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(5/18/05- Los Angeles Convention Center) For the debut of the new playstation, Sony wanted to capture aerial views of the event. They wanted high quality shots from above the booth. For such an important event a crane would have occupied too much of the expensive booth space and left little room for visitors to the booth. HI-POD was the answer.

Easily traveling around the large Sony booth, the HI-POD was able to provide many different locations shots, as well as different styles of shots. Moving from the Portable Playstation area to the XBOX zone to the much desired “Playstation 3” zone, the HI-POD delivered breathtaking altitude shots from all the locations. There was no other way to capture these shots.

Outside of E3, Activision wanted the HI-POD to document the Great Tony Hawk’s performance in the Wasteland Halfpipe.

Some of this footage is available at the E3 website: www.e3.playstation.com

(Los Angeles, CA 5/4/05)- When America’s Most Wanted needed to capture spectacular footage of a chase and apprehension, they contacted HI-POD. The scene called for a simulation of a criminal being pursued by an officer down a long Seattle alley. The desire was for an aerial shot of the chase. Cameraman Gerald G. Massimei Jr. determined the best way to achieve the shot was to track the subject by car. But instead of shooting out the window, the team extended the HI-POD out of the sunroof. This gave the impression of a very expensive moving crane shot, but in actuality it was a HI-POD operator extending the HI-POD approximately to twelve feet and following the shot as needed.

“I was impressed with the HI-POD’s ease of use and intuitive design,”exclaimed Cameraman Gerald G. Massimei, Jr. “The results are stunning and really gave our microbudget project a big budget production feel.”

The America’s Most Wanted “run and gun” style was also able to take advantage of the portability and mobility of the HI-POD. When the camera crew prepared for the “takedown” the HI-POD was able to quickly extend over backyard fences , to capture amazing aerial shots.

America’s Most Wanted shooting schedule makes it almost impossible to set up for crane shots. They just would not be able to finish a shoot. Now with HI-POD they have the best of both worlds- they can capture crane shots and still stay on schedule.

Cameraman Gerald G. Massamei Jr. provides instruction to HI-POD operator as Actor/Police Officer Gary Fredo prepares for chase.

HI-POD has unveiled its plan for the new line of products. The new and improved HI-POD will include not only the base, and hard travel case, but also a Sony mini-dv camera. All of this for the same $2995 price.

The Sony mini-dv camera has a 20 optical lens, video out, firewire out, and LANC control.

In addition to the standard features of the HI-POD (anti-glare monitor, battery, LANC Controller) the new HI-PODs will be lighter to move, faster to setup, and safer to operate.

Each of the three units (15 ft, 20 ft, and 25 ft ) will be upgradeable to the next taller unit for $500. This makes it easy for the user to obtain a unit and to grow with the unit in the future.

(Los Angeles, CA – Sony Studios) March,05- Fashion models are getting taller and skinnier these days. Take for instance the newest hottest one to grace the runway in recent years- HI-POD.

The HI-POD was able to capture fabulous footage of the four stage “Rock & Republic” fashion event, sponsored by Cadillac and hosted by Sony Studios. Packed with celebs and wannabe stars there was very little room to position for a good shot. But that did not matter to the HI-POD operator, Hector Murga. “This time I wanted different shots of the fashions. Instead of getting in the pack I moved to the bleachers, and extended the HI-POD to 15 feet. The shots were beautiful and so different than anybody else’s .”

(Rome, Roman Empire 50 A.D.) The History Channel , through the help of Jupiter Entertainment, has created an hour long documentary on the first Century Roman justice system.

“The HI-POD was used as a second camera for the recreations of Roman street scenes, gladiator training, and arrests.” according to Jupiter Entertainment Producer Geoffrey Proud. “An XL-2 mounted HI-POD was secured with sandbags on a ladder so we could change position quickly.” exclaimed executive Proud. The show airs March 21st on the History Channel.