The Filmakademie's technical equipment and departments
The Filmakademie’s comprehensive range of equipment is organized, maintained and administered by the staff of the Technical department. This department is responsible for mobile technology, the sound stages, the set construction workshop, film/video editing, sound postproduction and sound studios, digital postproduction and the academy’s cinema.
Professional equipment for shooting films – camera, lighting and sound
Around 250 student films are produced every year and this volume requires an enormous amount of equipment and materials. With the help of a sophisticated logistics system, which has been perfected with the addition of electronic project folders, the Mobile Technology department does its best to meet the wide range of requests it receives. The three major areas for which equipment is available are lighting, sound and camera. The design of lighting for film by cinematographers and lighting technicians is a complex and essential process, and to meet this need our technical inventory includes some 400 lights with a capacity ranging from 150 to 10000 watts as well as approximately 10 kilometers of plug-connectable cable. Sound technology requirements are also well served, although there is no single standard and each sound technician tends to have a preference for particular equipment. At present, the Filmakademie has around 60 cameras for film and video formats. Those who want to shoot with film have a choice between 35mm and 16mm/super 16. The classic 35mm cinema format is the oldest and will probably be the last to disappear from the market since it continues to provide higher resolution and a better contrast than currently available electronic processes. For shooting on video the academy offers the Betacam analog format along with the digital video formats HDCAM, Digital-Betacam, DVCPRO, DVCAM and Professional DV.
Flexibility on the set – the Filmakademie’s sound stages
The Filmakademie has two sound stages that are used for seminar work during the introductory phase of study and for film projects involving elaborate sets. Sound Stage 1 measures around 300 square meters (14m x 21m) and is nearly seven meters high. In terms of technical equipment, Sound Stage 1 meets the requirements for both film and television production, and its floor is even enough for the use of mobile studio cameras. A projection window can be used for film screenings and during film-related events such as film festivals.
Sound Stage 2 with its 400 square meters (21m x 18m) is also used as a multifunctional production and event venue. A total of 50 electrical installations on the ceiling provide for a high degree of flexibility. In addition, a height of 11 meters means that the studio can be used for high set constructions. The studio is equipped with a beamer and a projection screen, which are used for film screenings and presentations, and the sound system is equipped for live mixing during events. Junction boxes on each studio wall and a mobile control console for the lighting and sound systems allow the space to be adapted to a range of individual requirements.
Suspended set elements, lights, loudspeakers and other technical equipment winched to the ceiling can amount to a total weight of 8 tons.
Building sets for shooting
In the set construction workshop designs by Production Design students are built as models and in full size versions. The workshop is mainly oriented to woodwork. Plate saws, format circular saws, crosscut saws, and other machinery are available for use by students once they have been properly instructed in their use. Students can also use the workshop for painting surfaces and applying patinas and coverings. The workshop supervisor also offers advice to production designers on feasibility, construction, materials and cost.
Real and virtual editing tables – turning raw material into films
The Montage/Editing department is located in the Lubitsch building and offers students both real and “virtual” editing tables, i.e. film and video editing suites. The technical facilities include Avid Media Composer Adrenaline, Avid Xpress Pro, Final Cut Pro, and 16mm und 35mm editing suites. Students are taught how to use the equipment in introductory sessions, during the courses offered by the Montage/Editing department and while working on projects. The editing rooms are made available to students in order of seniority.
The transfer room is equipped with tape machines for different video formats. Students are able to use patch bays to make copies or transfer films to other video formats. A computer system is also provided to enable students to digitize video tapes so that material can then be edited electronically. The system also allows for digital video files to be transferred to video tape. Video tape can also easily be transferred to DVD.
The sound of music
Students enrolled in the Film Music & Sound Design study course have access to two MIDI studios. Each of these is equipped with a PC with Gigasampler, a Macintosh computer with sequencer software, a digital mixing desk and other digital and analog peripheral sound equipment. In addition, students are able to use the equipment in the Sound Postproduction department to record instruments and mix music. The Sound Postproduction department offers a range of technical possibilities: dubbing, computer-aided film mixing – including in Dolby Stereo and 6-channel digital – and music recording and mixing using digital multi-track technology. Apart from the sound recording studio, available equipment includes three Pro Tools, two Pro Tools LE and one Nuendo.
The final polish – digital postproduction
The academy’s digital postproduction systems are maintained by the Institute of Animation and consist of Avid Symphony Nitris, Avid DS Nitris, Final Cut Pro and Discreet Flame. Feed and recording possibilities include D1, D5, HDCAM, Digital Betacam, Betacam SP and DVCPRO as well as DV recorder. Projects edited using offline systems can be reedited and color-corrected without compression using these editing systems.
On screen – the Caligari cinema
The Filmakademie's very own Caligari cinema, which is located in the courtyard on Seestrasse, has facilities for both film (35mm, 16mm and perforated 16mm) and high-quality video projection using HDCAM, DigiBeta, BetaSP, VHS, DVD and a range of computers. During the day, the cinema is used by the academy for seminars, workshops and presentations and at certain times also for evening events. In the evenings and on weekends it is leased to a cinema operator, who offers a comprehensive program of films for the Ludwigsburg public.
Uwe Kurz
Head of Technical Department
