William Demeritt

Does anyone have a price list or rough estimate of what an Arri WCU-4 and system will cost? I could find the handset on AbelCine.com, but not much else.

Just curious, has anyone noticed any correlation between changing formats or anything with the camera when the SDI signal doesn't show? What cameras have everyone noticed this issue with?

I only ask because I have seen situations where (and I'll be nonspecific) a RED Epic Dragon switched from 6K HD to 5K HD (or another resolution) and the monitor loses signal. I think in those situations, I had to reboot the monitor (slower) or just disconnect the SDI feed and reconnect it. Just putting ideas out there. I also don't think my monitor is on the newest newest version of the firmware (maybe still on the 2.xx versions).

I'll verify my firmware tomorrow and post it here. Maybe we can track the issue down to the firmware version, and create a blacklist of firmware versions where this issue is known to occur?

Jens: that's what I thought, and then processing a 1920x1080 image to a 1280x800 panel requires a scaling step which costs a frame or two.

Thanks Afton, and now that is clear that SmallHD has a delay, does someone has done the same check with a Transvideo CineMonitor or Rainbow HD?

Would love to see this as well. I thought I've read that LCD panels intrinsically have a 1-2 frame delay due to the way the LCD's function (or maybe more)? Curious to see if this is within the threshold of what all monitors do. Also, has anyone spoken to SmallHD about this? I'm sure their response is "Yes, that's standard", but I'd be curious to see if an engineer somewhere could explain more.

I'm not sure how to print from an iPhone, but I imagine the desktop and web versions can handle printing.

Message sent from my Google Glass using telepathy

I've found Quickbooks Online to be most useful for invoicing, tracking, etc. They also have a fantastic Mac app that serves as front-end to the website, but you can also use a regular web browser to access invoices and receive payments. They also have an iPhone app.

What do you do guys for Digital horizon with the DP7?

I've got the Tiffen Wagner Module on my rig for digital horizon indicator, and a bubble as backup.

But some swear by Cinetronic so what do I know !! :-)

Lately, more people are likely swearing AT their Cinetronic...

Flip to low mode includes:

1. Dock upright
2. Extend post all the way
3. Move gimbal down.
4. Add D-bracket to gimbal arm
5. Rotate Monitor 90 degrees using Sachtler Tilting Telescoping Monitor arm.
6. Tilt monitor a bit.
7. Slide camera platform forward a bit on rough adjust (maybe 0.5" to 1").
8. Pick up the rig, make sure static balanced, can view monitor properly, everything secure.
9. Interrupt DP and Director discussing how it will take me to switch to low mode to tell them I'm in low mode (generally this is about the same time it takes an juicer to bring in a Kino on a stand or makeup to get off her phone).

I have a GPI PRO rig/gimbal, Sachtler Tilting Telescoping Monitor arm and Small HD PRO HB monitor on the Cam-Jam monitor yoke. For the most part, this whole pricess requires no tools except for locking the gimbal arm onto the D-bracket after the pin is placed. Camera is moved forward close to 1" because tilting the monitor to the new position changes balance.

Another reply: "Magnets... how do THEY work???

"I operate a camera like a cameraman, however it's attached to my body with an apparatus that uses springs to stabilize the handheld camera 'jostle', so it comes out smooth like the camera is flying in front of me."

Nothing about that photo I don't like.

Alan,

Doesn't matter what you sign, you can't waive your rights as an employee. They really just try to use that as a reason for declining unemployment benefits. However, it won't have any bearing on claims with the Labor Board (claims over not getting paid, etc). That comes from a conversation I had years ago with a mediator at the Labor Board when a gaffer didn't pay me for 6+ months (he'd spent the money from production elsewhere).

Here's my 2 cents:

"Death is kind of like sex in high school. If you knew how many times you missed having it, you'd be paralyzed." -"Dead Like Me"

Replace death with undercutting. If you had any idea of how many times you'd undercut another operator, you'd be probably (rightfully so) be pretty freaked out. I know, because I know the names of a few people I've actually undercut, and found out after the fact. In many ways, I'm still a wuss and haven't discussed it with them. Easier said than done.

However, I believe twice, I've undercut another operator during negotiations, and I told the producer I was talking to that I was aware of what had happened and could no longer honor the rate I was giving before.

However, when you realize you've undercut another operator, above you or coming up behind you, you should be f*cking TERRIFIED. Word travels fast, especially among operators. We get a lot of our work from fellow operators, and if they can't trust you, then you might as well just become a Craigslist All-star.

That situation gave me a black eye with the producer (not really, they know the name of the game), but one of those operators has gone on to become a good friend and colleague (and someone he refers for jobs, for which I am most grateful!!).

I think Alec Jarnagin once said that rates conversations were best left undocumented, unwritten, and loosely discussed over brews at your local pub. I agree with that. Let's consider the tier system: Tier 1 is $21.87/hr for operators (last I checked). Now, productions have a solid number, which is great, but I've worked with Tier 1 jobs where I negotiated a better rate. RARELY happens, though, because apparently "that's the price" for an operator. Asking for a bump for Steadicam suddenly becomes a controversy: "Wait, the union says your rate is this...."

I think the mindset need to be this:

• With producers, we know what our fellow operators are charging (ballpark), and respect it.
• With fellow operators, we meet up, openly discuss rates, and communicate. Talk about clients, jobs, rates we got, etc.
• With undercutting, give the person a call. Tell them you were up for the job, glad it went to someone who is in the communication loop, and just inform them how much you were negotiating when they got the job.

I'm genuinely bummed out when conversation breaks down among the local operators, and I feel it has (in many ways) broken down here in LA in the "coming up" ranks. Personally, I'm against the label of "undercutter" when someone accidentally does it once. A pattern of behavior should result in the label, not a single instance where you're butthurt you didn't get the job.

There's a LOT more politics involved in this, so much so that entire academic disciplines are dedicated to labor, wages and employer relations. We're not going to solve it here, but I'd be willing to try and solve it at Golden Road Brewery, Fuddruckers or somewhere else for shenanigans. Or maybe just my back yard for a BBQ.

I believe Alan Rencher has a Ninja Star for sale right now in the Marketplace. I'm considering buying it, but I have a kid on the way, so stop me and buy it yourself.

I believe the 4 canister arm is in fact lighter than the 2 canister arm. I've down both a lot, and can barely tell a difference between the two. The 4 canister arm is definitely a larger profile, which can become cumbersome over time, even though it weighs less.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=electric+unicycle

I've seen one up close, one of the guys in a music video I did 2 months ago had one and was talking about trying to bring them to the US. They seem cool, but I'd be terrified of trip hazards. The foot-ground clearance while moving is very small, and I saw the guys NOT wearing a Steadicam have some issues negotiating a flat parking lot on it.

I've got a CW-3, works great, cost effective, external antennas give great range. Once psf is solved, it'll be even better.

What price are you asking?

I must say, we have a strange relationship with fellow members here. Anytime someone has a sub-par experience company, lots of people seem to rush to defend the company with stories of their success.

Granted, perhaps we can do without the melodrama of "a story of a FAILED PRODUCT" etc, but I don't think it's particularly constructive that anytime someone has an issue with a larger company (Cinetronic, Teradek, etc), the flurry of replies cite the responder's positive experience. I can't imagine it really helps the aggrieved to hear numerous stories of everyone's positive experience in the wake of sharing a negative experience.

Mike has already replied, and if they make good for Tim, I'd love hear about it from Tim himself.

Tim: Can you give any details on how/when it broke? How were you using it, etc? Just curious, I'm sorry this happened to you!

Does someone at GPI want to chime in? Says serial number 320, maybe check with the owner to make sure it's legit?

Hmm, I may have a faulty monitor then. Not sure, it's happened twice and cooling off the monitor fixed it both times. This picture probably doesn't illustrate the "problem" well enough. It didn't prevent me from working, but it did make me nervous.

Do you mean that fancy "x-port" has that function?

I've bought a bunch of stuff from Alan, and he's also gotten me out of a bind a couple times. Seriously, his stuff is great quality and he's on TOP of his stuff! Thanks Alan! Keep up the great work!!!

The custom frame line option is hard to find Will, directly under the preset framelines. :P

Directions unclear; monitor is now on fire. Halp.

No, in all honesty, I've been thinking about it hard for the last few weeks but not doing much about it. This post was my attempt to get the fire lit under my ass to find it. I figured I'd cast a wide net, starting here.