Capturing the joy and tears of the Canadian Idol competition is a key part of the job for Sim Video, which has supplied video cameras to the popular Canadian series since day one.

‘They are constantly shooting – basically anything that moves,’ says Rob Sim, prexy of Sim Video, regarding the multiple camera crews using up to 28 Sony Betacam video cameras per season.

The Toronto-headquartered equipment rental and post shop keeps Canadian Idol crews in cameras so they can follow contestants from preliminary auditions to the two-part finale in Toronto, providing optimum coverage for editors and producers.

During the initial cross-country talent search for the top 100 contenders, four cameras on tripods are used to tape preliminary auditions, and another two or three handheld cameras snag contestant reactions in the ‘kiss or cry’ zone outside the audition hall.

Canadian Idol then shifts to a further elimination round in Toronto, where six cameras are used on the main stage – including jib and Steadicam mounts – and another two or three cameras capture contestant reactions offstage.

‘In between shows, or auditions, the crews shoot a lot of material that is used in later shows as background features on contestants and their families and communities,’ Sim explains.

As the Idol field is winnowed down to the top 22, all eight cameras come into focus on a Canadian Idol set that takes a week to erect.

Finally, when the top 10 Idol contestants duel it out in the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto, 11 cameras follow their every move, with a robotic camera thrown into the mix.

At this stage, cameras from Toronto-based Dome Productions complement the original Sims Video package.

American Idol is already shooting in HD, but Canadian Idol has yet to adopt that format. Canadian Idol producer Insight Productions uses its own Avid suites to post the series, with Sim Video chipping in post services and advice when required.