Panasonic Announces Four Grand Prize Winners in Digital Filmmakers Grant Program

Additional Filmmakers Receive Camera PackageAwards

Apple and Abel Cine Tech Provide Vital Support to FosterIndependent Cinema

SECAUCUS, NJ – Panasonic announced the four grand prizeswinners in its Digital Filmmakers Grant program for independentfilmmakers, as well as the creation of a new web site, www.digifilmmakersgrant.com,that documents the work of the award winners.

Grand prize winners receive an equipment package, with a rentalvalue of more than $17,000, that includes a three-week rental of theAJ-SDX900 camera and Fujinon Broadcast zoom lens, 10 hours of DVCPRO50videotape, a 10-week rental of an editing package consisting of a PowerMac G5 and Final Cut Pro 4 editing software, and a Panasonic DVCPRO50VTR with an IEEE1394 Firewire card.

The grand prize winners are Brandon David Cole of King Midas Films,Los Angeles, CA, for his film, “Bristol Boys”; Ken Saba ofBurbank, CA, for his film, “The Untitled Michael ChordasProject”; Stephen Schaefer of Centrifugal Films, New York, NY,for his film, “Confess”; and Glenn R. Schuster of Film& Video Production, Brooklyn, NY, for his film, “MatingBird.”

“Panasonic is proud to nurture independent filmmaking byequipping these filmmakers with the advanced tools they need to telltheir compelling stories,” said Jan Crittenden, Product LineBusiness Manager, DVPRO50/DVCPRO products, Panasonic Broadcast.“We would also like to recognize Apple and Abel Cine Tech fortheir outstanding support of the program.”

Writer/director Stefan Schaefer has already completed shooting ofthe political thriller, “Confess.” Commenting on his workwith the SDX900, he said, “I had always imagined‘Confess’ as a digital feature, and for several yearsconsidered how best to create the most compelling visual palette. Thescript calls for a combination of ‘spy-cam’ footage,footage shot on DV by the film’s protagonist, news footage, andthe main narrative look of the film - let’s call this CameraA.

"My concern was always how to make a clear distinction between theformats with less digital information and Camera A. Being awarded theSDX900 solved this problem because the quality of the image was sosuperior to a 3-chip look and that of the spy-cams. The ability toswitch between 24p and standard video also enabled us to create thefilm and TV news look desired.”

In addition to the grand prize winners, Panasonic granted severalmore awards consisting of a three-week rental of the AJ-SDX900 and 10hours of DVCPRO50 videotape. Rental value of these awards is more than$4,500.

The camera package award winners included: Lorraine Aromando ofCommuncations High School, Wall, NJ; Chris Bray, New York, NY; ToddBroder of Lovett Productions, New York, NY; Andy Cockrum, Austin, TX;Susan Genard, Los Angeles, CA; James Richard Ford Jr., Los Angeles, CA;Rosser Goodman of KGB Films, Los Angeles, CA; Paul Patrick Hogan, WestHills, CA; Lindsey Johnson, Port Jefferson Station, NY; Daniel Junge,Denver, CO; Eric Kepner, Little Falls, NJ; David Klein, Los Angeles,CA; Yiuwing Lam, Los Angeles, CA; Francisco Menendez, Henderson, NV;Michael Mills, Astoria, NY; J. Carlos Peinado, Ventura, CA; David W.Schoener Jr., Cedar Grove, NJ., Sean Sullivan, Teaneck, NJ; and PatriceWilliams, Century City, CA.

David Klein, whose Director of Photography credits include the KevinSmith-directed films “Clerks” and “ChasingAmy”, has already shot his short feature, “The Ape”,with the SDX900. He said, “The camera met all of ourexpectations. I was surprised by its latitude and depth of field, bothof which were assets.

“Image quality has a very realistic look. Sometimes HD looksvery electric and artificial, but this SD 24p format is softer andsometimes more flattering to actors. I would use this camera again in asecond. It’s perfect for a project that has limited funds, butrequires a quality format that can handle film out and other postprocesses.”

The Panasonic Digital Filmmakers Grant program is being overseen byAbel Cine Tech. Equipment is procured out of Abel’s New York orLos Angeles location. Additional equipment for all awards can be rentedfrom Abel Cine Tech at a preferred, grant program rate. In addition,winners’ production teams are being trained at Abel CineTech’s New York or Los Angeles office in the operation of theAJ-SDX900 and learn how to optimize the camera and post equipment fortheir particular project.

The AJ-SDX900 provides filmmakers a seamless production path toshoot native 16:9 24p standard definition video with 4:2:2 colorsampling and then transfer this high-quality DVCPRO50 video directlyinto a Final Cut Pro 4 (FCP4) system. Then, thanks to Apple’sinclusion of the DVCPRO50 codec and real-time 24fps extraction in FCP4,filmmakers can enjoy the speed of 24-frame editing fromAJ-SDX900-originated material -- natively and render-free.

The Digital Filmmaker Grant winners will continue to shoot and edittheir projects over the rest of this year. By NAB 2005, Panasonic plansto offer a completed DVD of finished trailers from all of the works ofthese gifted filmmakers.

From September 1st through December 31st, 2004, Panasonic will haveanother call for applications for grants to be executed in 2005. Visitwww.digifilmmakersgrant.comduring this time period to download an application.

About Panasonic Broadcast

Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leadingsupplier of broadcast, professional video and presentation products andsystems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of Matsushita ElectricCorporation of America, the principal North American subsidiary ofMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), one of the world'sleading producers of electronic and electric products for consumer,business and industrial use. For more information on PanasonicBroadcast products, access the company's web site at www.panasonic.com/broadcast.

About Abel Cine Tech

Abel Cine Tech Inc., established in 1989, is a Value Added Resellerfor Panasonic DVCPRO HD and DVCPRO50 product lines. With offices in NewYork and Los Angeles, Abel Cine Tech is recognized as one of the mostcomprehensive and knowledgeable sources for HD, DV and film equipmentin the US. For more information on the company and its services, go towww.abelcine.com.