Hosted by Sony Singapore in partnership with So Drama! Entertainment, Nanlite and Zeiss, the Sony Cinema Experience event introduced the latest additions to Sony's Cinema Line, the VENICE Extension System Mini and OCELLUS, while placing meaningful creative dialogue at its core.
At the heart of that dialogue was Director of Photography, Liam Brennan.
Brennan, a two-time ACS Gold Tripod winning Cinematographer based in Sydney, Australia has built a career spanning commercials, documentaries and narrative filmmaking. His presence set the tone for the event: thoughtful, grounded and deeply committed to the craft.
Balance Above All
Brennan shared a philosophy that resonated across the room.
"Balance is always key to any job. Technology, storytelling and collaboration are equally important factors in what we do as cinematographers. Without the story there is no shoot, but without the tech and collaboration, the story may never be told."
It was a reminder that tools, no matter how advanced, exist to serve narrative intent. And throughout the session, Brennan demonstrated exactly how that balance plays out in real-world production.
Mobility Without Compromise
Sharing insights from his recent project "Changi — Taste of Asia", filmed across four Southeast Asian countries in just 12 days, Brennan spoke candidly about the realities of working with a lean crew.
The Sony BURANO became his solution. Compact enough to carry onto a plane. Capable of shooting X-OCN LT for grading flexibility. Reliable autofocus when working without a focus puller. Auto ND for rapid exposure adjustments under harsh conditions. Dual base ISO for darker environments.
Efficiency was essential. But image integrity was never sacrificed.
For him, the ideal camera does not draw attention to itself. It simply allows him to stay present with the story.
Watch the "Changi — Taste of Asia" series:
Compact Freedom: The VENICE Extension System Mini, OCELLUS and BURANO
Earlier in the session, Sony Cinema Line and Virtual Production Specialist Oishi Takashi introduced the VENICE Extension System Mini, a super-compact camera extension system that preserves the image quality of VENICE 2.
He highlighted the key differences between the Mini and the VENICE Extension System 2. The Mini features a built-in 8.6K full-frame CMOS sensor and is approximately 70% smaller than the VENICE Extension System 2 (excluding the cable unit). This compact design allows filmmakers to position the camera in extremely tight spaces or on lightweight rigs where a conventional setup would be impossible, while maintaining VENICE 2's renowned cinematic image quality.
He also introduced the OCELLUS, a versatile camera tracking system integrating lens and camera metadata without the need for IR markers or fixed cameras.
During the demonstration, he showed how easily the system could be used to map and capture the location data in real time. As the capabilities of the technology unfolded, many in the audience looked on in awe at how seamlessly it could simplify virtual production workflows. Brennan summed up the moment, adding "I just want to reiterate — this is groundbreaking."
At the event, Brennan also reflected on projects from his wider body of work, including fast-paced sports promo shoots produced under tight time constraints. Working with limited access to athletes, he described how VENICE 2 enabled a fast, efficient shooting process, while the Venice Extension System 2 offered the flexibility to adapt on the fly, whether worn on his back or mounted on a tripod. Its compact form factor allowed him to shoot comfortably over long days.
He then walked the audience through his custom rigging setup, as well as his typical setup, demonstrating how its smaller body supports the same shooting style with greater freedom and mobility.
The live demonstration of the VENICE Extension System Mini was a highlight, showcasing its key benefits and output quality in real-world scenarios.
As parkour performers moved dynamically through space, Brennan followed their motion fluidly. The super-compact form factor of the VENICE Extension System Mini allowed proximity and agility, without the limitations often associated with large cinema systems.
Brennan also demonstrated how he rigs BURANO into a minimal run-and-gun configuration, a setup built for movement, speed and instinctive shooting. The participants also had the opportunity to get hands-on with the BURANO during the touch-and-try session, experiencing what it was like to film the parkour scene using this compact cinema camera.
Brennan highlighted, "A stand out moment during the live demonstration of the VENICE Extension System Mini, was handing it off to the crowd and seeing the ease at which attendees who may have never used anything larger than an Alpha 7 camera, were able to craft shots, experiment and operate the Mini. People felt liberated by a small handheld camera package, instead of being overwhelmed by a large cinema camera."
The emphasis was clear: technology should empower, not overwhelm.
The Artist and The Technician
In addressing emerging cinematographers navigating rapid technological change, Brennan offered a perspective shaped by experience.
"Tech is moving faster than ever, so as cinematographers it is our job to be tapped into the rapidly evolving technological changes that can open up new ways of achieving a director's vision. In my eyes, a cinematographer is a blend of an artist and technician. We are employed to understand and execute what others cannot, so it is our jobs to be as tapped in as possible to the new tools. The best technology should make it easier to connect with ourselves as artists and should never make that process more cumbersome."
A Community in Motion
More than a demonstration, the event became an interactive exchange. Participants test the cameras firsthand, discussed rigging approaches and engaged directly with Brennan's methods. Questions flowed freely, from setup strategies to creative decision-making under pressure.
Brennan shared a reflection that lingered.
"Perfectionism is the enemy of achievement, try to remember that it's ok to fail, so be bold, experiment, let go of all ego and dive in."
In that spirit, the Sony Cinema Experience felt less like a showcase and more like an invitation to explore, to collaborate and to push creative boundaries with confidence.
Through initiatives like this, Sony continues to cultivate meaningful spaces for knowledge-sharing and hands-on discovery, reinforcing its commitment to empowering filmmakers with tools designed not simply to capture images, but to expand possibilities.
