Sony has announced details of its work to support Netflix reality competition series, Wonka’s The Golden Ticket.
The show follows 12 contestants and their partners inside a retro-futuristic chocolate factory in a competition inspired by Roald Dahl’s universe, with a licensed AI recreation of Gene Wilder’s voice.
A total of 80 Sony cameras were deployed on the series, with 50 BRC-AM7 PTZ units placed in the living area and an additional 30 Sony ILME-FR7 cameras across the challenge sets. A central Master Control Room featuring seven hot head operators and two CCU positions provided control for the system. The camera deployment was delivered by Cutting Edge Technical services (CETS).
The FR7 features a back-illuminated 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor, BIONZ XR processing, 15+ stop latitude and compatibility with Sony’s E-mount lens ecosystem. Their compact footprint means they could be placed in positions that would be difficult or impossible with traditional systems.
Sony’s BRC-AM7 provided high-quality 4K 60p output across a 20x optical zoom range, supporting S-Cinetone and S-Log3 to enable integration into the multi-camera environment.
Commenting on the deployment, Ray Martin, head of business development at CETS, said, “This was a big first outing for CETS and the BRC-AM7s, and rolling out 50 of them on the first project was a major step.
“We tested the Sony BRC-AM7 against the Panasonic UE-150 and found the AM7 exceeded it in several areas. It also gave us S-Log to match the FR7 and the broader Sony family, which was a significant advantage on a production of this scale. When every camera from a Sony VENICE through to a BRC-AM7 can be shooting S-Log, that consistency adds real value in post and across the whole production pipeline.”
With a focus on interoperability, remote control and AI-powered subject tracking, the deployment allowed operators to use auto-follow features and web-based GUI to efficiently track activity across the complex production space.
Selected FR7s recorded UHD in-camera, providing the graphics team with higher-quality source material for final composites.
“The success came from combining camera quality, flexibility and workflow advantages in one system. These Sony cameras gave us the freedom to capture more, hide more, move faster and keep everything aligned across the production. That is why they added so much value to Wonka’s The Golden Ticket,” said Martin.
