Quinn Lawrence-Sanderson

To start off, I understand that this is a really specific question that probably wont help many other people, but Ive done everything else I can to find steadicam teachers in Austin, from researching online to consulting a teacher at the Department of Radio-Televison-Film at UT Austin, sadly to no avail. Im in high school and I discovered that I have a passion for steadicam operating. My school is fortunate enough to own a Scout, and Ive been using it for several months. Im to the point where (even though Im not very good right now,) I am seriously considering perusing a future career as a steadicam operator. Unfortunately there is only so much I can learn from solo practice, and I have been on the hunt for any local instructors or the like. Im too young to attend any workshops (and they would require traveling during school), not to mention the cost. Anyways, if anybody here knows someone who teaches steadicam in or near Austin, TX, or just an operator who might be up for teaching, it would mean a lot to have their contact info. -Quinn

For starters, I am totally a beginner (only several months in). But I remember how alien everything about the steadicam was to me the first couple times I used it. Then as I practiced, the basic controls started to shift from me having to conciously think about absolutely evrutything I was doing, to something like riding a bike. It has progressively changed more and more into muscle memory. The first time I this dawned on me was my first “eureka” moment. I’ve practiced a ton, but at some point I didn’t practice for a week or two. Despite this, my second and only other “eureka” moment was when I practiced after that. I suppose I was subconsciously processing all of my practices during that time, because right when I mounted the sled onto the arm again, I realized how mich I had internalized the muscle movements and the fine tweaking of the gimbal and all of that. It felt like riding on a bike or skiing for the first time in a year. Needless to say, I have a long way to go, but each of those moments seemed to have accelerated the learning process and boosted my passion for steadicam operating. Hope that helps