Video director Michael Shubert recently produced several high-profile fundraising events for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital using a flypack system comprising Blackmagic Design products. The events included the Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament and the Rahm Celebrity Golf Tournament, which raised $5.5 million combined.
Stunning Performances Captured on Film
The fundraisers featured performances by renowned musicians such as Alice Cooper, Phil Vassar, Mike Mills of R.E.M., Al Paris of Kool and the Gang, Jeff Baxter from Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, among others. For each event, Shubert utilized a Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 camera mounted on a 24-foot jib, alongside four URSA Broadcast G2 cameras positioned around the stage for various shots.
Advanced Production Equipment
The camera feeds were routed through a Smart Videohub 40x40 router and fed into an ATEM 4 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K live production switcher, paired with an ATEM 2 M/E Advanced Panel for control. At the Warburton event, the program feed was displayed on three large LED video walls, while the Rahm event used four 12K laser projectors, each equipped with two M/Es from the ATEM 4 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K, projecting to screens around the venue.
Reliable Recording Solutions
The production also incorporated five HyperDeck Studio 4K Pros for recording the program feed and camera ISO feeds. According to Shubert, “Using the URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 and URSA Broadcast G2 cameras with Ultra HD Canon lenses significantly enhanced our production value.” He also praised the HyperDeck Studio 4K Pros’ reliability and versatility in handling both H.264 and H.265 recording formats.
Shubert highlighted the efficiency of the Blackmagic Design system, noting that it could be set up for camera input within ten minutes. He stated, “Our setup has improved over the years as we’ve incorporated more Blackmagic gear, allowing us to serve clients better and contribute to great causes like St. Jude.”