Eric Fletcher S.O.C.
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Posts posted by Eric Fletcher S.O.C.
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The brief is to replicate the same shot: a straight line push forward, with different players in each take, the two elements to be combined- a poor man's mocon.
Has anybody tried this successfully?
WHy not do it with the better tool, A dolly.
Seriously this is not a steadicam shot.
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As mentioned, gone are the days ( for the most part ) of the Specialist Operator who comes in at 10:00 am, shoots three shots and leaves at 3:00pm.
I've been doing that for the last three weeks on my feature and I'm on a 12 hour guaranty... It's still out there.
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after 3 full days of steadicam last week and a total of 11 400ft mags ... They still haven't changed the batteries even once on the job !!!!!!!!!!
I believe that, Tonight in 40F weather we got 8 full mags out of a set of Hytron 50's that are 3 years old.
I just wish you could charge the Dionics with some other charger then the AB stuff.
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I just wanted to openly Thank George Paddock for doing an incredibly fast (and like new)repair on my sled after an accident last week. I dropped it off Thursday morning and he promised to have it ready for my feature start on Monday...by three the phone rang and it it was ready to go, with the ziploc bag of my old bent parts for production. Thanks a lot George!
Sincerely,
Richard W. Davis, soc
I totally Agree, Great and fast service. After I had my little 'incident" in January They repaired my rig over night.
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Anybody who's joined recently care to share what it costs to join as an operator these days?
If I remember correctly it's $6000 just to get in as an operator ($10,000 for a DP card). Then Quarterly dues of $181.00 (No matter if you work or not) and then 1.75% of your gross.
Health Insurance is 600 hours in 1 year to qualify then 300hours every 6 month
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Like Eric says, you can get $100 an hour as a dayplayer on a show, if you push. And that's what his AGENT did for him. And the more power to him for that.
Actually My Agent did NOT get me that deal I got that deal because of prior realtionships. I decided not to quote the rates that he has got for me while dayplaying on series.
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I think it's about time the union has a strike! I mean a big strike. I heard rumors that our union hasn't gone on strike for 70 some years?!?!?!?!??! Is this right?
Right now striking is not the answer, Unless you want zero production in LA.
From the sounds of it David the Union hasn't worked out for you. But it's been good to me. In the last 3 years I can count on both hands the number of non-union days that I have done. 99% of my work is union and yes at times I wish we had better contracts but overall the union has done well for me.
I personally don't know any producer that pays a Steadicam operator on a feature or TV show twice the scale operator rate. Again, maybe a dayplayer from time to time, or a $80+ million dollar budget. I have gotten $90 an hour as a dayplayer, but it's rare they use dayplayers or features and TV shows.Depends on the show. I dayplayed a TV series that wrapped 6 weeks ago and they worked me 3 days a week and I was Getting $100/hour plus Rig and it was for a VERY cheap company... Right now I'm doing the same thing dayplaying on a feature. Those deals are out there it just takes work to get them to give it to you. It also helps when the DP fights for you and you have a good realtionship with the directors.
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I just got a call to work on a feature and they offered an awful rate with a worse weekly rental for the rig, I told them no, they called back and bumped their offers a "Little" I said no again, they called back a third time and bumped their rate's again and this time I said...
Yes I can do it but I will have to have three days a week to go work on other jobs to be able to afford to work on theirs.
Bottom line, I'm not doing their feature....
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OK so I'm facinated by this picture. (posted under Monitors CRT vs LCD on page 2) We don't get all that much sun up here in Seattle. this is the reflection of the sun at midday in the center of the Hummingbird LCD Color monitor set at 60 percent brightness and shot quite off angle. Note that the reflection actually improves the contrast right below the reflection. I'm selling these for them in the US and have more pictures and specs. for anyone interested. E mail me at
TJsteadicam@qwest.net
I'm just more surprised that this is probally the 10th post that your schilling these, give it a rest dude.
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Eric, the Hytron 100s you were using must have been on the older side because they should power HD cameras for a long time. AB claims that the Hytron 100 (now 120, a nice added touch) is their most durable battery (along with the Propacs), capable of high amperage loads and repeated charge/discharge cycles. In short, they call the Hytron 120 their workhorse battery. If I were flying a Pro II battery base, I think I would be looking at the Dionics though because they work better for that configuration.
Nope,
Been dealing with the Hytron 100/120 problem for 18 months, the problem is the NmHi chem is the wrong chem for the FW900, the internal resistance of the Hytrons is to high for long run time. Next to Greg's Hytron 50 vs Trimpack test I have probally done more testing on this then anyone.
Bottom line is that a NEW Hytron 100 will run a FW900 for 35 Mins IF your lucky, It will also get wicked hot doing that. The Dionic 90 will run the camera for 80 to 100 mins depending on temp.
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It is true that you lose some resolution through compression (how else would you get 45 hours on 20 gig)
I have looked into this unit and it leaves a LOT to be desired recording wise. It looks like those bad connivence store surveillance recordings you see on reality cop shows. Damn near impossible to see focus or other detail on it.
Eric
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Does anyone (Or two) have 2 single channel Bartech's that I could rent for March 15th thru the 22nd?
If so please get in touch with me ASAP.
Thanks!
Eric Fletcher SOC
Steadi@comcast.net
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I was told and got a confirmation that Anton Bauer will no longer produce the very popular, small and inexpensive ProFormer Batteries. It seams that Anton Bauer is starting to push there new Dionic Products harder. Lithium over NiCad I guess...
I also heard that there was once again a new Battery supposed to get introduced at this years NAB, will that be the replacement for the ProFormer??? Or another addition to the Dionic Familly...
Just wanted to give a heads up!
Erwin "Running to B&H to get some of the last ones..." Landau, SOC
Well if your doing HD you'll never make it through a rehearsal with a ProFormer...
Having said that, I just finished a HD pilot and I used the Dionic's for the camera, I'm impressed we got about 1 hour of run time out of the battery, considering that the almost 3x heavier Hytron 100 only got about 30 mins on the camera (If we were lucky)
I have only five concerns. Cycle life, Rebuild cost, transporting them, charge time (It's uber long) and believe it or not it's lack of weight, and that means with a HD camera a LONG post (Even with the near neutral balance that I've been operating with as of late)
I'm going to really put these through more testing on my next two pilots since I have the same 8 Dionics that I have had for the last two weeks. if the next four weeks goes well and they run a 435 I might make the switch.
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Thanks guys for your responses.
I went ahead and bought two AB Dionic Batteries.
I hope that you have the "titan" charger from AB. Nothing else charges the Dionics.
I'm using them right now on the Pilot that I'm doing and they work well with a HD Camera (They get about 1 hour) But they take WAY too long to charge IMO. (Almost 3 hours)
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springs fatigue after years and years of use (and sometimes abuse). Pushing anything to the limits of it's design will eventually lead to failure. If one flies heavy cameras alot, someday something's got to give. Maybe a screwdriver nicked a spring while untwisting the cables...this weak spot may become a breaking point later. Stress fractures may form in the bones, the elbow, trunions...etc.
There's a tremendous amount of force and torque going on in there, that's why I operate with safety glasses and kevlar. I also make everyone on the set sign a waiver. Whenever you see an actor in a movie wearing glasses, they most likely didn't sign the waiver and production made them put them on for safety...they are scared of shrapnel.
Good luck and keep your head down!
If I remember the story correctly you quoted Jim Lovell when it blew. "Houston, we have a problem"
When I had a Mod 2 arm (Rental no less...) go on me I exclaimed "She Blew!"
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HI All,
Recently I had the pleasure of testing out the new HD Varicam from Panasonic (very impressive and not heavy!), and sitting on top was a very cool HD 9" LCD monitor. Similar to the UltraBrite but with SDI options on the back as well. The only functions that it didn't have were the ability to tweak the zoom in by increments and also to rotate/flip the image. Otherwise this was a very impressive product. When I told them that this monitor would be an interesting Steadicam monitor the looked at me kinda blankly. I don't think that it is a market that they had ever considered. With subtle tweaking this would be a good replacement for an Ultrabrite.
Dale
It's the Astro and it's not nearly bright enough to be used outside. Plus there is too much glare off of it's face.
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Bummer Greg, sorry to hear it.
After two falls over the years having "no thanks"'d a spotter, I've seen the light. I know a lot of operators feel that a spotter will get in the way, will possibly bring them down if THEY fall, maybe it doesn't look as macho or whatever, but for me it's just not worth it.
Hope the body and gear get better soon (and maybe you get some new goodies out of it!)
I 2nd that. Had a fall in January, declined the spotter since it was SUPPOSED to a fast walk up a set of stairs....
Well the actor ran. I followed, hooked a toe on the steps Started to go down, almost got back uder it but couldn't quite get there. Decided to Power forward since I had a nice soft group of extras to slam into. I made it 25 feet forward hit an extra who saw me comming and actually CAUGHT the rig.... I on the other hand opened the door that they were knockng on with my head and landing on my left knee...
Now I'm not totally sure that a spotter could have help but you never know, so I will never make that mistake again.
BTW the insurance claim was one Hytron 50, one battery plate and mount on the Pro II, and the Lower post mount. Total cost was less than $2,000 Not bad considering.....
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With all due respect lads, a docking collar is $85. A new rig, harness, etc. is much more. A producer (in most cases) doesn't give a rats ass about what rig you fly, as long as it works. They will notice you looking lost as you try and dock your rig performing all sorts of yoga poses because you didn't bother with a second collar while saving up for that big ticket item. Break down and buy it.
Not only that But the AC usually finds it a huge PITA to load when it's upside down...
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Hi,
> What makes you think that there's nothing special or difficult about the design of
> a reliable and accurate wireless focus system?
I would like to point out here that I think it can be really stupid to try and figure out the worth of something based on how difficult you think it is to make, but since I've been asked, that's exactly what I'm about to do.
To answer the question: Because the bit that makes it clever, and attractive over its competitors (auto setup, range stretch, etc) is just software, and software is free to replicate. I have no idea which microcontroller Mr. Bartell uses in the BFD, but if it was me, it'd be something like Atmel's AT90 series. The most expensive of those is about £15, and I'm confident I could develop version-one software for it in a lazy week (Give or take tweaking once it's done.) I appreciate that this isn't really the point, it's the big dial you've got to have made which will cost way more than the rest of it, but that's the bit that increases the length of bullet points on the spec sheet.
Not that it's any of my business but I think Mr. Bartell's pricing is entirely fair for the BFD controller. Silent, high-power servos are always going to be a bit tricky, though I'd point out that Jimmy Jib operators have been using modified radio control model gear for ages with no major issues (nudge, wink.)
Phil
Hey Phil,
I've got a GREAT idea, rather then talking about how easy it is to build and how over priced the others are and how you would choose this or that and yours would be the bestest in the world.
Go build one and sell it. let us Test it and see what a "Real Phil Rhodes Approved Follow focus" is.
Until then Stop, stop posting crap critising everything out there, it get's REALLY tiresome.
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Out of curiousity, can anyone confirm that those drawings of the brackets were made by Ted Churchill? Looks a lot like the style he was into in the early 90's--he did a bunch of the PRO at that time, so it would make sense if he was doing some for Bob also.
Yes those were done by Ted
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Fletcher - read, if you know how:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159365/fullcredits
I admit I'm going by etymology of names, but it looks like a lot of imports to me. Almost entirely, in fact. If people are going to hotly contradict me without even having bothered to check, I can't really apologise for being repetitive.
Phil,
Go out and buy a clue please, It's painfully obvious that you don't have one. At least you serve one function as your villiages idiot.
I can read and I know how movies work and are crewed and since I ACTUALLY work in the industry I know all too well about run-away production. While your surfing the IMDb you might want to read the story about why mirimax thinks that cold mountian is getting the snub oscar wise...
If you don't believe me reread Mith Gross's post.
Why is it that your here again???
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Hi,
Even if you suppose that "Cold Mountain" was shot using entirely Romanian crews, and I think it's much more likely that they shipped over truckloads of Americans
Phil,
Are you REALLY That ignorant about production?
Cold mountian was shot with a local Romanian crew. Only the Keys (DP, Prod Designer, etc) were brought over.
Really Before you even try to argue you should at least get SOME of the facts straight.
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Looks way nicer then the 32 Inch monster that I was logging around for the last past weeks... (Didn't reach your 39 Inch record yet Eric... but that was pain enough).
42" Erwin, 42".....
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I'm not disagreeing, I just wonder what the real world experiences are. Lots of experience with both style monitors and have a solid opinion, that's one thing. Use just one and can't bear to bring oneself to part with it to try the other is another, isn't it? Not that I blame anyone...
I have used both, I think my answer is clear.
Much ado about?
in Operating
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