REVIEW GEAR
I had the opportunity to test the Aputure NOVA II on a forthcoming Netflix true-crime documentary. I came to the NOVA II having used the original NOVA P600c for several years, which itself had replaced my long- standing use of the ARRI SkyPanel S60. One of the major advantages of the original NOVA was its weight. Compared to the SkyPanel, it was significantly lighter – light enough that I could travel with it without exceeding airline weight limits, which makes a real difference when working internationally. The NOVA II is heavier than the P600c, but Aputure has cleverly integrated the ballast into the back of the unit. In practice, this makes for a cleaner and more efficient set-up, reducing cabling and simplifying rigging. The project required a visual language that felt immediate and alive, and my approach was inspired by the kinetic, handheld energy associated with Paul Greengrass, director of the Bourne films. I shot with two ARRI Mini LFs paired with ARRI Signature Zoom lenses and ARRI Impression V back filters, allowing the camera to constantly reframe and rediscover the space as the scene
VIBE CHECK Tim Cragg created the documentary’s visual atmosphere with care, skill and enthusiasm, and sculpted its light with Aputure’s NOVA II lighting fixture and NOVA II Dome Diffuser
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DEFINITIONMAGS
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