Blaine Baker

Found and purchased, thank you for the inquiries!

Looking for a used Arri gear head MK1, potentially open to MK2 depending on the price. Would like to purchase from seller in North America. Thanks! -B

Sled has sold, thank you for the inquiries

Ready to fly Standard Def PRO 1 Sled complete with batteries (1 dead chocolate bar, 9 functioning), monitor, power/video cable for monitor, PRO gimbal (no grip), DBII, Docking bracket, docking collars, cases, 2 dovetails, decimator 2 down converter with 2 power cables. This was my first sled, which had come from Tom Wills and it has done very well over the years but is collecting dust since my upgrade. It is ready to fly and would be a great first sled for someone looking to build a full size rig or just needs a running rig. Prefer to sell nationally, buyer pays shipping, looking to sell complete. asking for $6500

I keep showing up on jobs where the assistant brings their own (and I think all of us owner operators understand the importance of getting that day rate+rental, so all the more power to assistants bringing their own gear) or production adds it to the camera package they rent for the whole show. All in all, I think it's still worth it to keep a single channel with ya, and if something fails, you're still safe.

ITEM HAS SOLD Thank you for the interest

Hey fellow operators. Began playing my acoustic guitar quite a bit again, easy to forget how spoiled one is when playing electric for so many years. I'm finding my fingers getting callouses on them, and wondering if any of you have dealt with this as a pro or con with regard to operating on your post. I feel like I'm usually not quite on my finger tips when operating, except for when my pinky is ready to help me tilt, but I couldn't help but wonder if anyone else has dealt with this (whether or not you play guitar itself, maybe theres another activity you've been doing for a while that has left callouses on your hands/fingers) Hope all is well! -Blaine

Mike, No need to go into debt, keep working, keep saving, take a workshop. I saved half my paychecks from my day job at a grocery store for a year and a half (pays significantly less than full time AC'ing mind you). Fresh out of school, it was a daunting idea saving for the thing, but I wound up with a used, full-sized rig for somewhere around $18k. I'm coming up on 3 years since my first workshop (and about a year and a half owning my own rig), and the gear has already more than paid for itself. Alec is right, and I will encourage it too, do your research! That paid off in a big way for me because I just continued to learn about all my options as I saved for all the parts. No need to put yourself in the hole with a loan when you're not getting the big jobs, working your way up will keep you focused on getting good and keeping yourself humble! In the mean time, bug the operators you're working with to give you a day of practice in their rig in exchange for food and/or beers! Costs a ton less than a workshop and you're making connections that might get you operating jobs in the future. Good luck!

BUMP Lots of interest, no biters yet. Again, open to offers, buyer pays shipping. Happy to send photos that were not taken with a cell phone if you're interested. Thanks all!

Hey folks, ACME gimbal made by Brant Fagan some years ago for sale. This is a tools free gimbal, button on the bottom of the grip for quick adjustment. This is for a 1.5 inch post. Recently switched to a pro gimbal and I'm not in a financial position to hold on to this thing. Open to offers! -Blaine

Thanks Alan, Apparently this was the last take which I remember not being my best take (little horizon loss before going into first dance routine, caught blue light at the end) but I think it was the best for lighting because some of the timing didn't quite sync with the music. We were gonna scratch the crane move at the end because production couldn't find a proper crane that I could walk on, but there was a lift on set that had plenty of room for me to sit into with the sled in front of me. They guided me in, locked me with some heavy duty caribeaners and we went up. I think we ran about 9 full takes total, I walked it without the camera a few times so I had a pretty good plan before I had to wear the thing!

Hi everyone, Just wanted to share a Music Video I worked on last week, definitely the most fun I've had on set... maybe ever! Good start to the warm season! Best, Blaine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ooH8frBWg

I had a dream two nights ago that I went to prep my gear for a shoot, and opened my sled case to find my own sled missing, and it had been replaced with some kind of futuristic flyer model... at which point I realized I wouldnt be able to do the gig because it was an alexa shoot. Then I looked to find that my arm had been swapped with some kind of over sized efp arm. Anyone else ever have unusual dreams related to steadicam? -B

Hey Friends, Curious if anyone's got an extra pro gimbal they might be looking to part ways with, figured I'd ask in the used dept before I buy a new one! message or email me, thanks! -B

Looking for something used, preferably Preston or Heden, would love to hear offers! Dont hesitate to reach me by email at blainebakercinema@gmail Thanks!

All of these exercises are great, but dont forget the importance of a good diet! Tons of water, tons of fruit and veggies (getting a blender to make fresh juice in the morning before the gig starts, unreal how wired you can get off a couple pounds of leafy greens, protein and fruit) This job is absolutely athletic so nutrition is key in making those core exercises really work to your advantage... plus if you eat well your brain is going to work better on set too!

So glad to see this is working out well for Hugo, I know the rent to own program could not be working better for me. The best part of the whole deal was how unbelieveably easy it was to get an arm on a lease when I was putting my first rig together, while other people turned me down on loans because I didnt have enough industry experience (even though I had a seperate job that would have paid for it). Hugo did this without question and I've been flying almost exclusively big cameras since I got it, which I didn't think was a reality when I first started (I assumed naturally, if you're a newbie, you're flying smaller cameras... but it seems everyone wants to shoot on alexa these days, and they're always thrilled to hear they dont have to strip the package for my sake) So yet another shout out to Hugo, thanks for everything so far! It helped me get my career in operating started and I couldnt be more thankful for that. Best, Blaine

I've been a bit intimidated to post, but showed this to Janice the other day and she told me to throw it up here! Probably my toughest shot in my young career. Finished putting together my rig in October, pulled this one mid november. Arri BL3, 50mm lens (if my memory serves me right...) Started on an apple box, followed mom and son upstairs into bedroom and lock off. I think the biggest thing im dissappointed in was catching the end of the C stand by the fireplace, that video tap sucks and kept moving around so it might have appeared out of frame, when really it was in. Regardless, it was a fun shoot and the final product turned out great https://vimeo.com/86280045 password: steadi

Hey Gang, Tough crowd we've got here. Look I apologize to the operators who I may have offended, as a customer of Terry's, we have of course already spoken about the matter. I dropped a one liner here with no context, but in short I'm just a hobbyist and offered some assistance. Anyone who's worked with Terry knows I'm not taking a dime from his business... and on that note I'm still going to buy cables from him, the man has been doing this stuff for longer than I've been alive! We all need to face the fact that there is a handful of newbie operators with knock-off's out there who are at least looking in the right direction for some accessories, if we try to close the gates on them, they're going to turn to outside sources because we as a community shunned them (eventually they might go for other stabilizers). We should be welcoming these cats with open arms and pointing them in other directions for the good gear, and when they're gear isn't working out for them they already know what the next step is. Secondly, none of these knock-off guys are taking work from professional operators, and if and when that happens, production will see it, or the pros will come knocking on their doors... or something will happen, all the strikes against them have been discussed already, its just not a sustainable business model to be a "professional" and own one of these rigs. To anyone I've offended though, in all seriousness, contact me about it... its not like I'm trying to hide from my mistake, lets just have a discussion. And if you're ever stranded or just visiting in Chicago, I promise you a couch to crash on and my treat to a few drinks. That's what a community is about, no? Back to the topic! Best, Blaine

Hey I can help anyone who needs cables for those smaller rigs, shoot me an email. Best, Blaine blainebakercinema@gmail.com

Market place, Jessica Lopez is selling her old EFP for the new zephyr price, it can hold double and surely functions as good as the zephyr. COMES WITH BATTERIES! Perfect example of waiting to see what you can get used on the forum here!

Hey Emily, Just food for thought here, take it for what you will... I went straight for the big rig after my workshop, but heavily considered the zephyr for some time... and didnt get one! 7800 got me in the door with a PRO 1 sled and PRO vest, then leased my steadyrig arm for a 3 year period (the lease is so good, if i get one job a month i can pay 3 months of the lease, consider that) I can carry 65 lbs (carried a BL3 w/1000 ft mag last month) or 13 lbs (zephyrs minimum, right?) for a few thousand more. Maybe a few thousand is significant to you, but if I didnt have the weight range options I would have turned down two jobs since I finished my rig in October. And I dont ever have to turn down a job quite frankly, after the 1000 ft mag BL3 I'm confident with any overloaded digital package on my rig. -HD? who cares, decimator costs next to nothing and all you are looking at is framing anyways -BFD? Im finally considering one now, but every production that has needed a wireless FF has brought one on, SEPARATE from my rate, so you won't be loosing a ton there. -Transmitter? Same story, unless you just wire yourself like I've done and Dave Chamides heavily suggests -Batts? Call Aanton bauer for B-stock, deals galore If you are in a situation like I am/was, you're really working for every penny you plan on putting into this business. I thought about it all for a long time and saw so many big rigs, available on the forum, for the same cost as an HD Zephyr. Not that thats a bad route, but it wouldnt have worked on two jobs for me, and I would have been left with renting from my mentor... no that its a bad thing, but it sounds like at this point, you are ready to make some actual income. Hope this helps, patience counts in this regard entirely. Best, Blaine

Kyle thanks for posting, I knew that Alexa M was going to be put on the thing soon enough, and that it would be even more marketable then. Just some thoughts I've had since this thing came out... 1) How excited are you all to see TONS of stuff like this with unbelievable amounts of unmotivated camera movement?! (Joking, obviously... but the difference between what we do and what someone wants to see done with the movi is like seperating men from boys... or women from girls... whatever you want) 2) I was hoping to see a lock off from this thing... finally that last shot gave us one... well kinda sorta, not really. I think those points alone will allow us to keep our jobs as steadicam operators, as well as really seperate the worlds greatest story tellers from those who just want to move the camera around because well... oh right, they werent thinking about why they wanted to move the camera. I can't wait to add one to the tool kit, with out a doubt, but all the people who've rented one that I've talked to in Chicago tell me they'd have been better off with steadicam, and that the movi isn't going to take over any time soon. Just my 2 cents

Hey gang, Some of you may know me, others may not. I have been a member of the forum for a while and have spent more time reading and learning here than anything else, but I feel it's time for me to show some respect to the some people we're all familiar with in our community. My interest in steadicam was born the day Janice Arthur came in for "steadicam day" during a camera training class I was in at Columbia College Chicago right before I was to graduate in 2012. When I put Janice's rig on for the first time, I knew it was something I had to pursue (I've spent a life time doing different activities relative to hand eye coordination, from martial arts to playing instruments) It's been almost 2 years now, I graduated and came up with a plan to save for a rig. Had to wait, couldn't get a loan, and even if I could how would I pay that, rent, bills AND student loans. I bugged Janice to let me know when her classes were, interest declined with other potential students and she was kind enough to teach me 1 on 1. Between her asking me to help at future classes, and me asking all the annoying questions she's heard a million times, she's somehow been willing to take me in as her student and coached me on everything from operating to business making. For her to do this, and to go so far as to even letting me rent her down converter for shoots, I couldn't thank her enough. Surely my respect and thanks don't go alone here on the forum, but I think it's a great story to bring to everyones attention. Thanks Janice. My second big shout out goes to Hugo Langer. Of all the brands out there I could have bought an arm from, Steadyrig is the only one that has allowed me to lease gear, directly though them and on top of that, with no big hassle. I was planning on a big rig, but there were no big arms out there that fit my budget and I didn't really know what to do other than keep waiting and keep saving. Other than practicing at Janice's, I was not getting work (wasn't really looking for it though, as it's a bit of a hassle to live car free, rent a rig, go to a shoot and not make much profit because of your rental cost). Hugo's arm came in October and have been on 4 jobs since (student and indie stuff, but still jobs for a newbie) everything from the C300 to my last gig with a BL3 and 1000' mag (and the arm performed flawlessly). Hugo, I have started to live the dream rather than chase it and could not thank you enough for that. To everyone else who's sent me gear to build my first rig, to everyone who's been kind enough to share stories and answer questions, my thanks go out to you too. You've all helped me get where I am. The foundation has been laid out, time to build the house. Thanks for reading and thanks for all the help! Best, Blaine Baker Chicago, IL

Hello, Looking for decimator 2 or another downconverter that some of you HD cats might be looking to get rid of. United States only please, not interested in paying a boat load for international shipping on a relatively inexpensive item. Feel free to reach me via email or pm blainebakercinema@gmail.com Thanks all!