Epic Documentary Captured in 4K, 5K, and 6K to be presented at the 2014 NAB Show
Press Release: La Paz / Atlanta / Melbourne (March 13, 2014) 3DigitalVision and Baja Productions announce the completion of their 4K natural history film Kings of Baja. The ambitious film expedition travelled Baja, Mexico’s, 800-mile long peninsula and surrounding waters to explore the most diverse marine ecosystem on the planet. The UHD version of the film has been signed by 3D Content Hub of Australia for global TV distribution.
The film’s story transports viewers from Baja’s punishing desert to the vibrant Sea of Cortez to extinct underwater volcanoes to kelp forests. Each sequence showcases the unique evolutionary adaptations of the flora and megafauna to survive in their slice of the ecosystem. The featured “kings” of the film include sea lions, devilrays, great white sharks, hammerheads, giant mantas, whale sharks, and gray whales.
Captured in 4K, 5K, and 6K resolution over the course of five years, Kings of Baja is a co-production between 3DigitalVision and Baja Productions. The production team logged 600 hours of dive time and 25,000 miles of boat and land travel. The film’s UHD version (3840 x 2160) will be marketed and distributed by 3D Content Hub. Kings of Baja will also have a forty-minute version mastered for exhibition in museum and science center Giant Screen theaters.
“Partnering with a Cinematographer like Johnny Friday and Baja Productions allowed us to feature footage that would normally be a budget-breaker,” said Emmy-nominated producer and director of the film, Michael Watchulonis. “The behaviors we captured in full 4K include dive bombing pelicans, cormorants hunting underwater, a marlin and sea lion feeding frenzy, elusive schools of hammerheads, feeding giant mantas, mating squid, and newborn whales playing with people. And that’s just a small part of the story.”
“Capturing the majesty of Baja and its creatures in 4K took us to some of the most remote locations on land or in the water,” said Emmy-winning Cinematographer Johnny Friday. “Baja is one of planet Earth’s crown jewels. I think we’ve woven a visual story that will thrill audiences on any screen they see it.”
“We were mesmerized by the first rough cut of the film,” said Torsten Hoffmann of 3D Content Hub. “We’ve licensed Michael’s previous stereoscopic 3D films in nearly 50 countries, so we expected good work, but this is awe-inspiring. Johnny’s skill as a director of photography infuses the story with his love and deep knowledge of the entire region. Kings of Baja is gorgeous from first frame to last.”
Trailer and screeners are available upon request.
Media Contact:
For information, licensing enquiries, and appointments during the NAB show contact Brinda (Brinda@3DContentHub.com)
[…] have written about Kings of Baja before here and here. See for yourself why we are so excited about this […]
Who narrates it?