Podcast The Vertical Buzz Shot with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
Production team builds premium podcast workflow with ATEM Mini Extreme ISO and DaVinci Resolve Studio.
Blackmagic Design today announced that the vertical entertainment podcast “The Vertical Buzz” is produced using Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro digital film cameras and Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera 4K G2s, ATEM Mini Extreme ISO live production switchers and DaVinci Resolve Studio editing, photo editing, color grading, visual effects (VFX), and audio post production software.
Hosted by veteran actor Buzz Leer and produced at Glendale Podcast Studio by Jason Hanan and Erika Hanan, “The Vertical Buzz” is an interview show dedicated to the rapidly growing vertical filmmaking industry. The show features conversations with leading actors, directors, and platform creators, giving the vertical entertainment space a media platform that documents the industry as it develops.
Leer created “The Vertical Buzz” after working as an actor in vertical dramas for several years and realizing that nobody was covering the people building the content millions were watching daily. From the start, he wanted the show to look and feel nothing like a typical podcast. “The goal was to create something that felt like a premium television interview show, with cinematic lighting, multiple camera angles and a polished look that reflects the quality of the industry we are covering,” said Leer. “I wanted guests to walk into the studio and immediately feel like they were appearing on a major entertainment program.”
To achieve this look, the production shoots on two camera packages: Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pros paired with Sigma Cine lenses, and Micro Studio Camera 4K G2s with Olympus lenses. Hanan noted that the Micro Studio Camera 4K G2s produce a high quality despite their compact size, and their portability proved valuable for a recent remote shoot at Sunset Las Palmas Studios. “The footage’s color science and cinematic look always wow our clients and guests, and that applies to both sets of cameras,” Jason said.
Jason and his team at Glendale Podcast Studio share that passion for high standards across the facility. The studio operates three production spaces across two buildings, each customizable to give clients a distinct visual identity. “Every detail is curated, from the scent of the space when you walk in to the cameras we use on set,” said Jason. “Buzz wanted a show that looked like it had been produced at the highest level, and our spaces and Blackmagic Design equipment enable us to execute at that level.”
All three studios run ATEM Mini Extreme ISO switchers. While occasionally used for live switching, the ATEMs serve a critical role as a backup capture system, using the ISO functionality of the units to capture both the program feed as well as individual feeds of each camera. “Failures are typical human error, and having a backup stream gives both our clients and us a real sense of professionalism and peace of mind,” said Jason.
The team also captures in camera with the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pros using Blackmagic RAW and relies on the cameras’ built in preset system to maintain a consistent look across episodes and shows. Jason pointed to the cameras’ menu system Blackmagic OS as a standout. “There’s nothing worse than an overly complex menu system,” said Jason. “And the camera quality is miles better than what other cameras normally offer. .The flexibility of capturing in Blackmagic RAW can’t be overstated, and the quality of it, even at 12:1 compression, is pretty mind boggling. For podcasts, it’s our preferred format.”
When footage needs correction or recovery, the team turns to DaVinci Resolve Studio. “Whenever a mistake has been made with camera settings or a dimly lit set requires denoising footage, DaVinci Resolve is unbelievably effective and often saves the day,” said Jason. “The software just keeps improving.”
With the ATEM Mini Extreme ISOs also generating a DaVinci Resolve project file from each recording, the team can easily jump into DaVinci Resolve Studio for quick fixes or cut downs.
“The software is elegant, comprehensive and reliable, and we like the idea of being 100 percent within the Blackmagic Design ecosystem,” said Jason. “The color science, the cameras, the switchers, the software; it all works together and that consistency is a big part of what makes ‘The Vertical Buzz’ look as good as it does.”
“The Vertical Buzz” is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
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