Johannesburg-based production house, Generous Pictures, has partnered with music video maestro, Warwick Allan, and Jazzworx to notch up an African first. The two-hour concert, with a 30-strong crew, used 10 Red One cameras to capture this unique performance.
The DVD produced for Lira, undoubtedly one of the hottest performing artists in South Africa at the moment, was completed in just six weeks, and will be marketed locally, in Africa and further abroad.
Lira is a multi-award winning songstress who has captured the hearts and minds of industry experts and fans alike. In 2004 she was nominated for a
South African Music Award (SAMA) in the category Best R ‘n B Album, and in the same year was announced the winner of the
Channel O Reel Music Award. She was also nominated for the 2004
Metro FM Awards in the categories Best R 'n B Album,
Best Vocalist and
Best Newcomer. Her single ‘Feel Good’ earned her a 2007
SAMA in the Best Music Video category. Earlier this year she walked away with four
SAMAs in the categories
Best Contemporary Album (Soul In Mind);
Best Female Artist;
Remix of the Year (Feel Good); and
Album of the Year (Soul In Mind).
According to Generous Pictures Producer, Tori Reeves, the DVD rates as one of the production house’s most significant achievements to date, especially as it was such a complex and detailed shoot.
In addition to a tight set-up schedule of just four days, Director Warwick Allan had to take into account the fact that the concert had to be lit for camera and still comply with safety regulations. It also had to provide an enjoyable and emotive experience for the fans.
“Given Warwick’s past experience with live concerts and music videos, he wanted to work with the best available HD cameras as well as the top camera operators and DOP. This would guarantee the highest production values which Sony Music Entertainment required and international DVD releases demand.
“In order to reach these high production values we needed to use high-end equipment, but we had the challenge of doing so in an extremely cost effective way,” said Reeves.
Generous Pictures worked closely with Panavision, who sourced the 10 Red One cameras and supplied the lenses used to capture Lira’s spectacular show. Illuminating the arena to optimal filming levels was the responsibility of Southern Lighting’s Oliver Wilter, the lighting designer of the show. AVL Sound & Stage supplied the bulk of the lights as well as all the sound gear.
“After months of pre-production, set-up came down to just four days but Southern Lighting, Oliver and AVL Sound & Stage pulled out all the stops and proved what professionals they really are and delivered Warwick’s vision.
“Not only did Warwick direct the shoot and design the video backdrops, he also edited the 25 hours of footage into the two-hour live concert DVD, a ‘making of’ documentary and a 48-minute cut-down for television – all within a phenomenal six weeks,” she said.
Allan added: “The entire post-production pipeline from initial capture to the final grade in Baselight HD was designed to ensure the highest picture quality of the end product.
“The result of the collaboration was a first for Africa – this is the first time ever that so many Red One cameras have been used to shoot a live performance on the continent. This culminated in a successful concert and DVD which looks set to put South African live concert film production on the map,” concluded Reeves.
Lira’s Manager/Producer, as well as producer for this extensive project, Jazzworx’s Robin Kohl, was full of praise for Generous and the team it pulled together: “When one stands at the door of creating something that has never been done before, the big question of how to go about it is ever present. Choosing the right partners was one of many decisions in creating the continent’s first ever full high definition DVD for one of its important musical stars.
“Generous Pictures performed the management of our visual production in a way that I can only say will see me coming back to them in the future. Lira Live – A Celebration has set many benchmarks. Personally, one of the greatest points was finding a team that handled under many pressures and complex circumstances.”