The
rise of Bristol's John Downer Productions Ltd. to
the status of the World's foremost wildlife film production
company was nearly halted when they found it impossible
to find a 4x4 vehicle to act as a camera platform
- and to deploy their self-propelled 'robot' cameras
known as 'Dung-Cam' and 'Boulder-Cam'.
The usual Landrover and Toyota camera vehicles can
be painfully cramped over a 12 hour day's filming.
Unlike the normal arrangement of driver
with cameraman in the rear, John Downer needed the
cameraman to double as driver with a second remote
camera operative in the rear.
With just 7 weeks before production was to begin,
JDP couldn't find a vehicle with a driver's door wide
enough to use as a camera aperture and with enough
room to accommodate robot cameras, robot camera operative,
monitors and Director!
Luckily, John Downer Productions found AAD SAFARI
VEHICLES. We began by assessing the real production
needs of the team and designed outwards from that
starting point.
Just five weeks from reciept of order, JDP took delivery
of an armoured, fully fit-for-purpose vehicle that
they describe as 'the Rolls-Royce of camera vehicles'
.
The
vehicle was an integral part of the production of
BBC 1's groundbreaking drama, 'PRIDE' and a major
feature of supporting programme, 'PRIDE - Talking
With Animals' - the making of 'PRIDE'. The specially
designed flexible camera mounting can be regularly
seen on BBC 1's 'Big Cat Diary'.
Complete
flexible multiple camera platform that
can be supplied on Defender 130 or 110 chassis
with features that can
include:
Protection against ramming
by elephants, rhino and buffalo etc.
Integral large unique
side camera platforms / cradles with discreet
facility for deployment of self-propelled cameras
Extra large sliding windows
for real panoramic view and real camera apertures
Specialy designed and
made roof hatches with integral flexible camera mountings
that allow instant transfer of camera from one side
of vehicle to the other
Extra internal width
and heigh.
Excellent environment
for working for long periods - power-points
and workstation for on-screen monitoring of shots
Antennae for micro-wave camera signals.
Reinforced flat roof as working platform.
Variable seating arrangements
(including special springing, rotation and variable
interior geometry) with 'on-the-job' flexibility to
suit changing wildlife spotting and camera needs.
Unique facility for driver-as-cameraman
operation with custom built driving environment
with unique flexible seat configuration.
Bespoke seat and cushion covers in hard-wearing dust
resistant material with integral storage pockets for
lenses, batteries and tape etc.
Purpose made cushions that double as beds and in-tansit
camera protection.
Specially designed and
made wet weather awnings with integral and stowable
support system.
Split charge system with
sockets for equipment hook-ups
Unique remote camera
lift and deployment facilities
Equipment storage / lashing
points
Wading / dust snorkel
Winch
Stowage for two spare wheels.
