The production team behind Channel 4’s hit high-tension fugitive drama, Hunted, used Sony’s PXW-FS7 cameras for series 3 which aired from 4th January to 8th February 2018. Marrying image quality with run-and-gun versatility, Sony’s large sensor FS7 cameras were selected for their flexibility, ergonomics and ability to deliver cinematic quality on a budget.
Produced by Shine Tv for Channel 4, the first-of-its-kind factual entertainment show follows a group of civilians (Fugitives) sent on the run from a team of former police and intelligence offers (Hunters) in a bid to evade capture for upto 25 days for a share of £100,000. Sony’s FS7 cameras were used to film the Hunters at their London HQ, shooting 12 hours a day, 7 days a week across four weeks of filming, as well as being used to follow the deployed Hunters into the field and bring the thrill of the chase to viewers at home.
‘’The cameras out in the field had their work cut out as those guys are racing around all manner of locations, in and out of vehicles and often in very compromised lighting conditions’’ explained Lee York, series Director of Photography. Jeremy Humphries, a camera operator on the series and owner of Skills2Film, further notes “The FS7, complete with its Super 35mm sensor allowed us to use a shallow depth of field which helped achieve a different look and feel between the Hunters HQ and the fugitive chase.”
The FS7’s ergonomic, compact and lightweight form factor was beneficial in Hunted’s testing run-and-gun environment. Tom Hutchings, Series Producer explains, ‘’Out in the field, so much of Hunted is shot in homes, helicopters or cars, where traditionally subjects would not stand up well to high contrast. Shooting in S-Log means our colourist constantly had a smile on his face.’’
Filming for Hunted, series 3, began in June 2017 and ran for 7 days a week for 4 consecutive weeks. It aired on Channel 4 from 4th January to 8th February 2018.
