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Peter Abraham

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Posts posted by Peter Abraham

  5. Is The Steadicam Workshop a Good Deal for a Pro Owner?

    in News, Events, Workshops

    Posted

    Must be in the water we all drink or something.

     

    Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Best left undiscussed, the whole "water" thing. :)

     

    Kind words, Mr. Starling. In return might I say to the viewing masses that a positive attitude and slavish dedication to really great work helps. Robert has tons of those qualities. Not to mention others.

     

    Apparently he prepares a lavish spread for all who stop at his doorstep for a hot meal. :rolleyes:

     

    Peter Abraham

    New York

  6. proper training for steadicam

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Painful moments, those.

     

    I use some lengths of that plastic-coated steel cable found in Home Depot in the hardware aisle. I make loops on both ends, using those smash-on crimpers and a hammer. Pass the same safety wire through both the dog-bone at the end of the arm AND through the yoke of the gimbal.

     

    Heresay, you say? You don't say ! :D Seriously, that wire does not in any way impeded the float and movement of a good gimbal and safeties the sled and arm at a set disance to the vehicle. If one hits an evil bounce and is momentarily flailing to save one's life, the rig cannot fly away, nor can the sled be vaulted up and off of the arm because the ATV/ vehicl has hit a pothole or rut in the field.

     

    Tried and true. I run a climbing carabiner through the loops, and safety that with ratchet straps to the vehicle. Woiks like a chahm.

     

    Peter Abraham

     

    New York

  7. proper training for steadicam

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Excellent- Janice mentions something that we all should do, and I wish to heck I'd done from Day 1. Proper stretching and work on core muscles. In the roughest days of shooting 20 hour music videos, I'd take time away, leave the room, lay down on my back and slooooowly do stretches to release out some of the tension and get the blood flowing to move the lactic acid along.

     

    For those of you reading this who are fairly new, or are real newbies, read Janice's post again. Find a set of quick and basic stretching and core work that will serve the parts of your body you need the most.

  8. Vest Strap Modifications/ Tiffen

    in Vests

    Posted

    Indeed, I am working with Kip on this. He is saying the straps are folding over, something I've not seen before. ( I don't doubt him, I met and trained him ). The Big Boy straps are for men and women who want to order a Flyer vest with longer straps for the chest and waist. Added charge, I gotta check what that is.

     

    At the other end of the scale, Tiffen makes the Compact " Laura " Vest for the Steadicam Flyer, for shorter and slimmer operators. Quite the hit, because it offers the snug fit the rest of us demand.

     

    Peter Abraham

     

    New York

  10. Children Of Men: NPR Story 7-minute Shot

    in Operating

    Posted

    Well, moviegoing experiences like this one and the varied opinions are what make this a great board. I was completely emotionally engaged in this film.

     

    The hand held work was beyond anything I've seen in a long time. Lovely work, just lovely. A good reminder to us all that we are not owners of the frame, but we are very much so stewards of the frame edges. The amount of motion, the compositional choices and key marks we use along the frame edge define the world we show, and therefore help to tell the story. The actors are acting, but are doing do within the frame we own.

     

    I want to see it again in a theatre.

     

    Peter Abraham

     

    New York

  13. Are you fingertipping or palming?

    in Operating

    Posted

    For shots onboard the new Boeing WhisperJet 767, I tend to use the palm pilot.

     

     

    What is a 767 "Whisperjet" Boeing has never called it that.

     

     

    Allow me to introduce you to the concept of "sarcasm" and "puns". The point was not that Boeing never made that model, but that in fact because we were discussing the application of multi-angular forces being delivered to our centerposts via the musculature and tendons of the palm and inner hand area opposed to the fingertip pressure that some Steadicam Operators use, I chose to make a small pun.

     

    It's a word-play, you see.... :D

     

    However, I stand corrected. Boeing only made the 727 WhisperJet.

  15. 3A dynamic balance

    in Operating

    Posted

    Please remember that the III-A was not built in full dynamic balance, nor with those concepts fully understood. The monitor for example, hangs off of the bottom center line of the face. NOT anywhere near c.g. If you were to turn it at all, the rig would go very much off side-to-side. Similarly, a tilt in the monitor has the same effect almost ( almost.... ) as a tilt from the old black bar CP Steadicam batteries.

     

    The for and aft racking on the bottom is a beautiful step towards finding a good d.b. I am guessing you can get it into good d.b. but to be honest I have never tried with a stock III-A.

     

    Has anyone, and how was it achieved?

     

    Peter Abraham

     

    New York

  17. Are you fingertipping or palming?

    in Operating

    Posted

    Palm for most stuff, but fingertips for tilting. Using the palm when tilting, especially tilting up, seems to me to be a recipe for an off-axis horizon. I revert to the classic " index/thumb/pinkie" triad in those cases.

     

    Yeah, for vehicle or windy days, the palm grip is dialled in stronger.

     

    For shots onboard the new Boeing WhisperJet 767, I tend to use the palm pilot.

     

    Peter Abraham

     

    New York

  18. TWO Lightly Used Steadicam Flyer Systems For Sale !!

    in Steadicam Marketplace - For Sale

    Posted

    Before I detail what these two systems are, a quick word. I've been a working Steadicam Operator for 20 years, and have taught workshops for 15 of those years. I've owned 5 sleds, 5 arms and 3 vests in that time. I will still own gear, and am not turning away from our world at all. This is just the right time for me to sell these two rigs.

     

    I have two complete Steadicam Flyer rigs that I have only used to teach Workshops. This means they have not been out in rain, dust, extreme conditions. They've been used 95% inside, with the odd hour outside for running shots.

     

    All of the batteries for sale are less than 8 months old and have only been used for Workshops. They have extremely few cycles on them and are near-new.

     

    Both function perfectly. There are slight differences, so I will name them and be distinct and clear as to what each one is. Both rigs come with the following accessories:

     

    1 each- 1/4-20 screw with custom washer for mount plate, 3/8-16 screw.

    Mount plate.

    BNC cable.

    RCA to BNC, both "genders".

    Wrench for gimbal gimbal adjustment.

    Docking bracket.

    Bubble level.

     

    #1: Black Vest, Gray Cover Arm, Black Sled, IDX Battery mount sled, normal monitor. This system is roughly 10 months old. Gray cover arm HAS HAD all upgrades, including larger upper dogbone bearings, brass bushing inserts and so on. This Flyer comes in a Pelican 1650 case. Each part is wrapped in Foam Rubber and it all nests together nicely.

     

    It does come with a lightweight docking stand but it is NOT a "Steadicam Flyer Stand" as comes with the factory Flyer system, and will ship in a separate cardboard box.

     

    This rig comes with Two IDX E-10S batteries, and a Single Pocket Sony V Lock Charger that charges these batteries to normal spec.

     

    This Flyer #1 system costs $ 7,300.00. A brand new system with batteries and a two-pocket charger goes for just $ 8,000.00. For an additional IDX E 10S battery, add $ 275.00. That would make the system cost 4 7, 525.00

     

    #2: Factory case, Black Vest, Black Arm, Black Sled, IDX Battery Mount. Normal monitor.This system is less than 4 months old. Comes in standard Flyer case with Flyer stand, all normal accessories. With two IDX E10S batteries and the blue standard two-pocket IDX fast charger, this system costs $ 7,600.00. With an additional battery, this system costs $ 7,875.00

     

    The buyer of each rig also gets a Steadidicam embroidered tool bag ( please regard my website for what it looks like ) and one new Steadicam T Shirt. ( Buyer needs to indicate size when purchasing rig from me. )

     

    Payment is only through bank to bank wire transfer of funds or certified check. Nothing in either of these systems is for sale as a stand-alone item. These rigs cannot be purchased through the website linked below. Please regard the links as informative, so you can see what the Steadicam Flyer looks like, and there is a photo of the Steadicam Tool Bag as well.

     

    I have a total of six IDX E10S batteries, all of the same new-ish age. Each rig comes with two and a charger. Extras may be purchased at a cost of $ 275.00 per battery.

     

    Serious Inquiries Only, Please. Shipping and Insurance is borne by the buyer for both rigs.

     

    Best to all,

     

    Peter Abraham

    New York

     

    Steadicam Flyer Site

     

     

    Gee. My email info might help !!! B)

     

    visualist@frontiernet.net

     

    Best,

     

    Peter Abraham

  23. Steadicam Flyer wanted

    in Steadicam Marketplace - Wanted

    Posted

    How could I not stop in here? A little Starling flew by my window and tipped me off. I do indeed sell Flyers, F-24 and Merlin and associated Tiffen accessories for those systems.

     

    I almost always have a used rig in the house, because I buy them new and use them for teaching Flyer Workshops a bunch of times, so they are Demo Units and can be sold as such.

     

    Usually the Demo units come in a bit below normal used price, but because of the amazing Tiffen Rebate Offer, going on till December 31, 2006 a new Flyer or F-24 is cheaper than a Demo unit from me !

     

    Thanks for the props fellahs. Anything more detailed than this, I feel would be pushing it as far as what this OP is. Please email me for lots of info, and visit my website to see how I do business.

     

    Best,

    Peter Abraham

    New York

     

    Steadicam Workshops

     

    Steadicam Flyer website

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