Digital Video magazine — March 2014
A Visit to ‘Broad City’

Comedy Central’s weekly half-hour scripted series Broad City, executive produced by Amy Poehler, stars Upright Citizens Brigade alums Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer as a pair of endearing cash-strapped twentysomethings trying to survive in New York City.

Produced in New York by Paper Kite Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment and Jax Media, Broad City began as a web series in late 2009, making the transition to television in January. Described as “passionate, funny and sometimes raunchy” by The New York Times, their dynamic relationship, comedic timing and chemistry has earned Jacobson and Glazer praise from The Wall Street Journal, Time Out NY, and Entertainment Weekly.

Featuring cameos by the likes of Fred Armisen, Janeane Garofalo and Amy Sedaris, the show’s charm is derived from its struggling heroines and some of the miscreants that populate their world, which includes a cast rounded out by Hannibal Buress, Arturo Castro, Paul Downs, John Gemberling, Chris Gethard and Stephen Schneider.

Cinematographer Steve Calitri employed two Arri Alexa Plus cameras outfitted with Angenieux Optimo Zoom and Cooke S4 Prime lenses to capture footage for the series. “It was more about speed than anything,” Calitri says of the decision to go with the Alexa over the RED, which given the show’s budget would have been the other option. “Speed, and the camera’s latitude for rendering skin tones.”

“Basically, it’s closer to shooting on film,” he adds. “I can get away with more. The RED is a little more finicky on a lot of levels so even with natural light you usually end up putting more work into shots, which doesn’t allow you to move as quickly. With that speed, and that latitude, I thought the Alexa was the best camera for the job.” (Read full story…)