Reality shows have become a programming staple in the entertainment industry on both cable and network television. Because of the show style and serialized format, lensing and shooting the productions requires a slightly different approach than traditional studio television productions such as sitcoms, talk shows, etc., including more hand-held shots, multicam shooting and a faster pace.

Grass Valley™ is bringing its latest products and technical strategies to the NATEXPO convention (Moscow, November 23-25, 2011). The demonstrations will show how broadcasters can build uncompromised, file-based solutions cost-effectively, while adding new creative capabilities that deliver commercial success.

Matrox® Video Products Group will be hosting a detailed webinar on Nov. 17 and Nov. 22 that will discuss how Avid® Media Composer® 6 is supported by the full range of Matrox MXO2™ devices and the new Mojito™ MAX™ SDI/HDMI/analog HD/SD video and professional audio I/O card.

HARMAN’s Soundcraft today announced that audio engineer and production manager Kenneth Williams will appear at Soundcraft’s “Mixing With Professionals” seminar on December 6 in Miami. Kenneth Williams is the front of house engineer and production manager for Erykah Badu on her current world tour, and has worked with artists including Estelle, Raheem DeVaughn, Corbin Bleu, LL Cool J, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, the Goo Goo Dolls and many others.

A DVS CLIPSTER® is complementing the post production workflow at the Film Workshop/DFI in Copenhagen. In a support program run by the institute, talented youngsters are being given the opportunity to realize film and TV projects using professional equipment. Thanks to the DI workstation, the granted film crews get to experience real-time RAW workflows and high-speed DCI Mastering at first hand.

AXON will attend BVE North, booth 218, to be held at the Machester Central Arena, Manchester on November 16 and 17.  Axon will be showing live presentations and demonstrations from its extensive range of Cortex monitoring and control software, SynView multiviewer, Synapse modular interfaces and 3rd generation compliance recording system TRACS2.

Blue Microphones now offers a second, bonus capsule with the purchase of the Bottle Rocket Stage Two tube microphone, in addition to the included B8 capsule. Designed with a compact form factor, the Bottle Rocket Stage Two offers Blue’s vacuum tube microphone with an interchangeable bayonet-mount capsule system. Effective November 7 the new bundle with an updated SSP of €2,249, includes the Bottle Rocket Stage Two and a bonus capsule in addition to the B8 capsule.

In the past 6 months, a diverse group of TV news and entertainment programme makers have snapped up ten Lawo digital audio consoles in Seoul and other Korean cities. Some are existing customers, others are new to the Lawo marque; the market for the mc²66 and mc²56 desks is being driven by the upgrade path to HD-TV as well as by brand-new studio and OBV facilities.

ARRI announces a major new recording feature for its ALEXA camera range, offering in-camera support for Avid®’s open standard and widely adopted Avid DNxHD® codec.

Prism Sound/SADiE is about to embark on an extensive tour of Africa, during which it will impart the workflow benefits of the world-renowned SADiE recording and editing system to broadcast practitioners and stakeholders in various African nations.

ATEME, a leading provider of H.264/MPEG-4 video compression solutions, has teamed up with UK provider of broadcast class video solutions Techex to support its customers throughout the London Olympics in 2012. Any ATEME customer broadcasting from London before, and during the Olympic games itself, will be able to receive full back up including telephone support and rapid delivery of spare parts for video transmission.

The “Digitale Cinematographie” event took place on 20 and 21 October 2011 at the Alte Kongresshalle (Old Congress Hall) at Theresienhöhe in Munich. Despite its new location and the fact that it was held in autumn, the feedback from visitors has been positive. The exhibitors were captivated by the atmosphere in the congress hall and the workshops proved to be very popular.

Parasol Advanced Systems of Vancouver, BC, Canada, was stopping traffic with its new KLRTM System (Kinetic Light Ring) during LDI 2011, October 28-30, in Orlando, Florida, at the Clay Paky booth, demonstrated with 12 Clay Paky Sharpys.

Avid® announced new versions of its flagship video editing systems—MediaComposer® version 6, NewsCutter® version 10 and Symphony® version 6. Building upon more than 20 years of product innovation and commitment to its professional users, these industry-leading professional editing systems today deliver new levels of openness, performance, collaboration and productivity — enabling independent professionals, post-production houses, broadcasters and all media companies to get their work done faster, work together on projects more effectively and reduce costs through greater productivity.

To celebrate 25 years of The Phantom Of The Opera, Cameron Mackintosh staged a special production at the Royal Albert Hall recently, with three sell-out performances over two nights.