdoor shoots. From Canon, a standout was the EOS C400, the company’s first high-end RF mount Cinema EOS camera, delivering the capabilities of larger production cameras without all the bulk. Canon was also showing off its Flex Zoom lenses – designed for 8K productions – including the new RF-S 3.9mm f/3.5 STM DUAL FISHEYE lens, which makes 3D VR shooting a breeze. The Lens Showcase Zone highlighted old faves and fresh releases like the CN7x17 KAS T Cine-Servo lens, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to providing versatile tools for filmmakers. AI LOOMS LARGE Unsurprisingly, the topic of AI dominated talks and discussions around the RAI.
The BLAIR light project
The new AI Tech Zone in Hall 14 led the way, hosting a line-up of speakers who delved into everything from issues of content tracing to unlocking new pathways to monetisation. Perhaps the most important of the lot was ‘Can AI be regulated?’, which brought together Renard Jenkins (SMPTE) and François Lavoir (EBU) to explore what should be policed and how – and whether it’s even possible to keep pace as technology races ahead of legal frameworks. Lavoir outlined how the EU AI Act is tackling key issues like health impacts, product safety and transparency (eg disclosing when you’re interacting with AI). He compared this with California’s stricter stance, which could set the tone for global policy if adopted. The duo also touched on the delicate balance between innovation and protecting the public, especially when it comes to safeguarding content creators and addressing copyright in the AI era. Immediately following this, a session on content provenance raised more questions than it had answers. Exploring the morass of overlapping regulation, A highlight of the show was the chance to get hands-on with Aputure’s groundbreaking STORM 1200x. At the heart of its impressive capabilities is the innovative BLAIR light engine, which produces stunning full-spectrum white light across an extensive CCT range from 2500 to 10,000K, alongside full +/- green control. This level of adjustability allows filmmakers to achieve unmatched precision in colour correction, seamlessly matching natural daylight and enhancing skin tones. The STORM 1200x isn’t just powerful; it’s also incredibly versatile. Its ProLock Bowens mount allows effortless switching between modifiers, to create fresnel, soft light, or hard open-face par as needed. Plus, the IP65 weather rating means it’s built to handle the rigours of any environment, making it ideal for both studio and outdoor shoots.
holes in policy, technology gaps and communication problems in dealing with AI-generated content, the main takeaway was that there’s much work to be done – made exponentially harder by the fact that we’re dealing with a moving target. Naomi Schoppa from Fraunhofer FOKUS shared some eye-opening statistics, like the fact that 80% of Germans can’t recognise deepfakes, highlighting that trust in content is waning. The consensus was clear: while the tech is there, the real challenge is how to put it into practice. Collaboration across the industry will be key to keeping AI-generated content transparent. Matthew Blakemore, CEO at AI Caramba!, took a closer look at the rapid advancements in generative AI content creation tools over the last 12 months. He treated the audience to a (frankly terrible) AI-generated song and video, as well as a much more impressive voiceover in the style of David Attenborough narrating a nature video of paper birds swooping through the air. Scarily convincing, this clip brought urgent concerns around copyright to the fore. Additional highlights include extreme colour-accurate dimming that maintains performance even at low brightness levels, ensuring consistent output across the product’s whole CCT range. Its varied connectivity options (CRMX, DMX and Bluetooth) also allow seamless integration into any set-up. Aputure is raising the bar for portable, high-output lighting with the STORM 1200x – it’s definitely worth a look for any lighting professional.
DEEP DIVES Lavoir and Jenkins were just two of the many expert speakers who explored the growing use of AI in production tech
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