IanMcMillan

Thanks Rob, Exactly the diagnosis my electronics guy came up with. Hope to be fixed soon. Macca

Hi all, Anyone ever had a vertical line (no image) on a Pro Monitor. I haven't ever before. There is obviously power but something not going quite right. Any thoughts/solutions much appreciated. All the best Macca

Dear Feedisc As Rob has suggested, have a look at the past forums. I draw your attention to one post about 4 down from yours on this page, "how to become a steadicam op?" Lots of good advice there. Do a workshop, look at your requirements and your market and then expect a couple of years of hard work and practice to get up there. Steadicam ops are the freindliest and open people when it comes to sharing information. One of the reasons for this is, a bad operator can put a director or producer off steadicam for a long time, and thats bad for all of us. Keep at it but don't rush, Regards Macca

Hi Jerry, Thanks for the clarification. Maccca

Hi Trike, I totally understand your concerns with the cost. I also would take note of Robs comment about adapting a larger gimbal to such a small post. I'm NO engineer or physicist but something niggles me about how well a llarrge gimbal would go on that post. I feel like the slightest error in the milling of the step down ring and you have nothing more than some modern art for you living room. Perhaps you could get more advice from somewhere. All the best and I do hope you can complete the rig. Macca

Hi Trike, Yes i have a 3A gimbal for sale. It was purchased with a Pro sled before anybody could make sell gimbals. This gimbal has done minimal work as I changed over as soon as I could to the Pro. I can't find any any serial number or anything for that matter to help you with the assembly. As for price I aould be looking for $2500.00 Australian dollars. All the best Macca

Hi Trike, I have a 3A gimbal. Not sure if thats any help? Macca

HeyGuillermo, I have an Arri 3 lo-mode bracket. Please see message left on for sale board for you. Its Australian $500.00 All the best Macca

Hi there Guillermo, We all have days like that. I don't know how many time I've walked someone to a table, sit down, and then the director wants to gluide through the table top to a CU reaction from someone else. In their pre prod they think of the steadicam as a camera spirited around by a magic wand. One of the finer points of operating and especially steadicam is being the diplomat. You picked up straight away that the director did not know how to use the steadicam or you properly. Thats where you have to be able to teach him what amazing images and emotions it can create. If you have been able to show him ways of geting what he wants and to rethink ideas without him feeling a fool or worse, a confrontation, then he goes home thinking "Guillermo Nespolo is a smart guy and an asset to my filmaking." If you do that, he will call you again. He may also frustrate you again too, but that is all part of it. Remember its our job to help them to understand. Also remember once you know the rules you can break a few for the right reasons. I have done some things that are against everything in the steadicam "handbook", but I got the shot the director wanted. Thats what counts. Don't beat yourself up my freind. All the best Macca PS I still have the Arri 3 lo-mode bracket. I've left you a note in the for sale section.

Steve Murphy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY From down in Oz. Hope all is well and you have a great day. How are the negotiayions going? All the best mate Macca

Hi Tom, I have a Precision Camera Arri eyepeice tap. It fits all the older arris. Couldn't let it go at 900 though. Someone just got a good deal. Mine comes with a Pulnix B/W split (pal) and cables for Pro. AU $2000.00 Take care and hope you find one Macca

Hi Chris, Macca here, sorry but my batteries all went with my rig. This heading came up a few months ago on the forum and I'm sure it was suggested they are still available through PRO. Check it out mate. Macca

Hi Guillermo, I still have the brackets. All prices in Australian Dollars The Arri 3 braket is $500.00 The SR 2 Braket is a relacement block were the handle goes with 2 screw holes. It is $200.00 The Hill SR 3 Bracket comes withthe iris rod attachment $700.00 All the best Macca

Hi guys, Just to update you all, the sled arm and vest are sold All the best Macca

Hi leigh Its all good advice. Think about how you marketed yourself as a cameraman. Its the same, your just adding another string to the bow. As a cameraman you already have the contacts and client base. Get a show reel together. My first feature, The mighty awful flower arrangers... I mean Power Rangers... came from a shot on my show reel that I did on a $200. a day job. But as Job said, don't sell people on things you can't do. In this business the bad news travels a lot faster than the good. All the best mate Macca

Hi Phil, Haven't heard that one yet, but I haven't done a crane in some tie. Paul, watch Loe A again last night, and there are some great moves in it. All the best Macca

Dear Fredrich, I'm glad your around to post the question. Never do a crane without a harness. As Ari said, the worst that cane happen is another take. Trust me there are plenty of other departments out there who will have an issue that will reqire another one so don't be concerned if you need one. Ari's system works. What I would add is that I reherse with the grips in small bits. I start with the crane just off the deck and practice the change over between me and the grip. We then take it higher and practice unclipping the harness so we can resolve any access issues ect. Then we put those two parts together and reherse. After that we begin rehersing the shot. This is a dangerouse monouvre, not just for you but any body that has to be in the area of the crane, so don't be rushed by a jumpy first or producer. Believe me they won't be rushing at the inquest into injury or worse. Secondly, make sure your railing is not to low. If you have to back on quickly you can over balance. I prefer somthing around middle back. Its exciting and fun. Just make sure you stay around to tell people how exciting it is. All the best Macca

Hi Daniel, Welcome to a ver difficult decision. What type of cameras are you wanting to push around? There are many fine operators in the land of the long white cloud and I recomend you talk to them and perhaps go to a rental house withthem and try their rigs. I only know of one glidecam op here in Oz and I know he posts on the forum so perhaps he could send you pros and cons of that particular rig. My main advice-DON'T RUSH INTO THIS. Take your time and get it right. All the best Ian Mc Millan (Australia)

I feel like I've killed the discussion. I have that effect at parties too. Ian mc millan

Hi all, Well stephen you asked a great question and have created some great responses. I have to back up Jamie's last point though. lets not loose sight of the question. This is mainly about conditions. I have been in the film industry for 20 years, the last 10 as a Steadicam op. Once when doing a music video in the early days, trying to build a reel at $200 a day with a rented rig, nothing but steadicam all day, the producer suggested we have lunch on the run. I replied " not unless you can attach a hamburger and a cup of coffe to this thing, I have to put it down to eat." She looked at the rig and I swear she tried to figure out how to do it. 10 years later on much better paying gigs I still get asked stupid requests like that. Now I stray. It IS about SAFTEY and FAIR working conditions. As Stephen said, we have families we would like to see. So no mater what the pay rates, there is only a couple of good reasons for working six days, and watch the productivity go down after a couple of long weeks. And then theres the Monday morning when you find out one of the crew fell asleep driving home on Friday night........ All the best everyone Its not all about the money Ian Mc Millan

Hi Stephen, Haven't seen you on the forum for a while so I haope that means your busy. I can't speak for the Kiwis but we have the same issues here in Oz. Essentially we work a 50 hr week, 5days by 10. Overtime is calculated on an 8 hr day then 2 hrs @ 1.5 Time. Meal are due every 5 hrs. As with everyone we negotiate our rates so we end up working for around the $30. per hour mark. The US producers here opt for a 12 hr day, meal breaks after 6 hrs. So far we have managed to resist a six day week. My main issue in hours is saftey. The producers try to keep equipment and facility rentals down by extending work hours. Here in Oz we have no teamsters so Grips Gaffers unit etc may be driving their trucks after a very long day. Workplace saftey laws are actually on our side at the moment so crew can only work a certain amount of time, which is a very good thing. We also don't usually have craft service so after about 4 hours of pushing a rig around I get pretty damn hungry. Will contact you about this further Steve, but must go to my other job, driving cars at Motor Auctions. All the best Ian, its not so busy here, Mc Millan

Well I guess its time for a rethink on the price. Every thing is still for sale. I am willing to sell the sled, vest, arm, charger and seitz system as listed for Au $45,000.00 Any body new to the bussiness, this is a very good start up rig. All the best Ian Mc Millan

Hey Erwin, You do come up with great stuff. The rig i have for sale is #28, which was bought by Ian Jones for Clear and present Danger. It had the 3A gimbal, which i keep as a spare. Macca

Hi Chris Please see my add in For Sale classifieds. I can split the package a bit so feel free to let me know what your after. Macca

Great shot Erwin, Must be from "The man who would be King" Macca