Fast Forward Video's Elite HD camera-mounted digital video recorder is playing a critical behind-the-scenes role in capturing dramatic action sequences for TNT's The Closer. Coupled with an HD POV camera, the Elite HD gives the show's producers a powerful, rugged solution for capturing scenes from helicopters, fast-moving cars and other high-action locations.

Supplied by FFV dealer Inter Video, the Elite HD/HD camera combination replaces a less efficient and more costly system in which the video was captured using small 16mm or 35mm film cameras. Because these cameras could record only a few minutes at a time, the crew's ability to film long and involved action scenes was limited. With Elite HD, however, the production team can record several hours of footage onto a hot-swappable 2.5-inch SATA drive that can be easily removed and plugged into editing and playback systems without requiring conversion or downloading onto other media.

"We have worked with several FFV SD portable digital video recorders in the past, so it was a logical step to add the Elite HD to our inventory—and it is in high demand by our clients," says Richard Clark, president of Inter Video. "There really is no other HD DVR solution on the market that is comparable to the Elite HD with its solid-state removable hard drive, and certainly nothing that meets our requirements for aerial, car and action shots. When paired with a compact HD camera, the Elite HD gives us a compact, bulletproof system for shooting in just about any rugged, high-action situation."

"With any television, film or commercial project, it's all about the interesting ways to tell a story. The Elite HD/HD camera combo gives us a means of telling stories that was unavailable to us only six months ago," says Clark. "The Elite HD is an important part of our toolkit and gives us a definite price/performance advantage over many of our competitors."

In addition to its work on the set of The Closer, Inter Video's Elite HD systems have been used on an episode of the cable program The Right Stuff (an Elite HD/HD camera combo was used to shoot footage inside a NASA supersonic training jet that simulates weightlessness) and on a 3D video project about extreme sports.