Filmmaker Interview: Create Your Way with the Sony VENICE 2

Shot over two days, the Create Your Way spot required dozens of shots in order to bring it to life. While some of the creative choices were already in place when Chinnici came on board, the cinematographer still found opportunities for discovery while on set.

"Joe, the director, is very close with Sony," Chinnici said. “He does a lot of material for them, so he's very aware of the brand and what they want. When they came to me, it was already storyboarded, so it was about the execution and making it come alive." 

"The lighting, transitions, and camera moves are where I played a big role."

Inspired by black and white large format photography but shot in color, the team’s main challenge was figuring out how to add depth and contrast with lighting and camera movement. 

"A big part of what we did was find [and] design those shots," Chinnici said. "Even on set, we were putting them together."

Before the shoot, Chinnici and Greco had a pre-light session where they blocked out their shots and transitions, bringing together what was already planned and finding new ways to showcase the featured creators.

"We had a day where we…rehearsed a lot of stuff and tried things that connected all the transitions," Chinnici said. "What was helpful with the Sony VENICE 2, other than the internal NDs…and the Dual-Base ISO, [is] those specifics that allow you to move really fast on set, which is frankly really important nowadays."

Chinnici and his team had to feature not only the creators but also the Sony products they used. Even the Sony VENICE 2 was featured in the spot. Because of this, the resolution that the VENICE 2 provided was most important. 

"Resolution was actually very important to us on this (project), Chinnici said. "The clarity, sharpness, and presenting (our subjects and products) was really important." 

"It hearkened back to the original ideas [we had] of that large format photography. Big, sharp, clean, aesthetic. It was important that that was all illustrated."

The resolution played a key role in nailing the transitions and VFX shots. From screen replacement to compositing an entire CGI LED wall, Chinnici needed a camera that allowed him to shoot with extra padding but still offer incredible detail. 

"There's a lot of VFX in here and…camera transitions," Chinnici said. "In terms of the camera, I chose the 8.2K 17x9 format. Our finish was in 16x9, but I did a 20% punch in, so an 80% scaling, so we had 20% of padding all around, and that was our frame guide."

"We had all that room to adjust and line things up. And so, the camera, being so high resolution, allowed us to do that in a way that was helpful for not only VFX but also aesthetically."

This is where the artistry of the spot came to life. With a limited color palette to work with, the team used the resolution of the VENICE 2 to bring out the detail in every subject and product. 

"The imagery is simple and clean and straightforward," Chinnici explained. "Again, you're up against a white cyc, so you want things to have a lot of detail and to pop up and not get mushy and soft. For this particular piece, the [people and products] really needed to stand out."

All this work was also supported by a 30ft Technocrane paired with the Techno S head provided by Elite Camera Support. Using this tool in conjunction with the VENICE 2, Chinnici could freely compose shots that were then mechanically reframed to pre-programmed endpoints, creating a non-traditional motion control workflow that married freedom with precise camera movements.

Filmmaker Interview: The Power of X-OCN That Made Create Your Way

While internal NDs and a Dual-Base ISO allowed Chinnici to move fast on set, the cinematographer needed the same speed once the footage was offloaded. This is where the power of the X-OCN codec became an asset on set, giving the team an opportunity to double-check transitions and approve takes as they shot them.

"The X-OCN codec that Sony uses is so good and efficient," Chinnici said. "We could literally just pop it onto a laptop [while] in the middle of a setup and immediately start comping just to see if we had gotten it right or wrong."

"It was nice peace of mind to have an editor who would be able to turn to us very shortly after [we shot], and we'd watch it and move on. We didn't have to make proxies. We could just do it on a MacBook Pro."

Filmmaker Interview: Making Friends with the Sony VENICE 2

Having the right tool for the job isn't just about having the ability to overcome obstacles on set. Today's modern filmmaking landscape demands that creatives do more with less time and tighter budgets.

"I use the VENICE 2 a lot, and part of the reason is because I find that it is very director-friendly, in the sense that I can offer a lot more options," Chinnici said. “That also means I can move very fast. I can be in full frame mode and, they want to punch in and, we're seconds away from losing something, you got a practical effect we're only going to get once, or the sun is setting, I can hit a button and boom, punch in."

Thanks to the VENICE 2, filming Create Your Way in just two days didn't come with obstacles. The camera instead provided opportunities to showcase talent and products in creative ways. For Chinnici, the VENICE 2 is a tool that allows for efficiency, clear communication on set, and incredible imagery.

"It allows me to pivot and adjust in a way that is conducive to the way that we do things nowadays, which is frankly fast,” Chinnici said. “As a DP, you better be fast and good, or you're fired."

"And the VENICE 2 is very conducive to that reality. It really does a lot."

"When actors are in their moment, when performers are in their moment, you're doing a music video, and they're in their peak or an actor's in the pocket, those seconds matter. And directors love that kind of stuff."

Create Your Way played on big screens at both CES and the NAB Show 2025, showcasing the power of Sony tools and the artistry of the creatives who use them.