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This is my personal technique for making whip pans. I’m sharing here in hopes that it might help a newer operator who is looking to improve their whip pans during this quarantine.

I just completed 6 weeks of production, but some of my working conditions were unique to our production, and most likely not going to be duplicated by any other shows. For example, there was no negotiation regarding PPE. If you were an on set position (the red wristband zone), you were required to wear the provided KN95 masks and face shields, no exceptions. We had health and safety compliance staff all over production enforcing these rules, and our director was the most stringent enforcer of all. He would yell at anyone he saw with their mask below their nose, or the wrong mask, and don

I myself prefer a short rig but will change that based on what is needed within the majority of a shot. So, if I need the lens at a higher or lower height I will change that to a longer rig. Danny, take advice from the guy with more experience and who actually wrote the book on Steadicam, contributed to Steadicam with multiple inventions and who has devoted decades of his life to teaching Steadicam Operating to thousands of people across the globe. My two cents.

"Undercutting" comes naturally early in your career. You do not have the experience quite yet to be charging what experienced ops charge. Make sure production knows why though, as you don't want them having high expectations. Also, don't take a gig if you aren't ready for it. Word travels fast which can either work against you or for you. Best of luck and you have us all for information and help. Also, nothing against Greg but taking a SOA workshop will also work in your favor. Many experienced ops to learn from, giving you exposure to different techniques from different people. Discover

If you don't have any other choice, this could help you : - Have an assistant Raising or lowering your docking stand to the correct height for the shot - Put your Sled on the balancing stud - Put a magic arm between your post and the stand - Frame the shot, than tighten the magic arm Not as sturdy as a tripod but can sometimes help.

I think post length should be altered to get the specific shot - either to change the lens height range and/or the rig's inertia. Choosing to configure your sled only one way is like playing 10 keys on the piano instead of all 88.

Speaking of New Kid(s) On The Block and Steadicam...this was a long cold night 25 yrs ago.

Hello All, I'm happy to finally announce we are officially launching the latest 1.7 Volt Firmware. Thank you to Larry McConkey & Steve Wagner for all the work they put into helping us make this firmware what it is. Look in the video description on how to proceed w/ getting the update. In the video, it shows the changes that we made in the update to help you understand what the volt is doing in Regular & Sticky mode. If you received a Volt since July 2020 you'll have the latest 1.7 firmware already installed on your control box.

Many years ago I was on a show and this exact thing was happening all the time .Like Cedric I was using 2 magic arms and for most setups was quick and easy .My assistant presented me with this embroiled velcro backed slogan .I now use the SOS plate and it works great .

How many of you can find old Steadicam stuff in the closet like this? Evolution of Steadicam test fixtures from the mid 70’s through Steadicam III. The first one was used from early Steadicam. The second was the one I built in order to build and test the Steadicam II electronics. The third was for the Steadicam III circuit boards.

I thought I’d take a moment to share little bit of history which might be fun. Scrounging through some really old photographs I came across a couple of beauties dating back to around 1989. As aged as they appear, they indicate a counterculture that was taking root as Cinema Products struggled to understand the needs of the Steadicam Operator. While still living in South Africa, I met some aeronautical engineers whose day job was designing the Heads Up Display for the Rooivalk Attack Helicopter. As the technologies that applied to Steadicam covered some common ground, it seemed like a good plac

From Ted’s manual of style...always a great idea to charge per minute, or even per foot moved. More for stairs. They can’t afford low mode.

25 years ago today, Ted Churchill died. For those of us who knew him it was a painful day and time in our personal lives and in our careers. For those who knew of him back then, it was a shocker and made them want to know more. There will be links coming in here that will provide nuance and detail and some incredible clips and videos of him. As Garrett Brown has often said, " I invented the Steadicam. Ted invented the Steadicam Operator ". Hope you're resting in peace, Teddy.

Totally stupid? Cut holes? WTF are you talking about? It's our responsibility to not infect others if asymptomatic and keep production from shutting down. That is partially accomplished by wearing a properly fitting mask without a vent. Breathing through a mask is no big deal; I've been doing it for months while humping the rig around. Hope others let you know that if that's how you act on set.

Hi Henry, Since nobody else is weighing in. I designed a vest that works front or rear mounted, so maybe I can answer your questions, or at least give you my perspective on them. DM me and we can arrange a call on the subject. Chris

Includes transmitter, receiver, all entennas, ac power supply, several D Tap to lemo power cables and bnc cables. Works great, just not the range of newer models. $1700 OBO. 859F71DF-B42B-4143-B2B9-1F2531510C9A_1_201_a.heic

Yeah, what do you know about steadicam, Jerry?... ... mmm what?... ooooh.... wait...

I guess that all depends on how short you are and how high you need to go. But yes, I often use a long arm post. Arm posts longer than 12" are frowned upon, based on strength. I'll try to raise to socket block maybe but really how much does that gain if your torso isn't all that long. Depending on the height one needs, one may need to do one or the other or a combo. My point is being dead set on one set up is limiting to what one can achieve as an operator. Personally, I think it makes one less versatile in a world where shots are never the same.

Just remember folks, it is not just the weight, but the weight distribution that influences the "feel." Spread your masses to add pan inertia and you'll likely much prefer it.

i hear ya, but we’ve managed to handle this site for twenty years without it. not that i need to hear the whole backstory, it i’m curious if there was some egregious hacking to prompt this. anyways...more apps

It’s two pieces bolted together (as you no doubt already know). The base is Mitchell mount for hi-hats/dollies/risers/basically anything on most sets. The piece with the socket block on it can also be mounted on speed rail with the u-bolts in the kit (or from a hardware store). It’s not a complicated thing to do but I’d advise against doing it by oneself unless you have done it a few times and/or someone has walked you through properly rigging the mount etc. — lots of things can go wrong without a solid base and disaster can ensue and gear can be lost as well as people injured. Definitely don

Hi Andrew, I believe we worked together many moons ago in LA - nice to reconnect! Awesome that you already have some training under your belt from Greg Smith. I haven't met or worked with him personally, though have heard great things. I took the SOA workshop as a student, and have since gone back as an instructor many times, including the SOA workshop that Rowan took in San Diego. Yes, you'll get a lot of calls for work, though I disagree with Rowan's statement that work doesn't come from classmates; the other students (and instructors) in my workshop have gotten me several jobs, a

We have all been in that situation. It’s hard to speak up but if it’s hurting you say something. Another solution to shooting off the stand is using a vehicle mount on a dolly or bazooka. They you have the arm to make corrections/boom etc.

I'm guessing the directing thing is working out for you ;-)

Here's another one of David Hable's masterpieces. He modified my Wave to provide power outlets and BNC's as well as a back-lit bubble level. Now the camera sits 2inches lower minus the weight of the Dbox and topstage. I use the XCS side-to-side plate in the Wave for balance within the Wave. I have side-to-side adjustment on my monitor for Sled balance. The sled was a PRO Lite that has been upgraded to HD and the 2inch post and gimbal are MK-V. It's a fantastic rig that had become my pre-pandemic work horse. The loss of weight and height between the gimbal and wave allows me to keep

Hi all; I'm not sure where this post will lead but I'm trying to help those who may be young and new to the Movie business think about things they haven't before... This will and can cover a hundred different turns considering we're all in this new world of pandemic business shut down all the way to new trends in the industry. Here's my thinking that I've looked at for a long time and being older than most of you I've seen how the industry and business in every way has changed. Changes (to name a few). 1) Pandemic, who hasn't thought about money and when they'll get ba

Found these early Steadicam pictures. Seemed appropriate. I will always miss Ted.

Hi Kevin, What rig and arm are you working with? Everyone has their way of doing things. Try this. Super light touch with your operating hand when keeping your frame. If the rig is balanced correctly trust that it will stay that way with out you overcompensating with your operating hand. Arm hand can be as firm as you like. Footsteps should roll. Not flat feet of course. I operate regular. Walking forward I tend to have very short strides. Rolling from my left heel to my toe and then onto the outside of my right foot rolling onto my right heel. Then back to my left foot an

ADMINS- Please get rid of this. there is just absolutely no reason why I should have to use a 3rd party app to get into a website. unless this is some setting that ive got on my omputer that ive never encountered before, i think that this is a result of the website. i just absolutely cannot stand stuff like this and there is no reason that on a discussion forum, not a place where any real important or secure information is secured, that there sould be some kind of authentication beyond username and password. sorry, this is extremely frustrating and annoying. hopefully im being an idi

Stiffness is a function of the OD of the material, and of the ID of the material, and of the material itself. With carbon fiber posts, there are a host of factors affecting stiffens, and stiffness can be quite different form one post to another, even if the first two factors (OD and ID) are identical. I'm sure any post that Greg makes (okay, and the M1 post) are super-stiff and won't give anyone any problems.

Steadicam is a very unique job on set, and we've always relied on the ingenuity of other Steadicam operators, utilizing information we research and investigate ourselves, to solve problems unique to Steadicam operators. COVID has created a new set of issues that affects us uniquely. As such, while we need to comply with COVID requirements set by production, medics, or COVID compliance officers, we obviously need to protect ourselves AND the way we work so we can continue to do the best job we can while also staying safe. Masks and social distancing are the obvious baseline for most i

Hi All... this may be premature, but I wanted to get it out there on the market and on peoples radar. I’ve been slowly forging ahead in my transition to a directing career, and at some point in the next 6months I would likely be selling my entire kit... And more! I’m not looking for a quick sale, and I’m open to a lease to own scenario as well which some young operators might be interested in. In particular my gear will be sitting unused in my shop through the end of April. So if you’re a competent, and trained young operator looking for your first rig... this could be right for you.

Tiffen includes a handle that will accept PRO sized posts (5/8") with a Volt. Did you not specify that when you bought it?

Titan arm, 4 blue canister and 2 black canister plus accs. 14000 U$S ,buyers pay shipping

This scene in total is about 4 minutes and I believe I can see a break between two shots that they edited into one. I was lucky to be in a Q & A with the actors where they said the steadicam op, Chris Haarhoff was given little direction especially at the point of the argument. I love this movie, and although the moves are simple they're very telling to the story!

Looks like to me the edit is right off the top when she gets out of the pool. Looks like low mode then changes to regular mode. This shot is nice because it tells the story without being a gratuitous Steadicam shot. Exactly what you want it in a Steadicam shot.

Trenton, Best bet for what you are looking for is the SOA workshops. https://steadicam-ops.com/ Multiple instructors for 5 full days of intensive Steadicam lectures and shot rotations. They start from complete basics moving to more complicated work later in the week. They all care deeply about the art and sharing their knowledge. It's where I learned and have participate in ever since (when I can...work can get in the way) -Kat

One of the changes to the firmware that Steve Wagner made to v1.7 was to briefly switch into sticky mode before returning to normal mode. I suggested that because sticky mode dampened problems with timing when releasing the tilt pressure after hitting the button. What I have found now is that if there is a "bump" up after hitting the button it is likely caused by a very slight error in static balance - the sled being slightly back heavy ; if there is a bump down, the reverse is true. I test it and make a slight fore/aft adjustment if there is a bump...

I agree! Roger, Charlie Rizek and Pete Cavaciuti did a stunning job with the camera work in this film. I love how each brought a different strength and skill set to the film in how they moved the camera. Sort of the ultimate example of tools existing to serve the story, and not the other way around. I love this video ARRI put together, despite being a bit of a sales pitch for the Mini LF, there are some great tidbits of knowledge here.

Mark, Please email Greg and Tiffen! Keep the conversation alive! XCS gimbal with Volt!!!!!

We are still waiting mkv to modify volt on mkv 2” gimbal ......

From this day 25 years ago, here are the tributes to Ted from the original Steadicam board on AOL. https://drive.google.com/file/d/16nqO_ukpSfbu-EN4v2ONu2JWnPhvrJwS/view?usp=sharing

I gotta go back to all those men's restrooms and change the number on the wall? Uggggh. I'm supposed to be quarantined.

Wish to gawd that he would make a more Steadicam friendly version. I see how he made it for multiple applications but I would have to guess that the vast majority of the uses (or all?) is on a Steadicam. It would be amazing to have a wave an inch shorter, a pound lighter, and an 8 to 10 degree correction vs the current 20+ to reduce the width (basically what Greg Bubb came up with 8 or 9 years ago). Love how well it works but the balancing hoops to jump through are tiring.

Update: It’s been 8 months since I dropped off my 7” Stargate monitor for repair at Transvideo International in Burbank. There has been no communication from them on status. I tried calling yesterday and no one is picking up. I emailed Transvideo in Paris and Jacque got back to me immediately. Transvideo Int. is not affiliated with them whatsoever so if you have an issue with your monitor you need to send it to them directly in Paris. Now hopefully I can actually get it back.

For Sale: Preston Hand Unit 3 - HU3 Dolgin Dual Charger. 2 - New Batteries serviced at Preston. $3700.oo slozoom@aol.com

This is a beautiful sled and very similar to my primary sled for over a decade. While I have not seen it in person, I'm drooling all over it.

A 10 minute reel of shots I made with and without the Volt for Hulu’s “Dollface”. Most of the video is accompanied by descriptions of how I tune my Volt for different shots, along with why. This tool has fundamentally made my days at work better, allowing me to make bolder choices, with more precise results!

Hi Josh, I remember being in your shoes clearly - it was the late summer of 2012, I was on my first feature film, having operated “semi-professionally” for about a year, and on two occasions I had to either put the 85mm up, or do a shot on the 50mm in low mode, and I remember both being seemingly impossible. So, you’re not alone in the difficulty of doing long lens work on Steadicam when starting out! I’d say about 1/4 of my work is tighter than a 50mm. Generally I don’t see many lenses above 135mm (though I have from time to time), although especially when doing anamorphic, 135mm is

Hi all, I'm selling my Artemis ACT2 Monitor Bracket for 1.5" Posts. For the 6" Transvideo CineMonitors. It is in good condition. Located in London UK. Looking for £600+VAT and shipping I also have the original manual. You can contact me at james@jamesblackburn.co.uk Thanks for looking James