With the Oscars, American Idol and the Super Bowl among his many credits, Emmy Award-winning camera operator George Prince III has proven himself in some of the most watched and most demanding live productions. Communication is vital to this success, aided by his use of Point Source Audio’s CM-i5 in-ear intercom headset.
‘When I first became a camera operator, an engineer gave me a headset and said, “don’t lose it, it’s like a plumber showing up without a wrench”,’ he recalls. ‘That stuck with me, so I have always had my own headset.’
While initially owning his equipment was good practice, this choice has become even more important in the current climate. ‘The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted that you should have your own headset for hygiene and personal safety reasons,’ he states.
With the headset being a crucial tool, the decision to invest in a new model was not taken lightly. The camera operator sampled many different options before selecting the Point Source Audio solution and there were a number of reasons why he opted for the CM-i5. ‘I looked at a variety of low-profile headsets, but I found that changing the in-ears was easiest with CM-i5,’ he explains. ‘Other factors, such as its lightweight design and the small microphone were also important for me.’
Having put the headset through its paces on several productions, Prince has been impressed with the way it has performed in the live environment. ‘It’s not bulky and the low-profile design means that it doesn’t feel like you’ve had a clamp on your head after a long day of filming,’ he reports. ‘The isolation the in-ears provide means that the headset works really well in loud environments such as the music shows, awards shows, or sporting events I have worked on.’
Reflecting on the decision, Prince is happy with the investment: ‘The CM-i5 is really light and sounds great. Other camera operators even like the way it looks and want to get their own. I’m happy to recommend it to them.’
