Q&A with Broadcasting & Cable Magazine

HD Artist Finds New Inspiration

Randall Paris Dark, HD production pioneer, forged out on his own last month with the launch of Randall Dark Productions. Dark discussed his Austin-based company and the future of high-def television.

Q: What kind of technical facilities does your company have?

A: Randall Dark Productions is not a facility. In my 20 years of HD production I’ve suffered the fiscal pain of keeping up with the Joneses, and the constant changes and improvements in equipment. So this time I’ve decided to build relationships with top companies and employees to facilitate my business and to best serve my clients.

Q: How will this move benefit your clients?

A: There two huge benefits. I can select the best path and talent for the job without having to compromise. I know I don't shoot from moving vehicles very well, but Allan Westbrook is a genius at it. I can pick and choose the right team for each job and still bring it in on time and, most importantly, on budget. My company does not have the incredible overhead I've had to support over the years; therefore I am able to make my prices much more competitive.

Q: What's your take on some of the new HD technologies that continue to flood the production market?

A: Each new day brings new toys to the toy box. The Red, the Eve, the R-23 and Viper are just a few. Even the new HDV cameras can be used for certain applications. I can color correct, time and edit in the field. How much easier do we need it to be? I'm concerned sometimes that ease makes us lazy and our work reflects it. Sweat is good.

Q: What are the advantages of working in HD versus film? What are the disadvantages? Are you finding that traditionalists are beginning to come around?

A: Film is an art form. HD is an art form. Both have many strengths and weaknesses. If I were an oil painter and you asked me what the hardest profile to sculpt is, I wouldn't know how to begin to answer you. My world is HD. I don't shoot film. I feel it is hypocritical that we get experts on both sides of the fence talking from extremely limited experiences. I honestly hope that traditionalists don't come around to HD. I love the look and smell and feel of film. I just can’t shoot with it. I would hate to think that the best artists in the world would forever put down their paintbrush for a new technology. Let new artists discover HD.

--Interviewed by Ken Kerschbaumer
from Broadcasting & Cable Magazine

Blown Away

click on image to enlarge.

Maxell's new ad featuring Randall P. Dark for the HDCAM tape series.

Living in a High-Def World

Randall Dark was recently interviewed for a technology piece by NOW Everything Toronto. The story focuses on how HD media is blurring the line between what's real and what's not. You can read the article here.

Randall Dark Productions Opens In Los Angeles and Austin, Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RANDALL DARK PRODUCTIONS OPENS IN LOS ANGELES AND AUSTIN, TEXAS

High Definition Director and Producer, Randall P. Dark announced the opening of his company in LA and now Austin, Randall Dark Productions effective May 1st, 2007. The mandate of his company is to create and bring to market Digital, High Resolution content of the highest quality standard.

"Technology has been changing at lightning speed. There seems to be a better camera or editing system out almost weekly. My new company will allow me to be more flexible in choices for my productions and for my clients." says Mr. Dark.

The road to Randall Dark Productions started just over 20 years ago when Dark started working in HD on a Mini-Series that was being shot in Toronto. Hooked on the attributes of this emerging technology, Dark founded HD Vision a few years later in New York. The company set out on a goal to be an integral part of the growth of digital content world wide. Carrying the HD torch when most people found the risk too hot to handle, Dark became an undisputed pioneer of the technology and the images his company generated have literally helped set the standards by which new televisions are judged to this day. In 2002, Randall launched HD Vision Studios in Los Angeles and emerged as a creative and marketing force whose innovative approach to business had wide appeal.

Newest Projects shot with Maxell HDCAM

RANDALL DARK PRODUCTIONS' NEWEST PROJECTS SHOT WITH MAXELL HDCAM TAPES

LAS VEGAS, April 17 -- Maxell Corporation of America's Professional Media Products Division has extended it's relationship with Randall Dark and his new enterprise, Randall Dark Productions, to provide performance based media that meet the demand for his latest high-definition productions including a Won-G rap video and numerous travel documentaries with footage available through FootageBank.

Randall Dark Productions have been chosen to direct and produce the video for the upcoming single release for "We Must Pray" by rap sensation Won-G featuring The TrollMates, a Tween super group and guest rap artist, Hood Surgeon, son of the legendary Dr Dre.

The video will be shot in Los Angeles with Maxell HDCAM media to capture the first collaboration between Won-G, The TollMates and Hood Surgeon. The high-definition footage on Maxell tape will allow the group to artistically bring to life its message and reach its audience in a vivid and compelling medium.

Maxell media has also been extensively used by Randall Dark Productions in a series of travel documentaries, and stock footage video available through FootageBank. HD footage has been recently captured by Dark using Maxell HDCAM across a diverse set of destinations, climates and shooting environments in Europe, China, Wyoming, and Hawaii.

"Our demanding schedule calls for reliability in the products we use and I trust that Maxell tapes including the HDCAM product will stand up to my difficult shot locations and time sensitive projects and provide me with quality footage regardless of the environment or pace of assignments," said Randall Dark. "We will continue producing HD film projects at an unprecedented rate. The playing field is leveled and high-quality content can be brought to market very quickly and inexpensively."

Maxell HDCAM videocassettes utilized by Dark and his production company feature ultra-high-performance binder systems to achieve exceptional durability, essential to resilience in the volatile environments of ENG/EFP recordings. The binder systems also help Maxell HDCAM perform well during long-term archiving. The 1/2" metal particle tape cassette incorporates super-fine Ceramic Armor Metal particles (0.1 micron size) to achieve an exceptional output level and to surpass the low noise requirements of HDCAM's 7-to-1 compression algorithm. Maxell HDCAM videocassettes feature a recording density 1.4 times greater than Digital BETACAM for superior digital and video archiving performance.

The small cassette lineup of HDCAM includes 6, 12, 22, 32, and 40 minute cassettes, while the large cassette lineup includes tapes that run 64, 94 and 124 minutes.

HD Expo Q&A

HD Expo Asks is a straightforward Q & A from leaders in the industry about the issues and concerns from our technology and entertainment community. (click for PDF)

HD Expo: What capture, editing and/or graphic technology advancements, if any, do you see reshaping our industry in 2007?

Randall Dark: Our industry is experiencing a radical change. No longer will we be dependant on traditional image capture, editorial and most importantly distribution methods. Although we have constantly said"Content is King," the financial truth historically has been"Distribution is King" and the creative content suppliers were always at their mercy.

Technology is allowing creative minds to have more control over the entire food chain. I can shoot and edit a killer product and have 10 million viewers download it worldwide within hours.

Presently the quality of these downloads is primitive and image resolution during the capture phase is almost irrelevant. That will soon change.

The real quandary is how to monetize this new distribution chain.

HD Expo: How do all the technology choices impact the end user/consumerand what should we, the creators be aware of ?

Randall Dark: The Achilles heel of the content creator is resolution. With the advent of prosumer technologies like HDV that can rival DigiBeta, where do you draw the line? How low is the benchmark? I firmly believe thatfuture sales will be hampered by limited resolution. Content needs toremain robust no matter what the native resolution of the display is.

The $10K HDV camera appears to be an incredible buy. Don’t get me wrong - for certain uses it is. I don't want to risk future revenue on the possibility that the resolution of this technology isn't goodenough. Most HD broadcasters limit the amount of HDV content they'll allow in their HD programs. Display devices are getting better daily. Will the lower bit rate devices hold up in the long run? Time will tell. The good news is that the high-end cameras and editing systems are improving greatly while their price points are dropping. The bad news is you get what you pay for. A $100K camera gives you a $100K image and a $10K camera gives you a $10K image.

HD Expo: What area(s) of our industry do you see as a leader in future technologies? Do you have any examples of what would demonstrate this?

Randall Dark: The internet has changed our daily lives more then any other technology since Television. The future technology that gets my high quality content into the consumer's hands while bypassing the traditional gatekeeper/distributor will be the killer product.

In the very near future, it will be common practice for programs to be downloaded to a display or listening device with the content creator in control of it all. Take a look at what YouTube is doing as the first level example. Right now it's a mess and is mostly used for sensational 2 minute clips. Even in its primitive development it has had an amazing impact! It has generated millions of dollars of venue for early adoptors and creative minds that have figured out a way to monetize that particular service.

We are about to enter a Platinum Age where content is truly King and we the originators will have more, if not complete control over the distribution.

Dark gives keynote address

Randall P. Dark will give the keynote address at the Playback Production Innovation Forum in Toronto. A Canadian, the trip will be a return (of sorts) to Dark's roots. In 1986, he was given the opportunity to work in High Definition in Toronto and knew it was the future of images. A few years later he founded HD Vision in New York City. The company's mandate was to specialize in the growth of HD. Dark has never looked back since, becoming an undisputed pioneer and leader in the emerging industry.