Portable power generators – or “gennies” – are integral to most film and video productions. And in our industry, Honda generators are without a doubt the gold standard. But if you haven’t used one before, you’ll want to brush up on the basics first. Chances are that sometime in your career or hobby you’ll be tasked with powering lights or other equipment in the field, and your only source of electricity is portable power. V-lock or Anton Bauer batteries can get you only so far, and portable battery power stations are still very limited (more on them below). So gas-powered Honda generators can become your best friend. Image credit: Shane Hurlbut In the Power Distribution lesson of Shane Hurlbut’s Cinematography: Mastering the Image course on MZed, you’ll learn all about how to safely use Honda generators, along with a treasure trove of important advice on working with electricity on set. The lesson is over an hour and should be standard viewing for any filmmaker, but in this article let’s focus on portable generators. Image credit: Shane Hurlbut When to use Honda Generators In the Power Distribution lesson, Shane describes several key moments in his 25-year career where he relied on Honda generators. For example, while filming Need For Speed, Shane would position a string of generators attached to lights along a five-mile stretch of road. Image credit: Shane Hurlbut The crew could lock up the generators each night to a lamp pole, and then each day when they were ready...
Published By: CineD - Wednesday, 12 January, 2022