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Alex Kolb

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Everything posted by Alex Kolb

  1. Thanks so much! These work pretty well moving around?
  2. Hi all, I'm helping a colleague look for an inexpensive way to go for wireless Standard Def tx/Rx. The application is very specific, short distance, line of sight. Any suggestions welcome, I'd be happy to try to answer any questions. Best, Alex
  3. You can use the online aspect of the software at autopilotuser.com.
  4. Karsten Jacobsen was also the associate director to the production.
  5. Job, I absolutely love that software! I've been lobbying to get it on to the show I'm on for quite some time now. Very handy that the camera ops (at least those on the pedestals) can see the timeline, too.
  6. There was again some fantastic Steadicam work on Eurovision this year. My particular favorite was this long take on the song entry from The Netherlands - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWe8PRsW4T0. Best, Alex
  7. In regards to tally and return, you'd take the return from one of the video outs on the camera, and for tally, I believe it's only wired to take a photoresistor input, but if I'm wrong, it may also be able to take a direct feed if you have the right assortment of cables to get the tally signal from the different sorts of cameras one will encounter. Best, Alex
  8. Very cool Eric! I was on a society project in London just last month, not quite as formal, but after a week in a suit it had me longing for my broadcast attire. I'm with Will in trying to wear polos over t-shirts. Sometimes it's the little things which make the impression.
  9. Sounds like a lot of money, weight, and opportunities of mechanical failure to accomplish something that can be learned with practice.
  10. Hey all, I know that in addition to Steadicam, a lot of people on the forum also do remote head work, either for broadcast or film. I'm looking to expand my skillset into this area (primarily broadcast oriented, joystick control), so I was wondering if anybody here could point me in the direction of some sort of training offered to this regard? Thanks very much, Alex +1.715.271.8029
  11. Hi all, I have a show coming up working with a new assistant. They were previously a cable utility, so they're new to the job, not just to me. This got me thinking about what I'm expecting from them. Just putting an open question out there for the TV ops here - how do you like to work with your assistant? I know some people like their assistant holding the vest at all times. I myself have always gone for a selective approach; guiding me going back or on unevens, but hands off the rest of the time. Thanks, Alex
  12. Hi all, Just a survey of sorts for all the operators here. In my meeting up with local operators wherever projects may bring me, I've found that a lot of them have a personal touch on their rig. A decoration, a stuffed animal on monitor bracket, etc (perhaps a hip flask in some cases!). Just wondering if you guys have anything non-technical that you keep on your rig for one reason or another? Best, Alex
  13. Also, adding to what Osvaldo said, if the system that fits the bill doesn't have camera telemetry, there are add-on systems. Best, Alex
  14. Look at it this way - some of the first posters did not answer your exact question, becaus they were unfamiliar with the specifics of the consumer systems you mentioned. However, they did take the time to address a concern that they saw. I'd say it's pretty nice of a couple of seasoned professionals to take time out of their busy days to share some wisdom that will, once you start shooting, be obviously necessary. Steadicam operators are first and foremost camera operators. That means thinking about lenses. Also, a tip from me (a not-so-seasoned professional): every shot should be important, and you should never let your expected outreach determine the quality of work you do. I spent my first two years in television at a community television station. In the first few months, the shows I was assigned to probably had an audience of five. But if I had done anything other than my best work on those shows, I would still be there now.
  15. Triax is all-inclusive, and will bring tally to the camera. The fiber setups I've worked with have been the same. Wireless is a different story. Older transmitters didn't have integrated telemetry, so there are small separate systems that can be used. Most transmitters designed for broadcast have full telemetry these days, but that's something you'll want to figure out with the video engineers before you get to set.
  16. I'm sure Chris could explain it better than I, as he was the one who taught us about it, but he showed us a technique for slow walking in which he put his non-weightbearing foot down flat instead of heal to toe rolling. He left it very limp, and did not immediately transfer weight on to it. Then, when ready to step forward, he shifted his weight onto the entire foot. The advantage I found with this method was it avoided any sudden movement from the intensity of a heel strike.
  17. Hello all, Two weeks ago I had the immense pleasure of attending the Betz-Tools/Tiffen Gold workshop in Germany. I was only lucky enough to hear of this workshop through a colleague of mine, who kindly forwarded on the registration information to me. I'm hoping that by sharing my experience on the forum, other operators may take advantage of this course in the future and enjoy the same extraordinary career benefits that I did. To begin, I will reiterate what has been said to new operators since the late Ted Churchill's formation of Steadicam as a profession - take a workshop! I worked doing small television broadcasts and films for the past three years, and I did reasonably good work for the scale of productions that I was contracted on. But seeking to establish myself in a larger market, it became very apparent to me that I needed formal training before I could start phoning DoPs. I assume that it's apparent to most people on the Steadicam Forum that the main focus of a Steadicam workshop is to refine one's skills operating a Steadicam, so I'll keep that part of my reflection short and simply say: yes, the course yielded great improvement in my operating. What I instead would like to address i are the highlights of my time in Munich that I did not necessarily expect when I registered. What was immediately clear to me when I arrived was that no cost was spared in bringing in industry leading operators, all of different backgrounds and all having made significant contributions to their respective markets. The instruction staff changes from workshop to workshop, but Mr. Betz's central position in the European Steadicam world allows him to consistently bring in talented teachers each year. The number of instructors and guest instructors also allowed us to hear various perspectives on techniques and business practices, as well as a myriad of anecdotes from the different types of work that they were involved in. Chris Fawcett, who many of you know for his helpful contributions on this forum, brought with him a wealth of knowledge to his position as the head instructor. A pleasant surprise to me was his focus on the health-and-safety side of our industry. Being a younger operator, both in age and experience, the lasting advantages of proper technique and posture will undoubtedly play an important part in my ability to continue this line of work over the years. Despite the fact that Tiffen had a large part in putting on this class, I did not get the impression that I was sitting through any sort of Key West timeshare seminar. Mr Thwaites is a true credit to his firm, and he discussed the capabilities and limitations of Tiffen rigs in an informative, but not aggressive, manner. Mr. Betz and his engineer had systems from other manufacturers on-hand that they were more than happy to demo. Ulik Kahlert was also there with the SteadiSeg and Segway Rickshaw, and made himself and the equipment available for several days. As with most workshops of this length, a great deal of other vehicles were used. In addition to the chance to rub shoulders with all of these greats, one of the most valuable components of this course was the networking that went on between attendees. It was good fun to get to know these people, some of them established operators and others just beginning (but with great things ahead of them), and I left having made many friends from all corners of the world. For an industry so reliant on personal contacts, the atmosphere of mutual awe and admiration for the art that is Steadicam sparks rewarding relationships. And of course I cannot forget the people who made this workshop possible. Herr Betz and Frau Mahlo worked tirelessly throughout the week to ensure that everything ran smoothly, and while reserving my place in the class, Frau Mahlo responded with speed and courtesy to my many inquiries. It is my understanding that this workshop will be run again next year under the direction of Betz-Tools. Without hesitation, I encourage any operator looking for the next step in their career to request more information from the Betz team. Already the workshop has opened several new avenues for me, and I am confident that the best payoffs are yet to come! Fly safe Alex (to our moderating team: I put this thread here instead of Events/Workshops because it already happened, rather than being an upcoming workshop)
  18. If a Movi can't be found, there may be other stabilized remote heads that are light enough to work. Christian Betz does dealings for both Klassen and various remote head companies in Germany. He might be worth contacting.
  19. Concerning to say the least! Clearly lacking in the intuitive features like the joints that allow for normal pelvic movements. Also apparently lacking in a socket block! Where does the arm go?
  20. Hi all, I got a call earlier from a friend and op who's at a small station which plans on buying ATEM fiber conversion boxes from blackmagic to use with their new "studio cameras", which are actually prosumer sorts of things from my understanding. He was interested to know if he could power both 12v devices (the camera and the ATEM) from the Flyer LE, and if so, how one should do that. I'm not familiar with the rig, so I'm deferring the question here. Best Alex
  21. While it's also not ideal to have an external cable when things can be done through the post, I have colleagues who have run things externally for years, even with high end rigs.
  22. Question answered quickly by the excellent team at Betz. Thanks!
  23. When will registration information be sent to those on the mailing list? I'm very excited for the experience. Best, Alex
  24. Oh I suppose steering the post through a semi elipse to keep tilted appropriately contributed to the problem.
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