FreeLens TV shoots reality show ‘Take Off’ with a Blackmagic camera workflow

A wide selection of Blackmagic solutions, including cameras, mixers and DaVinci post-production software, have enabled production company FreeLens TV to shape ‘Take Off’, a new reality show concept based on the world of science and innovation.

Take Off comes to RTL Luxembourg combining science and innovation with the world of reality TV and quiz shows. The program pits 12 contestants against each other in a series of challenges, culminating in a grand finale.

As Yann Figuet of FreeLens TV, the production company behind the show, reports, the use of Blackmagic Design equipment has been “instrumental” to achieving their goal of implementing a live multi-camera workflow. For image capture, FreeLens TV used a combination of Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 and Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera 4K units, powered by a series of PTZ cameras: “Broadcast in HD, we paired the URSA Minis with a mix of B4 lenses and rigged each unit with a fiber converter, providing a camera return feed for the operator as well as camera control, talkback and tally”.

The virtual production elements, powered by Unreal Engine, further optimized the viewer experience, as Figue explains: “Our goal was to educate and engage our audience through immersive storytelling. By leveraging Unreal Engine alongside Blackmagic Design’s technology, we were able to seamlessly integrate virtual elements into our live production, enhancing the educational value of the show.”

It was also possible to manage the different camera signals, including those from single recordings and the webcast production, thanks to the use of multiple HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro and Videohub 40×40 12G devices: “To distribute the different streams, a pair of Videohub 40×40 12G routers were used for signal management. One managed inputs and outputs on our ATEM Constellation 8K, with an additional router distributing signals from the 43 ISO recorders.” Finally, the live rigged signal was reprocessed in DaVinci Resolve Studio for multi-camera editing and image finalization.