Victor Kemper, ASC, with the ARRIFLEX 416 camera

Stephan Ukas Bradley (left), Manager of Technical Services for ARRI Burbank, discussing the 416 with Woody Omens, ASC (middle) and Daryn Okada, ASC (right).

Marc Shipman-Mueller (left), ARRI Product Manager for Film Cameras & Lenses and Denny Clairmont (right), discussing the 416 magazine design.

Otto Nemenz with the ARRIFLEX 416

Curtis Clark, ASC, with the Lightweight Zoom 15.5 - 45 mm, T2.6

Bill Russell, ARRI Inc. Vice President of Western Operations

Charlie Davidson, Chief Operating Officer of ARRI Inc

Walter Trauninger, Head of the ARRI Business Unit Camera, was honored for his role in the development of the ARRIFLEX 435, 235, 416 and ARRICAM system.

For a select group of cinematographers, operators, gaffers and rental house owners in Los Angeles, ARRI brought the show to them for an exclusive Pre-NAB dinner event on April 19, 2006. Products shown were the new ARRIFLEX 416 camera, the Ultra 16 lenses, the ARRIMAX 18/12 HMI PAR and the ARRISCAN film scanner. The event was organized by the ARRI Inc. office in Burbank at the Universal Hilton. As guests brought their cars to the valet, they were welcomed by intense beams of light emanating from two ARRIMAX units in the courtyard, one on a stand and another suspended from a Condor with ARRI’s new automated stirrup, the MaxMover.

The evening kicked off with a special cocktail hour for members of the American Society of Cinematographers and special guests. In a time-honored tradition, the esteemed cinematographers were among the very first to get a look at the ARRIFLEX 416 prototypes fresh from the factory in Munich. Attendees included Victor Kemper, ASC; Woody Omens, ASC; Steve Burum, ASC; Ralph Woolsey, ASC; Curtis Clark, ASC; Daryn Okada, ASC; Isidore Mankofsky, ASC; Denny Clairmont, Otto Nemenz and Tom Fletcher.

The unveiling of the 416 was received with much excitement and after some hands-on time, the attendees lavished the new camera with praise for its light weight, ergonomic feel and thoughtful new features.

“It’s great that a company like ARRI which is on the forefront of digital technology with the D-20, still recognizes how valuable film is with the 416 camera. This is a terrific new product for filmmaking and for indie films, this is huge,” said Omens, whose credits include Boomerang, Coming To America and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Denny Clairmont, President of Clairmont Camera, noted: "The 416 is a fantastic camera. It has a nice size and is very quiet. The biggest issue for operators is the viewfinder, and the 416 viewfinder is outstanding. We have Super 16 and HD cameras for rent, but I personally think Super 16 makes more financial sense. Super 16 is certainly a format with a future, especially if you consider the archival issue. "

"I used to shoot a lot of 16 mm for TV, and looking at this new camera, it makes me feel like I want to start shooting again." Said Otto Nemenz, president of Otto Nemenz International. He continued: "The viewfinder is great and the sound level is fantastic, it is an absolute delight. I had heard rumors about a new ARRI 16 mm camera, but I never expected it to be that good. You took the best of the 16SR 3, the movement and the film guide on the magazine, you took what is reliable and proven technology, and you built a great new camera around it. My customers who have seen the camera and my staff feel the same way, they are enthusiastic."

During the cocktail hour, ARRI employees also provided two ARRIFLEX 235 cameras with the new Lightweight Zoom and the Ultra Prime 8R lens for the guests to try on their shoulders.

Following the cocktail hour, the presentation was opened to members of the International Cinematographers Guild, the Society Of Camera Operators and others. Vice President of Western Operations, Bill Russell, explained the company's motivation for a new Super 16 film camera. "With new developments in lenses, film stocks, digital intermediates and now, the ARRIFLEX 416, the Super 16mm format is experiencing a resurgence. Film is not only alive and well, it's thriving,” he said.

Charlie Davidson, Chief Operating Officer of ARRI Inc, affirmed ARRI's commitment to provide the best tools, be they analog or digital, and the best service to the entertainment industry. "In times of change, we all recognize the importance of continuity. And that is what you will see here: familiar faces and exciting new products rooted in a long ARRI tradition. Offering the ARRIFLEX 416 and the D-20 allows us to provide you with a choice of tools for image creation. We now have a firm footing in both the analog and the digital world. Technology continues to advance and our industry continues to evolve. ARRI's long term commitment is to embrace technology in a way that provides the creative community with the tools to enhance and support their creativity, now and for the future."

An ARRISCAN film scanner was displayed, along with the ARRILASER film recorder, to show the company’s commitment to helping filmmakers achieve their true vision from beginning to end, from image capture to DI.

David Long, an image scientist from Kodak was also on hand to talk about the latest developments in film stocks. He credited digital intermediates with breathing new life into the 16 mm format by allowing a blow-up to 35 mm without loss of resolution. Long further noted that Super 16 will have a healthy life ahead, and continues to be one of the best capture mediums.

An Tran & Marc Shipman-Mueller

At the end of the evening, the ARRIMAX demonstrated its full power suspended from a Condor by the MaxMover (photo by Maria Carpenter).