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helped to create the necessary software. The
camera set costs approximately 64,000 euros.
So far Silicon Imaging has sold one to the world
famous director, James Cameron, whose film
“Avatar” recently broke all box office records.
Fast technological development, however, does
not favour the sale of these camera sets. It is more
practical to offer the service which includes equipment
rental together with the services of a specialist.
And that is what the Kallas brothers are now
focusing on. Panasonic and Sony have also used
the same business model with their high-end
digital cameras.
The camera heads and recorder rental costs
980 euros a day and auxiliary equipment, such
as a mirror rig, wireless HD and 3D monitoring,
wireless follow focus, lenses and a work station
for viewing recorded material costs another
1500–2000 euros a day.
The very first work
The new technology was used for the first time in
December 2009 in Finland to make the 3D commercial
that was shown before “Avatar”. In summer
2010, Werner Herzog used this novel camera
to record his first 3D documentary called “Caves
of Forgotten Dreams” that premiered at the Toronto
Film Festival in September. The European
premier is scheduled to take place in February at
the Berlinale. In Estonia, the Acuba 3D-camera
is used in the production of a documentary and
a 3D short feature, both of which should be out
this spring.
The Kallas brothers also co-operated with the
artist Raul Rajangu in the making of an experimental
3D short film, “Luminous Darkness”,
which was recently premiered.
“It was a great recognition for us that Werner
Herzog chose us and our equipment for his new
film. I believe it is one of those exceptionally rare
cases when film-making equipment and knowhow
has been exported for reasons other than
cost,” says Kallas. “In addition to working on
the set we also did all the post production of the
film right down to the 3D-master.” Negotiations
are currently under way with several well-known
directors who would like to use Estonians’ equipment
for their upcoming projects but Kallas is
unwilling to name any names yet.
It was a great recognition for us
that Werner Herzog chose us and
our equipment f or his new film.
in London. The set belonging to the Estonians is
in Warsaw where the company owned by the
brothers, Digital Sputnik, recently expanded and
where Kaspar Kallas, the main architect of technical
solutions lives. Digital Sputnik’s camera is
being tested for the Polish film industry as the
Estonian market is too small for it. A further goal
is to take the camera to the Indian film market.
“Estonia lacks the market for this kind of
equipment and therefore we focus our efforts
outside,” says Kaur Kallas.
Meanwhile the brothers continue to work on
optimising the camera casing. Within a year the
entire system has become more compact and it
is now possible to monitor and operate the camera
with no wires attached.
The 3D-camera was developed on the basis of
the 2D-camera that was also produced by Estonians
in co-operation with Silicon Imaging and
used for filming Kadri Kõusaar’s controversial
“Magnus”. The same technology was used for
the Hollywood feature film “Slumdog Millionaire”
that last year won the Academy
Award for Best Cinematography. The
camera head of a 3D-camera actually
consists of two 2D-cameras, one of
which records for one eye while the
second records for the other eye. As
eyes see images differently, a 3D spacious
effect is created in the brain.
The new camera makes
the 3D film-making so
easy that there is no need
for a truckload of
equipment.
Camera is in Poland
The target group for the new camera includes
producers of feature films, documentaries, and
commercials as well as others interested in the
development of cinematic art. One of the 3Dcameras
is currently in Hollywood and another
kevad/spring 2011 I INTIME 39