This article first appeared on portable-electric.com.
Midway through our case study interview, Tara Thorne, writer and director for Lakeview, shared a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates the essence of Portable Electric’s transformative impact on film production.
As we tussle with upper management to make that line Portable Electric’s official slogan, we should provide context. Tara’s reference to gas being a “pain in the ass” succinctly captures the typical challenges associated with filmmaking. This specific instance, however, harks back to the agonies experienced during a previous project, Compulsus – a shared ordeal with Nicole Steeves, the producer of Lakeview.
“Compulsus was about a vigilante who stalks the streets at night, so we shot outdoors a lot,” Tara explains. “Halifax is a very noisy city in general. Even in the middle of the night, there would be construction projects and sirens. It was tough.”
Fast forward to the Lakeview team’s tech scout, where the director of photography raises concerns about power, and Nicole suggests a generator as a solution. Tara was not on board; she recalls, “I was like, ‘Wait, a generator? Another loud thing? I’m already dealing with planes, chirping birds, and random emergencies during shoots.’”
Only when Nicole told her the generator was silent did Tara calm down.
The Solution
With one Voltstack 5k and one Voltstack 30k now by her side, Tara navigated the intricacies of filming in Middle Porters Lake on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. The Voltstacks seamlessly integrated into the production’s workflow, providing a reliable and quiet power source. The 30k Voltstack, tied into the house power, ensured continuous, uninterrupted energy for the entirety of the shoot, spanning 22 days. Meanwhile, the electric and lighting teams utilized the Voltstack 5k battery energy storage systems to charge batteries and support the video village.
Whether it was shooting in a closed provincial park, on a boat at the yacht club, or during a hike in the Nova Scotia wilderness, our battery energy storage systems were the unsung heroes, powering essential equipment and lighting without the logistical nightmares associated with traditional generators.
To top it off, Nicole emphasized the ease of use of the Voltstacks, noting that in an industry where complaints are commonplace, there were zero grievances about these silent powerhouses.
The Result
Abated upwards of 2,860 pounds worth of CO2e
Crucial component that helped the production film at a yacht club and provincial park
Powered creativity
Successfully replaced two gas generators
Silence on set
Reliable sine wave power 24/7
Safe working environment for the crew
Easy to use
Minimal cabling required
No tripping hazards
Saved post-production costs
Reduced set-up time
No poisonous fumes
