Infinity Baby is another fantastic project premiering at SXSW that MPS is proud to have worked on. Starring Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, Infinity Baby is the futuristic story about babies who don’t age.

Austrian Director of Photography, and long-time friend, Matthias Grunsky, BVK, gave us his take on what it was like to shoot this film right here in Austin!

“Although I have already shot five movies in Austin, the city feels very different to me each time, with each of these movies being so different in their stories. I am Austrian, live in Munich and in a couple of weeks I will fly over the Atlantic Ocean once again to prep Andrew Bujalski’s new movie in Austin, which will be our sixth movie together! As a cinematographer I find it very exciting to shoot in places that are new and exotic to me. I am able to explore the place while shooting a movie that way.”
One of only a handful in the world, Matthias chose the  ARRI ALEXA B+W for Infinity Baby. This special breed of camera combines all the features of an ALEXA XT Plus – including in-camera ARRIRAW recording up to 120fps, 4:3 sensor, and LDS system. The camera has a modified ALEV III ALEXA sensor, which creates high contrast rich monochromatic images with increased spatial resolution and around 15 stops of dynamic range.

MPS was thrilled to work with Matthias again. On this project, we provided the lighting necessary to capture the futuristic look and feel to the screen. Among these lights: the ARRI M18, LitePanels 1’x1′, and 4′ x 4 Bank Kino Flo. The ARRI M18 is set apart by its open-face, lensless fixture that combines the characteristics of a PAR and a Fresnel. This combination creates a quality of light that produces a crisp shadow.

Matthias and director Bob Byington had a very specific vision for this film which required very specific equipment. Matthias explains, “MPS Camera and Lighting Austin supplied our grip and electric equipment and the only existing B+W ALEXA in the US came from ARRI Rental Atlanta. Because of the low budget and short schedule of just 12 shooting days, I had to work with the least possible complexity on set. The base sensitivity of 2000 ASA, in which the B+W ALEXA also delivered me the healthiest exposure during my tests, was very helpful with that. We lit the movie with just one ARRI M18, 2 LED panels and a 4bank Kino Flo. On many locations I did not use any of our lights at all, just setting up some negative fill or bounce. In a lot of shots I had the camera on the slider for very subtle, mostly sideways moves.

Infinity Baby premiered at South by Southwest on March 11th

 

About MPS Studios

For nearly 40 years, MPS Studios has provided the equipment and support services to production companies making movies, commercials, and television. A staff of highly specialized, factory trained, and industry-savvy technicians provide world-class service to clients around the corner and around the globe. The company offers cameras, lighting/grip/electric, sound stages, and lighting repair. Inventory includes ARRI ALEXA Mini, ARRI ALEXA EV and Plus, RED Weapons and Dragons, hundreds of lenses and thousands of filters. Lighting inventory includes ARRI M-series HMI’s, Kino Flo, Mole Richardson. Contact MPS Camera & Lighting Austin, MPS Studios Dallas, or MPS Denver to have a rental package customized for your next project. www.mpsfilm.com

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