PARK RIDGE, N.J., May 7, 2009 – The award-winning documentary “Brothers at War” gives audiences a rare view into life on the frontlines of war. To help tell his story, and to withstand the rigors of shooting in Iraq, moviemaker Jake Rademacher chose Sony’s DigitalMaster™ professional videotape and HDV camcorders.
The movie opens in New York City this weekend, at a series of screenings co-sponsored by Sony at the AMC Loews Village 7. Sony is also inviting New York City police officers, firefighters, and service men and women to attend the weekend screenings, and meet Rademacher who will be holding a question and answer session after Friday evening’s 7 p.m. show time.
“Brothers at War,” released by Samuel Goldwyn Films, follows Rademacher as he journeys to Iraq to embed with American combat units in an effort to better understand the mission of his two brothers, Capt. Isaac Rademacher, a decorated West Point graduate serving his third tour, and Sgt. Joe Rademacher, a Ranger, combat vet, and army sniper in the 82nd Airborne.
The movie, which has received standing ovations and praise from military families across the country, also offers a close-up glimpse of war’s personal impact on the American family, from a brother’s point of view.
Shot in Iraq from 2005 - 2006, Rademacher led a three-person production crew each armed with a Sony HVR-Z1U HDV™ camcorder. Given unprecedented access to U.S. and Iraqi combat units, Rademacher takes the audience on reconnaissance patrols on the Syrian border, into sniper “hide sites” in the Sunni Triangle, and through raging machine gun battles with the Iraqi Army.
To ensure the quality and integrity of such rare footage, Rademacher elected to use DigitalMaster Tape, Sony’s 6 mm videotape, recommended for professional HDV recording applications.
“We were encouraged to use this tape stock and I’m glad we did,” Rademacher said. “We shot more than 400 hours of footage, much of it in unforgiving 120-degree desert heat. Even with the added vibrations of Humvees or quick movements in Cordon searches, it proved to be very reliable and stable with no errors or dropouts.”
“Brothers at War” has already opened in more than 41 cities this year, with a number of special screenings on military bases. The movie is produced by Norman S. Powell (“24”) and Jake Rademacher, and executive produced by Gary Sinise and David Scantling. It will open at additional locations in coming weeks, including Los Angeles, White Plains, N.Y. and Springfield, Ill., near the Rademacher family home in Decatur, Ill.
“Jake’s movie is a great cinematic accomplishment that we’re proud to be associated with,” said Leslie Franklin, manager of Sony’s Professional Media business. “DigitalMaster tape was designed for this type of project, where the footage is captured is in a real-life situation and there is no second chance to re-shoot a scene.”
Compared to consumer DV tape, the DigitalMaster tape delivers 50 percent less tape shrinkage for increased physical stability in nearly any condition.
To arrange for a complimentary pass (passes are limited, first come first served), service men and women, including NYPD, FDNY and military personnel can RVSP at brothersatwarnyc@rocketmail.com with their name, the name of one guest and their show time. For more information on show times and theater locations of “Brothers at War” visit www.brothersatwar.com. To learn more about Sony’s professional media products visit www.sony.com/promedia.
