Starco goes to Hollywood

North Korea’s response to ‘The Interview’ has placed Hollywood under a particularly intense spotlight of late, but our first news of the week relates to something less controversial and, as you’d expect, more tyre-related. But nevertheless it focuses on films and film making – Polish cinema camera crane manufacturer Moviebird has selected Starco wheels for fitment on its products.

By the time the director is ready to shout ‘Action!’ a film company will have already invested a lot of time and money in bringing people and technical equipment to a location or studio. All of this in preparation for a few minutes of film footage. The slightest unforeseen event can cause delays and break even the largest budget.

Creating a moving shot with the camera sweeping smoothly between various angles and positions demands precision engineering and extremely reliable components, and the ability for the camera platform to move easily, quietly safely and gently under load, in a movement that can be repeated accurately. For most camera crane applications, the most critical components are to be found at the base, where the crane meets the ground and bears the load. Wheel and tyre solutions must match the underlying terrain – pneumatic for soft terrain, hard rubber for smooth studio floors and nylon or composites for tracked shots. Wheels must have minimal rolling resistance and absolutely no flat-spotting, the slightest vibration at the base risks being transmitted to the camera, which with a long focal length lens will amplify any vibration tenfold and render the take useless.

Moviebird’s choice of Starco for its cranes is viewed by the wheel and tyre manufacturer as “yet another example of an application, for which the choice of wheel solution – seemingly the simplest and least expensive component – is critical for the entire function, reliability and performance of the product.” This proves once again, the company adds, that “the choice of a Starco wheel solution, backed-up by unparalleled engineering expertise and logistic support is a sound investment for any original equipment manufacturer in the pursuit of excellence.”

A Moviebird crane was used on the recent Hollywood blockbuster movie “Django Unchained”, staring Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio, which won two Academy Awards including “Best Original Screenplay”. It was also nominated for an Oscar in the category “Best Achievement in Cinematography”.