5-Star's shoot gear starts with great cameras. We have several cameras, but the workhorses are the Panasonic D700 digital cameras. Combined with multiple lenses and filters, these replaced 5-Star's Betacam and MII cameras starting in 1997. Now with 3 matched 700s we've recorded a library of over 1200 hours of raw footage for clients worldwide.
For the folks who demand film, we still have our trusty 16mm gear. Although the recent addition of a 24P camera has put a big smile on our clients face who have wanted to pump up their image. Check out the Henderson State, Collier Drug & Today's Furniture spots on our demo reel for a peek at the new toy's work.
Every shooter knows that in order to "massage" the look of a shoot, you have to have great support gear. That's why 5-Star has all the gear a client needs to shoot on anything from DV to film. Our crew has supported many out of state shooters who are looking for everything from gaffers tape to dollies. Our warehouse is full of Mole Richardson lights from 200w to 20,000w. These lights are complimented with 2 full lowell kits for the field, as well as Photoflex soft boxes. 5 star also has all the c-stands, flags, sandbags, cookies, gels and grip gear to shoot whatever scene is cooked up by creative gurus. If it's a dolly with a jib or just a simple light kit, our gear is available 24-7.
Adding a little, or a lot of eye candy to a project is as simple as slipping into the GRFX suite and creating cel animation, 2d or 3d animation or just throwing a little twist on text. Matt at Taylor Mack Advertising is working on the pre production for a claymation spot. That bad boy will be on this website.
The crew at 5-Star knows that the bottom line for any post house is the fact that you're only as good as your last project. That's why when we have someone visit 5-Star for the first time, we show them the project being chopped in the first edit suite they walk in. If it sucks then it sucks. The crew takes great pride in their work. It has to be the best the company can possibly turn.
Our greatest asset is the personnel of 5-Star. They are without a doubt the craziest hard working bunch I've had the pleasure of working with in my 17 years of media. I've watched projects that seem to have no potential turn into really good pieces not because of equipment, but because of vision.
Some of our credits include national spots for Rheem & Ruud. Nationwide training for ABF. Numerous infomercials that air regionally & nationally, and 2 short films. One shot on location in Sante Fe, and the other shot in St. Louis. 5 star sends broadcast dubs to practically all 50 states. Some famous personalities we've worked with include Daryl Johnston of the Dallas Cowboys, Coach Rudy Tomjonavich, Coach Don Shula, Mark Mosely and Gil Gerard.
- Mike Hart