TNDV Television has introduced the Aspiration 35, a reimagined version of their 40-foot mobile production unit designed specifically for cinematic multi-camera workflows. This partnership with dbV Rentals marks the industry’s first ARRI camera-equipped truck, offering a seamless blend of film-quality imaging and traditional live broadcast capabilities.
Industry First: ARRI Alexa 35 Integration
The Aspiration 35 features ARRI Alexa 35 cameras, renowned for their cinematic quality. These cameras are integrated into the truck’s infrastructure via a single-wire architecture, allowing up to twelve cameras per deployment. This setup ensures clean transmission over traditional SMPTE cables without additional hardware or cabling.
“Our refreshed Aspiration 35 truck is more than just an upgrade; it's a leap into the future of live production,” said TNDV Founder Nic Dugger. “The ARRI Alexa 35 has long been a top choice for DPs, and now we offer this quality in a scalable, broadcast-capable environment.”
Scalability and Flexibility
The truck’s camera packages are fully scalable and can support up to twelve Alexa 35 Live systems. Essential live production systems, including return video, tally, intercom, and remote camera shading, are seamlessly integrated. This makes the Aspiration 35 a versatile solution for entertainment, corporate, and sports productions that require cinematic aesthetics.
“The industry has made significant advances in offering lenses that can provide both cinematic image quality and broadcast integration capabilities,” said Doug Bates, Owner of dbV Rentals. “We are providing our customers with camera systems that produce high-quality images while simplifying the infrastructure.”
Extensive Lens Inventory
The partnership with dbV Rentals also provides TNDV and its clients access to a large inventory of specialty cinematic lenses from ARRI, Canon, and Fujinon. These lenses offer producers the flexibility to achieve the desired look without compromising on quality or production control.
“For years, producers have been rigging together handheld cinema-style cameras and running them into trucks that were never really designed for that type of workflow,” Dugger added. “Aspiration 35 offers a native, professional solution where everything is built up clean and transmitted to the truck over traditional SMPTE cable without additional hardware or cabling.”
Exhibition and Future Plans
The Aspiration 35 made its debut at a special block party in Nashville, featuring hands-on demonstrations of the truck’s capabilities. The event brought together production professionals, vendors, and industry groups to experience the new cinematic workflow firsthand.
TNDV also recently unveiled the Exclamation truck, which has been revamped with a holistic 12G video/audio ecosystem, a refreshed hybrid fiber/copper backbone, and modernized 10GbE networking infrastructure. This addition expands TNDV’s mobile fleet to 11 trucks, each designed for specific production needs.
With the Aspiration 35, TNDV adds a powerful new chapter to its mobile fleet, positioning itself as a leader in cinematic live production solutions.