Shawn Sutherland

Look at this video again: Eric said: "Long lens work with a Movi? Nope not gonna happen" Wrong. Long lenses do work on a Movi, and they already proved it. Nobody said ANYTHING about how long the lens had to be and as far as I'm concerned, 100mm is more than enough to prove the point. I said Movi could do long lens shots and it did. I was right.

It's a Long lens shot done with a Movi. The point has already been made. I'm right. Get the @#!! over it! What are you trying to do? Out "troll" me? No seriously. Were you one of those weird fat kids with coke bottle glasses that used to pick wings off of flies, just for shits and giggles?

Go to the source video and look at the bottom where it says: "Shot with Black Magic Cinema camera and 5D mark II, using a 100mm Canon lens from a remote controlled helicopter in combination with the Freefly MoVI MR. 100mm on the Black Magic equals to 240mm on a full frame DSLR, very interesting!!!" I just took them at face value. If it's a mistake, it's THIER mistake. Go correct them.

I know you hate my guts and all, but can't you at least be fair about it? You said: "Long lens work with a Movi? Nope not gonna happen". Not only was I right, but I even found a long lens Movi shot to prove it. You instantly belittled that with: "100mm's isn't that long of a lens and secondly don't get used to posting here much more, your time on our forum is limited" Oh, WOW Eric. What are you gonna do? Take away my allowance? Wrong again. 100mm on the Black Magic equals to 240mm on a full frame DSLR. But you already knew that didn't you. I don't know what you hate more. The fact that I make valid points which you immediately have to stomp out with a psychotic vengeance, or the fact that my comebacks are just so much more creative than yours.

You and too many others don't understand what the position of STEADICAM OPERATOR actually is... This means you suck. Do you suck?... I've never really had a roll axis issue, can say the same for the tilt axis... For the love of god, NO YOU DON'T GET IT... You have no idea how a set works, you have no idea what a DP does. You have no idea what a Operator does... Seriously, don't let the door hit you in the ass... The problem is YOU... You don't have a leg to stand on... And furthermore rant, rave, etc... http://ep.yimg.com/ty/cdn/yhst-66400482594017/PFS1Judge.jpg

When I jumped into this thread, I made three predictions about the Steadicam/Movi combination: First, I predicted that somebody would do it fairly soon and they did. That happened when Andreas' announced he would try his Portahead System overslung on the steadicam sled. Second, I predicted that whip pans would not be a problem. Andreas concurred: "Also I plan to have the pan motor disconnectable with a lemo plug and that the pan axis can be fixed with a bracket to allow for whip pans as Shawn pointed out" Third, I predicted the amount rotational kick back movement to fight against when the Movi turns on the pan axis would be insignificant. Andreas confirmed with the following statement: "I also found the post on the freefly forum and some people answered that the movement of the brushless gimbal will change it's CG but that's not the case. 3 axis brushless gimbals need to be in balance in all axis to work properly so the CG will not change on the steadicam sled. But I didn't really notice a fight or something going on there" So far, I'm leading 3-0 The only credit I received came from a completely unbiased, independent source. I could not ask for a better gift. Meanwhile, here's what I got from everybody else: "I have no experience" "I'm a liar" "Every claim ever I make is not true" "My work sucks" "I'm clueless" "Everything I say or do is insignificant and therefore doesn't matter" "I don't get it" "I don't understand Steadicam" "I don't have a leg to stand on" "The combination of Movi on a Steadicam stupid and won't work" And on, and on, and on it goes. Now the best part: With a dozen or more of you taking random pot shots at me from all sides, I'm told to "Fight like a man, a grown-up man." And you call ME the troll? As Spock would say: "Fascinating Captain". Now where's my guitar..... here it is. I found it: You're not gonna change what happens You can't stop progress It won't make any difference A brushless gimbal on top of a Steadicam sled will be the best bang for the buck and you can't stop it. You can shoot the messenger all you like, but it still won't make any difference. This is coming whether you like it or not. It won't be long now. Changing the subject won't matter. Getting the "last word" won't matter. This is coming whether you like it or not. The Genie is out of the bottle now. Deal with it.

Alright boys and girls: Can somebody in the classroom tell me what is the defining characteristic of fascism? Censorship.

"you have no experience with a Freefly, Still you claim that you know what will happen, somehow know that a Movi on a Steadicam rig will change everything even though the Freefly forum told you otherwise, nobody really knows yet. But somehow YOU do, blah, blah, blah..." Translated: You bought a whole bunch of really expensive equipment to make a living with and the last thing you want hear is how it's about to get serious shot in the arm from a cheap piece of gear with a really short learning curve. Once again: Calling me wrong won't matter. Cherry picking things I said won't matter. It's coming whether you like it or not. So get ready. The Movi is about to do amazing things on a Steadicam.

First of all, the people I spoke with on the freefly forum were just about as stubborn as the ones over here. Each side believes their product is perfect in every way and doesn't need help from anybody else. This is why evolution takes so long. I don't own a Freefly, but I know what it does. I'm an inventor. In 1985 I built my own stabilizer out of mop handles, bungee cords, and a backpack frame. It worked, and I have the footage to prove it. I've been thinking about it ever since. Let me know if you want to see it. Ever watch a Movi with somebody wobbling all over the place? Perfectly level and straight on all 3 axis. A Steadicam is just a much, much slower version of hand held with the added bonus of a spring loaded ride. The Movi will do for Steadicam the same thing it already does for handheld. It just won't have to work as hard. Here's what I know about the Movi just from looking at it: Majestic mode: Stabilized with operator control via gimbal base Stabilized: Stabilized image with no operator input Stabilized slew: Stabilized with remote operator Off: Kills drive to gimbal axes Imagine having this control with any one of the three axis. Now put it on a Steadicam, give the remote to a second operator, and look straight forward to watch the monitor installed on the Steadicam arm. Get ready. The next evolution of Steadicam is about to be born.

Short answer: Turn off the pan motor for whip pans. Not that big of an issue for tilting, since very few Steadicam shots involve "whip-tilts". Where it's really going to shine is with long lens shots. The added stability of the Movi will do wonders. There will be many tweaks along the way, but eventually operators and designers will find the sweet spot for the Steadicam/Movi combo.

2656 posts? I like to think I got an open mind and all, but Holy Shit Eric. You don't have a toilet in front of your computer or somethin, do ya'?

You guys sure know how to pile on the messenger, don't ya'? I think I know what the problem is. When I said the Movi/Steadicam combination will allow less experienced operators to give senior operators a run for their money, you thought I was talking about you. That's not even close to what I meant - at all. Trust me I want nothing to do with that, and neither does anybody I know. The shows you do and the people you work with are of little interest to me. I don't care how you use your gear "correctly", and I'm not from the big production world you're in. DOP's I know would love to operate the Movi aboard a Steadicam. We get our hands dirty, make mistakes, and invent new things because we don't know it can't be done. We're indie filmmakers and that's how we roll. You think there are no advantages of having the DOP operate the shot and suggest I don't know this because I haven't been "on a set". I have, just not one of yours. You think it's the end of the world if I can't fly a proper Alexa package on a brushless gimbal because the motors can't deal with the payload. Guess what? I don't need an Alexa package. I'm fine with what I have and I seriously doubt Freefly Systems sells bad motors. I never suggested Andreas quote was some kind of supporting debate-killer example. I only posted it because he's smart enough to see the potential in a Steadicam/Movi combination, and his footage is about to prove that. And where did you get the idea that a Steadicam/Movi operator would be dumb enough to just take off full tilt away from the actors, never checking a frame? I clearly said the monitor could be mounted it to the Steadicam arm with one of these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=ikan+MA210&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search= Re-locating the monitor on the Steadicam arm puts it directly where you need to look. This is particularly useful with Don Juan shots. Obviously this arrangement enables you to track the actors behind you. If you read what I wrote, you would've seen that. I never said a Steadicam/Movi combination would immediately make everything you worked for, practiced, and learned over the last few decades obsolete. Read carefully: "The Movi won't replace the Steadicam. Ever. Not gonna happen. But if combined with a Steadicam, it will allow less experienced operators to give senior operators a serious run for their money". No one is going to make you obsolete, and nobody's gonna take your job. But the Movi on a Steadicam will change it. Bank on that. I don't own a Movi and I never said I did. I was just hoping to find someone willing to try it on a Steadicam and shoot some footage. If you want to know how the industry will react to the Movi/Steadicam combo, stick around 'cause you're about to find out. Since you don't want to listen to anything I have to say, here are some quotes from other people on this forum. I didn't write these so you might want to perk up and pay attention: "Here is the new reality, at least where I sit in the episodic world. Producers want more for less and they want it faster and easier. The 5/7d world is rapidly becoming a stable part of our everyday work load not to mention GoPros. I don't necessarily like the evolution of the camera world, but I don't write the rules. Not many of us do. I think there is still life left in the world of conventional image making, using large cameras to make a narrative, but I know that the smaller cameras and all of the devices being created to make them do things that the Alexas and Panavisions Golds used to do are the future. Get used to it and start to make it work for you so that you can continue to keep working." "I just had a thought: If you made a bracket to mount this to the top sled, could you effectively make an AR style rig?" (sound familiar Alan?) "This is a rig that will effect the Steadicam market. It won't replace it but it will certainly make waves, especially in the commercial production company sector. A company I work with a lot that does mid level commercials with light weight epics could easily afford the m-10" "The main trick is getting time to work and practice with it. Just like with the Steadicam but instead of years it will take days to get decent and months to get phenomenal. This video reminds me of garret browns early tests with the Steadicam. Not perfect but still quite incredible. I see this making big changes in the way we move the camera. It does have its limitations but so does any system. The main thing I see with it is you could theoretically mount it anyway you want and have a stabilized hot head for car mounts, cranes, cable cams and other sorts of rigs. You don't just have to hold it in your hand. All for $15k." "another invention looking for a shot" - In 1976, a grip and and camera assistant sitting on a 500 lb dolly probably said something similar. And just like the Steadicam, now there are new ways of telling a story, and isn't that what cinematography is all about? I just got back from NAB and the rig demos were blowing people away. They knocked this one out of the park" The writing's on the wall and it's not mine. Do the math. As a side note, there is one elder on this forum I do respect. Charles Papert. The friggin guy's 103 years old! Doesn't look a day over 45 either. Gotta respect that. Oh and for the love of God Eric please: Run upstairs and wash that "Taste of Dexter" out of your mouth!

Near the end of my first post on this thread, I clearly said: "The Movi won't replace the Steadicam. Ever. Not gonna happen. But if combined with a Steadicam, it will allow less experienced operators to give senior operators a serious run for their money. And that's the real reason why veterans hate it." That's the part that really pisses you off, and you know it. Then I went on to describe the advantages of having the DOP take care of the framing. Apparently, I'm not the only one with this opinion. AndreasKielb echoed this sentiment when he said: "Also imagine a shot running at full speed through the woods in Don Juan. With a brushless gimbal on the rig you can fully concentrate on your path as the remote operator will take care of the framing." Changing the subject won't matter. Getting the "last word" won't matter. This is coming whether you like it or not. Deal with it.

Told us what? you still don't understand how this would be used on a show, and you still don't understand what we do. SO no you didn't "Tell" us anything You obviously have nothing better to do than "go to the bathroom out of your face" at people you don't agree with. Jesus get a life! I never claimed to understand how this would be used on a show, and I couldn't care less. It was never about that, it still isn't, and you're not changing the subject on my watch. I predicted somebody would put a Movi on a Steadicam sled and now we're about to see that happen. That's it, that's all. I told you would it happen and I was right. It's just a matter of time now.

See? Told ya' so.

I thank you from the heart of my bottom. No, really!

I think I found the problem:

Senior operators translated: "It won't work, everything you said, was wrong, you don't know what you're talking about, that's not how DOP's work, mumble, mumble, whine." You bought a whole bunch of really expensive gear to make a living with and the last thing you want is serious competition from some amateur with a new toy he bought for next to nothing. I get it. If it's any consolation, you can find sympathy in the dictionary. It's right between shit and syphilis.

Thanks for the invite, but as of right now I live in Windsor Ontario. New York City is a little off the beaten trail. If you happen to know any operators living in Detroit, tell me and I'll go over and see them. It's just across the river and I go there often. In the mean time, here's how I predict the Steadicam will work with the Movi: Instead of placing the monitor on the sled, mount it to the Steadicam arm with one of these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/648157-REG/Ikan_MA210_MA210_10_Articulating_Arm.htmlYou can still leave the monitor on the sled if you want to, but it won't be necessary. I recommend filling the empty space with wireless video transmitter and a battery. Don't forget to mount a wireless video receiver to the arm and plug it into the monitor. Put the Movi on top of the Sled, balance it up nice and neat, and make sure it passes the spin test. After the sled is in dynamic balance, get rid of the 2-3 second drop time. There won't be any need for it because the sled won't have to stay upright. That's what the Movi is for. Also by balancing the sled to neutral gravity, you won't have to fight with it in low mode. The sled will stay wherever you put it. Now let's take it for a ride. With the Movi/Steadicam combo, You won't have to watch the sled's horizon anymore. The Movi will take care of this for you. Re-locating the monitor on the Steadicam arm puts it directly where you need to look. This is particularly useful with Don Juan shots. No more craning your neck to get a better look while hoping you don't trip on something. Just a forward looking view with the ground in your line of sight at all times. This also works for high to low mode shots as your rig just became a jib. First thing you'll notice is that the camera to pans and tilts all by itself. That's the DOP doing his thing. You will instinctively follow what he does by panning and tilting with him. There won't be any learning curve on this one. It's a positive feedback loop. Everything else is handled by 2 way voice communication. With a blue tooth in your ear, you'll receive real time directions from the DOP: Move In, Move Out, Move Left, Move Right, Boom Up, Boom Down.

"I have no idea what an operator does, I suck, I'm clueless" Yeah whatever. Apparently denial is NOT just a river in Africa! You can shoot the messenger all you like, but it still won't make any difference. This is coming whether you like it or not. It's just a matter of time.

You throw shaming tactics like a monkey throws poop, but I'm not falling for it. I may not have the same amount of experience as you, but I can still get a reasonably good shot. My customers will gladly verify that in a heartbeat. Just not you because the last thing you want to do is qualify me any more than you have to. I also have a pretty good idea of what you think it means to be an operator, or at least the part that matters most: You think you're better at it than just about everybody else. I'm here to tell you that's about to change.

Gotta love the way you framed that. You're suggesting that the only reason a DOP would want to control the Movi on my Steadicam is because "I suck". Good one. Nice shaming tactic. Theres only one problem with it. I don't care what you think of me or my work, and I'm not seeking your approval. I'm just telling you what's coming down the pike. You've already seen one of my shots. Here's some more for you to shit all over: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Kwvu0G4q0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJuFxmN2yFE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_5eknRAeLo So you never had a roll or tilt axis issue. Must be nice. I guess that's why you like demeaning people with less skill. Good for you. Go ahead and tell me how much my footage sucks. Have fun with that. Just remember that if you want to say "my footage sucks", or that "I suck", just because it's not as good as yours, you're saying the same thing to a lot more people than just me. I've with many of them and they're sick and tired of hearing this from senior operators. When Movi-like gimbals are used with Steadicams on a regular basis, you won't be the better operator for long.

Personality, experience, what senior operators think a Steadicam Operator "should" be doing, it's not gonna matter. Hell I don't even care if you think a Movi on a Steadicam is "training wheels" for bad operators. Won't make any difference. There's a reason "control freak" DOP's are always grabbing the gimbal, jumping onto the dolly, or controlling the techno. They want the shot, pure and simple. They'll get it with the Movi/Steadicam combo. Now in case the advantages aren't obvious, I'll list them again: Roll axis correction, tilt axis correction, extremely fine tuned remote pan and tilt control for the DOP, and best of all, high mode to low mode just like the Alien Revolution. As a side note, I never said I owned a Movi. I'm simply telling you what's about to happen when less experienced operators start using them on their rigs. Whether you like it or not, whether you agree with the practice or not, it's gonna happen and they're not gonna give a rats ass what you think bout it.

Every DOP I ever met told me they would love to control a steadicam shot, if given half a chance. The Movi on a steadicam does precisely that. It also keeps a level roll axis, a level tilt axis, and provides the DOP with extremely fine tuned pan and tilt control. Another advantage is that it guarantees that the shot is framed exactly the way the DOP wants it to be. And if that's not enough, it also goes from high mode to low mode just like the Alien Revolution.