MELVILLE, N.Y., April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The future of
4K filmmaking is looking up — in fact, all the way to space. A
Beautiful Planet, the latest 3D space documentary from
acclaimed filmmaker Toni Myers and
IMAX Entertainment, made in cooperation with NASA, will premiere in
IMAX in New York on April 16 and was shot primarily in space using
Canon cameras and lenses. The film will be shown to the
public exclusively in IMAX® and IMAX® 3D
theaters beginning April 29.
The Canon EOS C500 4K Digital Cinema Camera and EOS-1D C 4K
cameras were transported from Earth to the International Space
Station (ISS) in November 2014 via an
unmanned supply ship, and were received by NASA astronaut
Terry Virts, astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti from the European Space
Agency and Cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov. This was the first time that
4K cameras were brought aboard the space station for a commercial
film project. During a six-month mission at the ISS, Virts,
Cristoforetti and Shkaplerov worked closely with NASA astronauts
Kjell Lindgren, Butch Wilmore, Scott
Kelly, and Kimiya Yui of the
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to take turns using
Canon's advanced digital cameras and lenses to film footage of
lightning storms, the continents, volcanoes, coral reefs and bright
city lights on Earth for the film. One of the film's greatest and
most dramatic highlights, the striking imagery of the Northern
Lights--or the aurora borealis-- was captured by NASA astronaut
Kjell Lindgren. These awe-inspiring
images were previously unattainable in such stunning
resolution.
The Canon EOS C500 4K (4096 x 2160-pixel) Digital Cinema Camera
is capable of originating uncompressed RAW output for external
recording to meet the demands of premium cinematic productions and
other top-quality production markets. It features a Super 35mm,
8.85-megapixel CMOS image sensor, DIGIC DV III Image Processor and
an expansive range of recording and output options specifically for
4K and 2K image acquisition. The compact, lightweight Canon EOS-1D
C Digital SLR camera delivers outstanding video performance and
provides video recording at 4K (4096 x 2160-pixel) or Full HD (1920
x 1080-pixel) resolution to support high-end motion picture,
television production and other advanced imaging applications.
'A Beautiful Planet' joins Canon at NAB
A gallery of
still images taken on the ISS with the Canon EOS-1D C camera and
Canon lenses during the shooting of the film will be shown at the
Canon booth # C4325 at the National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB) trade show, April 18-21, 2016
in Las Vegas, NV. During NAB, the
film's Director of Photography, James
Neihouse, ASC, will speak at Canon's stage on the challenges
and benefits of shooting in space. Joining him will be Marsha Ivins, a consultant on the film, former
NASA astronaut, and a veteran of five space shuttle missions.
Neihouse has worked on more than 30 IMAX films including Space
Station 3D and Hubble 3D and trained more than
25 shuttle and space-station crews on the intricacies of
large-format filmmaking.
The documentary, A Beautiful Planet was produced,
written, and directed by Toni Myers,
and is narrated by Academy Award®-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence.
About A Beautiful Planet
A Beautiful
Planet is a breathtaking portrait of Earth from space,
providing a unique perspective and increased understanding of our
planet and galaxy as never seen before. Made in cooperation with
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the film
features stunning footage of our magnificent blue planet — and the
effects humanity has had on it over time — captured by the
astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). From
space, Earth blazes at night with the electric intensity of human
expansion — a direct visualization of our changing world. But it is
within our power to protect the planet. As we continue to explore
and gain knowledge of our galaxy, we also develop a deeper
connection to the place we all call home. From IMAX Entertainment
and Toni Myers — the acclaimed
filmmaker behind celebrated IMAX® documentaries
Hubble 3D, and Space Station 3D — A Beautiful
Planet presents an awe-inspiring glimpse of Earth and a hopeful
look into the future of humanity.
About Canon U.S.A.,
Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is
a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and
industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico) markets. With approximately
$31 billion in global revenue, its
parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S.
patents granted in 2015† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's
Most Admired Companies in 2016. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of
customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based
consumer service and support for all of the products it
distributes. Canon U.S.A. is
dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and
environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas
Headquarters secured LEED® Gold certification, a
recognition for the design, construction, operations and
maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised
of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news
feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter
@CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact
pr@cusa.canon.com.
† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States
Patent and Trademark Office.
IMAX is a registered trademark of IMAX®
Corporation
Academy Award® is the registered trademark and service mark
of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Canon U.S.A.
Website:
www.usa.canon.com
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SOURCE Canon U.S.A., Inc.