Hans Lehner, one of the Arri technicians responsible for camera and stage equipment, said: "The system was used by key members of the crew - the director, the camera operators, the director of photography and the crane operator. At times, up to five of them were hooked up at the same time during a take, exchanging information and correcting or fine-tuning settings they had tried out earlier - such is the clarity of the system that they were able to communicate in whispers so as not to bleed into the production audio during passages of dialogue. The BTR-700 was much used also on crane shots, where flawless communication is of critical importance to the quality of the overall results."
Arri had originally planned to use a system with only three belt packs and headphones, but the BTR-700 proved so useful, offering high-quality, interference-free communication over long distances, that within the first few days of shooting the decision had already been taken to add further headsets. The BTR-700 turned out to be highly durable in the difficult environment of day-to-day shooting, where the headsets and belt packs were in action up to nine hours a day virtually every day for six months.
Lehner adds: "Every technician knows they will have to face the music if things go wrong on their beat. When things go right and you're getting positive feedback on all sides, it's a mighty relief, and with a gem like the BTR-700, suddenly you're everyone's best mate!"
(Lee Baldock)
