As one of the largest universities in the South, Auburn is known nationwide not only for its diverse curriculum, but also for its top-ranked sports teams. With the help of Sony’s latest 4K video cameras and technology, video production students at Auburn University get to combine both disciplines through their coursework and involvement with the school’s War Eagle Productions, a video production program which provides live and post-production video services for Auburn Athletics’ coverage.
From entry-level Sony cameras to the same camera systems being used to capture prime-time sports at the top broadcasters, Auburn University is exposing students to production tools at every level. With access to Sony still and video cameras including the α7S II, FS700, Z150, FS5, X320, F55 and HDC-4300, students have the ability to learn using the same models that are being used in the field by professionals including freelancers, filmmakers, documentarians and broadcasters, among others.
Jeff Hanel, Director of Video, Post Production for Auburn Athletics, who oversees the management and daily operations of Post-Production video for all Auburn Athletic sports, described the school’s use of some of Sony most advanced cameras including F55s for 4K Live production, HDC-4300s for slow motion within broadcasts and the FS5 for handheld shooting. “We use F55s as our main camera for a lot of our features when we have sit down interviews, intro video shoots, highlights, every piece we put on the board and cutaways for our big projects, as well as any other shoots that arise,” he explained. “FS5s are used near the benches and inside the locker room because they’re very small and compact and can be held discreetly against your stomach or chest.”
A distinguishing benefit to using Sony’s cameras is their slow motion capabilities, which Hanel claims is one of the main reasons why Auburn chooses Sony. “Being able to shoot high frame rate in sports is quintessential to our job,” he said. “Being able to slow your footage down to show the action is invaluable, especially in video.” He continued, “When we shoot high frame rate, FS5s are great for it because if you shoot 240 frames a second, a lot of times you make the base 24P because it has a much more filmatic look, plus you can go a little bit higher on the shutter, and with sports that’s really great because you get a much crisper image that way,” Hanel explained.
Discussing high frame rate further, Michael Sullivan, Director of Video, Live Operations & Engineering, who oversees all live operations for the video services department of Auburn Athletics offered, “We have primarily used Sony as our high frame rate super slow mo cameras and they are always talked about as having the clearest picture, compared to other cameras that we have used. For live production, we’ve had a lot of success with Sony’s high frame rate cameras, both through the Sony F55 and the addition of the HDC-4300 this fall. It’s been really fun because as we showed these new replays, we can see so much more on any particular play. You can see a foot in bounds, a ball being caught, a batter’s swing position on a homerun – that level of detail and nuance is something that has greatly impacted the overall fan experience in a very positive way.”
He continued, “The fan experience and fan engagement have been a focus of ours. Being able to provide a high quality, second to none experience for every fan in attendance is an emphasis that our team spends a lot of time on. One of those goals is being able to clearly see the action on the field and to provide angles and analysis that fans don’t get at home. From what we do with our high frame rate cameras and being able to give the viewers in the stadium that best look, and the clearest look at the action, we accomplish that goal. With live playback back to the viewers, fans and patrons in the seats are getting a very similar experience to what they would be getting at home during Monday Night Football.”
Auburn’s recent addition of Sony’s flagship HDC-4300 camera system also proves they’ve doubled down their commitment to high frame rate and, according to Sullivan, the “extremely versatile” cameras have “transformed our acquisition” and helped confirm the path they wanted to take for the future of their broadcasts. He praised the 4300’s low light capabilities, color profile, picture sharpness and quality saying it “blows other cameras out of the water.” Sullivan attests, “the feedback has been that the cameras offer a very clear and definitive look that has truly enhanced our fans’ experience.”
To drive the point home, Sullivan detailed a recent instance when the Sony cameras directly assisted in the challenge of a call. “There was a very definitive, big play in the game and since we had two Sony cameras running at 4x super slow mo, we were able to instantly replay the action, which led our coach to challenge the call, and the officials overturned it in our favor.”
Learning to use high-end cameras in fast-paced, hands-on environments including the locker room, the benches, the sidelines and even in the classroom has served Auburn’s students well. Students learn by using the professional models in the field, and “asking a ton of questions,” in addition to learning every setting in the classroom. Hanel maintains that learning Sony’s menu structure and operation using introductory models like the FS5 and FS700 makes it easier to transition to more feature rich models like the F55 and HDC-4300 and empowers students to have a competitive edge in the workplace.
Sullivan noted, “Having seven different facilities and having 10 video boards, our students are going to have an intimate knowledge of the equipment. At Auburn, our students will learn every aspect of running a camera, from how to set and operate the camera to what’s in the menu and how the settings work. We believe in giving our students every opportunity to gain as much real-world experience as possible before graduation.”
Sullivan added, “It’s cool when I can tell a new student who’s just starting, ‘Hey, there are professionals who have been doing this for 25, 30 years who are using this exact same technology.’ And to be able to put that technology in front of them and in their hands for them to learn on and train on is invaluable. To have camera operators leave Auburn knowing how to shoot super slow mo for live sports is instrumental, because that’s a very different thing than just shooting 1x for live sports. This is an unbelievable experience for those students to gain practical experience in the operation of top of the line cameras and who will graduate and get jobs based off of that knowledge.”
Bo Larkin, Video Coordinator for Auburn football, films all of the team’s games and practices and coordinates team footage. Prior to his tenure in this role, he was a student at Auburn and worked as a videographer before and during his enrollment. Now, he oversees a staff of 17 students with diverse backgrounds in and out of the film and production space. Using over a dozen recently acquired PXW-Z150 cameras, the students capture the Tigers’ movements across three different fields.
When Larkin decided it was time for new cameras, the move to the Z150s was a welcome upgrade. Although his team wasn’t using Sony models prior, he “heard a lot of good reviews about the Z150’s image quality and ease of use. We were introduced to the model at the College Sports Video Association (CSVA) and tested one on-site at Auburn. Our team picked it up really quickly and it seemed like the right choice for us.” He added, “Some of the students may not know exactly what exposure is, or what light balance is. The Z150’s have minimal buttons and make it really easy for those with little camera experience to understand and be consistent, so that all of our shots look the same and we have as few problems as possible. We found the right balance of functionality and simplicity in the Z150.”
The Z150’s 29-348mm wide-angle fixed zoom lens also delivers for Auburn. “We use these cameras and lenses at every practice and we’re shooting 55 feet in the air in our practice film towers,” continued Larkin. “Sometimes, we’ll be shooting all the way across the field, distances of 150 yards away, and still get a crisp image. This year when we traveled to SEC Championship game, in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, their end zone shot is very far back from the field, making the opposite end zone 200 yards away. That range came close to pushing the lens’ limitations, but we still got a beautiful shot from it, exactly what we wanted,” he explained.
In terms of features, Larkin appreciates the camera’s ND filters which he “uses on a bright day” and the future-proofing 4K resolution offers, which he says is “always a good option to have in your back pocket.” Larkin is also happy with the durability and capabilities of the camera and foresees them being used for many years to come.
“If we’re able to expand what we’re doing with the University, we would absolutely love to increase our relationship with Sony. We enjoy Sony’s products and it’s a bonus that their team is easy to work with and truly cares about us not only as customers, but as people,” commented Sullivan. Hanel added, “Sony’s customer service has been out of this world,” while Larkin mentioned, “Sony has been great to work with. Their support has been excellent and handled in a timely fashion.”
“In our field, we’re always looking towards the future, so we’re always looking for ways to better impact our students and give them a leg up when they graduate,” said Sullivan. “I can definitively say that because of our partnership with Sony, our students and staff are operating some of the top technology in the business and that technology is not only giving them a unique learning experience but is paying large dividends for our fans and athletic teams.”
BIOS:
Jeff Hanel, Director of Video, Post Production
Hanel oversees the management and daily operations of Post-Production video for all Auburn Athletic sports. He creates high-end features and videos, plus provides creative input for post-production video needs. He is responsible for the creation and creative direction of gameday tunnel videos/hype videos and feature stories for all athletics in-venue video boards and television productions.
Michael Sullivan, Director of Video, Live Operations & Engineering
Sullivan is currently responsible for overseeing all live operations for War Eagle Productions, the video services department of Auburn Athletics. This includes all SEC Network and videoboard shows and events. He is the lead production liaison between Auburn and ESPN and, in addition, handles the oversight of the more than 85 student and freelance staff that run the more than 330 yearly events. Sullivan also oversees the engineering department ensuring that all equipment and materials are properly configured, well maintained and serviced before each show or broadcast.
Bo Larkin, Video Coordinator
Bo Larkin is the video coordinator for Auburn football. He is responsible for the exchange of scouting and breakdown of opponent game film, as well as coordinating the staff that films daily practices and games for the Tigers.