YecidBenavides

Hey Eric and everyone, Flyer and HDX 900 huh? I'm glad it went well. I just had a similar experience. I have a rig (we manufacture them here in Bolivia, South America. Anyone ever been in Bolivia? or South America for that matter? ....Back to the subject. Our company's called Cinemechanics and the rig's called CINEGLIDE) and the one I've been working with lately is somewhere between a flyer and a clipper. Right now I have springs on it that resemble more of the weight capacity of a flyer. Anyway, Discovery Channel came down to film an episode of a show to air next year and they hired my father, my brother and I. I was to do 1st AC and Steadicam Op. They were supposed to bring HDX-900's but they came with Varicams instead. As you know, the camera needed a Miranda in order to use the Starlinks and so I could see the image in my non-HD monitor. Also, sound guy, Tom Vogt, great man, but needed to put the two wireless receivers on the camera, and I had the Anton Bauer Hytron 140 at the bottom because Dioncs were not providing enough energy for it all. Luckily DP Jake agreed to let go of the Viewfinder and Matte Box for the flying shots. Ok...so to put it into perspective, I'm 5' 7" and 105lbs. Needless to say, it was a very painful time. Most of us have been through this, but most of the time we were filming at 13,000ft altitude, in the Bolivian plateau (altiplano). I'm from here, but with a heavy rig (for me at least) and springs that were maxed out (had to use the "rubberband technique", not the nicest way to go, but it's the only way to go sometimes), it really was something. So yeah...long story to get to the point that I UNDERSTAND HOW IT FEELS...soreness...painful sweat...the whole thing. Also, you can't necessarily adjust the chest straps enough sometimes since YOU STILL HAVE TO BREATH...so it's either a punctured bladder or suffocation. Better padding at the bottom can help with distributing that pressure. Here's a picture of me and pain working together! Yecid (13,000 ft, airless flying) Jr. www.ArtistasLatinos.com

Having worked in theatre and in film both in front and behind the scenes...as a techie, there's no question the bare minimum is blacks...unless you know there is NO CHANCE of reflection on the set. Of course blacks makes it even HOTTER. I've been working in a cold climate lately and that doesn't stop one from sweating, so I take more than one T-shirt... movies are not made for Op cameos...as a director that would kinda tick me off. Yecid Jr

Maybe the first question asked in a Steadicam forum...nonetheless, let's argue. One generally (film or video) stands to the left of the camera and has it on one's right side, shoulder, arm...whatever. Why should it be different when it comes to flying? I can do both, but lately I've been going with "goofy" for the most part. It just makes sense that you'd have your softest touch on the gimbal...if you're a lefty...go "regular." However...regardless of the side, and this may be a little off topic, but don't you love the astonished looks you get when you get a gig and a few people have never seen a Steadicam live? Sorry...just came back from one of those...2 night shoots for a videoclip...no wonder there's more and more ops every time...haha. Yecid Jr.

Hey Everyone, I know it's been a while since anyone writes in this one, but still...I laughed out loud on reading some of these, so here are some to add to the list: 1. Scraping the wall (or the carefully painted doorframe on a set) with the arm 2. Don't go without a spotter...especially on a demonstration. (The story: Miami, finishing a successful demonstration of the rigs we manufacture. Had an HD...I forget the model...on it and on the last sprint, went from carpeted floor to slippery tile and tried to turn. Needless to say, my feet went from under me, the bottom of my sled crashed to the floor and broke the battery base off, the bottom of the stage where it meets the pole broke off, and the camera flew and rolled 3 times before it stopped....so did my heart. I must admit that was one of the worst experiences in my life altogether. I used to brag I didn't have really embarrasing situations in my life, until that day. Cool part of the story is the people were so impressed with how the rig worked, that the first thing they were worried about was if I was alright and if the rig was fixable. They didn't say much about the camera...just picked it up and ran to the editing suite to see the footage...it was awesome, but it contained the whole flying (and I don't mean with the rig) and the camera taking the three rolls...took me months to get over it... so moral of the story....SPOTTER ALWAYS!!! Yecid Jr. P.S. After that I also sent a note to our shop to reinforce the heck out of the places that broke...they did...not that I plan on falling again.

Thanks for the warm welcome, Rob. It´s the first time I post in any forum. I used to not even look at them, but in this one I just seem to find pithy information wherever I turn. I really appreciate that. Oh...the whole RollVision thing sounds pretty interesting. Looking forward to trying that. Yecid Jr. CINEGLIDE

Hello, I´ve used the full glasses before. I don´t recall the name brand because they weren´t mine. I tried them on for several days, and found them to be completely disorienting as it was said earlier. I found myself moving my head side to side or up and down instead of panning or tilting my rig. It sounds funny, but it´s a whole different can of worms. I wouldn´t recommend it to anyone no matter how many eyes they cover or how see through and laser beamed they are. The only way I could see them working is in a relatively static shot that will not go on to quick movement. Running with these things over your eyes is not only dangerously distracting but also is nauseating. It comes down to this. One´s eyes are used to acting much like a gimbal - they stay in one place and pointing at a certain direction regardless of the movement of the head. This is what our brain and eyes are trained to do. The moment you strap something to your head, which is moving, and try to look at it with your eyes, you have a problem. The way I see it is, it´s the same as if you tied your sled post to your body¨ It defeats the whole purpose of isolation. It´s kinda like if you tried to film an earthquake with your rig. It would look shaky no matter what. I found this to be exasperating and nausating. Keep any kind of monitor or viewfinder on your rig. Good luck, Yecid Jr. CINEGLIDE