The popular sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” uses Panavised Sony F900 cameras and Vinten Vector 700 heads on-set, and has done so for the past three seasons. In fact, director of photography Christian La Fountaine said he’s used Vinten heads on all of his sitcoms, “Complete Savages” and “Life with Bonnie.”
The heads allow operators to fine-tune the counterbalance and friction quickly. This gives them the feel that is required to meet production challenges, where the crew moves from the stage to the back lot shooting as many as 60 scenes. The result is the camera operator has a perfect interface to move the camera and get the shot right.
They once had to photograph a stuntman tripping and falling down some stairs, doing a front roll and landing without dropping some food he was carrying. Keeping the actor frame was not easy, according to La Fountaine.
Christian La Fountaine won the 2005 Prime Time Emmy Award for his cinematography on “How I Met Your Mother.”
For more information, visit www.vitecgroup.com.
