A compact camera made in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, drew one of the biggest crowds at the recent Cine Gear Expo LA on the Universal Studios back lot.
Its striking slow-motion footage offered more than a technology demonstration — it reflected the growing presence of Chinese innovation in Hollywood”s film production ecosystem.
Developed by startup Pixboom, the Spark high-speed cinema camera combines a Super 35 global-shutter sensor with professional high-speed imaging capabilities. The company has said it offers filmmakers access to technology once largely limited to six-figure cinema systems, while significantly lowering the cost.
“Our products are suitable not only for the film industry, but also for individual studios and high-end content creators,” Jing Qi, the company’s chief marketing officer, told China Daily. “High-speed cameras can be extremely expensive. Some of the best-known systems cost more than $100,000, while our price is around $14,000.”
The demonstration at Cine Gear Expo LA, which ran from June 5 to June 6, reflected a broader shift taking place across the global film industry.
Once known primarily for manufacturing affordable accessories, Chinese companies are increasingly expanding into the higher end of the filmmaking process — from lighting, rigging and wireless monitoring to robotics, cinema lenses, ultra-high-definition cameras and software-assisted production.
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