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richard bellon

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Posts posted by richard bellon

  1. attaching prston mdr/arri to donkey box

    in Camera Stage/Donkey Box

    Posted

    Hi All

     

    sorry if this has been discussed before but i cant seem to find info on it.

     

    Probably a silly question but when one mounts the mdr to the donkey box, it adds mass to the camera, now obviuosly one must slide the camera back to balance but is there some system/ rule of thumb in terms of placing cameras i.e 3/4" from the center of the post that one can use as a starting point?

     

    thanking u all

    rich

    I usually start with the camera 1 inch behind the CG, get my static balance right and then try spinning test to get the dynamic balance right. With heavier cameras, and to be more specific 535 and f900 with Panavision lenses (witch are more or less the same pain in the back) I start with the CG right in the middle of the center of the post, otherwise I run out of room to move my batteries back and never get DB.

     

    Hope this helps :)

     

     

    hiya

     

    thanks for that, every little bit helps.

    the heaviest camera i had on my rig was the Arri St, such a beast.

    thanks all for the info

  2. arricam LT 2 perf mag jams

    in Cameras (Film/Video/HD)

    Posted

    I've had film jamming and noisy mag problems 2/3 the way into the roll on a movie with an Arricam LT before. We swapped mags and that made no difference. Finally we swapped bodies and it stopped. I was told the camera motors weaken near the end of their life cycle and this causes the problems. We finally swapped out the body and no more problems. But this was 4 perf. and with 1000' mags.

     

    interesting, since the motors that are actually moving the film are the mag itself, so it should not matter to the camera if it's 2/3 down the roll, it's always the same work for the movement/motor in the body.....

     

     

    hi

     

    it didnt matter

    happened across the board all of a sudden, didnt matter what the footage was or what mag we were using i.e 400/1000 ft mag

  4. arricam LT 2 perf mag jams

    in Cameras (Film/Video/HD)

    Posted

    hi

    i know this hasnt much to do with steadicam but out of curiousity...

     

    i recently did a feature and shooting on arricam LT 2 Perf,

    this was my first 2 perf job and on both A&B cam the mags jammed.

    they jammed on A-cam every 2-4 rolls and on B-cam at least once every 2 days.

     

    nothing was wrong with the way the film was loaded and the film never concentinad in the mag. I.E nothing wrong with film in mag.

     

    swapped out both cameras, same thing happened, updated software, samething happened, flew in more cameras from London, same thing.

     

    no one could figure it so basically we had to live with it and hoped it wouldnt jam during a gr8 take.

     

    Anyone else had this prob before or know of someone who had?

     

    kindest

  7. attaching prston mdr/arri to donkey box

    in Camera Stage/Donkey Box

    Posted · Edited by richard bellon

    Hi All

     

    sorry if this has been discussed before but i cant seem to find info on it.

     

    Probably a silly question but when one mounts the mdr to the donkey box, it adds mass to the camera, now obviuosly one must slide the camera back to balance but is there some system/ rule of thumb in terms of placing cameras i.e 3/4" from the center of the post that one can use as a starting point?

     

    thanking u all

    rich

  8. Business Plan or Lease

    in Steadi-Newbies

    Posted

    Hey everyone, I'm not sure if this have ever been discussed here, but I have some questions about how some of you have purchased your Steadicams. I am taking the approach of getting a business loan, but I am having a difficult time researching and putting together a business plan, especially since buying a Steadicam is different than creating a business in the traditional sense. Has anyone else gone this route before, and if so what advice do you have? What about a Lease company? Interest rates are a large concern I have as I would like to go the route with the smallest percentage.

     

    I know nothing about you, but here's a quick question...have you taken at least 1 workshop yet to make sure this is what you want to do? Many get into steadicam thinking it's a way to make a quick buck but find it can be a year or two before the first real paying gig. It's a commitment.

     

    rb

     

     

    i second that, make sure this is what you want to do before laying out all that cash especially if it isnt yours

     

    kindest

    richard

  9. Business Plan or Lease

    in Steadi-Newbies

    Posted

    hi Aaron

     

    Your idea of approaching producers/companies you work for i think is a fantastic idea. I dont know if u have bought the ste4adicam operators handbook, but in the one chapter, pg 327 it says that a operator has done that before with great success.

     

    I dont know if the producers/companies there would be willing to invest in you/gear, but here a lot of people across the industry have managed to finance equipment that way, i know of a grip who got his first tracking vehicle that way, One of my closest friends is a sound recordist and he has managed to buy microphones, recorders etc. These purchases however have always been during a feature or about to start features,

     

    I would definately go that route before getting a bank loan.

     

    kindest regards

    richard

  10. Business Plan or Lease

    in Steadi-Newbies

    Posted

    Hi

     

    Have you tried to find a private investor? I went through the whole business/loan went to 10 different banks and non of them would give.

    I struggled for about 8 mnths to find the finance needed until finally i found somebody private, i showed them my business plan that i put together for the banks and the next day i had my finace.

     

    I was fortunate to find someone like this. This also helped in terms of monthly repayment. I only had to pay when i worked. I gave them a 4yr plan and they agreed to it.

    I also saved loads and loads on interest which needless to say is a BIG score

     

    kindest regards

    Richard

  12. archives

    in Forum Support

    Posted

    hi

    sorry im probably being really stupid but where would i find the archives?

     

    regards

    richard

     

     

    Search.

     

    The archives are all the older posts

     

     

    hi eric

    thanks for reply

    ok cool i thought there was a separate dedicated forum entitled archives

     

    regards

  20. Transitioning from PA to Steadi

    in Steadi-Newbies

    Posted

    hi Blair

     

    i think it is a much wiser to be an AC first for a few years and then move up. You will definatly gain a far greater understanding of the way the camera department works especially as it functions as a team. As well as the huge amount of technical knowlege you will gain and the experience it will give you from not always being in cosy surroundings and stuff and gear starts to fail/go wrong.

     

    you will also gain far greater respect from your peers & fellow technicians if you go this route. Being the steadicam operator/cam operator is quite a prestigous position i feel on set and if you jump straight into it you will get shot down alot by fellow crew, maybe not directly to your face but people will talk and i find and had experience with people that have say come straight out of film school and now figure they are the gr8st DP ever meanwhile they dont know shit, this doesnt work as smoothly as you would think as the inexperience shows and they do nothing except piss everyone off.

     

    As the operator you are the leader of your crew and if they dont have confidence in or respect you its not going to be fun.

     

    If this is really what you want to do as a career i strongly advise a few yrs of being an AC.

    but pls also buy your rig and train and practice, and do small student feels and freebies and build your reel, so when you are ready for the move you will already have the skill to do so

     

    kindest regards

    richard

  23. tilt head???

    in Sled

    Posted

    I'm looking to purchase a new sled as well but cant afford a PRO yet, I have an overhauled steadicam Flyer LE and I fly RED and F-900 all day but it's getting to be a hassle on that little rig it's fun but I think it's time... Anyways I was wondering if maybe you had an old sled you were possibly selling? If anyone is selling a sled please reach me brandon@bdfilms.net I'm looking for EFP or let me know what you have.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Brandon

     

     

    hey brandon

    no sorry dont have a rig to sell, at least not yet. sorry mate

    rich

  25. aladin wireless

    in Follow Focus

    Posted

    HI all

     

    JUst a question, i know this has been discussed before as i found an old discusion but it was 4 yrs ago,

    i was wondering does anyone have this system? if so how does it compare to a preston?

    i am looking to buy a backup system and i like the price of this unit but i have never seen or even used this before.

    apparently there where some issues with it perhaps they have been worked out?

     

    Any favourable/unfavourable opinions?

    later

    richard

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