In a major motion picture first, the Sony α7S II was used to shoot the entirety of the upcoming Screen Gems horror-thriller, Cadaver. The Sony α7S II puts the power of high-quality production story telling within the reach of almost anyone with a vision and the drive to see it through. Using anamorphic lenses, the filmmakers took full advantage of the α7S II's 35mm full-frame sensor, high sensitivity and small size to shoot the project.

Professional filmmakers have been seeing the potential of the Sony Alpha cameras for some time. Roger Spottiswoode used the α7R II and α7S to shoot parts of A Street Cat Named Bob. Three Days In August used the Sony α7R II and FML was shot with α7-series cameras. The use of the α7S II to shoot the entirety of Cadaver is a first and it shows the enormous potential of the small camera.

See more in the the full press release below.     

LOS ANGELES, CA, January 17, 2017 – Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that Screen Gems’ Cadaver – in U.S. theaters this summer -- is pioneering a wide range of new technologies to realize a modestly budgeted motion picture with high-quality production aesthetic. The horror-thriller will be the first motion picture shot entirely on the accessible, consumer-facing Sony α7S II camera, and the first to employ the EmagiBlock™ System -- a new, sustainable building block technology for set construction from Emagispace, Inc.

“Not only is the α7S II right for my studio production,” says executive producer Glenn Gainor, “but it will help democratize storytelling around the world because it is a powerful camera accessible to people who may not otherwise be empowered to tell their story.” 

While traditional sets are typically unrecyclable wooden flats, Cadaver is also the first film to employ the EmagiBlock™ System -- sets made of reusable and recyclable materials. These sets are constructed without the hassle, cost, or environmental waste of traditional construction.

The widely accessible Sony α7S II camera was designed to allow storytellers to express their vision under virtually any budget with its 35mm full frame sensor and high sensitivity. For Cadaver, the cameras are paired with large format Hawk 65 Anamorphic Lenses from Vantage in Germany and Atomos Shogun external recorders from Australia, built into Dallas-based Red Rock Micro’s rigs and wireless follow focus systems. Tiffen, of Los Angeles, provided its camera filters and Aero 30 Steadicam system for stabilized movement, and Small HD is providing electronic viewfinders and on-camera monitors.

Cadaver uses Digital Sputnik modular LED lights, which are highly efficient and can create wide range of high precision white light (1500K - 10000K) with capability to mix in any primary or secondary colors. This approach enables cinematographers to work with a visual toolset allowing them to achieve the look that they want with grading the lights instead of grading the image.

In Cadaver, disgraced ex-cop and recovering addict Megan Reed (Shay Mitchell) must take a graveyard shift at the morgue in the hospital where she got sober, but things get out of control when a suspicious cadaver is delivered. Cadaver stars Shay Mitchell (“Pretty Little Liars”) along with Stana Katic, Grey Damon, Nick Thune, Jacob Ming-Trent, Max McNamara, Louis Herthum and Kirby Johnson. Diederik Van Rooijen directs from a script by Brian Sieve.  The producers are Todd Garner and Sean Robins of Broken Road Productions, Glenn Gainor is executive producer and Andrea Ajemian is co-producer. Cadaver will be in U.S. theaters this August.

About Screen Gems
Screen Gems is the specialty production division at Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was created to finance and produce moderately budgeted films that are marketed to targeted audiences. 

About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to www.sonypictures.com.