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Lisa Sene

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Everything posted by Lisa Sene

  1. Hi Tom, Great! You shouldn't have any payload issues with that setup and a G-50 arm, and the Exovest will serve you well with the Steadimate. What are you using for an operator monitor, and where are you planning to mount it? The few times I've used a Movi or Ronin, my operator monitor ends up mounted on the top bar of the Movi/Ronin - not ideal for visibility when walking because you aren't looking in the direction of the ground, and the rig is blocking a large portion of what's in directly front of you. If you're able, it would be good to do a test build and get used to visibility while operating so you can learn how to see around the Movi with the camera on it while you're looking at the monitor. Good luck!
  2. Hi Dougal, In regards to your feeling strained, did you adjust the arm settings to balance the Ronin to your body, the same way you would with a Steadicam sled? Your settings from sled to Ronin or Movi with a Steadimate will be slightly different because the load needs to be more in front of you than normal. When I tried it at NAB with the settings adjusted it felt great. Hi Tom, To answer your original question, what camera and lens setup are you planning to use with your Movi, and which Movi do you have? You may want a different arm and vest combination depending on the total payload you are dealing with for your shoot. At NAB, most people found the Exovest a great combination with the Steadimate because it takes out the side-to-side motion that comes with footsteps and Movi/Ronin setups.
  3. Hi Shawn, What vest do you use? I found the Steadimate works best with an Exovest because motion of the pelvic bones does not affect the socket block. In a tradition-style vest, I imagine it would simply take more practice. I am an Exovest owner and have only tried the Steadimate at NAB. I also noticed most people I fitted with Steadimate rig at NAB liked the Exovest more with that setup for that exact reason. We also adjusted the Exovest being used with the Steadimate to have a slightly more obtuse angle of movement in the hips than normal, which allowed for even further compensation. Hope that helps! Lisa
  4. Hi Benedict, This is great! I have a Zalex plate from Peter, which works very well, though having a plate that natively fits my Archer stage would be a time-saver when building. May I suggest adding the two failsafe screws at either end of the plate that prevent it from falling off of the stage entirely if the lock on the stage ever becomes loose? The regular size plates have these and I think they would be a great addition to your design. Thanks for designing! Lisa
  5. Hi Kaze, Cool ride! The stand I mentioned does fold up pretty compact, and it would be shorter than a 40in C-stand length-wise. As for the weight on the bottom of the sled in relation to camera payload, it all depends on your build and drop time preference. In high mode, you will have only more weight on the bottom than the top so the rig hangs vertically, but the exact ratio will depend on how slow or fast you like your drop time (i.e. how bottom-heavy you want your rig when operating). The 20-25lb range I mentioned wasn't the weight on the bottom of the sled, it was the total weight on the stand. I was accounting for a battery, the weight of the sled itself, the balance weights, any cables, the docking bracket, and the arm; all of which will be on the stand and must be considered in total payload. My range could be off because I don't have all the parts to weigh out and am estimating. You could weigh out all the parts and see where you're at weight-wise, though if it were me I would go for a heavier stand for peace of mind. Personally, I always found C-stands to tip over far too easily when dynamic balancing for my own sanity (for reference that was with a Zephyr), so when I got my Archer I went with a stand setup that gave me the comfort to work without fear that my whole setup might fall over. Happy flying! Lisa
  6. Hi Kaze, If you have a Pilot that has 10lbs of camera payload, I would go with the 20lb rated stand at least, though you may want one with a higher rating. Without knowing the exact weights, I would factor in another 10-15lbs for the sled (that has a battery, cables, and probably some balance weights) and the arm, as well as the docking bracket. That means would could have 20-25lbs on the stand with the fully built sled as well as the arm. Again, I don't have the parts to weigh out, so you may want to grab a scale and see for yourself. You also want to make sure you have a stand that is heavy and sturdy enough to support the rig when it's on the balancing pin, which puts the rig father away from the stand and is the most likely time the stand will fall over. Definitely get at least one sandbag, and/or a heavier stand to make sure your rig is protected. For my Archer and G-50x arm (a setup which can be about 50-60lbs of camera/sled/arm/accessories), I have the American LS32 (specs http://www.americangrip.com/baby.asp) combined with these 8" wheels (http://www.backstageweb.com/New%20Products.htm). When used together, the setup is heavy and strong enough to give me peace of mind when my rig is docked and when I'm balancing. The wheels also make life much easier when moving the rig around since I don't have a cart yet. I got the stand before the wheels, but knew that I wanted wheels, so that's another thing to consider when thinking about which stand to buy. If I wasn't going to get the wheels, I would have gone with the 14" straps (the blue part of the stand) on my stand instead of the 12" ones, as the 14" provide a wider (thus more sturdy) base than 12" with no wheels. While that stand may be overkill for your needs, it will definitely work, and will still serve you well if you ever upgrade to a heavier sled. Happy flying! Lisa
  7. Hi Dan, Interesting thought about gear going under a home policy. Would that cover your gear while it's in transit to and from set? I'm not sure if home insurance extends to coverage while in an owned vehicle. If an accident were to occur in transit home after production wraps, your gear may or may not covered under production's policy depending on the language in the COI. From working in a rental house, I've seen many different versions of COIs, and often certain language or expiration dates/times can mean holes in coverage. For example, if the policy expires at 10:00 AM and the gear return time is 10:00 AM, but the client is running late and gets into an accident on the way back, that gear may no longer be covered under that COI. Specific times don't typically show up on most COIs (usually only short-term binders), but it's something to be aware of if the expiration date is 2-16-17 and you wrap after midnight and are traveling home at 12:07 AM on 2-17-17. Another note, slightly tangental however still important: Some other "gotchas" can pop up in the "description of operations" box. Again, these are mostly atypical but definitely worth reading carefully. One example that comes to mind is a COI that listed the rental house as having additional insured status (pertaining to liability insurance) only when the named insured (client) was "on premises". That sounded like the rental house would only be covered in terms of liability insurance if the client was physically in the rental house, meaning the rental house would not be covered if an accident were to occur outside the rental house (i.e. on set). We ended up speaking with the client's insurance agent, who said the additional insured status would follow the client wherever they went, though the agent was also somewhat unsure. We then called the rental house's insurance agent, who agreed that the "on premises" language sounded like a hole in coverage, so we ultimately requested the language be removed. I would start by calling your home insurance agent and inquiring about coverage while gear is in transit. I would also gather a few COIs from past productions and take a look at the expiration dates and check for any language that could mean a lack of coverage. Typically larger production companies have a yearly policy and you may not be anywhere near the expiration date, but short-term binders will usually expire right when the show is set to wrap. Also make certain they are listing you as "loss payee" for property coverage, and as "additional insured" for liability coverage - otherwise they could argue the money should go to the production and not you. If you look into these, could you please post about your findings? I'm curious! Another thing to consider - rental houses typically do not accept home property insurance if you need to rent gear, since it is different than production insurance. If you don't typically rent gear beyond what you own, that may not be a factor. For me, my property coverage on my WP Dolle policy doubles as rental insurance, which has come in handy a few times when production has asked that I also rent a camera package when DPing. Alternatively, a short-term binder would also work in this scenario. Happy flying! Lisa
  8. Hi Brenton, I found that watching the instructors and other students operate was very helpful during the workshop; you will pick up on how moving your body and moving the rig in different ways affects the shot. It's very helpful to ask someone to take pictures or video of you operating so you can check your own operating form. More often than not, problem spots during a shot boil down to improper form, and they are much easier to see from an outside perspective. I'm an avid note-taker, and filled almost an entire notebook during my workshop. Since then I refer back to it and add to it when I learn something new. If writing works for you, I highly recommend it! Have fun at the workshop! Lisa
  9. Welcome Keith! Happy flying. Lisa
  10. Hi back from a fellow Bostonian, Cian! I am also originally from elsewhere, but have been here for almost ten years now. Let me know if you need a hand with your Merlin; I'm glad to help! Lisa
  11. Hi Cian, I'm not sure of the respective weights of the 3 types of balance weights offhand. As for the dovetail plate, I would buy the real one because that will be the best and most secure fit. Personally, I don't think the savings that would come from getting an off-brand one or making a jury-rigged one would outweigh a potential loss that could be that plate failing and smashing your camera and lens. The other factor to consider is the time, effort, and money it will take you to make one. Here is a link to purchase the Merlin dovetail via B&H. The balance weights can also be found there by searching "Steadicam Merlin weights". Though the initial sticker price may be higher than you would like on these items, take comfort in the fact that they will last a long time and do their job exceptionally well. I've used the Merlin before and find it to be a fantastic little rig! Happy flying, Lisa
  12. Hi Daniel, Having shot several sailing races in saltwater, I have a few tips. In order to be more concise, can you please clarify the following?: What size boat will you be on? How fast will it be moving? How many other people will be onboard besides your crew? Do you have a secure, dry area in which to store gear that is not being used while you and your crew are shooting elsewhere on the boat? Are you venturing in the water with gear, or staying on the boat? Best, Lisa
  13. Hi Matteo, I believe Janice Arthur is still making weight cages. I've also found these weights to be useful, as they are 1/4-20 threaded and will screw right into the weight cage if you'd like to make it heavier. Happy flying! Lisa
  14. Hi Nelson, I'm in the Boston area and can teach you some basics - I sent you a PM. Lisa
  15. Hi James, Check out this video by Chris Fawcett: While Chris isn't using a Pilot specifically, all the concepts are the same; once you understand dynamic balance conceptually, you can apply it to any rig. Happy flying! Lisa
  16. Hi Rich, Thanks for the reply! I had thought of folding the arm and storing in that position; good to know you are using that method with success. Do you have a case that fits those dimensions without a lot of excess room? I'm not sure if I searched for a case with the dimensions of the arm while folded - will do so tonight. Happy flying! Lisa
  17. Thanks Louis! I'll measure it out and see if that will fit my arm. I was originally going for a Storm case because I like the button-style openers, but they don't seem to have one with the right dimensions for the arm - the closest one ends up being so wide it's almost the size of my sled case, and until I get a larger car that's not an option with my existing cases and plans to buy a cart soon. David, yes I have multiple reasons for keeping it separate. First, I have an Exovest, and since I like to keep it set up for me to wear right out of the case (set for a small frame overall on the vest), the arm in the soft bag mashes the pads too much for my liking if I store the arm inside the vest. Since it's memory foam, I wasn't fond of storing or traveling with it that way. The other reason is I live in a third floor walk-up with a narrow staircase, so I try to keep my cases relatively light for that reason - don't need to be tired before I've even finished loading the car, not to mention coming home after a long day and hauling them back upstairs (while trying not to wake up my two year old neighbor on the other side of the wall)!
  18. Hi Everyone, I'm curious to hear how people case their arms. I'm looking for a hard case for my G-50X arm, and so far am striking out finding one that is the proper size - most get close with two dimensions, but the third makes the case too large. Ideally I would like the case to house the arm only, and I'm looking for a hard case for travel and better protection. Happy flying! Lisa
  19. Hi Axel, I typically fly with my socket block mounted in the "bridge plate jumping over the lower pivot" configuration on my Exovest. I find it puts the weight of the rig right over my own center of gravity, and feels most natural. It's a quick change, and can be done with the vest still on your body. Happy flying! Lisa
  20. Update - after some careful measuring, I ordered the Pelican iM2750 Storm Case (without foam) for my Exovest and received two days ago. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=email&A=details&Q=&sku=569064&is=REG So far very happy with it! - The button latches on the Storm cases are a huge plus in my eyes - never a struggle to open. - Does not compress the vest at all front to back (there was slight compression with the Pelican 1620). I plan to take a leaf from Chris Fawcett's book and line the inside of the case with a yoga mat for a little padding. - Since I use the vest almost all the way compacted vertically, I don't have to change the settings at all in and out of the case, and there is still plenty of room for someone with a taller torso to store without having to reconfigure. - Keep in mind I have the bottom section that sits on the pelvic bones fitted pretty small, so someone of a larger frame may need a different case to go in and out without re-fitting the vest every time. Happy flying! Lisa
  21. Hi Chris, I use Cinebags CB01 Production Bag: http://www.cinebags.com/cb01-production-bag The different pouches and pockets help me keep accessories organized and easily reachable on set. Since I don't have a cart yet, but do have a stand with the heavy-duty wheels, I usually throw the bag's shoulder strap over the stand and wheel it to my next setup. Happy flying! Lisa
  22. Hi Dave, I have experience with shipping gear from working at a rental house, though I haven't shipped my Steadicam gear for a job yet (only flown with it). Generally shipping companies won't insure for very high values as they want the customer to have their own insurance. In the rental house world, gear is typically insured by the end user, though in some instances the rental house ends up insuring for transit. In these instances, some rental houses choose to take the UPS/FedEx/etc. insurance and insure for their deductible. For example, if your WP Dolle policy has a $500 deductible, you would insure the shipment via FedEx for $500, and the rest would be covered under your WP Dolle insurance. If you're able to have production's insurance agent write into the COI that your gear is covered in transit, that is ideal (can be spelled out under description of operations). If the shipment isn't related to a production, then I would insure under FedEx or whatever shipper you use for your WP Dolle deductible and your WP Dolle insurance will cover the rest in the unfortunate event anything happens. Good luck! Lisa
  23. Hi Michael, If you can make it to the Philadelphia area, there is a fantastic workshop near there in May: http://www.steadicam-ops.com/workshop.shtml Happy flying! Lisa
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