Showtime's 'The Chi' Uses Blackmagic Design Cameras to Bring Chicago's South Side to Life

Abraham Martínez Martinez used three Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro, one Ursa Mini 4K and two Micro Studio Camera 4K with Blackmagic Video Assist 4K devices to film the new Showtime original series.

The director of photography Abraham Martínez used a wide variety of cameras manufactured by Blackmagic Design, including the Ursa Mini Pro and Micro Studio Camera models, to portray Chicago's South Side in the series The Chi of Showtime.

This television drama shows the daily life of that neighborhood. Boys and girls getting ready to go to school while their fathers and mothers go out to work, young people trying to earn a living and older adults watching everything from the entrance of their homes. But in this neighborhood there are dangers that threaten to stifle dreams, and a simple decision can have deadly consequences.

Martínez's goal was for the series to be realistic and grounded: "I wanted the camera to accompany the main characters, to feel like we were in the middle of the changing conditions of the city that constantly affect them. Therefore, we had to choose devices that provided flexibility."

The cameras

Martinez used three Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro, a Ursa Mini 4K and two Micro Studio Camera 4K with devices Blackmagic Video Assist 4K. In his opinion, cameras have acquired great importance among the equipment he uses.

"I think that using the Ursa Mini Pro model has become something like a painting technique in my work dynamic. I can count on half a dozen Blackmagic Design cameras so that my palette adapts to the dynamic conditions of work and the city, which require me to adapt quickly," says Martínez.

"For this urban drama, it was essential to shoot on location in Chicago, as the images represent a naturalism that compares life at home and on the street. In this sense, the production team took advantage of the colors of the environment to develop the style. We paid homage to color in many ways, from the costumes to the set design. The series presents different facets, for example, life at home, the neighborhood and the street, compared to the institutional aspects of the city, such as the prison and police correctional facilities. I was able recreate both the look and feel of both worlds seamlessly, as we encompassed each of the subtly interconnected plots,” adds the director of photography.

Although The Chi focuses on gritty realism, the filming itself was at times rigorous, forcing the cinematography team to move quickly. However, Blackmagic cameras allowed Martínez to capture high-quality images, even on the go. "I always had my arsenal of Blackmagic products on hand. If I needed a still camera for an extra angle, I would shoot with one. If I wanted to record a establishing shot during a change of location, my Ursa Mini Pro was ready to help us complete the day's work. In turn, we relied heavily on Micro Studio Cameras during filming to capture artistic angles, to facilitate story development and save time. We even had an Ursa Mini Pro permanently mounted on a gimbal, for use in any time,” he acknowledges.

Despite the wide variety of units and focus on color, Martínez wasn't worried about consistency between images. When working with Steven Bodner (Light Iron), they had no problem matching their appearance. “The color space of the Blackmagic Design cameras perfectly complemented the others we used.”

But beyond the color, Martínez highlighted the combination of its exceptional quality and its ease of use. "The units easily withstood moving from one place to another and the demands of the cosmopolitan environment. In this case, speed was essential, and the Blackmagic models can be up and running in a very short time. Simply add a lens, a memory card and a battery, and you are ready to film," he concludes.