Eric Fletcher S.O.C.

Just a few questions. What is your best Steadicam system in the world? Who are you what have you done? Now Please answer the question and do not repost your original post.....

WHy not do it with the better tool, A dolly. Seriously this is not a steadicam shot.

I've been doing that for the last three weeks on my feature and I'm on a 12 hour guaranty... It's still out there.

I believe that, Tonight in 40F weather we got 8 full mags out of a set of Hytron 50's that are 3 years old. I just wish you could charge the Dionics with some other charger then the AB stuff.

I totally Agree, Great and fast service. After I had my little 'incident" in January They repaired my rig over night.

If I remember correctly it's $6000 just to get in as an operator ($10,000 for a DP card). Then Quarterly dues of $181.00 (No matter if you work or not) and then 1.75% of your gross. Health Insurance is 600 hours in 1 year to qualify then 300hours every 6 month

Actually My Agent did NOT get me that deal I got that deal because of prior realtionships. I decided not to quote the rates that he has got for me while dayplaying on series.

Right now striking is not the answer, Unless you want zero production in LA. From the sounds of it David the Union hasn't worked out for you. But it's been good to me. In the last 3 years I can count on both hands the number of non-union days that I have done. 99% of my work is union and yes at times I wish we had better contracts but overall the union has done well for me. Depends on the show. I dayplayed a TV series that wrapped 6 weeks ago and they worked me 3 days a week and I was Getting $100/hour plus Rig and it was for a VERY cheap company... Right now I'm doing the same thing dayplaying on a feature. Those deals are out there it just takes work to get them to give it to you. It also helps when the DP fights for you and you have a good realtionship with the directors.

I just got a call to work on a feature and they offered an awful rate with a worse weekly rental for the rig, I told them no, they called back and bumped their offers a "Little" I said no again, they called back a third time and bumped their rate's again and this time I said... Yes I can do it but I will have to have three days a week to go work on other jobs to be able to afford to work on theirs. Bottom line, I'm not doing their feature....

I'm just more surprised that this is probally the 10th post that your schilling these, give it a rest dude.

Nope, Been dealing with the Hytron 100/120 problem for 18 months, the problem is the NmHi chem is the wrong chem for the FW900, the internal resistance of the Hytrons is to high for long run time. Next to Greg's Hytron 50 vs Trimpack test I have probally done more testing on this then anyone. Bottom line is that a NEW Hytron 100 will run a FW900 for 35 Mins IF your lucky, It will also get wicked hot doing that. The Dionic 90 will run the camera for 80 to 100 mins depending on temp.

I have looked into this unit and it leaves a LOT to be desired recording wise. It looks like those bad connivence store surveillance recordings you see on reality cop shows. Damn near impossible to see focus or other detail on it. Eric

Does anyone (Or two) have 2 single channel Bartech's that I could rent for March 15th thru the 22nd? If so please get in touch with me ASAP. Thanks! Eric Fletcher SOC Steadi@comcast.net

Well if your doing HD you'll never make it through a rehearsal with a ProFormer... Having said that, I just finished a HD pilot and I used the Dionic's for the camera, I'm impressed we got about 1 hour of run time out of the battery, considering that the almost 3x heavier Hytron 100 only got about 30 mins on the camera (If we were lucky) I have only five concerns. Cycle life, Rebuild cost, transporting them, charge time (It's uber long) and believe it or not it's lack of weight, and that means with a HD camera a LONG post (Even with the near neutral balance that I've been operating with as of late) I'm going to really put these through more testing on my next two pilots since I have the same 8 Dionics that I have had for the last two weeks. if the next four weeks goes well and they run a 435 I might make the switch.

I hope that you have the "titan" charger from AB. Nothing else charges the Dionics. I'm using them right now on the Pilot that I'm doing and they work well with a HD Camera (They get about 1 hour) But they take WAY too long to charge IMO. (Almost 3 hours)

If I remember the story correctly you quoted Jim Lovell when it blew. "Houston, we have a problem" When I had a Mod 2 arm (Rental no less...) go on me I exclaimed "She Blew!"

It's the Astro and it's not nearly bright enough to be used outside. Plus there is too much glare off of it's face.

I 2nd that. Had a fall in January, declined the spotter since it was SUPPOSED to a fast walk up a set of stairs.... Well the actor ran. I followed, hooked a toe on the steps Started to go down, almost got back uder it but couldn't quite get there. Decided to Power forward since I had a nice soft group of extras to slam into. I made it 25 feet forward hit an extra who saw me comming and actually CAUGHT the rig.... I on the other hand opened the door that they were knockng on with my head and landing on my left knee... Now I'm not totally sure that a spotter could have help but you never know, so I will never make that mistake again. BTW the insurance claim was one Hytron 50, one battery plate and mount on the Pro II, and the Lower post mount. Total cost was less than $2,000 Not bad considering.....

Not only that But the AC usually finds it a huge PITA to load when it's upside down...

Hey Phil, I've got a GREAT idea, rather then talking about how easy it is to build and how over priced the others are and how you would choose this or that and yours would be the bestest in the world. Go build one and sell it. let us Test it and see what a "Real Phil Rhodes Approved Follow focus" is. Until then Stop, stop posting crap critising everything out there, it get's REALLY tiresome.

Yes those were done by Ted

Phil, Go out and buy a clue please, It's painfully obvious that you don't have one. At least you serve one function as your villiages idiot. I can read and I know how movies work and are crewed and since I ACTUALLY work in the industry I know all too well about run-away production. While your surfing the IMDb you might want to read the story about why mirimax thinks that cold mountian is getting the snub oscar wise... If you don't believe me reread Mith Gross's post. Why is it that your here again???

Phil, Are you REALLY That ignorant about production? Cold mountian was shot with a local Romanian crew. Only the Keys (DP, Prod Designer, etc) were brought over. Really Before you even try to argue you should at least get SOME of the facts straight.

42" Erwin, 42".....

I have used both, I think my answer is clear.